Peterborough mayoral candidate Michael Eamon is outlining his plans to revitalize the city’s downtown, with a focus on homelessness, crime, public safety and improving communication between municipal departments and local stakeholders.
Eamon’s Vibrant Downtown, Vibrant Neighbourhoods policy is one of five priorities in his campaign to become Peterborough’s next mayor.
“This city deserves a vibrant downtown where people can work, live, shop and socialize,” said Eamon.
Under the proposal, Eamon would establish a Downtown First team, bringing together city departments to improve coordination and communication with the Downtown Business Improvement Area.
The team would focus on addressing concerns involving maintenance, cleanliness, lighting, accessibility and public safety.
Eamon is also proposing a Mayor’s Committee of Downtown Stakeholders, which would include business leaders, landlords, shelter and health-care workers, residents and municipal staff.
The committee would be tasked with encouraging discussion, sharing information and identifying ways to address downtown challenges.
Eamon says improving the downtown requires a coordinated approach that considers homelessness, crime and safety concerns together rather than treating them as separate issues.
His proposal also extends beyond the downtown core.
Eamon says he would move forward with efforts to remediate the former General Electric property and other industrial sites, while working to create cleaner, safer neighbourhoods throughout Peterborough.
The candidate says each of his five campaign priorities includes a staged plan outlining the steps he intends to take during each year of the next council term.
