By Liz Bernstein
Dear neighbours,
The leaves have nearly all fallen, and the days are shorter and colder. We Ottawans have elected a new City Council. During the election campaign many Lowertown residents worked hard to ask candidates and spark debate about key issues in our community including the environment and climate change, transportation, housing, social services addressing poverty, heritage and planning, the ByWard Market, and of course safety and security in our community. The Lowertown Community Association (LCA) released a study “Crime and Public Disorder in Lowertown, Ottawa: Trends, Causes, and Solutions” that confirmed that crime rates in Lowertown are much higher than in other similar downtown communities. The researchers, two students from the Master’s Program in Criminology at the University of Ottawa, presented the report of their findings to Lowertown residents on October 9, followed by a lively discussion on follow-up actions. Norman Moyer, who led the research project, noted LCA demands that the city develop an Action Plan, in collaboration with all stakeholders. The new City Council should designate it a Term of Council Priority. The full text of the report is available at http://www.lowertown-basseville.ca/
Another element of safety in our community is our environment. Our new City Council’s adaption to climate change is key – so we’re better prepared to deal with the floods, fires, tornados and other severe weather. Our safety in walking, biking, skateboarding and using wheelchairs to get around our community without fear of being run down by cars or trucks, restoring King Edward from a traffic sewer to a boulevard for all, and improving our own health and reducing emissions while we do.
Then there are the trees. In a 2015 Toronto-based study, researchers found that city trees, especially those lining our streets, are linked to a “significant, independent, and reliable increase in health benefits.” The multi-authored study, “Neighbourhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban Centre, The multi-authored study, “Neighbourhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban Centre,” found that adding more trees on your street was like getting a salary raise, in terms of health perception
And then there’s trees and crime. A few days after the release of the LCA crime-rates study, I listened to a Hidden Brain podcast called “Our Better Nature”. In it, psychologist Ming Kuo, who has studied the effects of nature for more than 30 years, discussed one of her findings documented in “Environment and Crime in the Inner City: Does Vegetation Reduce Crime?” Kuo and Bill Sullivan, at the University of Illinois-Champagne Urbana, studied a public housing complex where residents were randomly assigned to apartments, some with “greener” settings and some without. Results showed that residents in buildings with greenery had lower rates of aggression and violence, reported lower levels of fear, and “the greener a building’s surroundings were, the fewer crimes reported.”
While we need to address systemic issues of poverty, homelessness and access to health services for all Ottawans, we can’t forget another tool in the toolbox: trees and greenery, even in small amounts. Thanks to our volunteers who worked hard to plant gardens and clean up Bingham Park, improved Rose and MacDonald Gardens Park and revitalized and cared for newly planted trees in Cathcart Square Park.
Ecology Ottawa recently shared that most members of the new Council, including Councillor Mathieu Fleury, who responded to their survey on climate change action, sustainable transportation, green space protection and waste management articulated support. While 11 of 24 council members didn’t respond and Mayor Watson was vague and noncommittal, it is clear that with more hard work, it is possible to ensure that the new City Council does take meaningful action on environmental issues, and makes them a Term of Council priority.
Last but not least I’d like to congratulate Councillor Mathieu Fleury on his re-election, and thank Thierry Harris for running as a candidate in the election. Thank you to all of you who volunteered, and worked hard to support one candidate, or to ensure issues important to our community were discussed, or events held to meet candidates. We look forward to working with you to hold our new City Council accountable to improve our community, and Ottawa.
Liz Bernstein,
President, Lowertown Community Association