Comments on Calgary City News Blog: Clean to the Core: a safer inner city, and more

From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre Ci...

2009-11-12T07:22:23.770-07:00

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

Downtown is looking cleaner when I walk to work co...

2009-11-10T16:22:18.815-07:00

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.

As an inner-city resident who walks to and from wo...

2009-11-10T15:10:47.820-07:00

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.

From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre Ci...

2009-11-10T13:46:46.870-07:00

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

Is this litter bin available in a smaller version ...

2009-11-10T11:20:25.121-07:00

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.

The core might be getting cleaner but it seems lik...

2009-11-10T10:23:53.951-07:00

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.

From Lorna Wallace, Project Manager with Centre Ci...

2009-11-10T09:14:04.622-07:00

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

One of the most disgusting litter habits for me is...

2009-11-09T22:18:41.406-07:00

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"

Calgary's downtown streets are much improved s...

2009-11-09T21:41:57.315-07:00

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.