Calgary’s Downtown safety initiative, Clean to the Core, is paying huge dividends according a recent Calgary Police Service report.At the annual review of the Clean to the Core and Centre City Safety Impact Team (CCSIT) on Nov. 5, it was announced that downtown crime has reduced significantly.
The report shows that from January to August, crime against people in downtown dropped from 655 during the same months in 2008 to 543 in 2009.
"When Clean to the Core was created three years ago, we were experiencing issues around safety and cleanliness in Calgary's Centre City," said Lorna Wallace, Centre City Implementation Project Manager. "Now, thanks to collaboration and the hard work of over 30 dedicated partners, including The City and many businesses, workers and citizens, we're seeing the positive results that only come about when we work together.”
It’s this holistic approach that has lead to a drop in crime in 2009 compared with the previous
three years.“We’ve tried to break down silos and work constantly together with our partners to work toward a greater Centre City, “said Wallace.
Since its inception in 2006, the Clean to the Core program has added 68 downtown beat officers, 29 bylaw officers, 10 Calgary Transit peace officers and 20 EMS personnel at a cost of a bout $4 million annually. These resources coupled with 16 surveillance cameras installed in three downtown locations and improved C-train lighting equates to a price tag of just over $16 million to date.
At the annual review, Mayor Dave Bronconnier told the crowd that the budget will include another million dollars in funding next year.
The Clean to the Core initiative also includes keeping Centre City’s streets clean. In 2009, Tomkins Park Automated Public Toilet has received about 40,000 uses, 727 kilometres of sidewalks have been swept of almost 11,000 kilograms of debris and 50,000 kilograms of newspapers are estimated to be recycled in the core with new paper recycle bins.
Over 10,000 graffiti tags have also been removed (Here is a link to the pilot project).
“The Centre City is a great incubator for new ideas,” said Wallace, using the successful litter and cigarette-butt bins being used in the core as an example.
***Graph shows property crime's drop from Sept. 2008 to Aug. 2009 compared to the previous three-year average. Social Disorder and Person crime also trend downward.
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9 comments:
Calgary's downtown streets are much improved since even last year at this time. As a resident on 1st street, I have noticed increased police visibility, and reduced criminal visibility over the summer in particular. Much better Calgary.
One of the most disgusting litter habits for me is the dropping of gum on sidewalks. It gets ground int the cement and trying to avoid stepping on it gets to be quite a chore. Has anyone invented a machine which can remove this undesirable sticky substance? I think a bit of advertising in promoting gum free streets in Calgary would be a good thing.
So lets see bins for "litter, gum and cigarettes"
From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre City Implementation
We agree, small litter such as cigarettes and gum in preliminary research were found to be the #1 form of litter in the Centre City. That is why with our pilot we called the 30 units, small litter bins vs. ashtrays. We have a lot of educating to do and we need to further work with the business community to encourage a shared responsibility of the streets approach as we can't do it all (e.g. Good urban neighbours - The City does our part and the community pitches in, too. Working with their employees, etc ).Yes, there are gum removal tools, but it still takes time and elbow grease. Our partner at the Calgary Downtown Association as part of their Clean to the Core program removes gum litter and we do what we can on the 7th Ave. LRT corridor.
Regards, Lorna
The core might be getting cleaner but it seems like the suburbs are on the decline. Grafitti in the SE is worse than ever and there are areas where it seem residents have given up. Spend the money to keep the whole city looking good, not just the downtown where nobody even lives.
Is this litter bin available in a smaller version that would be effective at the entrance of a large condo building? Who is the manufacturer? Thanks.
From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre City Implementation in response to Cate's comment:
There are two things that citizens can do:
#1. Ask if the Business is interested, as a good neighbour, to install an ashtray/small litter bin to accommodate their visitors and staff
#2. Call 311 and report the concerns of small litter at that location and we (The City) can work via the Bylaw Officers, Transit Peace Officers or the area Business Revitalization Zone (e.g., Calgary Downtown Association, Victoria Crossing, Uptown 17, etc.) to see if we could look for a solution to the litter problem.
The solution might be more small litter bins(ashtrays)or recycling bins, increased enforcement, education or a combination of all.
Regards,
Lorna
As an inner-city resident who walks to and from work in the heart of the downtown core, I have been a witness to the positive influence of the increased presence of city police. There have been a couple of instances where the police either prevented trouble or stopped in while in progress. The inner-city streets do appear to be somehwhat safer. Nice work.
Downtown is looking cleaner when I walk to work compared to past years. I also notice an increase in police visibility particularily around 17th Ave and 4th St. My only comment about clean sidewalks is that the Bars and NightClubs in Calgary should be forced to be more responsible about the cleanliness of the sidewalks surrounding them. Almost every day I have to beware of vomit all over the sidewalks, usually close to Tantra night club - I mean, you are bringing people into your club to sell them alcohol and you are almost never cutting them off...therefore with all the extra $ you are earning, clean the friggin walks outside your establishment...Thanks.
From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre City Implementation
Good comment. We are working with the Entertainment Establishment Owners on a Responsible Hospitality approach for the Night Time Economy. Stay tuned but we hope to do work similar what they’ve done in Edmonton on Whyte Avenue. You can see some of their social media marketing initiatives and other strategies on Responsible Hospitality Edmonton’s website:
http://www.responsiblehospitalityedmonton.ca/
Regards,
Lorna
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