For most of my life I've worked downtown. When I was much younger I used to socialize downtown because there were some really classy upscale clubs where you had to dress nicely to get in or you just didn't get in. It didn't necessarily ensure the propriety or behaviour of the people or attendees but it felt differently, safer so's to speak.
Today?.......... I wouldn't be caught downtown after 5:00 pm unless I was getting a ride home and even then getting to the vehicle could be a problem based on where you're parked.
I have been yelled at while standing at a bus stop because a vagrant wanted a cigarette or money and I refused to even acknowledge him. On bus' the vagrants get on and sit beside you, smelling like pee, booze or lord knows what. They attempt to talk to you and then get offended when you just want to run away because you want to puke at the smell. The bus drivers have to allow them on because it's PUBLIC transit, even if the vagrants don't pay, are obnoxious, loud, etc, even though WE the taxpayers pay for the ride, we can't even ride in safety or without the worry of being truly bothered. The bus drivers have to put up with their spitting on them, accosting them, and the vagrants being rude. Why because the management would rather do nothing to offend the "everyone's a victim vigilantes" than to actually protect the drivers and paying customers.
Remember the man who pooped in the TD bank concourse planter? Or I was sitting outside the TD center and the security came out to tell me to be wary of a fellow who had sat down next to me. He apparently had a propensity to get violent when he started to talk to people.
There was a woman who was grabbed and accosted in the underground concourse at Portage and Main, many women were afraid then.
I don't think much has changed. The city, mayor and downtown biz all put pretty colours and facades on the downtown to make it seem safe, but reality is....... it hasn't changed in over 40 years. Why? Because governments refuse to deal with the real issue of who is causing the issues and real action to curb it. Crime is a crime, denounce and remove the people who are causing it..... make it totally unappealing...... then....... maybe then..... crime will go down.
Deal with the people who have the criminal issues separately, as they cannot interact with society without committing the crimes or assaults etc, it's been proven over and over. So WHY are we perpetuating/allowing/tolerating the same situation and behaviours? Because some people want to label the perpetrators as all victims....... without cognitive responsibility or acceptance or ability to change. Better to keep them victims and than to ensure they get and stay better, while keeping society safe. Hey Taxpayers have lots of money, why not spend it on things that just don't work, because it keeps the professionals employed and the wheels on the bus go round and round.
Shelly - 12 years ago
I work downtown and I do not feel safe walking from the parking lot to my work building or from my building to the MTS Centre. I have had people knock on my car window before I pull out of my parking spot asking me for money. They are intimidating and get aggressive if you don't give. I have also walked off the elevator in the Smith Street parkade just to find a group of people that are drunk and drinking and I have know way to get out other then to tolerate their rude comments and worry if I am going to make it home that night.
For most of my life I've worked downtown. When I was much younger I used to socialize downtown because there were some really classy upscale clubs where you had to dress nicely to get in or you just didn't get in. It didn't necessarily ensure the propriety or behaviour of the people or attendees but it felt differently, safer so's to speak.
Today?.......... I wouldn't be caught downtown after 5:00 pm unless I was getting a ride home and even then getting to the vehicle could be a problem based on where you're parked.
I have been yelled at while standing at a bus stop because a vagrant wanted a cigarette or money and I refused to even acknowledge him. On bus' the vagrants get on and sit beside you, smelling like pee, booze or lord knows what. They attempt to talk to you and then get offended when you just want to run away because you want to puke at the smell. The bus drivers have to allow them on because it's PUBLIC transit, even if the vagrants don't pay, are obnoxious, loud, etc, even though WE the taxpayers pay for the ride, we can't even ride in safety or without the worry of being truly bothered. The bus drivers have to put up with their spitting on them, accosting them, and the vagrants being rude. Why because the management would rather do nothing to offend the "everyone's a victim vigilantes" than to actually protect the drivers and paying customers.
Remember the man who pooped in the TD bank concourse planter? Or I was sitting outside the TD center and the security came out to tell me to be wary of a fellow who had sat down next to me. He apparently had a propensity to get violent when he started to talk to people.
There was a woman who was grabbed and accosted in the underground concourse at Portage and Main, many women were afraid then.
I don't think much has changed. The city, mayor and downtown biz all put pretty colours and facades on the downtown to make it seem safe, but reality is....... it hasn't changed in over 40 years. Why? Because governments refuse to deal with the real issue of who is causing the issues and real action to curb it. Crime is a crime, denounce and remove the people who are causing it..... make it totally unappealing...... then....... maybe then..... crime will go down.
Deal with the people who have the criminal issues separately, as they cannot interact with society without committing the crimes or assaults etc, it's been proven over and over. So WHY are we perpetuating/allowing/tolerating the same situation and behaviours? Because some people want to label the perpetrators as all victims....... without cognitive responsibility or acceptance or ability to change. Better to keep them victims and than to ensure they get and stay better, while keeping society safe. Hey Taxpayers have lots of money, why not spend it on things that just don't work, because it keeps the professionals employed and the wheels on the bus go round and round.
I work downtown and I do not feel safe walking from the parking lot to my work building or from my building to the MTS Centre. I have had people knock on my car window before I pull out of my parking spot asking me for money. They are intimidating and get aggressive if you don't give. I have also walked off the elevator in the Smith Street parkade just to find a group of people that are drunk and drinking and I have know way to get out other then to tolerate their rude comments and worry if I am going to make it home that night.