Episode 43 pivots off of two emails received from followers of our reporting. Their observations lead to an analysis of the potential issues in next year's Mayoral and civic election.

5.53 Part 2 - "Fabulous results from your articles"

A resident in the East Exchange notified us of two separate actions taken against illegal encampments- and gave credit to our reports about the relentless misery inflicted by homeless criminals on the neighborhood.

Another listener told about their scary experience at the Alexander Docks the night before the sanitized 'Potemkin presser' held by The Forks and city officials.

17.00- An overview of the continuing decline of the city and that may be alienating swing voters who supported Scott Gillingham in 2022.

25.44 - Listen to a letter from another follower, who put the ongoing hiring of Safety Officers and cadets under the microscope.

"The public is misled. They don't understand thenuances and limitation of these roles. This includes no enforcement... No enforcement, Crime increases. Law Enforcement 101. "

"What a mess for the tax payer," he concludes. Hear who he blames.

The episode ends with a few observations about the state of public services- be it Happyland Pool, potholes, policing, paramedics or permits - and if that will influence whether people think the city is going in the right direction or in the wrong direction, when they go to the ballot box in 2026.

*****

In the Winnipeg Sun on Sunday-

It seems that government housing units in Beausejour are being used to provide an address for justice-involvedpeople to be in compliance with conditions of their release.

But this allows drug addicts, drug dealers, thieves and domestic abuse offenders to be released into the community to live alongside tenants of Manitoba Housing. Those folks -including mothers, children, caregivers and seniors – have not been warned of the increased risk being placed next door.

Mayor Ray Schirle says he pressed Housing officials about that danger, only to be rebuffed with “we can't go into the house without giving them 48 hours notice. We can't do this, we can’t do that, there was every excuse under the sun, except for how are we actually going to clean up this problem.”

Read the exclusive report-

Beausejour Mayor asks why criminals are being lodged in Manitoba Housing

*****

• Our exclusive reports have earned the support of readers and listeners just like you- and whether it’s $50 or $500, it helps us pay the costs of being on the beat, acting as Your Watchdog!
• To learn how to support our platform and the Season 6 campaign, email [email protected] or go to https://actionline.ca/2024/02/donate-2/

In the Sun last Wednesday, Marty Gold pinpointed that crime became "acceptable" under Mayor Brian Bowman inWinnipeg in 2018, after bicycle theft skyrocketed and nothing was done to stop it. The column evoked strong reactions and opinions about what is happening, and what should be done now.

Part 1 of Episode 42 opens with a reply from the police after speculation by Police Board chair, Coun. Markus Chambers, about reviving a bait bike program that no one realized had been abandoned. The police sent along a chart of annual reported bike thefts, which we’ve republished with this podcast on ActionLine.ca.

• Our investigations, interviews and analysis prove we earn the support of listeners and readers!
• Help us meet the Season 6 funding goal - we are now at $2650!
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15.13 Part 2- Everyone knows someone who has had a bike stolen or has a story about a relative, friend or neighbour that has.

Even past city councillors- including Jason Schreyer- have been victims.

After the column Unchallenged crime wave in 2018 led to today’s “epidemic” of bike thefts, a large number of readers came forward with their own experiences and strong opinions about how the crime wave has been mishandled.  

These aren’t “survival crimes.” These crimes are traumatizing thousands of people, including children and people who rely on their bikes to get to work. Yetas one woman found out after spotting her bike for sale online, the WPS do nothing. Another said she files reportsonline, and never ever hears back from the cops.

Listen to more of the online feedback:

“I'm out thousands of dollars for bikes...was robbed last summer of my $4000 dollar bike.”

“It's awful! I’m a single mom of 4 and had 2 bikes stolen in a month! I keep buying the best locks I can find, but even 3/8" chain has been sawn through to take them.”

“These are the victimless crimes excused by local woke advocates. Maybe Bernadette Smith can buy this familysome new bikes.”

"The police had an opportunity to get ahead of it 10+ years ago. Leadership had no desire. 'They’re just bikes'”.  

“It's time the chop shops and homeless camps are dealt with by police. Too many riders can be seen daily witha second bike in tow.”

The root cause of the problem? Weak leadership more concerned with virtue signaling that public safety:

“Bowman told the public it was ok to get on the bus and not pay your fare. Look where that got us.”

******

The more you open the door into “our data”, the more it appears the Tories have a point about the Mobile Overdose Prevention Site (MOPS) program needing a careful evaluation before the exemption is allowed to continue.

“A spring 2023 evaluation conducted by LAHRK Consultingis void of thorough post approval continued consultation, revealing that the qualitative data was primarily derived from users, staff, and politicians, without considering community perspectives that might present differing views on the site's impact.

“Our areas didn't even hear about Foy’s consultation process for MOPS.”  

Read Marty's report in the Winnipeg Sun:https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-hidden-facts-challenge-government-approved-drug-van-narrative

The return of the Crime, Courts and Public Safety Update is the focus of Episode 41!

Part 1- A look at our recent interviews, and an explanation of some of the costs that your contributions to the Season Six Support campaign take care of- so we stay on the beat as Your Watchdog! The current total is $2675, thanks to our donors and sponsors!

12.00 Part 2- After even more criminal charges were filed against Cst. Eldon Bostock - and with another officer becoming the third of his associates on the force also heading to court- Winnipeg Police Service chief Gene Bowers stated:

"My message to the citizens of Winnipeg is you can bereassured that the majority of our members … they truly care about this community." 

Among the allegations are drug dealing, ticket fixing, ammo heisting, and rousting unwanted tenants for a landlord. Most disturbing of the charges was the distribution of a photo of a dead woman found during a wellness check.

While Bowers is stuck cleaning up the mess, the obvious observation no one mentioned was that Bostock's dirty laundry list dates from 2016 to 2024. Matty Gold discusses how this ongoing conduct reflects on the head knock during that time period- the now retired Danny Smyth. What went on under his nose?

23.30- The round-up includes a dead body at the downtownlibrary; a murder on Boyd in the North End; lots of meth and fentanyl- and a gun- found in a raid on Mountain; and an even bigger bust in North Kildonan.

Also- nurses vote to avoid taking shifts at Health Sciences Centre, bike thefts are rampant, and Main Street Projectannounced a plan to build housing at their Main Street location.

You'll hear exclusive reaction to MSP's plan from Elmwood-EKcouncil candidate Abel Gutierrez, explaining why "I have serious concerns about their ability to manage additional housing responsibly."

****

In Sunday's Winnipeg Sun, another exclusive report- did you know that Mayor Scott Gillingham has left the board of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region? It hass added impetus to the movement for taxpayers to have a say before council just lets the city membership in the WMR roll over without a debate.

Push grows for council vote on Metro Region membership

⁠https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/gold-push-grows-for-council-vote-on-metro-region-membership⁠

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

- To make a contribution or advertise on the podcasts, go to https://actionline.ca/2024/02/donate-2/

- OR email [email protected]

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!

To make a contribution or advertise on the podcasts, email [email protected]

*******

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

For the long weekend, a special interview with Paul Edmonds, the radio voice of the Winnipeg Jets! Every season hockey fans tune out the TV feed and tune in their radio to hear Paul on CJOB & Power 97.

Part 1 - Marty's imitation of Peter Warren inspired Paul to show off his own. He tells about handling sports radio call-in shows and why doing the morning drive is a challenge.

They exchange memories of their earliest days covering sports (in Marty's case, at CJUM-FM) and the influence the legendary characters of CJOB, the sports leader in the city for decades. The programming techniques to retain the audience all day was unmatched. Paul believes the shift to fans being able to listen to podcasts on demand benefits everyone. A slight detour takes listeners to review of the grub sports reporters are provided in the press box.

16.35 - Paul attended the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association event inducting Peter Young to the media Roll of Honour.

On local TV for over 30 years, Peter championed local amateur athletes and teams and proved that extended sports reports could draw a big audience. Most importantly, The Sports Star of the Week feature helped develop a sense of community in the region.

"It was a drawing card," Paul says of the fifteen minutes of sports that CTV allotted. "It was much watch TV." Listen for his Cactus Jack imitation!

24.45 Part 2 - The honouring of Peter Young leads to a discussion in Episode 39 of the great figures in Winnipeg sports broadcasting history.

Paul tells a story about a predecessor behind the Jets microphone, Curt Keilback. In an era when TV carried perhaps 1 game on weeknights, radio play by play was the lifeline for hockey fans to follow their team. Paul loves Curt's book, Two Minutes for Talking to Myself

35.20 - Keilback was made famous because of his big calls on play by play for the Jets. Now, Paul's description of the Game 7 comeback by the Jets against the St. Louis Blues stands as an all-time great. Marty asks Paul for his favorite call of a big play, which is a World Series at-bat that lasted for 9 minutes.

********

Thank you to our donors in July, who helped us surpass $2600 in donations so far for the Season Six campaign.

With a goal of $10,000, we’re counting on listeners of TGCTS and readers of Marty’s columns in the Winnipeg Sun to continue the momentum in August. Here's his latest: New transit system leaves users frustrated and stranded

You can send an E-Transfer or make other arrangements for contributions by PayPal, cheques, oradvertising etc. by emailing [email protected]

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Since 2007, Jeff Browaty has been a regular guest on TGCTS in his role as city councillor for North Kildonan. Currently the Finance chair, Episode 38 features a long-from interview with him discussing numerous civic issues . We start with an explanation of how the concerns of the residents of Elmwood-East Kildonan are being handled until a byelection fills the seat.

6.30- The revised Transit stop and route system is touched on, as North Kildonan faces an influx of vagrants and criminals taking a free ride to the suburbs- "I'm ready for a crackdown" on freeloaders, says Browaty. He discusses planned fare payment options, which likely won't include accepting paper cash.

20.00- Coun. Gilroy's motion to enforce bans on illegal camping in parks and playgrounds has Browaty looking to eliminate encampments beside major traffic routes. Hear his view of the disorder and crime "happening brazenly right in the open."

While Mayor Gillingham, Coun. Vivian Santos and the CBC harp about potential lawsuits, there are three court decisions that Browaty and council has not been briefed on backing the enforcement of public safety. We wonder why.

28.00 Part 2 - Browaty answers questions about increased water bill costs and the reasons driving the hikes; we raise the issue of tax dollars expended on pet projects like bike lanes and decorative painting on roads.

If "calming curbs" are being installed to manage traffic, why aren't the engineers and bureaucrats who drafted the inadequate road designs fired? Browaty goes on to express his support for photo radar but is unaware there are performance reports long overude; on the other hand, he thinks some of the school zone enforcement practices are "baloney".

42.00 - Browaty is asked whether bike lanes and other laneway modifications proposed in the Moving on Marion project actually violate the required standards for provincial truck routes. He commits that the residents of the St. Boniface Hospital district will finally be directly consulted about the project.

*****

Today in the Winnipeg Sun: ”We have a homeless man and woman in a yard near us. I’ve spoken to him and the situation is interesting,”

The male, 30, is struggling to overcome his addictions and doesn’t want to be near the drugs endemic to theinner-city camps. The 33 year old female is disabled and, he noted, pregnant. They had been in contact with Main Street Project, yet there they were, in his neighbour’s yard, using the outdoors as a commode. They needed help and the readerwasn’t sure where to turn.  

But I did. I told him that Marion Willis at Street Links should be notified and provided the contact details. He was led to believe that they were put out of business after the city cut their funding - but I assured him they were still operating and were not limited to St. Boniface.

Within two hours, he emailed me again.

https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/homeless-couple-gets-housing-plan-in-a-day-the-marion-willis-way

******

Over the next few weeks, we'll be making therounds to get feedback and reaction from our listeners and readers. Their financial support is the fuel that drives our reports and investigations.

To make a contribution towards the Season Six funding drive, email [email protected] or go to ⁠https://actionline.ca/2024/02/donate-2/⁠

In Episode 37 we tell about a letter of condemnation sent to Mayor Scott Gillingham, Premier Wab Kinew, all of city council and other public officials by a homeowner in North Point Douglas .

He was trying to enjoy his Saturday morning coffee and read a book in his yard in peace. It was "abruptly shattered by agroup of unhoused individuals down on the riverbank - hooting, yelling, hurling expletives and epithets."

Before long an ambulance and fire truck arrived- yet again- to the riverbank. Meanwhile the neighborhood homeless encampments were buzzing with illegal activity.

“And so begins another typical day in North Point Douglas.”

Part 1- To provide context to the letter from Howard Warren, we start with the list he attached of the awful incidents he's encountered in the last few years.

The already-struggling neighborhood was failed by government policies and is now overrun with criminals and individuals with profound mental illness.

Listen to his experience with robberies, break-ins, assaults, filth, fires, finding a dead body - and worst of all, his dealings with a dysfunctional 911 and police service.

13.13 Part 2 - According to Mr. Warren, he previously "reached out in states of deep frustration over what’s happening in North Point Douglas" to Mayor Gillingham, "but I did not even receive a basic acknowledgment. That silence is its own message. "

Among the points he makes:

"Despite years of visible decline, governments of all levels, parties, and ideologies have failed to act in any meaningful way. The very institutions that are supposed to safeguard public welfare and uphold the rule of law have left us feeling trapped and betrayed."

"I represent a wide cross-section of Point Douglasresidents, and countless others across Winnipeg, when I say: we are desperate. For the past six years, we have felt abandoned. Unheard. Marginalized. Misunderstood.Demoralized."

"We no longer consider inviting people over to sit in our yard. Why would we? There’s every chance that the gathering will be disrupted, hijacked, really, by shouting, swearing, fighting, environmental destruction, fires or worse. That medley of chaos too often crashes through what should be moments of joy, peace and calm."

"We’re the ones who have nothing left to lose but our silence. And so, we fight, speak out, and use whatever means we can to shine a light on what’s happening here; the injustice and indignity suffered by both the housed and unhoused. I say this with no exaggeration: we are in a crisis."

22.40- "I have several questions for you, Mr. Mayor. Let me start with one I know you’ve heard before."

We read off the questions Howard Warren posedfor Mayor Gillingham. He started with why St. Boniface Street Links was "cut off from municipal funding" in favour of Main Street Project.

You'll hear his criticism of MSP's "human rights based" approach to the homeless, "a model which seems to entrench dysfunction, despair and social mayhem."

Other Notable Quotes:

- “Why are families like ours and our neighbours' expected to endure the daily trauma of watching people destroy themselves in front of our homes, in front of our children, asthe very systems that were meant to protect us slowly collapse around us?”

- “The rights of one group should not eclipse the rights of another, especially not when those being drowned out are the very people trying to hold their communities together…we are being dismissed, neglected, and treated as expendable.”

- “We need an end to policies that normalize decay, danger, and disorder. And we need city and provincial leadership to stop pretending this is okay. We need all of this now.”

******

Online today, in print tomorrow in the Winnipeg Sun - Restaurants pushed to the brink by theft, vandalism, City Works and City cops 

 ⁠https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/gold-winnipeg-restaurants-battered-by-crime-costs-and-silence

******

* Support the Season Six funding campaign via https://actionline.ca/2024/02/donate-2/

Episode 36 features a Lesson in Journalism, explaining how the CBC spread misinformation to undermine Coun. Cindy Gilroy for daring to table a motion suggesting kids need protection from homeless encampments.

"Winnipeggers split over councillor's call toban encampments in outdoor places where children gather"

First they manufactured the illusion of dissent by citing only one woman, who was not even asked if she had children.

Then the CBC "journalist" falsely portrayed camping on city property as a legal right of the homeless that was being threatened by Gilroy's motion. As you'll hear, it's among the many things that are against the law in Winnipeg parks that the city tolerates and that the police don't make arrests for, making a mockery of the claim by Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith:

"We will continue to work with police and community partners to protect public safety around child friendly spaces."

Nowhere in the story was a single resident of the areas like Point Douglas, Assiniboine Avenue or Waterfront Drive where children are at risk from illegal homeless encampments spoken to, nor were words like 'explosions', 'weapons', or 'chop shop' used.

Along the way the CBC reporter shifted the issue from public safety to a lack of housing, allowing the usual suspects to say whatever they wanted without challenge.

On TGCTS, you'll hear the questions that needed to be asked.

In response to the CBC report, one of affected residents stated, "The Mayor seems more concerned about being sued than enforcing existing laws.”

Part 1- Marty quickly reviews reaction to his Winnipeg Sun column, Wildfire evacuees straining critical Winnipeg emergency services https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/gold-wildfire-evacuees-straining-critical-winnipeg-emergency-service

Burnout, the first responder told me, is becoming endemic, and exhausted crews are refusing to pick up more overtime shifts. When shifts aren’t being covered, whether due to burnout, illness, or injury, vital life-saving equipment sits idle. “It’s not an uncommon occurrence to be down 8–10 fire trucks overnight. Even ambulances are left in the bays because of no staff.”

7.20 Part 2 - Hear our analysis. of the CBC story. It is a good example of the media making excuses for the criminals intimidating the community and not holding the responsible officials accountable, instead of listening to the communities asking for protection.

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Our Season Six Support Campaign is at $2330.

It's your donations and advertising support that ensures the bills are paid and that we can stay on the beat, reporting the issues facing our community with clarity, insight and common sense.

You can contribute by using our newly updated Donate Page,or for more information email [email protected]

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR WORK

After our report in the Winnipeg Sun revealed that certain voices in the poverty industry promote downplaying property and other offences committed by homeless lawbreakers, a listener raised an important question:

"Is there any limit to what City Hall will tolerate as survivalcrimes? "

In Part 1 of Episode 35 we explore his concern, about the lax attitude of local authorities to thieves stripping copper they steal and store in riverbank encampments:

"Being a tradesperson, I was once warned that cyanide is released when the vinyl wire casing is burned... Never mind air quality warnings about northern forest fires, how about neighbourhoods being warned when thieving scum are burning off wire and creating smoke that is thousands of times more toxic than that of burning trees?"

That's a "survival crime" that poisons riverbank communities- yet it's been tolerated.

12.35 Part 2- A letter sent this week to Mayor Gillingham and City Councillors provides evidence of the ground-floor effects of "survival crimes" being tolerated by Winnipeg civic leaders.

"Not-for-profits are redefining criminal behavior in ways that downplay the break-ins, thefts, and violence ourcommunity experiences daily. This is not sustainable. We are creating a climate where the most vulnerable: seniors, children, people with disabilities, and those struggling with addiction are at constant risk."

Sent by the housing chair of the Point Douglas Residents Committee, it poses troubling questions about how taxpayers in he neighborhood are treated like third-class citizens as drug-fueled mayhem stalks them daily.

"I am frustrated and disheartened by the disparity in attention and response Point Douglas receives in terms of basic city maintenance and bylaw enforcement."

In one example, a problematic property on a short connecting sidestreet couldn't be found by bylaw officers walking right past it. It's the only lot on the street. Another example is how a graffiti complaint puts callers in the position of interpreting the markings, a job that should be done by paid staff.

"311 then asked if the graffiti is hateful or threatening. I am not an expert in graffiti or gang symbols. Is this the standard? That graffiti is only actionable if it is explicitly hateful? Graffiti of any kind should be considered a livability violation no matter the content. It lowers property values, invites crime, and reinforces the broken window theory that neglect fosters further decline. "

The total ineptitude towards the embattled area puts both the head of the Bylaw Division, Winston Yee, and Police Chief Gene Bowers on the spot- and they were both questioned directly in the email. Will they respond?

It all makes her wonder if there's a hidden agenda because "This level of discrepancy sends a clear message about which communities matter... the lack of basic care and enforcement in Point Douglas is so persistent that it feels intentional. "

Marty Gold brings all the details, including actionable items presented by the PDRC (don't tell Dan Lett).

Hear our additional insight into the encampment-driven crisis facing residents east of Main Street. Gillingham, city councillors like Vivian Santos, and health authorities are ignoring them - because acting on it hurts the "harm reduction" reputation of the government-funded experts enabling these "survival crimes".

Related - Our Wednesday column in the Sun, City budgets close pools, but funds a jungle gym on Waterfront

*****

To Support The Season Six Funding Campaign- [email protected] for details or check out the ActionLine.ca Donate tab. Thank you for keeping us on the beat as your watchdog!

A Winnipeg Free Press columnist was invited to meet with residents and stakeholders to hear their concerns about locating the NDP's proposed Safe Consumption Site in their area.

Episode 34 reviews in three acts the invitation to Dan Lett, the aspersions he made about those questioning the proposal, and the scathing response to his smears from a woman who lives in the East Exchange.

Act 1- On Friday morning, after "an email exchange between you and a resident of the exchange was shared with me yesterday," a Point Douglas mother of five contacted Dan Lett.

"If you're truly confident that the site will bring safety and stability to Point Douglas, then we would like to extend a sincere invitation: join us for a walk through our community. Let us show you our homes, our streets, our schools, our challenges, and our strengths."

She told Lett, "What’s striking is that, in all these confident assertions, you’ve never once explained how this safety is achieved nor have you offered any data to support such claims... We’d be happy to sit down afterward for a beer or a gin and tonic and have a real, face-to-face conversation. Because this isn’t just policy. It’s our lived experience."

You'll also hear about the "math crisis" facing the communities east of Main Street, where "most individuals (targeted by) the SCS are not dipping into RRSPs or investment portfolios" but instead turn to theft and crime from area yards and businesses to find the thousands of dollars needed every day to pay their drug dealers.

15.45 Act 2 - Dan Lett turned down the offer, instead stereotyping the concerned residents as lacking empathy for addicts and smearing them as "being part of the ongoing problem."

"It is with great sadness and some bemusement that I respond to another active member of your neighborhood ..."

Lett's sanctimonious response was a stunning example of how legacy media in Winnipeg don't just repeat the narrative supporting a drug use site - they promote it.

"I've owned businesses right in your neighborhood. I honestly don't need to educated about the problems that exist."

This Ivory Tower attitude from supporters of an SCS across from Argyle High School like Dan Lett resemble the ultimate NIMBYs. It's easy to volunteer other families and property owners to deal with the costs and trauma that accompany every SCS created in Canada.

27.35 Act 3- A Free Press subscriber who was part of the email chain sent a reply to Lett about his crass remarks and to his biased coverage of the site controversy.

"The dismissive remarks and palpable tone of contempt toward residents questioning policy decisions have led me to reconsider my continued support (for the Free Press)... Residents raising concerns about the proposed supervised consumption site at 200 Disraeli are not “rapid gentrifiers.” They are concerned neighbours seeking accountability and balance."

Her neighbours who are recovering addicts "deserve not to be continuously exposed to open drug use and dealing in their community. Nor should it amuse you."

She continued, "The proposed location—directly across from a high school and mere meters from daycares, churches, and youth centres—contradicts the Premier’s assurances that such facilities would not be placed near schools. These are serious issues requiring thoughtful coverage, not mockery."

Hear how she refuted Lett's allegation "not a single one" of the opponents had brought forward other ideas, and pointed out the serious questions about public safety, site management, and "the over-reliance on encampments" that are yet unanswered by the NDP and site applicants, the Aboriginal Wellness Centre.

She again invited him to meet with the community, after she educated him. What will Dan Lett do next?

*****

Wab Kinew and his neighbours got a flyer from those concerned residents - read Marty's report:

https://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/gold-would-you-allow-this-next-to-your-childs-school-kinews-neighbours-demand-answers-on-drug-site-plan