3 Years and $580,000 into the Kipps Lane Initiative - Are we Safer?
With a Sexual Assault and other Serious Crimes Happening Recently on Kipps Lane Do
Residents Have to Wait Longer For Safety? It Shouldn't Take More Time.
On November 4th, 2008, the $45,000 Kipps Lane Survey (Study) was unveiled to 45 residents of the Kipps Lane Area. One elderly lady told of her inability to go for walks because teens blocked the sidewalk and wouldn't move. She said she felt scared. The City staff member who answered her question offered little help.
While watching those in attendance at the meeting I had the strong feeling that most wanted something done about home and car break-ins and the entrenched crime in the area which mixes dense high rises and town houses with single family homes.
I don't remember seeing too many of the people at that meeting at subsequent KLI meetings. I watched many of the faces of those in attendance and many seemed to be confused as to what this Kipps Lane Initiative was going to accomplish. Many seemed disappointed.
Three years into the the project and with $580,000 spent there is a "Neighbourhood Action Plan" and several priority areas but there is nothing to deal rapidly with the aftermath of sexual assaults in huge apartment complexes. What services are there to support the seniors in those buildings when the police cruisers leave. I lived in the complex where that sexual assault took place for ten years. I still have friends in there and keep in touch with them.
I have to ask what services will be there for the seniors who live in those buildings who I know well who won't sleep well after this incident?
Long Range Paper Plans, Priorities, Mission and Vision Statements are Useless at this time. We're dealing with human beings.
