PublicSpacesbylaw

On Tuesday, city council approved a new public spaces bylaw intended to clarify behaviours that are and are not allowed in public in Edmonton. The public spaces bylaw combines transit, parks and public places bylaws along with some new offences. The list is quite extensive (see pages 31-36 below) with fines ranging from $25 - $1000 with most being in the between $250 and $500 range for infractions.

Mayor Sohi, said the bylaw makes it easier to enforce expectations for behaviour across all kinds of public spaces.

After reading the bylaw I'm left with two questions: 1. who and how will the bylaw be enforced? and 2. will the bylaw make city spaces safer? Time will tell.

Jeff Gunter In his usual manner looks at an issue from a contrarian perspective which is often accompanied by some poignant and important questions. In the case of the most recent iteration of the Public Spaces Bylaw he wonders, as do I and probably many others, what's the purpose, who benefits and what real difference will it make to our City?

People who have lived in Edmonton for a decade or more know how much the downtown core changed, especially at street level, and I think most would say not for the better. I also think that is why a new Public Spaces bylaw has been proposed and now opposed.

Public behavior was in focus at City Hall on Monday as more than 50 Edmontonians met to share conflicting opinions about the proposed Public Spaces bylaw. Those in favor spoke about safety and health concerns while those opposed stressed harm to the homeless and limits to freedom of expression.

The Journal article below lists some of the thoughts expressed at Monday's meeting.