Walking in Waterloo Region

[tomh009]

I do see bicycle cops which is great, but I've really only seen cops walking if they just parked their car to respond to something. Obviously the role of police (or even very existence) has been become a very sensitive topic, so I don't want to start a debate. But as someone who has known police, and has only neutral or positive experiences with them, I like the idea of having a local "police booth" downtown. The idea being that it forces them to be more in tune with the reality of the street, but also to develop relationships with the local area on the ground. Of course, I also understand the opposition to having a constant police presence in an area.

Koban! These are everywhere in Japan. And, yes, that's a police bicycle parked in front. Note the holder at the front for the keijou (stick).

Yes, it's been quite interesting. I've spent approximately 21 years in this city, and everything I wrote has been just within the last 3 years downtown. I am located about as centrally as possible, so it's possibly a factor if you are all even just a few blocks out. But since I've only experienced this downtown, in my mind it's a downtown problem. Of course there are people downtown who go a lifetime with no problems, and people in the suburbs who get mugged multiple times in their life, so there is an element of chance to it. Maybe I've just been exceptionally unlucky.

The folks further out being insulated from our urban reality is certainly interesting. I've spoken to many of my friends about this, and there are generally 2 reactions. The first is surprise, because they just don't know what things are like outside of their area. The second group is well aware of the area, and just doesn't understand why someone would choose to live downtown. I feel like after learning, the first group tends to become the second group, rather than becoming someone who wants to help solve these problems. It's much, much easier to run from an ugly situation than to put in effort to fix it. Those most capable are often the first leave. I don't blame them though, I begin to feel the same way. I don't see any action at the levels of government that can actually make a difference, and me writing MPs and MPPs doesn't force them to take action.

I did work downtown as teenager about 10 years ago, but I was mostly in and out. I experienced drunk customers, and some crazy people in the city buses back then, but I didn't spend much time "on the street" so I can't really speak to whether it feels better now than 10 years ago.

I'm curious, are you living in a house, apartment building or a smaller multiplex building?