Clark looking at new ways to approach ‘failing systems’

Charlie Clark is looking to decrease crime in Saskatoon if he is re-elected as the city’s mayor for another four years.

Clark announced his safety platform on Thursday, focusing on three areas to reach that goal: Strengthening police-community partnerships, addressing root causes of crime and making neighbourhoods safe.

With pressure mounting as the city grapples with two consecutive years of record homicides, there’s rising skepticism about the role of the Lighthouse and its effects on surrounding crime downtown.

“We have to make sure we understand and get at the root causes of crime, as well as have the right mechanisms in place,” Clark said.

“I absolutely believe by every young person we get out of a gang, out of jail and into a school and into work, we can reduce those homicide rates.”

In 2018, there were 13 murders in the city. That record was topped in 2019 when there were 16 murders in Saskatoon. The previous high was recorded in 2010 and 2016, when there were 10 homicides.

Those numbers aren’t deterring Clark’s efforts to tackle crime.

“Police chiefs over the years and across the country have said we cannot arrest our way out of crime. Unless we get at why people are getting addicted (and) what supports do people need, we won’t break those cycles,” he said.

Clark is looking to expand a police crisis team model to have more addictions and health workers available for first response, which in turn will free up time for officers to respond to more criminal calls rather than drug response.

Provincial and federal partnerships will be needed, said Clark.

The Lighthouse Supported Living Inc., and crime downtown have become a central issue leading up to the election. Clark admits people are being left vulnerable and understands the sentiments of feeling unsafe downtown, but the city doesn’t provide funding for The Lighthouse.

“Many are not under the jurisdiction of the city, and I have been committed to getting people together to acknowledge that this system is not working,” Clark said, pointing to homelessness, addictions and violence in the downtown core.

“This is a turning point to get that shared acknowledgement of what’s been failing, and to commit to working together to move forward.”

Clark is looking at partnerships like the recently announced Saweyihotan Pilot Project, an Indigenous-led initiative that helps people living on the street find a home, to make a meaningful impact downtown.

There’s also the Wahkohtowin Task Force, a project that brings together federal and provincial ministries, local services and businesses to help develop a new model for shelter services in Saskatoon.

“I want to implement much of this plan without the city taking on more of the financial burden because it’s not in our jurisdiction,” he said.

“I don’t think the answer is to build Lighthouse 2.0 and just drop that shelter as it is running now into a neighbourhood — we need to evolve it.”

Clark is hoping many of his goals can be looked at “in the months to come, not years to come.”

Fixing up boarded-up homes and working with community associations are other items on Clark’s focus to improve safety.