Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Beyond the ridiculous hyperbole about what the average person experiences taking transit, you could not have picked two worse examples lol. Brussels is in the midst of eerily similar issues to Calgary in terms of problems relating to the intersection between public transit and unhoused people, and the french government is currently shipping unhoused people out of Paris because the situation has become so unsustainable.
This isn’t just a Calgary issue to deal with, it’s a global issue, and it might be as bad in Europe on average as anywhere else in the world, in ways that make Calgary’s issues pale in comparison.
That doesn’t excuse council or suggest it isn’t an issue worth dealing with by any means, I just think people who think Calgary’s issues are some sort of extreme would likely faint almost anywhere else (there are some countries where these issues are much less prevalent, but I don’t think you’ll find them in Europe).
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I am fully in agreement with you there is no lack of scum and or vagrants roaming around large cities over Canada and Europe, without a doubt.
What I was referring to was public transit and safety specifically. Buses and trains/stations. There is an entire division of peace officers/inspectors/sergeant and more dedicated to public safety. They have a huge budget and costs associated with it.
The amount of crime being committed is on an escalating curve, yet more money and resources are being applied.
https://calgaryherald.com/news/local...improve-safety
City council, administration and management for something like public transit safety have done a piss poor job of achieving results. You can drastically improve safety and the feeling of being safe on transit by doing what is required to be done, namely enforcement, boots on the guard, proactive steps, administration changes and more.
Ever since the APU (Arrest processing unit) was moved to the far NW part of the city a few years ago, the amount of actually arrests and charges being filed has dramatically been reduced. Calgary Transit Peace officers need to do a TON of their own admin and paperwork, waiting around etc. Calgary Police do not to the same degree.
Transit Peace officers come across extremely violent individuals who have significant outstanding warrants for their arrest, the officers need to take all those charges and admin work on themselves for what could easily be a smoking, unpaid fine, foot on seat disagreement/charge. Lot's of BS headaches and a long drive to the NW so a lot of times better to just give the fine/warning and let the scum be on their way.
Also a meaningful lack of career advancement for those officers may also play a significant role in a lackluster attitude in some ways. Outside of being a boot on the ground officer, only a few roles available above that. Transit Peace officers are provincial police officers, employed by the City of Calgary. Personal opinion is there should be more of an incentive and or a career progression to move onto CPS while maintaining a similar salary and income.
So bottom line, if city council, administration and Calgary Transit truly made something like transit safety and the FEELING of safety a priority, then something better could be achieved then what we have here now.