How to combat crime and vagrancy in downtown

I think we should increase foot patrols by Peace Officers in downtown streets during the summer.

I believe Tourism could benefit from a volunteer Ambassador program—ideally involving students—who walk through the downtown area to promote local businesses and attractions. This would encourage both visitors and residents to spend more time downtown, creating a more vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

We need to work with a Society on resolving homelessness and drug addiction issues and their impact on our downtown. The 'presence' of a shelter, etc half a kilometre away doesn't 'encourage' such activities in the downtown as people can walk or commute. You will see this now that the City/etc has once again purged people from around the Shelter out into the woods and parklands of our community.

By increasing the residential population downtown, taking empty lots and building multi-storey buildings with shops below and many Apartments above.

By encouraging evening activities downtown bringing life and attention to the downtown core again.

Increasing street lighting should be a priority. When I walked from City Hall to the RCMP building, much of the route was poorly lit—darker areas tend to invite unwanted or unsafe activity.

Encouraging businesses to move downtown again through Economic Development efforts. Why are we expanding outward into places like Timberland when we have so much commercial space available downtown? 

Dispelling the bad gossip and rumours about downtown with Facts. I spent 2 days down there walking many of the streets in the mid day and at no time did I feel unsafe. I think social media and gossip has certainly not helped our downtown core. This does not mean it is unsafe, it does not mean that crimes are not occurring, it just means that without the Facts - stories, reports, testimonials, oversight, there is too much blur between social media and the cold hard facts. 
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