Victoria’s mayor plans $10 million for community safety

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto is proposing a $10.35 million dollar cash infusion to tackle public disorder and community safety in the downtown core.

According to Alto, the city council decided to pull funding from other existing services since it promised any actions taken in 2025 would not result in increased taxes.

“It was important for us to honor that commitment to not ask for new money,” explains Alto.

“But also create enough money to be able to start getting some really challenging tasks done.”

Alto says her proposal is in response to Victorians ranking public safety as their number one concern.

The mayor hints at various action points the city wants to implement with the allocated money.

“Some of it is around temporary actions, but some of it is around reforming permanent things,” Alto said.

“The funding that is going to policing by-law and public work will remain in place indefinitely.”

She also says that even though she appreciates the work the provincial government has done, it takes too long to produce permanent solutions.

“I want to make sure that I offer kudos to the province for the work they are doing, particularly in supportive housing and social services,” she said.

Alto argues the city needs to take action itself to get the needed results.

“We continue to work with the province, but their pace of work is not quite as fast as our public’s demand.”

The mayor laid out an ambitious six-month plan which would visibly change the city.

She said, “will you be able to walk down the streets and see it is looking different? Yes!”

Crisis is not unique to Victoria

Royal Roads University Professor David Black says public disorder has always been an issue in downtown Victoria, but it has escalated in the past five to seven years.

“Local businesses are now feeling very vulnerable where there is concern just about the safety,” he explains.

Black adds the root cause of the crisis is not unique to Victoria.

“Fentanyl is a major driver of this situation. The affordability crisis is another driver,” he explains.

“Every city of practically every size is dealing with [this problem] in Canada. So, Victoria is not unique.”

However, it is “impressive is that there is a degree of implied coordination between city, provincial, and even federal government,” Black said as he assessed Victoria’s strategy to address this problem.

The city’s council will vote on ratifying the plan on June 3.

With files from Michelle Meiklejohn.