Empathy for Homeless People
As someone who has worked with the homeless population professionally through agencies like Jasper Place Wellness Centre and Boyle Street Community Services, I have learned a thing or two. We need at least one new supervised consumption site in the city; we need to invest more money into affordable and permanent supportive housing; and we need to hold high-level meetings with municipal, provincial, and federal government representatives, as well as stakeholders like social services agencies and homeless people themselves. In addition, the Public Spaces Bylaw is an affront to the rights of homeless people and activists, so, if I am elected, I will vote to repeal it as soon as I can.
An Accountable Police Service
Edmonton Police Service is spiraling; multiple deaths at the hands of officers with no effective structure in place to charge officers who were responsible, a deteriorating relationship with City Council, and a budget that the Police Commission refuses to share with Council. Council needs to advocate for a change in legislation that will allow independent investigations with teeth, as well as pressure the Commission to allow an audit of EPS’ bloated budget. In addition, I believe we should cut EPS’ budget by 10% and reinvest that money in affordable housing. I would be at the forefront of proposing these changes if I were elected to Council.
Affordable and effective transit.
The Edmonton Transit System is a vital service for people like me who rely on it as a primary means of transportation. We have an impressive transit system compared to many other municipalities in North America, but it still has many flaws. One of those is affordability. Council repeatedly approves fare hikes which are always unaffordable for the people who need transit the most. Really, transit should be free, but let’s start with enacting a freeze on fare hikes for 3 years and cutting the fares by 25 cents for both cash fares and all Arc cards. In addition, let’s pursue adding additional routes in parts of the city with poor access to transit.