Calgary Transit C-Train is a mess of drug users and violence

[Sundancefisher]

https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime...d-with-hatchet

It doesn’t take much to see the mess these days. Is the city no longer arresting drug users? You can openly see drug use on trains and platforms.

People walking in circles high, passed out on platforms and in shelters and trains.

Aggressive druggies harassing riders.

Everyone seems oblivious.

Violence is a constant concern. A woman just took a hatchet to the head. The problems get worse daily. What’s going to change.

I am opposed to open use on transit assets. I am in favour of police arresting and removing these people. It’s like everyday there is cause to push the help button.

While some people can handle it… just had a large druggie stalk my kid on a platform. It’s freaking ridiculous.

[fishtank]

Same as Edmonton, they just don’t make the news . The LRT in Edmonton bringing the Gongshow to all neighbourhoods on its path .

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by fishtank

Same as Edmonton, they just don’t make the news . The LRT in Edmonton bringing the Gongshow to all neighbourhoods on its path .

Drug use thefts are strongly supported by transit.

[JB_AOL]

The problem with the current LRT system is that it is essentially an "honor" system.

If they put turnstiles at the entrance to each station and made sure there was no way to avoid the turnstile, the problems would essentially go away.. but they think this brilliant free fare zone is a necessity.

I still know alot of people (everyday business men) who take the train everyday, and don't pay during rush hour. Only one has got a ticket.

[graybeard]

City Halls answer is to, extend the transit and C-train lines in an effort to dilute/reduce the current perceived problems....

Lefty thinking at its best.
Further to that, and as a result, there are less homeless on the streets and no room at the shelters because they on transit...

The mayor must have learned that heated merry-go-round in Houston.

Sundance: sorry for your sons experience...I hope he is ok....

Those bullies need a hickory shower.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

https://calgaryherald.com/news/crime...d-with-hatchet

It doesn’t take much to see the mess these days. Is the city no longer arresting drug users? You can openly see drug use on trains and platforms.

People walking in circles high, passed out on platforms and in shelters and trains.

Aggressive druggies harassing riders.

Everyone seems oblivious.

Violence is a constant concern. A woman just took a hatchet to the head. The problems get worse daily. What’s going to change.

I am opposed to open use on transit assets. I am in favour of police arresting and removing these people. It’s like everyday there is cause to push the help button.

While some people can handle it… just had a large druggie stalk my kid on a platform. It’s freaking ridiculous.

Socialist utopia.

[Fisherdan]

It literally is a train wreck. Addiction and homelessness is completely out of control and rampant in Calgary now. I took the train in September and October to get to SAIT, and I’ve never seen anything like it. Junkies with crack pipes, stolen copper wiring, people flopping around the train. Just unbelievable.

In those two months taking the train, I did not see a single police officer on a train. I saw two police officers on a platform once. I honestly believe they have given up. I don’t blame them either. Who signs up to deal with this crap! They used to go around asking for tickets. It would be impossible now. They would get half way down the first train car and have to deal with the junkie.

What has changed? In my opinion, opiates. And all the addictions that have stemmed from that. I believe that the pandemic also accelerated what was already snowballing before. At some point our society will have to deal with this somehow. I don’t know if we are getting close to a point where we have to. Eventually, it will be less expensive to deal with these people then deal with the crime and other troubles that they bring. I imagine at that point politicians will start to act.

[ehrgeiz]

Hey!!

They're called people experiencing homelessness and people experiencing the negative effects of illegal drug use. Don't you guys know you must remove any accountability from the individual and their decisions that resulted in this outcome. It's our collective responsibility to provide free housing for these victims and subsidize their harmful lifestyle at the expense of our personal safety.

And stop perpetuating negative stereotypes! Most of these transit "users" only want to harass you for small change and there is like only a 5% chance they'll violently assault you. And if you are Caucasian, the assault is probably deserved because you are most certainly privileged and have contributed to systematic racism.

Signed,

City Councilor Settler-Ally/ Climate-Warrior
(he/she, 2 spirited, non-binary something or other)

[Kale_M]

I know quite a few of the transit officers. So I get to hear some of the concerns.

There are 30 more peace officers being currently hired and trained.

As with everyone right now they are short staffed. They are out there everyday dealing with this ****. Obviously the colder weather draws more degenerates to the warm stations. They attended the stations, kick out the losers and have to move on to the next station, the losers go away for 20 mins then come back.

Keep in mind that the majority of the violence you hear about is dirt bag on dirt bag violence. The general pubic is very rarely involved.

The shelters have tons of room. The losers that you see on the train system are ones That are either banned from the shelters or don’t want to go their due to the rules that are there (can’t use drugs there).

Officers arrest people for serious offences and the courts release them. Not much the officers can do about that.

Believe me, the officers want more resources, they are getting burned out dealing with these idiots every day.

[roper1]

Coming home from Calgary Stampede this summer couple fellas on there just absolutely ripped. One guy with a brand new bicycle. What are they doing on a C-Train with a brand new bike.

[CaberTosser]

Judge Dredd street judges, it's time.

They can offer options to stay @ rehab facilities in the most remote reaches of the province. One or the other.

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by Kale_M

I know quite a few of the transit officers. So I get to hear some of the concerns.

There are 30 more peace officers being currently hired and trained.

As with everyone right now they are short staffed. They are out there everyday dealing with this ****. Obviously the colder weather draws more degenerates to the warm stations. They attended the stations, kick out the losers and have to move on to the next station, the losers go away for 20 mins then come back.

Keep in mind that the majority of the violence you hear about is dirt bag on dirt bag violence. The general pubic is very rarely involved.

The shelters have tons of room. The losers that you see on the train system are ones That are either banned from the shelters or don’t want to go their due to the rules that are there (can’t use drugs there).

Officers arrest people for serious offences and the courts release them. Not much the officers can do about that.

Believe me, the officers want more resources, they are getting burned out dealing with these idiots every day.

Some shelters like at Somerset can have 10 people doing drugs and talking about what grocery store to shoplift. Urinating or throwing up, actively doing drugs and no one around…but there are cameras so CT can see this crap.

I’ve personally see theft scum people traveling to stations and using transit for all their criminal travel needs.

CT enables them. It’s stupid.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by roper1

Coming home from Calgary Stampede this summer couple fellas on there just absolutely ripped. One guy with a brand new bicycle. What are they doing on a C-Train with a brand new bike.

Getting as far away from the place they stole it from as quick as possible

[Kale_M]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Some shelters like at Somerset can have 10 people doing drugs and talking about what grocery store to shoplift. Urinating or throwing up, actively doing drugs and no one around…but there are cameras so CT can see this crap.

I’ve personally see theft scum people traveling to stations and using transit for all their criminal travel needs.

CT enables them. It’s stupid.

There are 1500 cameras yes, but also if you can find a way to be in 3 places at once I am sure they are all ears

[tallieho]

I won't & have never been on those things.Lived in Calgary for 69 years.Paid for the fu---in things.All the transit cops,CPC & this bullsh-t goes on.Why ? Are they scared Yes. Look at some of the last interactions ,on these trains.With police.Transit cops are now armed,but rarely draw there weapons.Social media protects these blatant Ant crimes..It is not a Calgary thing.I'll bet everywhere in the world,with public transit.Suffers from this ..

[58thecat]

Turn off the lights, cameras, cell phones etc and do a sweep of these areas quickly dealing with the scum....no one goes to jail rather to the train station.



Ohh but someone would find this tactic offensive yet the very next day complain about how unsafe certain areas of cities are dangerous.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Turn off the lights, cameras, cell phones etc and do a sweep of these areas quickly dealing with the scum....no one goes to jail rather to the train station.

Ohh but someone would find this tactic offensive yet the very next day complain about how unsafe certain areas of cities are dangerous.

Perhaps they can learn from Edmonton, and throw weighted tennis balls at them?

[fishtank]

Originally Posted by tallieho

I won't & have never been on those things.Lived in Calgary for 69 years.Paid for the fu---in things.All the transit cops,CPC & this bullsh-t goes on.Why ? Are they scared Yes. Look at some of the last interactions ,on these trains.With police.Transit cops are now armed,but rarely draw there weapons.Social media protects these blatant Ant crimes..It is not a Calgary thing.I'll bet everywhere in the world,with public transit.Suffers from this ..

Last Philippines drug sweeps and I think they just shot em on the spot . Every politician should only be allowed use public transportation, it’s will bring em a dose of reality .

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Perhaps they can learn from Edmonton, and throw weighted tennis balls at them?

Weighted with lead ?

[Ackleyman]

Bernhard Goetz knew how to deal with them.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Turn off the lights, cameras, cell phones etc and do a sweep of these areas quickly dealing with the scum....no one goes to jail rather to the train station.



Ohh but someone would find this tactic offensive yet the very next day complain about how unsafe certain areas of cities are dangerous.

wrong kinda train

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by fishtank

Every politician should only be allowed use public transportation, it’s will bring em a dose of reality.

I think you're onto something there. Make 'em take the LRT exclusively for a month or two. And not just the outlying areas.

[ÜberFly]

Transit (Peace) Officers cannot and do not carry firearms (they can carry pepper spray and possibly a taser - but I don't think so), but they are definitely not armed!

Originally Posted by tallieho

Transit cops are now armed,but rarely draw there weapons.

[ÜberFly]

Having traveled to Paris recently and exclusively rode their amazing and super convenient/efficient public transit system I did not see any of these issues. We can learn a thing or two from them, that's for sure!

Originally Posted by tallieho

It is not a Calgary thing.I'll bet everywhere in the world,with public transit.Suffers from this ..

[Redfrog]

If so many people are frustrated with the current situation why are Law and order candidates never elected?

[urban rednek]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

If so many people are frustrated with the current situation why are Law and order candidates never elected?

Municipally, Calgary is following Edmonton's lead; we elect virtue signalling, well-meaning progressives over anyone with common sense or a law and order platform.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by urban rednek

Municipally, Calgary is following Edmonton's lead; we elect virtue signalling, well-meaning progressives over anyone with common sense or a law and order platform.

And that is the real issue.

[dbg498]

The problem is just not the city. The crown prosecutors informed the police that they will not prosecute simple drug possession. In effect drug possession has been decriminalized without going through parliament. The City of Calgary has also refused to lock the C Train stations when the trains are not running. They think the drug users and homeless need warm places. So if you are too violent or crazy to get into a shelter you can hang out at the C Train stations. We have become a very soft country.

[jstubbs]

Lets look at the underlying causes of the social disorder happening in both Calgary and Edmonton. They are primarily comprised of:

-Low level street gangs and drug dealers
-People dealing with mental disorder and distress
-People dealing with substance abuse issues

To me, that’s one justice system issue (gangs and drug trade), and two healthcare issues (mental health and substance abuse). Where does either the City of Calgary or City of Edmonton have the resources to deal with these issues? Both of those fall under Federal and Provincial discretion.

Our upper level governments are failing our cities. It’s clear as day to me. CPS and EPS can arrest every drug dealer in their respective City’s, but it’s a revolving door through our justice system and they’re back out on the streets up to their same crap within hours, released on “promise to appear”. When is Justice Canada and Alberta Justice & Solicitor going to step up and build our legal system into one that can actually support the volume of criminals that are being arrested (and re-arrested) daily?

When is Alberta Health going to step up and start implementing proactive mental healthcare options more widely available to support those before they slip through the cracks of a mental breakdown or substance abuse that leads to poverty and homelessness? And how many of those folks wind up committing crimes or joining gangs just to survive? Especially young kids? When is the Federal Government going to recognize that as well and implement higher transfer specifically for mental health?

Telling Calgary to find a solution for their social disorder when they don’t hold the power to properly deal with the cause is like telling a renter to clean up all the roaches coming into their apartment, when the building owner is the only one who can call an exterminator and is the not punishing those who keep bringing them in.

[Camdelle]

I am really surprised by some of the language here.

The transit employees or the authority's are happy with the situation? Come on, get serious!

Like cops dont want to go after the bad guys.

Like health authorities dont want to help sick people.

It all comes down to money in this province. We have thrown trillions of dollars of wealth in resource dollars to large multinational companies and have kept pennies for ourselves. Then when **** needs to be cleaned up after they have milked us dry and leave we go into debt for the cleanups.

Husky took their share of 6.5 billion in handouts and then laid off 100's of people days later.

Our health care system is constantly under attack. We had a minister.. Shandro and his wife runs a company that profited from his decisions.

We have minister opening coal mines on his own land and running the mustard seed at a profit for himself and his brother.

We have a premier now who should have been a convicted thief from stealing from the people of Alberta before and now she is back????????

I have no problem going after drug dealers and everything else.

But we let all the scum bag leaders of our society do whatever they want with no ramifications.

Look at Diefenbacker. Trudeau 1, Chretien, Paul Martin, Brian Mulrooney, Stephen Harper, Trudeau 2, Lougheed, Klein, and smith just to name a few.

And we constantly go after the weakest in our society or we go after honest people doing unglamorous honest work....

I just dont get it.

[Camdelle]

Red Deer cannot get a real upgrade to the hospital..... But do you see that new 10 story courthouse they are building?????