No question that public safety is high on the list of issues with which voters are concerned in the upcoming Municipal Election. In fact, listening to some candidates for council it’s the only issue of importance. Nanaimo is not alone in this. For perspective, it may be helpful to look elsewhere, particularly at cities also experiencing the same decrease in property crime accompanied by a marked increase in assaults and other aggressive behaviour/offences as we are.

The article below provides a good overview of what is happening in Vancouver. Like Nanaimo, crime and public safety are prominent topics and some candidates for council are campaigning on “law and order.” But a deeper analysis of voter thinking reveals that the opioid and other drug poisoning crises along with homelessness are actually top of mind. True public safety, it appears, is perceived by voters as needing more action by governments than just “lock ’em up.”

Crime and the Vancouver Election. The Tyee. September 23, 2022. “As some campaign on ‘law and order,’ the province rolls out a new report on repeat offenders. We break it down.”