Cheryll Watson, chair of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition, has issued a bold challenge to Mayor Andrew Knack and all 12 city councillors: use public transit exclusively for all travel for one week. The challenge comes in response to what Watson calls Knack's overly optimistic State of the City address delivered Thursday to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.
Criticism of Knack's Address
Watson stated that Knack's portrayal of downtown recovery as progressing well was out of touch with the reality experienced by downtown business owners. She noted that nearly 80 percent of the audience consisted of downtown business owners, and the mayor's rosy depiction missed the mark. Watson emphasized that while it is the mayor's role to set aspirational goals, he must also acknowledge current hardships. She described his speech as all aspiration and lacking in reality.
Safety Concerns Highlighted
Watson shared alarming incidents that underscore downtown safety issues. Just days ago, two staff members of the Downtown Revitalization Coalition had to dodge a large piece of concrete thrown at them as they left the office. Watson herself witnessed feces and blood smeared on a stairwell leading to a Loblaws in the Ice District. Another employee reported being spit on while getting off a bus. These incidents, Watson argues, demonstrate that downtown is too unsafe to end work-from-home allowances that have been in place since COVID.
Call for Action
Watson expressed disappointment that Knack did not acknowledge the efforts of downtown business owners to revitalize the core, nor did he address suggestions sent by the coalition, such as a Safe Walk program with peace officers. She believes the mayor and council are disconnected from downtown issues because they do not experience them daily. To bridge this gap, Watson challenges Knack and councillors to use transit for all trips—to city hall, meetings, and events—for one week. She argues that if they claim ETS is safe and reliable, they should live by those words and witness the social disorder firsthand.
