Safety concerns will be the focus of town hall event this evening
By Justin Sibbet - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on May 31, 2024.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDjsibbet@lethbridgeherald.com
From fentanyl-laced gummy bears laying around in a city park to armed robberies in convenience stores, some Lethbridge residents have had enough.
Common Sense Lethbridge is hosting a town hall Friday evening to highlight crime in the city and outline what public safety measures are being taken. Mayor Blaine Hyggen and city councillor John Middleton-Hope are set to attend, addressing community concerns and discussing steps being taken by the municipality to ensure the public is safe.
Ronnie DeGagne, executive director with Common Sense Lethbridge, said in a statement how important it is for people to voice their concerns.
“We hear from residents and business owners that they’re concerned about crime and safety, especially downtown. This event is an opportunity for people to hear what’s being done to alleviate these concerns and provide their feedback on what they think should be done.”
Kristy Koehler, a spokesperson for Common Sense Lethbridge, says emails are regularly sent to her organization from concerned citizens. However, she says there is work being done by City Council to fight back against crime.
“We’re seeing a lot of stuff come up at council too,” said Koehler. “Lots of actions that the City is taking with the Downtown Lawlessness Task Force plans to reduce graffiti, things like that.”
While the issues seen in the downtown core are a common theme of complaints, Koehler most people are simply concerned with the trends facing the city.
“A lot of people (are) just concerned in general that Lethbridge is getting a little more unsafe,” said Koehler.
This downward trend is not only dangerous for residents, but it is giving Lethbridge a negative image, according to Koehler.
“I think the perception of Lethbridge is that it’s not as safe of a city as it used to be,” said Koehler. “So, I think we’re looking to get a little more clarity from the City on what they think of (local crime statistics).”
On the flip side, she says the town hall will give an opportunity for the City to understand what is making residents feel unsafe.
“We had a lot of general comments and we’re looking to drill down on those and hear from people about what exactly they’re feeling unsafe about.
She says, with everything going on in Lethbridge right now, it was high time a town hall of this nature be held in the city.
“It just seemed like the right time to have this conversation.”
Furthermore, she says the event is open to everyone, no matter their background or political beliefs.
“It’s a nonpartisan event, so everyone is welcome,” said Koehler. “There’s no particular agenda other than just to facilitate that conversation.”
The town hall will be held at the German Canadian Club from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with organizers expecting a sellout, though at time of writing some tickets were still available.
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I would hope that people take advantage of this event, even though you have to buy tickets for a small cost to express their concerns.
Too many of these events see low numbers respond because many just have given up. The few who continue to fight for this city know we can get our city back, but people need to stand up for their city and attend meetings such as these, expressing their concerns. It supports the hard work our city government and first responders are doing!
Our city has moved forward further than other cities in this province and you can see a difference on the streets, but the job is far from done and your input is very important!
Please take the time to attend this event and others like it.
The Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force meets every 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 07:30 in Council Chambers and often there is wealth of information shared and opportunities for the public to speak for 5 minutes, presenting concerns.
This is your city and it is important you are involved and understand we can have our city back!