Discussions

What is up with the policeing in the downtown core. I live downtown and get out often. Every day I see the bus shelters full of drinkers and smokers. If waiting for a bus the shelter is no good to me as too full of boozers. My bank relocated from 9st to 18st but at least had access to the bank machine but closed it down also because of all the boozers camping out in the entrance. U couldn't even use the machine and feel comfortable as when u went in was about at least half dozen persons stretched out on floor drinking and smoking . Who wants to use the machine and feel safe doing so. So what does bank do...close down instead of doing something about it. Sad that the ones that use the bank now have to be incovienced. A lot of bank machine lobby's are being used as booze cans after hrs and no repercussions. The police can't be that blind to not see what is going on here.DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!!

first came out at my indtution i had to use my card to open the door to get into the lobby to use atm then after few years they did away with that option maybe financial instution should bring that back of open door with your debit card

This doesn't seem like a real issue, and I don't recall seeing any BPS reports that would indicate anyone needs to worry about this.  
 
Are you being harassed or hassled, or do you just not like seeing people that may not have anywhere else to keep warm during the winter?

If you have not seen it, it doesn't happen?

Obviously you never take busses or use downtown banks !! Was homeless for long time myself but didn't hang around bus shelters, back alleys and bank lobbies so had place out of the wind to get drunk. By the way it doesn't matter what season it is.!!!! It's done all the time, bus drivers see it all the time and if so blind they don't then they shouldn't be driving a bus, they could report it to police. We have to stand out in bitter cold wind so they have sheltered place to get loaded, YA RIGHT DUHH  
 
Edited by rollinstone, 2020-12-17 09:04:03

Can you cite any sort of statistics that would support the argument that this is an issue beyond aesthetics?  
 
If you don't like the way it looks, that's fine...but just be clear about it. Don't try to make an argument about safety that can't be supported.  
 
To my knowledge there is no statistically significant amount of crime in Brandon that can be attributed to people loitering or drinking in ATM vestibules and bus shelters.

R u for real. Should put ur address on here and I'll let them know that they can sit on your front step or in your back alley and party. Better yet go hang out in your bank's lobby after hrs and hope u have to use the machine. Make sure u hand them out few dollars for "Bus fare" when asked lmfao. It's not about the safety factor but u keep your closed mind and u be ok  
 
Edited by rollinstone, 2020-12-17 09:24:09

that's one reason people don't like to go downtown for any reason!

Part of the problem is it’s the same people doing this drinking. And they are at a point where going to jail doesn’t mean anything to them. They get out. Drink some more. It’s a perpetual cycle that they live.  
 
Ontop of this you have covid and they lack of wanting to put people in jail for petty crimes. So they know they have a get out free card in that instance.

Getrect,  
 
You have obviously never banked downtown. There is someone waiting to harass/possibly Rob you for money almost everytime you go in/out. The problem was obviously bad enough TD moved.  
 
I have been approached numerous times near my vehicle in the past just outside the bank. The crowd downtown regardless of the circumstances is a problem whether it's politically correct to talk about it or not.  
 
Edited by bean, 2020-12-17 21:44:35

I also live downtown and every morning I see the bank lobbies full of people taking shelter.  
 
Downtown needs some creative solutions. I've always thought it would be nice if there was a 24hr licenced community center (not a bar).

are ok for security but they charge me alot of fees and high interest for mortgage  
been t a member 38 years now thinking of switching but downtown banks are scarry to go to with above mentioned posts  
and being asked for money when down there  
 
Edited by Brian, 2020-12-18 06:37:51

I am for real.  
 
I live downtown. I have no issue whatsoever with what you are describing.  
 
You say isn't about the safety factor, then what is it about?

As previously posted, I live downtown. I also bank downtown. I have never had any issue with anyone in a vestibule or outside of one.  
 
Being approached by someone is not the same as harassment.  
 
Why are you concerned about the political correctness of disgusting people you think are a problem in the downtown area?  
 
And, as I've previously asked, can you (or anyone else, for that matter) please provide some support for your point that robberies are any sort of issue downtown (or in Brandon, generally)?

that should read "discussing."  
 
Pulling double-duty..apologies.

Lol..ur blind as to what it's all about. More than likely because you are one of them

One of them? Can you elaborate on that?  
 
Again...you've said that safety isn't an issue, so what is your problem with these people?

around too many alcoholics, can't stand them now!  
I do know some alcoholics and they know how I feel, if they are drunk and acting stupid then they should not be knocking on my door bugging me. They respect that and I appreciate them for doing so.  
 
I doubt that being approached by a stranger who is intoxicated would appreciate me asking them to keep their distance from me. If someone is drunk and a stranger you have no idea what could be coming next.  
Not all of them but there would be some.  
There has been enough random attacks on people downtown.  
 
I have driven along Rosser and had to be careful because intoxicated people arguing and trying to fight right on the road, ugh.  
 
Downtown is not a place I would want to have to go every day. That being said there are wonderful businesses on Rosser. Dunes, Ten Thousand Villages, New System Store, Union and not to mention the restaurants on the same avenue. But I don't feel care free when I do go to one of these places.

Respectfully, I think we would all do well not to assume that people are intoxicated if don't know they are. Intoxication presents differently in people, and signs that some people may use to determine intoxication like slurred speech, difficulty walking, etc, can also be signs of other issues people may be dealing with.  
 
In any event, I'll ask you the same thing I've asked everyone else (with little success)..can you provide any statistic that shows that "random attacks" are an issue in the downtown area?  
 
I appreciate you seeming to take a more level approach to this discussion than other users, and I too love the stores downtown, but I would definitely feel safe going to any of them, so we disagree there.  
 
Rosser is a street with a ton of foot traffic, and people spilling in to the streets is definitely something I've come across, but that is far from what the TC created this topic to talk about.

Posted a picture of the crime map. Paints a bleak picture of the core area in my opinion.

It doesn't really paint any picture, frankly...  
 
I'm trying to be fair here, but there's no data at all on that heat map.

Am I right in reading that it represents the time period of March 16 - April 20, 2020? That's....4 weeks.

I have worked downtown every day for many, many years. I have never felt unsafe when walking somewhere. I still do not feel unsafe walking downtown, though I watch who is around. That is also during business hours. I would not walk around downtown after dark. I would not go I to the bank lobby to use the ATM if there were several people loitering in that lobby. Maybe they would pose no threat to me, but I am not going to take any chance of being confronted in a situation like that. I know buildings that have locked their back or side exits to prevent people from going in and sleeping in the entranceway or hallway.  
 
Banks should perhaps require clients to use their bank card to gain entrance to the lobby, though of course that does not help if someone decides to loiter outside the door instead.  
 
As far as providing proof that there is any risk of going in to use the ATM while there are people loitering in the lobby? Who cares what statistics say about the risk. So what if there is only 1 assault every 6 or 8 months? That's all good unless you happen to be that person assaulted in this 6 month period. If some people are uncomfortable in a certain situation, then they are uncomfortable.

I'm always surprised by those who say downtown is unsafe and blame policing for the issues. What is Brandon spending on policing now? Close to 20% of the city budget? Policing isn't the answer. Never has been, never will be. And it would be far more useful if police resources were concentrated on bigger issues than alcoholism and drugs - which are health/mental health/addictions issues that will not be solved by repeatedly arresting people.  
 
Alcoholism, homelessness, poverty, drugs and mental health issues won't be solved via policing. Further, it's not the role of the police to remove people from private property without any request to do so. If a bank wants somebody removed, that's their call to make. But police shouldn't be proactively removing people from private property - that's a waste of resources.  
 
Yes, downtown Brandon is not particularly pleasant - but neither are large sections of the downtown cores of virtually any other city in this country. Efforts to 'clean up' social problems via policing almost always fail - and in bigger cities often push the problems into other parts of the city.  
 
Brandon's downtown certainly isn't unsafe. It may not be comfortable for everyone to see the reality of life for those less fortunate - but safety isn't a big issue here. However, the perception that it is unsafe is driving more and more business away. At which point, everyone complains that downtown Brandon is falling apart.  
 
Brandon's issues are the issues facing every city in this country. There's a patchwork of often not entirely effective and often overlapping social programs and there's a whole ton of social problems. There are no easy or cheap solutions. If you're uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the reality facing large numbers of people suffering from addictions, poverty, or mental health issues then I guess continue to avoid that reality. Or do something about it. Advocate for some solutions from your politicians. Without viable solutions, it's only going to get worse...  
 
There's an old saying: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.  
 
Nobody wants to grow up to be an alcoholic, or to have mental health issues, or to be poor, or to abuse drugs. Some people just need help. Some might appear beyond help. Some might actually be. But I doubt any of them genuinely wants their problems. Be kind.  
 
Edited by JosephC, 2020-12-18 19:55:09

The last mayoral race had zero contenders (aside from the incumbent) despite all of these issues being prevalent. Maybe it's time for that to change.  
 
In the meantime, what can be done NOW to address this problem?  
 
Indeed, that looks like a cop-out reply, and in a sense is (I don't have the last name to win an election in this city). But it's still a valid question. What CAN be done, and why isn't it happening already?

aren't from Brandon are you?