Welcome to the end of our short August week, Edmonton.

Edmonton’s playing major catch-up on infrastructure – our roads, public buildings, LRT, etc… – some might even say we’ve got an infrasturcture debt that’s way past due. That’s an important factor to remember when talking about pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a downtown arena, without any clear plans on all of the exciting, truly revitazling buildings and infrastructure that is supposed to go around the arena.

And, even then, it might not be the best way to spend all that money. Other cities don’t seem to be getting ahead after dumping money into a new arena or stadium. Is a downtown arena truly going to change our city, or is Edmonton simply following the lure of big promises and the fear of upsetting a fan base?

Speaking of the fan base…sounds like the Oilers would look for close-to-home options if the downtown arena plans fell through.

Good for iNews/CHED for trying to balance a story about how newsrooms should try and tell a more honest, full story about life in Edmonton and drop the “If it bleeds it leads.” approach. Wait, no, I take that back. They “balanced” it with a story full of sensational quotes that says nothing about whether crime reporting is accurate.

They did not try to counter the claims that our homicide rate is “unacceptable” and our city unsafe. Probably because there’s nothing as quotable in that. (More on this story below, in the PC leadership race.) Here’s your balance: crime is dropping in Edmonton, and across Canada, and Edmonton is experiencing a 2011 jump in homicides for unclear reasons.

That doesn’t take anything away from the victims of crime and their families. It might even help catalyze people into more action on crime prevention if crime stories made up a more representative portion of news coverage. Right now it’s so prevalent you’d think very little else goes on. That is indeed the perception that makes it into newscasts and newspapers outside of Edmonton.

It’s nice to see a Journal columnist saying we’re safe in Edmonton. That, however, doesn’t make the front page as homicides routinely do.

We should hear from the chief of the Edmonton Police Service next week with some new plans and approaches to crime in Edmonton.

I really thought I could end the week with a little less on crime reporting. Especially with downtown arena in the Headlines. Shows what I know. *****

I’m excited about all the new bike lanes and paths on the south-side. Sorry, north-siders.

I’m also excited about the new permanent public washroom to go in on Whyte Avenue. Potty time! Excellent! (Bias note: Yes, that’s me quoted on behalf of the Strathcona Centre Community League.)

Could Lucy the elephant be headed to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa? Well, her court case anyway, I mean the Valley Zoo doesn’t want Lucy to leave the warm climes of Edmonton.

The Law Enforcement Review Board – a body that can look at complaints against police – says “use of force was justified because they reasonably assumed they had the right man” is not a good enough explanation as to why a couple of people were taken down by police mistakenly.

Edmonton’s branch of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is getting an upgrade to deal with more complex cases. It’s also the only office for forensic toxicology in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

Edmonton Police are asking for any help they can get as to why a city man was found dead in a burned-out car.

A pair of Edmonton lawyers who have represented convicted war criminal Omar Khadr are being replaced by Toronto counsel.

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Propaganda war! And, as a follow to that propaganda, how does the “ethical” line fly if the oil companies also operate in the bad, terrible, unethical places?

The Progressive Conservative leadership candidates may be really starting to try and differentiate themselves from the Progressive Conservative party they’ve been a part of. Which always feels so weird. Also, if you’re in Edmonton you “are not feeling safe,” according to Gary Mar. Thank goodness Alison Redford pointed out this is playing politics with fear.

Two things in this story: we have a new Alberta rep in Washington (replacing Gary Mar). How do I get to be Alberta’s envoy to New York?

That killer explosion at a Mexican resort will not have any criminal consequences. I also think the Edmonton lawyer, and others involved in this sad case, are trying to apply Canadian rules and laws in a country that just doesn’t operate the same way.

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You remember that feeling that summer vacation just didn’t last long enough? Some Edmonton Catholic students appreciate your sympathy.

How about this weather? Or not.

I know Sally, and plenty of others were tweeting about Timbit the dog. He’s back home!

Good morning and good budget, Edmonton.

Yes, the federal budget came down Tuesday, with much fanfare. The budget itself isn’t all that much to write home about (Do people still write home about such things?) but it’s the reaction of the opposition parties – that they likely won’t support this budget – that means something. That means we could see an election.

Yippee!

I guess it also means the opposition parties could take another shot at a coalition government, if they brought down the Stephen Harper Conservative minority. I kind of wish our parliamentary system could use all of its tools before sending people back to the polls for another minority government. Who knows, maybe the new Governor General would understand it’s a totally legitimate and legal way for our system of government to run.

But enough about coalitions…check out the budget!

While generally supportive (what else are you going to do when you’re both big C Conservatives) the Premier would have liked to have seen more healthcare money from Ottawa. Alberta’s one, lonely non-Conservative, Edmonton-Strathcona’s New Democrat MP Linda Duncan, isn’t a fan of the budget.

Meanwhile…back in Edmonton…

The Capital Region needs to think about LRT, high-speed and mass transit as its best transportation option over the next number of decades. Not a ring road that would circle our not-even-yet-finished Anthony Henday ring road. Also, the mayor of Sturgeon County is quoted as saying all the same things about LRT and people taking transit that people have said for a lot of years. Things that just don’t ring true when you see how busy our LRT system became with the stations down to Century Park.

The new Walterdale Bridge is gonna be sweet y’all. That’s a cost I think the city should totally invest in.

Natural gas buses? Could be a good idea down the road, but not right now. It would just be too much to invest in with a fleet of new buses.

Oh, but an arena, hells to the yes. Don’t even wait for details and information, just vote already! Or something…

Edmonton’s got one of the best principals in all the land. We also have one heck of a furniture store.

Former game show host Bob Barker is offering the City some money to have Lucy the elephant checked out by an outside specialist. The Valley Zoo says the price is wrong.

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Even as doctors step forward with tales of intimidation for speaking out, the opposition Liberals have set up a hotline for more of them to share their stories. You can call with your healthcare wait time stories too.

A recent escape by a convicted killer has the opposition asking for more police officers too. Probably more of a question for the federal government, since he was a prisoner in a federal penitentiary.

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The arts can be an important part of education.

The Water for Life festival is on right now, kicking off Tuesday – World Water Day.

Don’t forget to come out to Twestival Thursday night, or donate online.

From garbage collection to policing, recreation to power generation, the City of Edmonton provides a lot to its residents. Our city’s former mayors sure have some thoughts on what could be done better. And what they’d rather just take care of without you sticking your nose into it.

In this forum:

Mayor Matthew (Mat) “Warden” McCauley – Edmonton’s first mayor

Mayor William J. McNamara – First mayor to defeat a sitting incumbent, in the city’s closest race (still the closest race to date)

Mayor William “Wild Bill” Hawrelak – 3 time mayor, twice had to leave office because of land deals, eventually died in office

Brought to life by Brittney Le Blanc, Scott C. Bourgeois, Diego Ibarra, J. Nelson Niwa, and an actual ghost. With some help from Jeff Samsonow.

But really, we know this is all you’re actually after.

- Cold War Kids, “Passing the hat”

By: Janine Edwards

We’ve established already that I’m an uncaring human being. If you are unaware of this, perhaps you should pay closer attention to my Letters to the Editors. If you’ve previously been offended by my point of view… you really aren’t going to like this.

Homeless people are ruining our city.

‘But Janine! They can’t help it. They’re addicts, they’ve had a bum deal, they are victims of an uncaring society.’ Bah.

There are places out there to help them. Lots of places. Okay, now we’re all recessionary… But there were tons of homeless even when we had staff shortages.

Now, in the style of our soon to be ruler of Colberta, I’m putting the Homeless on notice.

Case #1: Homeless couple from 23rd avenue interchange. You’ve probably seen this couple with their signs, cart, and dog. They approach people at the 23rd ave interchange and ask for money. Every once in a while, they’ll use that money to purchase meals at McDonald’s. The manager at this McD’s has offered them both jobs, trying to help them out. They snubbed the job, continuing to beg at the corner instead of taking a job with benefits, that will help pay for schooling, and allow you to accumulate copious amounts of McDonald’s Monopoly Properties. (By the way, Monopoly is back October 6th. Mark your calendars.)

Case #2: Food Screamer. You may have seen him in the West End. My friend was leaving a 7-11 and saw this dude, who may have a problem – may be faking – flailing his arms around and yelling. She tried calming him down, eventually figuring out he was throwing this public tantrum because he was hungry. She bought him hot dogs and continued about her day. Later she spotted him outside the A&W in Mayfield Common doing the same routine. Guess it was dinner time.

What do trained seal man and the homeless family have in common? WE AREN’T HELPING.

Oh, by no means am I telling you we aren’t donating enough – we all have our own causes we donate to. I just think we need to stop giving them money.

Just don’t. I wish every single time someone opened their purse for a loonie, bus fare, or a plane ticket for one of these people I could be there, giving them a tough-love slap on the hand.

It would hurt just enough for you to remember not to do it anymore.

Aren’t you sweet? But ARE you helping them?? Or are you increasing their ‘I’m-owed-something complex’ and leading them on so they beg more. This is to say nothing of the addiction and mental-health issues…

And really? You’re giving to people using the “I’m blind and deaf and can’t hold a job” card? Or the signs on the side of the road? Or the “I can’t get to my reserve/job/FamiliesHouseForChristmas because MyDogAteMyMoney/IWasMugged/IDrankTheMoney/IWorkForSafewaysDistributionCentre” excuse? (The last excuse is like a madlib. Get the kids together tonight and come up with your own list. I can’t wait to see them.)

At least come up with a better sign than: “Homeless. Need Money. God Bless.”

Creativity counts people!!! “Saving money for baby Elephant to join Lucy” or “Like to drink, meet pretty ladies, and get lucky,” or “Family has been abducted, need money to pay for ransom.” All are better lines than the crap they’re feeding us.

Years ago I had the opportunity to work and help out some of these people. You know what I found? Most of the Homeless are fucking with us. Preying on your sympathies to scam you of money, and end up making good coin doing nothing.

Want to make Edmonton a World Class city? We need to crack down on homelessness. Put them to work at the shelters they’re using. Hire a construction crew to work with the homeless in building a new shelter all “Habitat for Humanity” style. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the answer isn’t in you handing them money for nothing.