Mayor Nenshi discontinues SW Transitway open houses due to threats and abuse

Mayor Naheed Nenshi has discontinued in-person open houses for the SW Transitway project due to concerns for the safety of citizens and City of Calgary employees, according to Mayor Neshi’s website.

The decision was made after a recent public engagement event for the SW Transitway project. At the event there was yelling and swearing, pushing and shoving, and, a death threat.

“For the safety of citizens and City of Calgary employees, the in-person open houses will be discontinued (on the SW Transitway project only). In our democracy, everyone deserves the right to share their opinions and ask questions in a safe and welcoming environment,” Mayor Nenshi states.

Mayor Nenshi wrote on Twitter and Facebook:

I will not tolerate threats and abuse aimed at public servants and fellow citizens. Ever. Read more here on SWBRT: https://t.co/WZz8v1QmGt

— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) February 25, 2016

Although you can no longer visit the in-person open houses for the SW Transitway project, you are still able to engage online through the project website.

Mayor Nenshi adds, “I am sorry, deeply sorry, as someone who believes so strongly in engagement, that we’ve had to take this step, but there will be no more open houses on this project for the time being.”

Here is a video of Mayor Nenshi explaining the decision:

[youtube id=”vBar3dtNq4w”]