The Hidden Tax on City Living: How Crime and Disorder Undermine Density

From breath mints and car break-ins to bouncers at the Rogers store, urban life is starting to feel a lot more “on alert.” In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux examine the rise of crime and disorder in our cities, as well as the disturbing data behind transit violence. However, this isn’t just about safety; it’s about the future of our neighbourhoods. If people don’t feel safe on the streetcar or the sidewalk, can we ever truly build the dense, walkable, “missing middle” communities Canada so desperately needs?

This surge in disorder acts as a "hidden tax" on urban living, forcing residents to choose between the convenience of the city and the perceived security of the suburbs. By analyzing these shifts, we uncover how a lack of safety might be the biggest hurdle yet to solving our housing goals.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Crime, Disorder, and the Future of Cities

00:50 Car Break-ins and Security Measures

04:23 Personal Experiences on the Streetcar

05:02 By the Numbers: Rising Assaults on Canadian Transit

07:07 Why Density Requires Public Trust

09:00 Why Spouting Stats Doesn't Change Minds

13:58 The Political Disconnect on Urban Safety

16:49 Finding Solutions: Justice Reform and Mental Health

18:10 Why "visible progress" matters more than spreadsheets

Research links:

Transit violence rising across Canada — in some cities by nearly 300%

Chris Arnande tweet

The Slow-Motion Exodus: How GTA Outmigration Became Ontario’s Defining Trend

The Politics of Safety: Why Bail Reform Is Striking a Chord with Canadians

Sabrina Maddeaux: Canada’s suburban crime surge is exposing years of national security neglect

It's Time to Talk About America's Disorder Problem

Related reading/listening:

OFF THE RAILS: Data exposes crime, mental illness at TTC’s track level

More than 70 per cent of Ontarians feel less safe on transit than a year ago, survey suggests

Homelessness, Social Disorder and Public Transit in Calgary, Canada: Examining perspectives from law enforcement through the lens of critical social theory

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

This podcast is funded by the Neptis Foundation and brought to you by the Smart Prosperity Institute.