A recap of the reported and unreported numbers (and underlying motivations of participants) of the Zombie Walk, Slutwalk and Occupy Winnipeg which all took place this weekend is provided (find out Zombies favorite brands of beer!) -- and as all of the marchers went through downtown, naturally the latest salvos in the Stefano Grande vs Brian Kelcey online battle about downtown safety is reviewed, with Kelcey holding the upper ground.
The attacks by representatives of the Biz on honest reporting of public concerns and experiences downtown has the potential to backfire on the organization, as Kelcey points out: (By the way, as you'll hear on the podcast, many of these examples ARE criminal offences, and Grande is invited to test one in particular.)
Not incidentally, (Grande) writes:
"Panhandling, public intoxication, aggressive panhandling, urinating, loitering, gangs of kids hanging out - all are an issue. But these issues are not crimes.
Coming from the Director of the Downtown BIZ, these are strange words. He's technically right, of course - if you define crime exclusively by what's in the Criminal Code.
But while the City rarely uses the by-law in question, aggressive panhandling is an offence under Winnipeg by-laws because it's a threat to public safety. If the Director of the Downtown BIZ feels that this by-law should be unmentioned, unreported or left unenforced because it's not really a crime to corner someone in an enclosed bus stop and demand cash, I'd encourage him to consult with his membership to see if they agree. He might not like the answer he'll get.
This latest attempt to deny the obvious by the Downtown Biz resulted in an as-yet unresponded to challenge to a debate by Kelcey, which I have offered to moderate. We're waiting ...The Crime and Courts roundup offers congratulations to Shelley Cook and Jacqueline Traverse for their role in the return of a missing 14 year old girl to her family; asks some obvious questions after a 13 year old, with a 10 year old accomplice, tried to commit 3 armed robberies late last week; and we have a few final words about the late John Radocaj after all 3 defendants were convicted for his murder.
Shout-outs to our newest followers on Twitter: @OutlawAK (Adam Knight), @deanatwpgsun (Dean Pritchard), and @pegpoppindeals (no idea who they are but thanks for following us !)
Here is the link for the Monday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/17/remembering-reg-alcock-grande-challenged-to-debate-kelcey-online-media-helps-find-teen/
