News Article: Q&A: Jets owner Mark Chipman

[lanky]

I park across the Marlborough hotel. It's a block away, still fear for my life sometimes. Just saying. Keep on plugging how downtown Wpg is better. I don't see it.

There's extra police presence on game nights. If you're scared for your life then it would be worth asking them to escort you for that one block.

 

[YWGinYYZ]

Vacant parking lots are a blight in downtown Montreal too. What is happening is property owners wont sell unless paid an obscenely large amount of money, overvalued of course

In Toronto, it used to be a real issue but they're pretty much all being developed now - developers are being forced to provide some level of public parking when they are granted permission to develop as part of the property planning. That's a reasonable way to satisfy development of a downtown core, while still providing a reasonable number of public parking lots.

Free parking in a major downtown metropolis is not very likely in today's day and age.

 

[DowntownBooster]

I park across the Marlborough hotel. It's a block away, still fear for my life sometimes. Just saying. Keep on plugging how downtown Wpg is better. I don't see it.

That's why we need more developments like True North Square and 300 Main downtown. The more people there are in the downtown area, the safer you'll feel. As they say - there's safety in numbers.

 

[Ducky10]

I park across the Marlborough hotel. It's a block away, still fear for my life sometimes. Just saying. Keep on plugging how downtown Wpg is better. I don't see it.

I'm going to suggest this might be an overreaction.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

There's extra police presence on game nights. If you're scared for your life then it would be worth asking them to escort you for that one block.

Not if you get fed up with the team's play and leave early, like we did last night. You could have been screaming bloody murder at the top of your lungs and no cop would have heard you. How do I know this? Because there was a crazy young woman standing in the middle of Portage and Donald absolutely shrieking at some people getting into a cab nearby who I'm assuming must have really pissed her off in some way. This went on for a couple of minutes before she finally stormed off. No cops, not even any cadets nearby to intervene. That downtown is such a shit hole. I won't be around to see it, but I hope they build the next arena out near Ikea.

 

[ps241]

I think the downtown has improved allot since I moved here in 1993. Shaw park, MTS centre, improved forks (especially in the winter), improved Waterfront drive and the east exchange. The education node around U of W. The downtown residential numbers have steadily increased. True North square development and expanded convention centre is helping the SHED growth.

Is there still a long way to go? Yes absolutely there are still challenges but we need to keep plugging away and embrace a progress vs perfection mantra.

 

[Whileee]

There's extra police presence on game nights. If you're scared for your life then it would be worth asking them to escort you for that one block.

Yeah. It sounds like he might need a police escort...

 

[Whileee]

Winnipeg scary? I'm wondering how folks would manage in NYC or DC or Seattle or London or LA or Dallas, etc.

 

[lanky]

Yeah. It sounds like he might need a police escort...

An over-the-top solution to an over-the-top complaint.

@potroaster and @Laine Fan, yes there are plenty of people living uncomfortably around downtown and it sucks to be reminded that not everyone can hold a job or take good care of themselves. It sucks to see that but it probably sucks more to live it. Put yourself in their shoes before you whine about how they ruined your day.

 

[Analyst365]

Winnipeg scary? I'm wondering how folks would manage in NYC or DC or Seattle or London or LA or Dallas, etc.

Or Wichita Kansas for that matter. Its such a Winnipeg thing though. If its minus 20 with a bit of wind then its minus 40 every day, if there's a murder then its bloody mayhem, whatever gets you by. Have a look around its not so bad.

 

[potroaster]

Oh I remember 35 year's ago. The downtown was vibrant. People were shopping. There was no concern. This was our city.

 

[Eyeseeing]

Probably not fair to dismiss someone’s fears without knowing their prior experiences downtown.
I’ve had a few bizarre encounters.
I’m not scared but there are people who have fallen through the cracks that need help and as such are unpredictable.
The police presence downtown is not enough as is presently.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

An over-the-top solution to an over-the-top complaint.

@potroaster and @Laine Fan, yes there are plenty of people living uncomfortably around downtown and it sucks to be reminded that not everyone can hold a job or take good care of themselves. It sucks to see that but it probably sucks more to live it. Put yourself in their shoes before you whine about how they ruined your day.

So, now you've turned our concerns about the criminal element into a broader looking down our noses at the less fortunate. Brilliant. If a panhandler approaches me, it hardly ruins my day. As long as they're polite and don't persist. Some panhandlers are very aggressive, and maybe that doesn't bother the 6'6" body builders types in here who can handle themselves in an altercation. When you're a small senior, that sort of behaviour can feel very threatening. Maybe you should take your own advice about putting yourself in other people's shoes.

 

[YWGinYYZ]

We're getting way off topic here. Hockey forums aren't for discussing social issues - there's a Political forum if people want to discuss things outside of hockey.