Out With The Dumpsters And In With The Politics

It looks like City Hall is well on its way to making changes in garbage collection. As you well know, we have those hideous dumpsters lining our lanes in the North End. Well, it looks like they are on the way out, to be replaced by the individual automated cart system.

So, how did the City make its decision to select the automated carts? That’s a question I would love to have answered. I know there was a public consultation at the Convention Center, a website that collects input from the public, and open houses being held throughout Winnipeg. I also know there is a Stakeholders Advisory Committee to provide input to the Garbage Master Plan. I know about the Stakeholders Advisory Committee (SAC) because I am on that committee. And I know I was not asked which garbage collection system I preferred.

I do know SAC developed criteria to judge the options, awaiting the chance. Criteria were developed including costs, green house gas emissions, equality and fairness, and public health. I also know that a consulting firm (Stantec) was hired to develop options for the Garbage Master Plan. And I know the members of SAC continually asked the same questions at each of the meetings. “Will the consulting firm take our recommendations into account?” and “What is our role in the decision making?” So, at the last meeting of SAC, when we were advised that City Hall is really only considering automated carts, and the information being rolled out to the Speak Up Winnipeg open houses is limited to automated carts, I cannot say that I was surprised. But again, the members of SAC asked “Has the decision been made then?”, “Is there only one choice to choose from?”, “Will SAC be making any decisions or be given a chance to make any suggestions?” I guess I would have felt better if we were asked our opinions, even if they were not considered behind closed doors. But we were not even asked. The slap in the face was almost audible.

I guess this is politics. Form a well rounded committee from all sectors, have them meet and discuss the important issues surrounding Garbage, Recycling and Composting. Keep telling them they have a voice. Then in the end thank them for coming out and make the decisions that politicians make without any input from the committee.

I expressed my concerns on the automated carts when I was at the SAC meetings. The back lanes in the North End are narrow. During the winter there is a single lane plowed with high snow banks on either side, leaving no space for the carts. These carts will have to be drag through the snow and positioned in the lane somewhere between the tire ruts and the snow bank, hoping not to get hit by a vehicle. I am concerned about the large transient population, the renters, taking care of their automated carts, using them, and taking them back into their yards. I am concerned about the landlords making sure the automated carts are available for use, and replacing them when they are not, at a cost of $40.00 a pop.

Then there is the issue of bulk garbage that will surely still appear in our back lanes. Although the dumping of bulk garbage is illegal, the City has yet to fine a single person for illegal dumping. There is talk that the free pick up of bulk items in areas of high fire risk will be discontinued and no talk of enforcing the By-Laws to fine those doing the dumping. So, who pays for the pick up of so many bulky items that are dumped illegally into our back lanes? Or will they all just remain until they are lit on fire? Then the fire department will have to come out at tax payer expense, leaving the burned out carcasses of couches and mattresses behind. Again, who will take care of the remains?

And finally, what is City Hall planning for the transition into the new automated carts? I am sure they will run a couple of carefully placed ads on TV and in the newspaper. But besides that, are they planning anything?

It’s The Little Things …

I went to a meeting at St Johns High School a few weeks ago, held by Kevin Lamoureux about Crime and Safety. If you don’t know, Kevin Lamoureux is our M.P. for Winnipeg North. He had a guest speaker, who was an X-Police Officer. The guest spoke about issues that people have in their neighbourhoods regarding crimes, and said it was the little things that really affect people, not the major crimes. He talked about the little things, like people cutting through yards, skateboarders, littering, and squeegee people, issues affecting Osborne Village. At first I thought the guy was talking about issues that had nothing to do with the North End. Then I got to thinking, and found he was right. It is the little things, although our little things are different in the North End.

For me, the little things are construction working dumping materials in my dumpster and bulk garbage items being dumped in my lane. Or the garbage truck stopping at the dumpster behind my house, looking at it, and driving on without taking the garbage. Or neighbours partying all night. Or maybe the police visiting “the usual suspects” on my street every few days. And it’s all the City By-Laws that are not being enforced in the North End.

So, the big question is, what can I do about these little things? Well, I can do lots. I can report the illegal dumping of construction material by those people who think they can use the dumpsters in my back lane as their own private Brady Landfill. I can contact 311 and let them know about the illegal dumping, and I can let them know about the bulk items in the back lane, and I can let them know that the garbage truck did not empty my dumpster when it was in my back lane. I actually do this on a daily basis, and I have managed to keep my back lane fairly clear of excess garbage. And my dumpster now gets emptied every Thursday. I could not say that a year ago.

I look at all the little things that bother me, and I have started to make changes in my own part of the North End. And I have been successful. I am slowly working down the list of little things that bother me, and am making small changes, one day at a time. I send an email to 311@winnipeg.ca to report the issues I see on my street. I like that I get a reference number for each incident I report, and I hold the City accountable to each issue.

As far as the parties that that go on all night long, I call the non-emergency police line, report the incident, and get an incident number. Then I call the landlord and let them know what is happening at their rental property. I have had some success with that problem. Some houses stop partying loudly after midnight, or close their windows so they are not disturbing their neighbours. Other houses take longer, and cause more aggravation. But I continue working with the landlords and the police to remedy those situations as they come along. And Spring is just around the corner, so this issue is going to rear it’s ugly head again. But if I am persistent, I am sure I will have success again this year.

I can’t do much about the Police visits on my street. That is a private matter between the Police and those being visited. But I did read an article in the Free Press last year where problem residences were being dealt with through By-Law infractions. So, I look for By-Law infractions on the houses that have the most Police presence. If the house is run down, windows are broken, eaves are falling off the house, or there is excess garbage in the yard, I report it to 311. My thoughts are, if the people on my block are disrespectful of their neighbours, make noise all night, engage in illegal activities, I would rather they were not on my block. I personally do not care what goes on in the privacy of each person’s residence. But if the issues come out onto the street or the noise keeps me up, I would rather it was not happening on my street.

I have found that we don’t need to join a group, or attend meetings to fix the North End. All we have to do is take care of those few little things we can see from our own yards, and we can all make a difference.

At least that’s the way I see it, on my one block in the North End.

Who's That Stumbling On My Steps?

There was a rustle at my door this morning. It sounded like someone was rummaging on my front steps. But that's a normal sound for me early in the morning, as we get the newspaper delivered daily. And it was about that time that we heard the noise. I remember commenting to my husband that the sound must be coming from the delivery person, except the rustling noise seemed to go on for too long. Then, of course, we rolled over and grabbed a few more minutes sleep before getting up and starting the coffee. Then my husband looked out the window. Sure enough there was a Police car on the street, parked a few houses down. Next thing we saw was a fire truck. It pulled up on the street beside the police car. Then I looked out the window and saw the back door to the Police car was open, and the first responders seemed to be tending to someone.
Then I saw a Free Press car pull up and our paper got delivered. I told my husband, and said that the rustling couldn't have been the paper being delivered, because that just happened now. We looked at each other and both knew something must have happened on our front doorstep this morning. It must have been related to the events unfolding on our street.
As I got ready for work I wondered if the fire truck would move. It was parked right in front of my van and would be preventing me from leaving.
Then an ambulance showed up, and the fire truck left the scene. I was grateful that I would not be late for work this morning.
Shortly after that the ambulance left, followed by the police car.

So, what happened? I don't know. But I do know there was blood splatter in the snow outside my yard, and a bloody face print in the snow bank. I just want to know what made all that noise on my front steps this morning. I know I won't get any answers from the Police if I call and ask them. Police business is Police business, and those being arrested are protected by the Privacy Act. Maybe I will take a plaster cast of the bloody snow imprint outside my house to see who was stumbling on my steps this morning. Finally, my archaeology degree will be put to use.

At a recent Safety meeting it was mentioned that it was the little things that wear you down. The person was right, it is the little things like this that wear you down. One Police car hear, an abandoned couch there, a piece of forensic evidence at my doorstep. It's the little things that can wear us all down if we don't just laugh it off and get on with our day.

I Found My Sidewalk This Week

I found my sidewalk this week when the weather turned nice. There it was under the mushy snow that has been accumulating on my front sidewalk. We were able to take advantage of the weather and remove the snow, exposing the cement.
During those few nice days this week, we had the opportunity to talk with a few of our neighbours on the street. The nicer weather brings people out, and we can share stories as we walk past, or arrive home from work.
But along with the friendly banter with neighbours comes the familiar sound of sirens. It was the nice weather that increased the sirens in the background. Then as cold weather returns, the frequency of the sirens fade again.
We look forward to spring, taking the bad along with all the good that we have on our street. I started vegetable gardening last year in my North End yard, adding variety to the few perennial plants I brought with me from Fort Rouge. This year I hope to increase my gardening again, with more flowers and more varieties of vegetables. And this is the time of year to start thinking about the garden, and what might be going into it. I planted some pepper seeds a few weeks ago, and put them in the window. Three of the five varieties have sprouted so far. I am hoping to put the pepper plants out in containers during the summer, and bring them inside when winter comes. I know pepper plants are perennials, and grow year round in warmer climates. So, I am curious what might happen if I keep them year round, putting them outside during the summer months.
I used to garden a lot when I was in Fort Rouge. The front yard was full of perennials, and the back yard had both flowers and vegetables in it. This is the first year that I started seeds indoors since moving to the North End. Slowly, my gardening here is becoming more of what I have been used to do. And slowly, the North End is becoming my home.
Last spring I decided to incorporate vegetables into the mix, and dug up the dirt, broken pieces of cement, glass, bottle caps, and whatever, that was my front yard. I split the perennials, and spread them out so they would grow even more, hoping to make the front yard a much happier place than it was. I also planted some potatoes I found, which had taken root. They turned into a few nice handfuls of edible product. With our early spring last year, I decided to throw some tomato seeds into the ground in late April. By the end of May, when tomato plants were available for purchase, my seedlings were well on their way, and were in stiff competition with the tomato plants I had purchased.
Ah, memories. And thoughts of Spring, which is just around the corner.
I love Spring, even with the sirens and all the crazy that I know will come with it. I can't wait for Spring to come to my little part of the North End.