Avenuer
Senior Member
Even McCauley ain't that bad - the only iffy spots would be in front of either Hope Mission building or 96 St. from the LRT tracks to 107 Ave.
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
constance_chlore
Senior Member
Yeah, that's generally been my experience—and really I find it more depressing than menacing.
David A
Senior Member
There is a some randomness to crime, for instance home invasions and shootings have happened in nicer neighbourhoods in Edmonton too.
It seems when something serious happens downtown it just reinforces perceptions about it being unsafe, but when it happens in a more suburban area it is seen more as an isolated or random thing.
SarcasticMarmot
Active Member
That is definitely part of it, I would add that people also conflate discomfort with being unsafe. Seeing so many street involved folks and the mess they make is deeply unsettling and feels unsafe, even if almost all of them are no threat. Furthering that perception most people will tell you that small cities like Red Deer and Lethbridge have lower crime rates than Edmonton but that is categorically untrue: https://dailyhive.com/edmonton/alberta-city-highest-crime-rate-canadian-metros
Humans are notoriously bad at accurately gauging risk with common examples being people feel safer driving than flying even though driving is massively more risky, or how sexual assault fears focus on "stranger danger" even though the biggest risk is family and friends.
crisp
Active Member
It's really all about perception though, isn't it? Doesn't matter what the actual stats are, people choose where they want to be based on their own biased perceptions. And how do we change that????? That's the big question.
I have the suspicion that there is also more to it; using 'crime' as a factor is more like a scapegoat or the final blow to a decision that gets all the attention. I think people have a list of things they don't like about downtown, they've already created a negative opinion. Then they hear of one mugging and its like... 'yup, nope, never going downtown for anything'.
For me personally, I don't feel unsafe but I am disgusted with passing by people shooting up or smoking glass pipes in broad daylight, not even hiding it. I don't want to see it, I don't want to be near it, and it puts me in a negative mindset. So I can see why people don't want to go downtown for work or events.
I have the suspicion that there is also more to it; using 'crime' as a factor is more like a scapegoat or the final blow to a decision that gets all the attention. I think people have a list of things they don't like about downtown, they've already created a negative opinion. Then they hear of one mugging and its like... 'yup, nope, never going downtown for anything'.
For me personally, I don't feel unsafe but I am disgusted with passing by people shooting up or smoking glass pipes in broad daylight, not even hiding it. I don't want to see it, I don't want to be near it, and it puts me in a negative mindset. So I can see why people don't want to go downtown for work or events.
Gronk!
Senior Member
NicolBolas
Active Member
Perception is the only thing that matters.
ChazYEG
Senior Member
I understand the desire to keep some topics segregated, but I don't think it is entirely out of topic to be discussing this here, as long as it happened organically. It is kind of complicated to simply move a conversation over, especially when it takes place over days.
buildings
Active Member
disagree. people open a thread because they are interested in the content...to find it hijacked is very frustrating and I for one happily ignore those who refuse to stay on topic. Additionally, these derailments can lead to arguments and a lot of us remember what happened over on C2E
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TAS
Senior Member
What happened on C2E? Oops - see how easy it is to get sucked into a tangent?
Gus Haynes
Active Member
I'm not sure if this is a short-term aberration, but I noticed that, starting tomorrow night, Landmark City Centre is bringing back late-night (e.g. 10pm) screening times. I don't think they've done that since the pandemic. Kind of nice to see.
Markyeg
Active Member
Great news if it’s not short-term. I’ve always preferred the late night screenings as opposed to 7 pm-ish because it still gives you time to unwind after work, eat dinner etc.
Garceyues
Active Member
Yep. It also serves a completely different demographic of night owls which is nice to see.
David A
Senior Member
One of the issues with our downtown is so many things in the core close fairly early, which probably also leads to fewer people being out in the evening.
So this is a good thing both for people who live downtown want to go out later and for the vitality of the area.
So this is a good thing both for people who live downtown want to go out later and for the vitality of the area.
