Question and Answer

QUESTION: Our downtown needs to be made a priority in the areas of homelessness, as well as drugs and substance abuse which occur openly on our streets, and parking issues. Do you agree? Comments?

ANSWER: Downtown parking probably wouldn’t be such a headache if city employees weren’t allegedly taking up street spots, residents downtown who use the street for parking should be issued paid parking permits, and the Bus Terminal Parkade—most of the time sitting 70% empty—was used more. Bringing our transit system back to pre-COVID levels, with more evening routes, would also make it easier for people to get around without a vehicle.

Our downtown needs attention when it comes to homelessness, open drug and substance abuse, and parking issues. Do I agree that downtown should be the absolute priority? Not exactly. Simply pushing the problem out of downtown might make business owners feel safer or give the impression that something has been accomplished, but it isn’t a real solution to homelessness. That’s why plans like the Chamber’s, and the work of local organizations, are important—they focus on practical approaches and partnerships to address these issues while the city provides support and oversight.

Regarding drugs and substance abuse, the approach should be clear: addicts need to choose rehab or face legal consequences. If drug use is happening openly on our streets, law enforcement should enforce existing bylaws—but that also requires citizens to report incidents rather than just vent on social media. I’ve personally called the police about open drug use here on the Red Mile, and within five minutes there were two marked and one unmarked vehicles on site. If that’s the response I received, I can’t understand why it wouldn’t happen elsewhere like downtown—though maybe people aren’t calling the police when they see issues.