Mar 11 2024- Walls To Seal Off Portage And Main Underground

The Great Canadian Talk Show

We lead off Episode 25 with an update on the political decision by Mayor Scott Gillingham to open up the corners of Portage and Main, the cost considerations, and some new information.

Two sources have explained how some of the discussion about what kind of work that might need to be done, has missed the mark. And, we're told, the decision is less influenced by 'Team Open' insiders than by realities beneath the surface.

8.05 - A brief clip from last week's Property Committee meeting with Coun. Russ Wyatt sparring with chair Coun. Sherri Rollins. Wyatt stated the P & M issue is symptomatic of a failing city hurtling toward the level of a certain U.S. city that will sound familiar to regular listeners.

13.00 - Armed with physical copies of the report and studies City Hall is reviewing, one aspect leapt out at Marty Gold- the rising water table downtown. Hear him explain why it's significant, what factors aren't.

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Although the average person pictures this proposal as a massive fill-in project, that's not what's going to be done to end pedestrian access. There's other utility infrastructure underground that has to be preserved and maintained because it simply can't be moved.

There's still lots not-to-like about the rushed process, and not-to-trust about the consultant's reports- especially for the folks in St. Boniface where we continue to be treated like the North End of the South End.

22:39 Part 2 - We have more information about civic issues we've been covering.

- Hear more about the $200M capital bond issued by the City, and the information we've asked city officials for that should have been provided off the top of their heads.

- The budget arguments launched against the proposed closure of outdoor pools in St. B - including from a major developer- reveal a skew against poorer neighborhoods and a deceptive reporting practice by city staff. They covered up how a fake 'lifeguard shortage' suppressed pool user numbers, then proposed the pools could be demolished and not replaced.

- The cone of silence is still being kept over a bike lane plan in the West End.

• We are almost halfway to our $3800 winter fundraising goal! Help us out by using the Donate page on ActionLine.ca.

41:45 Part 3- Crime and Public Safety Update

The 2024 Winnipeg Police Service Citizen Survey of 600 respondents, released at last week's Winnipeg Police Board meeting, proves the Board should have canned Danny Smyth instead of just letting him serve until his planned retirement.

How low did the "I feel safe downtown" number go? Even we were shocked.

Only nine per cent - 9% - felt "safe or reasonably safe" walking alone downtown at night.

We go through the year-by-year decline. The police chief refused to fight crime and tried to be a social worker, and the result is why downtown is in a total collapse.

When apologists claim fears about downtown safety has nothing to do with below-target Jets attendance, ask them about the survey results.

COMING UP- MORE ON BELL MTS LAYOFFS, HOW WAB KINEW'S NDP IS BOTCHING FOSTER CARE, AND ANOTHER 911 RESPONSE FAILURE.