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March 12th City Hall E-News¶
Posted by Michael Janz on March 12, 2023
This was posted more than 12 months ago. The information may be outdated.
FAIR DEAL¶
Edmonton's not asking for a special deal, just a fair deal. Data shows Edmonton is receiving inadequate support compared to Calgary. It is not hyperbole: the ideological policy choices of the UCP and their surrogates have resulted in suffering, unnecessary cruelty, criminalization, amputations, and premature death. Not to mention your higher home and car insurance, policing, security, and other costs.
Meanwhile, another Shigella Outbreak has been re-declared in our most vulnerable community.
Please share the full video here: The Contrast Between Edmonton and Calgary.
Finally, Premier Smith found time to meet with Edmonton's Mayor this past week after being elected leader (half a year ago?) in October. Mayor Sohi compiled an impressive amount of data showing how Edmonton isn't getting a fair deal compared to Calgary. This isn't partisan, it's just fact.
If you hear about or see an encampment in your community, an unhoused person on the LRT, a person with addiction in your alleyway-- make sure to help your neighbours draw a clear line of responsibility between the provincial governments failures surrounding health and social services and the outcomes on your block.
My office is working on compiling tax data to show how we are paying higher property taxes (policing costs for example) as a consequence. Please reach out if you would like to support this exercise.
NEXT STOP: TRANSIT CAMP¶
What if taking transit was the FIRST CHOICE for your children or neighbours? Do you feel like you even have a choice? Over 300 have RSVP'd to spend Saturday at Transit Camp to dig into building better transit for everyone!
NEW GUEST SPEAKER: - Shelagh Pizey-Allen, the organizer for the Toronto-based TTC Riders will be joining us virtually in the afternoon. The work they do is a model for what we can do.
CAKE ALERT: March 18th is transit operators appreciation day. We will have a cake!
OPTIONAL BACKGROUND READING: - https://www.vtpi.org/safer.pdf - Safer than you think - Victoria Transport Policy Initiative. - Organizing Transit Riders: A how-to manual: Great testimonials from across the USA.
BOOK LAUNCH¶
This isn't a prohibition advocacy book, but after reading James Wilt's book, I'm only drinking local from now on, and I'm trying to push for more alternatives. Let's talk about alcohol policy, monopolies, corruption, public health, drugs, relaxation, and celebrate working class joy.
Join us at Dewey's billiards and pub on Campus. Doors and billiards at 4:00PM, and then James Wilt will be giving his book talk and Q&A at 6PM. All attendees will receive a take-home "boocha" courtesy of BoochaYEG/my office. Proceeds to the Campus Food Bank.
TICKETS: www.michaeljanz.ca/drinkinguptherevolution
Book review: https://www.3ammagazine.com/3am/drinking-up-the-revolution/
ROLLIE MILES¶
Check out the design and share feedback!
Online Public Engagement Meeting - Wednesday, March 15, 2023 6:30 p.m. The project team will discuss the schematic design and answer questions. Registration Link
Online Survey March 15 - March 29, 2023 - Visit the project page for survey link: edmonton.ca/RollieMilesRec
This is the second round of engagement on the planning and design of the project. Last fall, engagement helped determine which of the three options was best suited for the community. This round of engagement serves to confirm the choices made and collect feedback on the design. Following this engagement, the project design will progress with the goal of having the preliminary design completed by the end of summer. The project is currently funded through planning and design (Project Develop and Deliver Model - Checkpoint 3).
For information on the project, visit edmonton.ca/RollieMilesRec
AWAITING JUSTICE¶
CITYNEWS notes, two weeks later, still no answers. Edmonton Police Brutality caught on video. Officer duty status "under review".
Good on @CityNewsYEG for their persistence. "Two weeks later, it's still UNCLEAR if there were any injuries, or what charges the man is facing. As for the officer, Edmonton police confirmed Friday, his DUTY STATUS, IS STILL UNDER REVIEW."
ACCOUNTABILITY¶
Taproot News reported this week that a slightly higher number police officers are leaving their position. This item will be reviewed at City Council this week.
What was interesting is that the Police spokesperson in the taproot story. According to EPS spokesperson Aubrey Zalaski many left, "citing a negative political environment that made the job less enjoyable."
Local Journalists at Progress Alberta looked up Aubrey Zalaski in the Alberta Police Misconduct Database and found three entries on him: *In 2007, Zalaski was found to have accosted an individual with no lawful authority to arrest him, and used an excessive amount of force after tasering the man. Zalaski was found and convicted of assault with a weapon. In 2010 Zalaski went on CHED and blamed women for being sexually assault