Carrying on our tradition of covering civic elections, Episode 40 is an interview with Abel Gutierrez, one of the hopefuls looking to succeed the late Jason Schreyer as the representative of Elmwood- East Kildonan.

4.40 Part 2- Born in northeastern Mexico, Abel Gutierrezcame to Canada when he was 3 years old and grew up in North Kildonan. As an adult he chose to raise a family in Elmwood and build a career as a construction project manager. He says he’s running to show “my deep appreciation for the working class families in this ward,” many of whom he’s met through his volunteering with the East Side Eagles football club.  

Included in his resume is a brief time working for the City Of Winnipeg with the traffic signals control centre project.

“There is definitely some things to overcome when itcomes to our city services,” such as road construction contracts, says Gutierrez. “If we’re not taking opportunities on the weekends we need to do something about that,” suggesting evening shifts instead of work sites becoming “ghost towns.”

16.20- Getting the Louise Bridge reopened is a priorityfor Gutierrez. “That artery is crucial especially when it comes to emergency services,” he says, and he disagrees with Mayor Gillingham spending tax dollars on reopening Portage and Main to pedestrians this year instead of maintaining the bridge.

23.15 Part 3- While door-knocking so far, Gutierrez has heard from residents who worry about vacant and derelict commercial buildings and homes.

His solution: “why don’t’ we just knock them down? Anempty lot looks better than a derelict building there.” He believes rehabilitating those buildings would be too costly and that developers would “love to have one of those lots and turn it into something beautiful.”

29.00 - Regarding the veteran’s housing provided on Talbot Avenue at Legion Gardens, Gutierrez tells how he lives close by but “was unaware of the crisis that they’ve faced” with repair and maintenance costs- including expensive city water and waste requirements.

“When it comes to a veterans housing program running outof a lower income constituency, we need to work with those organizations. That’s it, bottom line.”

34.00 - Elmwood has problems caused by crime and homeless encampments that isn't well publicized - and Gutierrez says Coun. Jeff Browaty has the right idea about removing encampments from major routes.

Having grown up in Manitoba Housing, he was shocked to learn that some of the criminals stay in encampments actually have subsidized housing units. He says that's denying honest families their chance at a step up.

41.05- Gutierrez does not support the exclusive contract the Gillingham administration awarded to Main Street Project for mobile services to deal with the homeless.

"I think we need to diversify our approach in this... I don't know when the last time you had a chance to drive by the Main Street Project, but it's not good. If that's what we're funding, I have to avoid that area when I bring a client to the city."

“I don’t like the image we portray as a gritty city,” Gutierrez asserts. “We need to take pride. We need to clean up our back yard.”  

He believes his workaholic nature will enhance hisability to work with the community, and if elected on October 25th, “I’m gonna roll up my sleeves for you at City Hall.”

50.05 Part 4- Marty Gold wraps up the episode with a pitch to support the Season Six funding drive, now at $2650.

This summer we’re proving how we earn your support with ground breaking columns in the Winnipeg Sun and the only public affairs podcast around!

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The long weekend column in the Winnipeg Sun- The criminals who use encampments as a base to terrorize riverbank neighborhoods now ruin anything that’s good in our city.

https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/gold-juba-park-encampment-crime-threatens-new-300k-fitness-trail