[David A]

Besides the office worker question, it seems like we've got some synergy between Knack and the Chamber of Commerce.

Big fan of us finally talking more about what's happening and strengths, especially data. Like slap infographics of numbers everywhere. I really hope we keep shouting at how we have close to 5,000 units of residential units approved and under construction downtown (for now).

Calgary constantly talks about their office conversion program and the numbers they got from it. Why can't we talk about our successes in the same way and energy?

I don't think the people in Calgary talking about their office conversion program even realize we were actually doing office conversions here decades before already.

I am hopeful the City and the Chamber can have a better relationship, which will help build the momentum of what is happening with downtown residential development.

 

[Glenco]

Knack’s stand on back to office for city employees is getting really aggravating. It sounds more and more hollow the more he he repeats himself.

 

[Gronk!]

Edmonton mayor defends hybrid work model amid push for return-to-office​

Union asks council to not use workers as an ‘economic development tool’​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-mayor-defends-hybrid-work-return-to-office-9.7201513

 

[Gus Haynes]

Knack’s stand on back to office for city employees is getting really aggravating. It sounds more and more hollow the more he he repeats himself.

I'll tell ya about my Saturday night experience downtown, trying to see a movie shortly after 6pm:

1) Park at Manulife: a cheap and great parkade! The positives end here.
2) Try to take the pedway from Manulife to ECC: It's closed and locked.
3) Make my way down to the main level and cross the hazard that is LRT construction on foot.
4) Attempt to enter ECC using the 102 Ave entrance. NOPE. It's locked! (Despite this being an open and accessible entrance for the past few years, even after mall hours.)
5) Can't walk west, because the path is blocked by construction, so gotta loop around ECC by going east.
6) Can't enter into the 101 Street entrance because it's locked. Amusingly, the signage on that entrance encourages users to enter the mall after hours using the 102 Ave entrance.
7) Finally make my way in to the Delta Holtel entrance.
8) Can't use the escalators because they're broken.
9) First elevator that arrives has a large puddle of urine on the floor. Great!

Anyway, I say all this because it would be cool if, instead of antagonizing office workers, downtown businesses and property owners could spend some time cleaning up their own act. Open the damn pedways! Fix your broken infrastructure! Update your signage! Talk about aggravating.

 

[Gronk!]

Edmonton councillor applies to name street ‘Forever Canadian Avenue’

An Edmonton councillor will be applying to rename a section of 99 Avenue near the Alberta legislature “Forever Canadian Avenue” to honour the petition of the same name.

www.ctvnews.ca

While I agree with renaming 99 Avenue to Forever Canadian Avenue, why rename just 2 blocks? Why not rename it all the way from 114 St to 104 St?

 

[johnnyboy]

Head of Downtown Recovery Coalition blasts Knack's State of the City address

Cheryll Watson dares each mayor and councillors to pledge to take transit exclusively for all their travel for one week.

edmontonjournal.com

 

[Kosy123]

I don't really get what the exact point she's trying to make? It's good that CoE office workers aren't going back because it's unsafe so got ya on there Knack! (but yet she's fine with GoA, Federal and other employees)

We've heard so much consistent acknowledgement and pointing out of problems downtown that it's actually nice to have some nice aspirational words and optimism for once, especially when one of our biggest problems is marketing and perception of the core. And this point again of thinking some councillors don't take transit?

This feels like an entire article and a take that's stuck in 2021-2022 tbh. It feels completely contrary and counter-productive to what other organizations and people have been saying, including the Chamber of Commerce. Like I get there's a media blitz on pointing out problems in Canadian downtowns (Calgary's getting a ton lately weirdly), but yeah unsure what was the point of this one.

 

[thommyjo]

Head of Downtown Recovery Coalition blasts Knack's State of the City address

Cheryll Watson dares each mayor and councillors to pledge to take transit exclusively for all their travel for one week.

edmontonjournal.com

These sorts of “challenges” land so poorly because half our council literally does use transit and biking regularly.

It’s like a “gotcha” attempt except they’re too misinformed to realize it’s already happening…

Especially the most “left” members that more “right” people like to attack….salvador, Janz, knack…. They all practice what they preach and even bike in winter.

 

[TAS]

Head of Downtown Recovery Coalition blasts Knack's State of the City address

Cheryll Watson dares each mayor and councillors to pledge to take transit exclusively for all their travel for one week.

edmontonjournal.com

"Watson herself saw feces and blood smeared on the stairwell leading to the Loblaws in the Ice District."

I went down this stairwell once a few months ago and it was disgusting. I had to hold my breath. Obviously it hasn't improved.

I feel Stevenson and Knack's perspective on downtown is rosier than the reality, or at least some of their comments I've heard seem to suggest so. It's important to highlight the positive, but sometimes it can come across as not acknowledging the daily struggles.

 

[David A]

"Watson herself saw feces and blood smeared on the stairwell leading to the Loblaws in the Ice District."

I went down this stairwell once a few months ago and it was disgusting. I had to hold my breath. Obviously it hasn't improved.

I feel Stevenson and Knack's perspective on downtown is rosier than the reality, or at least some of their comments I've heard seem to suggest so. It's important to highlight the positive, but sometimes it can come across as not acknowledging the daily struggles.

Yeah, I am somewhere in the middle here. Some people get carried away in making over statements about problems and others seem to sugar coat or ignore them. Frankly, I don't think either approaches are credible.

 

[Kosy123]

These sorts of “challenges” land so poorly because half our council literally does use transit and biking regularly.

It’s like a “gotcha” attempt except they’re too misinformed to realize it’s already happening…

Especially the most “left” members that more “right” people like to attack….salvador, Janz, knack…. They all practice what they preach and even bike in winter.

Asking Janz to do a transit challenge is like asking the Pope if they're down for a mass lmao

 

[kcantor]

Yeah, I am somewhere in the middle here. Some people get carried away in making over statements about problems and others seem to sugar coat or ignore them. Frankly, I don't think either approaches are credible.

I’m also somewhere in the middle here but in any case this isn’t all on the city. Did Cheryl Watson report this to Loblaw’s or building security or the landlord (or all three?)? Of not, she’s as guilty as the city and if she did then three other parties are as guilty as the city.

 

[johnnyboy]

Is there anyone left in Edmonton who isn't aware that the City has virtually no control over EPS? And that the GoA has cut social services funding significantly? I'm sure Cheryll Watson and Doug Griffiths know. And yet there is never a peep from either of them asking the EPS or UCP to help address the problems with safety and social disorder downtown. It's always a council problem only; no blame to be shared.

Why isn't Cheryll challenging the chief of police and his deputies to take transit for a week?

 

[Gronk!]

I find it hilarious that Cheryll Watson is challenging city council to take public transit for a week despite the fact that she promised to kill the Valley Line West LRT project as Mayor of Edmonton (which she lost, thankfully). Maybe Cheryll should put her money where her mouth is and take public transit herself.

As for Loblaw's, the ICE District location is just another reason why I prefer to shop for groceries at Save-On Foods and at the Brewery District Loblaw's.