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It was an unfortunate comment, speaking about Rideau Street and lamenting its ”chronic issues.” Those were the words of River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington, referring to “panhandlers and street people”. Brockington wants to see something done about Rideau Street, but aside from the implementation of Street Ambassadors, he is scant on the details, though he argues that the issues can’t merely be addressed with a new street design.

Brockington is right to be concerned with Rideau Street. It is such a prominent street in our city that it should be improved, and there are a number of concerns that are keeping it from being the beautiful main street it rightfully should. Unfortunately, to simply dismiss street design as the key element in turning the street around is to be blind to some of the most basic lessons of urban planning of the last half century.

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It is easy to turn to increased policing and anti-panhandling laws try to create a safer street, safer neighbourhood or safer city, but broken-windows policing is a deeply flawed basis for city building. Not only is it not effective, but sets the police (and the city) against the community, when, in fact, what we need is to fully engage the community with the life of the street.