Part of my discussion on community safety was to include voices from government. Community members and organizations have been advocating for specific measures the City should be undertaking. I decided to invite Scott McKean on the Podcast. Scott is Manager in the City of Toronto, responsible for SafeTO, which is a community safety and well-being plan.

Will it incorporate some of the aspects community groups have been advocating for?

What is SafeTO?

SafeTO is a plan implemented by the City of Toronto to address gun violence in the city. It includes a number of measures such as increasing police presence in affected neighborhoods, investing in community-based programs, and working with other levels of government and community organizations to address the root causes of gun violence. The plan also focuses on prevention and early intervention, addressing issues such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and mental health and addiction issues. The goal of the SafeTO plan is to reduce gun violence and improve community safety in Toronto.

What are Some of the Major Investments Introduced by SafeTO?

Some of the major investments that the SafeTO plan is making include:

1. Increasing police presence in affected neighborhoods: This includes hiring more police officers and investing in community policing initiatives.
2. Investing in community-based programs: This includes funding programs that address issues such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and mental health and addiction issues.
3. Addressing the root causes of gun violence: The plan is working with other levels of government and community organizations to address issues such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and mental health and addiction issues.
4. Increasing support for victims and families: This includes providing support for victims and families affected by gun violence, and investing in programs that address the long-term impacts of gun violence.
5. Investing in technology: This includes investing in technology such as cameras and gunshot detection systems to help prevent and reduce gun violence.
6. Supporting public education and awareness campaigns: This includes public education campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of gun violence and the importance of community safety.
7. Supporting research, data collection, and evaluation: This includes investing in research to better understand the causes of gun violence, collecting data on gun violence, and evaluating the effectiveness of the SafeTO plan.

Who has the City Invited to Inform SafeTO?

The City of Toronto is inviting a wide range of stakeholders to inform the SafeTO plan. This includes:

1. Community members: The City is engaging with community members, including residents of affected neighborhoods, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.
2. Community organizations: The City is working with community organizations, such as youth organizations, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.
3. Service providers: The City is engaging with service providers, such as health care providers, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.
4. Law enforcement: The City is working with law enforcement agencies, including the Toronto Police Service, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.
5. Other levels of government: The City is working with other levels of government, including the federal and provincial governments, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.
6. Researchers and experts: The City is engaging with researchers and experts in the field of gun violence, such as criminologists, to gather input and feedback on the SafeTO plan.

What are Some of the Criticisms of the SafeTO Plan?

The City has faced some criticisms of the Plan. These include the following:

• Lack of community engagement: Some community members and organizations have criticized the City for not adequately engaging with communities affected by gun violence in the development of the SafeTO plan.
• Lack of focus on systemic issues: Some critics argue that the SafeTO plan does not adequately address the systemic issues that contribute to gun violence, such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and mental health and addiction issues.
• Reliance on policing: Some critics argue that the SafeTO plan places too much emphasis on policing and not enough on community-based solutions.
• Lack of transparency: Some critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the development and implementation of the SafeTO plan, arguing that it is not clear how the City is using funding and resources allocated for the plan.
• Lack of clear evaluation: Some critics argue that the City has not provided clear information on how the SafeTO plan will be evaluated and what success will look like.

These criticisms are important to consider as they highlight the importance of involving the community and other stakeholders, addressing the root causes of gun violence and having a clear evaluation and transparency plan in place for the SafeTO plan.

What is the Future of SafeTO?

It is possible that the City will continue to invest in the plan and take steps to address gun violence, such as increasing police presence in affected neighborhoods, investing in community-based programs, and working with other levels of government and community organizations.

It’s also likely that the plan will be evaluated and adapted accordingly to make sure that it’s effective in reducing gun violence in the city.

It’s also possible that the City will face challenges in continuing to fund and implement the plan, especially if there are budget constraints or changes in political priorities. The City will have to balance the competing demands and make sure the plan is sustainable in the long run.

To learn more, please click here for the City of Toronto’s official page on SafeTO.