Coun. Blake Edwards says public intoxication and street disorder remain visible concerns in Prince Albert weeks after he raised the issue at city council.
Edwards told the Daily Herald he has continued seeing groups gathering along Second Avenue, including crowds of 10 to 20 people in the evening.
“There’s been crowds of up to 10 to 20 people there in the evening and partying,” Edwards said.
He said he has seen drinking, drug use and garbage being left behind, calling Second Avenue his main concern. He also pointed to some concerns around Cornerstone.
“It’s not great, and hurting our image,” he said.
Edwards said people coming into Prince Albert to shop or visit should feel safe and should not have to walk around people who are intoxicated or sleeping on sidewalks.
He said the city needs to continue looking at ways to address the problem rather than allowing it to become accepted as part of everyday life.
The Daily Herald has also heard about apparent intoxication and disturbances around a Carlton Park apartment complex. In one incident, a woman ran to a nearby apartment asking residents to call police, saying someone was chasing her.
Edwards said he has not received recent complaints from Carlton Park residents about the complex, although he said there have been concerns in the area in the past.
“It absolutely concerns me in any area that it might be,” Edwards said when asked about disturbances in residential areas where families live and children play.
“We’re too small a city for it to be occurring like it is, and it certainly needs to be addressed differently,” he said.
Edwards first raised the broader issue during council inquiries in August, questioning the city’s response to public drinking, drug use and repeated disturbances in several areas.
He said he still believes the complex needs facility will be an important part of the response.
Edwards said he has not received a firm opening date, but understands the facility is expected to open sometime later this fall.
“I think part of the problem is the facility isn’t open, and so therefore there’s not many places for these individuals to be placed,” he said.
Edwards said he expects the facility to make a difference for some people who repeatedly experience public intoxication and come into contact with police or other services.
He said the city itself is responding to the issue, including through bylaw enforcement and efforts to deal with encampments, but said many of the underlying social problems are beyond the city’s responsibility alone.
“I think we’re doing the best we can, but some of this is out of our hands,” Edwards said.
He said addressing the issue will require cooperation between the city, police and other agencies.
Edwards said council may also have to consider additional bylaw officers or security in shopping areas and other places where people regularly gather.
He said those discussions could come closer to budget time, when council can consider whether additional resources are needed.
For residents dealing with disturbances, Edwards said immediate safety concerns should be reported to police, while encampments and similar concerns can be reported to bylaw.
“If you’re worried about your safety, for sure, report it to police,” he said.
Edwards said residents should continue reporting incidents rather than simply accepting them as part of the city.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
