Quote:
Originally Posted by newflyer
Having a clean downtown, with less panahndlers would greatly improve its appeal.
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Yes, and proximate neighbourhoods would suffer. We introduced a police presence in our downtown cores and do you know what happened? Neighbourhoods just outside the limits saw crime rates increase several hundred percent. Go one block over from my apartment--outside the regularly patrolled area, in a residential neighbourhood--and you'll find prostitutes. A year ago this neighbourhood was poorer but they weren't there. That's what more police achieved! That's what getting rid of panhandlers and prostitutes did for
thecityasawhole. And yes, please forgive me for being an urbanist who takes
the whole city into account when planning things. So few people have the ability to step back and look at the big picture these days. They kicked people bumming for smokes out of downtown and now they're hanging out at the hotels by the airport! Instead of downtown having a bad rep from locals the city is developing a bad rep from everyone.
But hey, downtown is clean now!