open letter

Marilyn Burns

OPEN LETTER to all Edmonton City councillors, the Sun and the Journal.

Edmonton, September 19, 2006:

City Council's plan to improve the aesthetics of Edmonton Downtown-Eastside will not solve the area's problems because the human aspect is ignored. The "more fortunate" will not be attracted to the area because the concentration and composition of the "less fortunate" will not change.

In order to effectively solve the area's problems, firstly, a differentiation must be made between the mentally and physically challenged; low income earners; and the drug and prostitution culture.

Secondly, there should follow a three pronged effort, in reference to the three separate problem sources stated above.

The first effort should be to remove the mentally and physically challenged from the proximity of the drug and prostitution culture.

The second effort should be to house low income earners in respectable low income housing, and reduce taxes.

The third effort should be to address the drug and prostitution culture with a separate plan, involving City Council, the Edmonton City Police, Catholic and Public Schools, and the Provincial government. Consideration should be given to Colleen Klein's recommendations.

The supply and demand drug and prostitution culture, which relies on the perpetual scavenging of youth and vulnerable members of society will not be broken by "niceness".

Schools should be made safe by utilizing police dog searches, locker checks, and EPS liason workers. Officers should patrol high school door areas where drugs are sold, and increase patrol around the schools.

There should be a concerted effort to make prisons and the Remand Centre drug free. It is a shame that drug dealing and prostitution are rampant within sight of our police stations.

Agencies such as the Mustard Seed Church and Bissell Centre, which work to bring about positive change in the Downtown Eastside area, should be allocated increased resources.

Marilyn Burns,
Lawyer