There has been a lot of media and civic attention on selling Winnipeg developments as "world class". Lets call a spade a spade.
If Winnipeg were "world class", it wouldn't feel the need to trumpet its every miniscule accomplishment as such. Does Rome? Does Amsterdam? Does New York? Does Montreal? Does San Francisco? Only the desperate declare their efforts "world class."
If Winnipeg were "world class", the Downtown BIZ and CentreVenture wouldn't exist and every surface parking lot downtown would be replaced by a mixed-use 3-6 story building of architectural repute.
If Winnipeg were "world class", the residents of suburban Winnipeg would be clamouring to live downtown because they weren't at the centre of a fashionable, creative and vibrant city.
If Winnipeg were "world class", people would flee southwest Winnipeg out of banal boredom, instead of flocking to it.
If Winnipeg were "world class", people would greet IKEA's arrival with a yawn, pointing out the one-of-a-kind custom-designed furniture they paid a premium for.
If Winnipeg were "world class", neither the suburban-teet-sucking provincial NDP nor the provincial Tories would have any say whatsoever in the fate of this city.
If Winnipeg were "world class", we wouldn't be discussing a police helicopter, we would be discussing how better to educate, encourage and befriend our disadvantaged youth.
If Winnipeg were "world class", Sam Katz wouldn't be mayor.
If Winnipeg were "world class", it would celebrate its innovators.
If Winnipeg were "world class", the NDP would lose the next election because of Waverly West.
If Winnipeg were "world class", Manitoba Homecoming wouldn't exist.
If Winnipeg were "world class", you'd dress better.
If Winnipeg were "world class", it would acknowledge the racism of its police force.
If Winnipeg were "world class", it would stop treating aboriginals like second-class citizens.
If Winnipeg were "world class", the barriers at Portage & Main would've been torn down by now.
If Winnipeg were "world class", you wouldn't care about parking because you'd sell your car and ride rapid transit.
If Winnipeg were "world class", I wouldn't have to write this.
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2 comments:
"If Winnipeg were "world class", the Downtown BIZ and CentreVenture wouldn't exist"
Actually, even cities like Rome, New York and Paris have Business Improvement Zones (BIZ), just like we do.
Totally agree about Katz though...
Every city has it's share of problems. It's how the city bands together and addresses those problems that make it great. A city can only be as great as the citizens inhabitating it.
It's an old trick to complain about a city's problems just to appear important. It's called "dirty politics", and it happens all the time. It's easy to dictate the problems, it's much harder and more important to contribute to the solution and be important. In your whole post, I didn't see one practical solution, just complaints.
As an aside, this does not mean I disagree with you. I think you are bang on with almost all of your points. I would just prefer to read about possible solutions to the problems put forth.
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