Blair Anderson, on the hustings 'canvassing for opinion'

Blair Anderson, on the hustings 'canvassing for opinion'
affiliation: Blair4Mayor.com

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

SAFE CITY - Yeah Right!

Safe City Officers will begin patrolling Christchurch's central city streets from next Monday (20 October).


Up to 12 officers, working in pairs, will walk the central city streets from 9pm to 5.30am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights helping to raise residents and visitors perception of safety in the central city after dark.


Last year's Quality of Life in 12 of New Zealand's Cities report found Christchurch had the lowest percentage of residents who felt safe in their city centre after dark which Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says was unacceptable.


"Perceptions of safety take the longest to change but the Council is committed to making Christchurch the safest Domestic ViolenceImage by publik16 via Flickrcity in New Zealand and will look to introduce whatever is necessary to make our city safer for both residents and visitors.


"Statistics show in cities where Safe City Officer programmes operate the perception of safety after dark is 76 per cent higher."


Mr Parker says with the Safe City Officers and 25 additional crime prevention cameras, which will be operational in the city before Christmas, Council is looking for a significant improvement in the public's perception of safety in the city.


The Safe City Officers will focus on being highly visible in public areas already identified as high-risk for criminal offending and anti-social behaviour. Their prime roles will be to provide people with information and assistance; deter crime and anti-social behaviour through their visibility; collaborate and provide information to the police, Council and other agencies; and help identify hazards and other issues to help create a safe, vibrant night-time environment.


Alcohol. Drunkenness. Ruin.by Ewan-M via Flickr(Actually Bob, this is about Alcohol... and a ratepayer funded grift based on systemically flawed drug policy that only serves to pretend to fix the real problem. It will satisfy 'the public' who have been unjustly deluded into supporting more cameras and those for whom getting ugly on youth is an aging pastime. If we really fixed what is broken we wouldn't need to sanitise the sale of alcohol. /Blair)


The Safe City Officer programme will be operated by a local security company during the first six months while Council scopes the long-term operating requirements of the programme.
Mr Parker says the safe city officers will be easily identified in their uniform and yellow and black high-visibility jacket.


"It is great to have this new safety initiative operating in the week the city will be hosting 500 delegates from 28 countries at the 17th International Safe Communities Conference."


HOWEVER Consider what "working together to make a difference" really looks like....


In an August 2007 letter to the Denver City Council, Seattle [Christchurch's Sister City]councilmen Nick Licata and Tom Rasmussen referred to their city’s "cannabis" ordinance as “safe, effective, and inexpensive.” They also noted that, “In the three years since [the measure] was adopted, Seattle has experienced a significant decline in the number of marijuana arrests and prosecutions undertaken.” In fact, Seattle handled just 125 marijuana possession cases in 2006, compared to approximately 1,400 in Denver, despite it having a smaller population.

Fortunately for Denver citizens, however, there is an intervention – and a very public discussion – underway. As a result of the successful initiative in 2007, Mayor John Hickenlooper appointed a Marijuana Policy Review Panel, which is officially charged with implementing the “lowest priority” ordinance to the greatest extent possible.
The panel includes representatives of the police department and city attorney’s office, two marijuana policy reform advocates, three defense attorneys, a drug and alcohol abuse prevention counselor, and a domestic violence prevention advocate. The Denver District Attorney’s office was also supposed to be represented, but it refused to participate – a perfect example of the stubbornness and ignorance that lies at the heart of marijuana prohibition.
Drug Free Zone

Image by mastermaq



We'll Bugger Me! Seattle SAFER than Christchurch, WHO's deciding......?

See how ALL the participants in the Safer Christchurch initiative (notable for its exclusion of pro-reform policy stakeholders, contrary to Ottawa Charter Principles) avoid discussion from any quarter - NZ Police, Civic Leaders, Politicians etc. refuse to meet Harm Reductionists such as Judge Paradis etc. yet mutually laud the efforts of compatriot prohibitionists... Yuk, it makes me sick reading this...

Friday, October 10, 2008

Consultation on Urban Design/Sustainability

A National Policy on Urban Design?
Rangitoto Island as seen from the path around North Head, in Auckland, New Zealand.Image via WikipediaThe Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is currently seeking submissions on the development of a National Policy Statement (NPS) on Urban Design. Urban design is about the design of the buildings, places, spaces and networks that make up towns and cities, and the ways people use them. The Ministry is asking whether an NPS on Urban Design should be developed, and if so what issues of national significance it should address, and in what order. Submissions close on 30 September 2008. They go to greg.vossler@mfe.govt.nz, or to the Ministry for the Environment, PO Box 10362, Wellington 6143. A background paper is at http://www.mfe.


Building Sustainable Communities: Have Your Say

Discussion paper called "Building sustainable urban communities – designing a place-based approach to sustainable urban development in NZ" has been published by The Department of Internal Affairs.

Although an important factor, there is a complex relationship between urban densities and car use.Image via WikipediaSustainable urban development is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural quality of life in a city without leaving a burden on future generations. According to the NZ Urban Design Protocol, sustainable towns and cities are liveable, environmentally responsible and competitive, thriving, creative and innovative. They also offer opportunities for all, and have a distinctive identity, a shared vision and good governance.

By world standards, NZ is a highly urbanised nation, with 72% of the population living in the 16 main urban areas - around 33% of the population live in the Auckland urban region alone - and another Auckland and the inner Hauraki Gulf from space.Image via Wikipedia14% live in smaller towns. The way NZ's towns and cities have developed is the result of both deliberate planning and the choices and decisions made by investors, property developers and home buyers. The location and type of housing available has a big influence on economic performance, social cohesion, and the ability of a large number of NZers to lead sustainable, productive and enjoyable lives. The quality and location of retail and commercial buildings, of our community services and amenities like schools and recreational facilities also matter, because people need to be able to get between home, work, shops, offices, schools, parks and playgrounds relatively easily.

NZ is increasingly seeing significant economic, social, environmental and cultural changes in its urban areas. It is also dealing with issues such as affordable housing, increased fuel prices, congestion, pollution, social disadvantage, climate change, population growth, rapid technological change and changing demographics.

The discussion paper outlines a possible approach to sustainable urban development with a view to encouraging the development of sustainable urban areas that contain a number of housing choices.

Submissions close on 28 November 2008. They go to sudu@dia.govt.nz or Sustainable Urban Development Unit, DIA, PO Box 805, Wellington 6011. The discussion paper is at

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Resourcematerial-Building-Sustainable-Urban-Communities-Index?OpenDocument .

Copies are also in public libraries and the offices of local authorities, or you can email

sudu@dia.govt.nz or tel freephone 0800 824 824 for one
--
Blair Anderson ‹(•¿•)›

Spokesperson on Climate Change, Environment and Associate 'Shadow' Law And Order.
#6 'on the list' http://www.republicans.org.nz/

Social Ecologist 'at large'
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com/
http://blairformayor.blogspot.com/
http://blair4mayor.com/
http://efsdp.org/

ph (643) 389 4065 cell 027 265 7219

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