Fifth Anniversary Episode: Chief McCaskill's colouring, em, crime reduction plan-to-make-a-plan booklet reviewed

Today's podcast marks the 5th year of The Great Canadian Talk Show serving the community as the voice of the alternative media. The support of so many people, from all political stripes and opinions, and from the mainstream media, bloggers, world of business and academia, and supporters of free speech, is gratefully acknowledged.

My latest column in the Jewish Post and News provides some historical background on the training to engage in this form of broadcasting that I received under the mentorship of the late Yoram Hamizrachi East.

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470%3Awhat-yoram-hamizrachi-taught-me-about-social-activism&catid=47%3Afp-roknewsflash&Itemid=53

Shout-outs off the top of the show include the instructors and students at two institutions I had the pleasure of speaking to this week: the radio class at Academy of Broadcasting under John Copsey; and the Writing Partnerships Practicum course in the Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications department at the University of Winnipeg, at the invitation of Associate Professor Jennifer Clary-Lemon. Her class blogs at http://writingpartners.wordpress.com/ .

Our focus on this episode is the colouring book-like booklet distributed to the media on short notice last Friday by Winnipeg police chief Keith McCaskill, long on fluff and filler like:

“The fact that you’re planning is more important than the plan."

As I said to the classes I spoke to, if a Grade 10 student tried to regurgitate self-serving quotes and artsy pictures in a class project like McCaskill did, they would be awarded an F.

Forced by statistical fact of an increase in violent crime to croon a Petula Clark hit to explain where he intends to target resources - hello Stefano Grande - McCaskill adopted what could be a new phone number representing the lowball targets he has for a crime-reduction strategy - 9-3-3 - for approval at city hall "where normally supportive politicians damned the long-awaited plan with faint praise."

The Free Press also reported on how the presentation did not address breaking the backs of gangs "that seem to invade every safe space" by going after "the kingpins"; nor did the material explain how the Chief wants to work with the MLCC to address alcohol-fueled violence after working WITH the Liquor czars to pursuade the NDP to expand the hours socials held in neighborhood halls can sell booze.
Rounding out the show is a recap of two accounts from the blogosphere of last week's Downtown Biz safety forum being hijacked by anti-cop, anti- Biz anarchists:

http://thecoldcoldground.blogspot.com/2011/11/forum-on-downtown-unsafety.html#comment-form

http://uniter.ca/blog/entry/6934/

(NB - it has come to my attention that one of those stories is being disputed, which I will raise when taping the next installment.)

And of course given the circumstances, a special reflection on our time at Kick-FM and growing the audience, the dishonest conduct of Red River College censors under Stephanie Forsyth towards community radio and free speech - lying about Sam Katz and Vic Toews for instance - and what our listeners are saying about the show and the direction this city has taken in the past year with no one on radio holding the oligarchy to account in our stead, are part of the commentary. Here it is:

http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/22/fifth-anniversary-episodechief-mccaskills-colouring-em-crime-reduction-plan-booklet-reviewed/

The Crime Special: Chief McCaskill's priorities dangerously out of touch

The numbers tell the tale of a city where thanks to the 12 years of the NDP's "holistic approach" and a clueless police chief, criminals have no fear of cops and think they have a human right to commit crimes.

5 - the number of homicide cases in 2011 with no arrests and seemingly, no leads.

14, 15, 17, 17 - the ages of accused gun, knife and bear-spray wielding suspects this past week.

12,13,13,14,14,14,15,16,16,16,16,42 - the ages of their (known) victims. Think about how many teens across the city were terrorized, and the effect on their families and friends.

#33 - the Exchange District drive-by shooting where police are begging for tips.

# 35 - the most recent homicide count, the latest victim is now being canonized as a troubled homeless man found fatally injured in a blazing abandoned apartment block, barely 5 weeks after he himself almost killed an innocent man by bashing his face with a rock.

5 - the number of incidents referenced above that occurred in downtown Winnipeg in the past 7 days, (6 in two weeks if we include killing #33)

With murders, stabbings, shootings, macings, arsons, and break-ins ( including a bloggers' home) are rampant in Winnipeg, and while other cities try to find genuine solutions, in the Tuesday podcast we itemize the unacceptable priorities of our Chief of Police, Keith McCaskill:

- don't answer the non-emergency line;

- launch an encrypted dispatch system to conceal the number of violent emergency calls from reporters and the public, a technology that so endangered cops on the beat it had to be pulled;

- announce a volunteer-staffed fake initiative to compile complaints about "community issues" like poor street lighting that already never get fixed (why have citizens call 311 directly when now police trained volunteers can do it instead ?) ;

- assign cops to enforce diamond lanes on Saturday mornings in the north end - are the buses being delayed on McPhillips ?? - rather than having them investigate real crimes;

- pressure city council to ban snowmobiles, ignoring how maybe, maybe one day in a blizzard (ie 1966, 1986, 1997) the cops will actually need citizens to rally the troops and get doctors and nurses to hospitals;

- and whatever you do, DON'T WARN FAMILIES IN ST. VITAL, RIVERVIEW, DOWNTOWN, THE NORTH END OR WEST KILDONAN THEIR TEENS COULD GET ROBBED AT KNIFE AND/OR GUNPOINT BY A PUNK ON A BIKE.

"The problem is not a lack of policies or examples or approaches. It’s the absolutely shocking failure on the part of Winnipeg’s entire leadership class to act on any of these examples." Brian Kelcey

Listen to the Tuesday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/11/15/the-crime-special-chief-mccaskills-priorities-dangerously-out-of-touch/

Twitter: @TGCTS
Email: TGCTS1@gmail.com

Feedback on Occupy Winnipeg, Downtown Biz and safety, poverty, Crocus; plus FLM nominations open

In lieu of a Podcast today, we are going to take some extra time to prepare a special Tuesday episode marking the one year anniversary of the betrayal of radio listeners (and their own Cre-Comm students) by the anti-citizen journalism, anti-free speech bosses at Red River College.

One of the reasons the media oligarchy, as Scott Price of CKUW describes it, had to find a way to silence the community platform offered to TGCTS by CKIC station manager Rick Baverstock, was our mandate to circulate other sources of opinion and information and to reflect the comments by listeners and readers in our community about the issues and how they are reported on by the mainstream media.

Can you imagine if last November, heading into a provincial election, the public had learned on drive-time campus radio that the largest shelter in Manitoba was rife with mould and needed $1/2 million in repairs, while the Selinger priority was to devote over $30 million to polar bear projects and $40 million for a museum about "human rights" ?

Which media outlet do you think would have asked Greg Selinger why his government underfunded Osborne House and endangered its clients health? Because TGCTS would have.

Then again, we derived not a dime from his government.

The execution of TGCTS on radio wasn't about silencing us in the studio - it was about silencing ALL of you who were being given a voice at a time of day when people would actually be able to listen to their radio, and would want to participate in a professional format that engaged the audience to take action and challenge elected officials for funding the pet projects of millionaires to the hilt while they ignored the daily needs of vulnerable human beings in our community.

We are sure the brown tower bullies at RRC and their loyal "partners" in mainstream radio will want to listen tomorrow to the story told by Barb Judt of Osborne House about domestic violence in this community and the demand for the services her agency provides.

After all, it is the story that they themselves silenced one year ago at Kick-FM because they cared more about their corporate agendas then they did about homeless women and children in Winnipeg and the precarious financial situation of the shelter.

In the meantime, here is a sampling of recent public affairs coverage in the alternative media and feedback we get via email and social media from believers in You Have the Power.

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Firstly a message posted on our Facebook group from Kristaps:

"Whether you are for, against, curious, or have no idea about the Occupied movement in this city, please come down and talk to us! We are a diverse group of people of various races, religions, educations, careers and views on the the movement. You are always welcome to come sit around the fire and share your opinions, and hear ours. If any of you have been thinking of joining the movement do not procrastinate. Yes the weather is getting cold, but we are preparing for the winter. I am a full time student at U of W, and I hold down a part-time job while still camping out every night. We have food, extra sleeping bags and a communal tent in case you do not have access to any of the materials to get started. Please come and talk!"

To which a listener responded:

"Thursday's podcast was good. Kenny and yourself have good chemistry and you're at your best with someone acting as a foil.

I was really impressed with the way you have treated those on the facebook group supporting "Occupy Winnipeg". It shows your commitment to community engagement

Personally I have no issues with the occupiers as long as they clean up after themselves and leave the park as they found it. At least they are engaging each other and if they are sincere are willing to openly engage anyone who wants to hike down there.

Perhaps members of our government and city council should go and talk around the firepit as well. They may get more accomplished."

And we heard more from our Facebook group after we spread word that an Exchange District business, Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium, was re-structuring for the future:

Kristen wrote:

"CBC french radio was by today, with their film cameras - and the shop was filled with French speaking Victorian Dressed frolickers, from other continents, on their way to party! We live in our own time zone here...its multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, and filled with uni-bio-philia!!"

**********

An earlier public event, well and deservedly panned by the alternative media, was the CEO Sleepover PR stunt at 201 Portage by the Downtown Biz.

For those who think we were alone in hammering the hypocrites, check out these two pieces from the College press:

http://uniter.ca/view/6586/

http://uniter.ca/view/6572/

And this blogger had some valid observations:

"A quick Google search on the subject reveals that most of the conversation regarding the CEO Sleepout is of the chest-beating, back-slapping, self-congratulatory variety. Participants in the Human Library have been far more self-critical"

http://writingpartners.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/

and there was also this view:

"As I think about that event now, it’s kind of corny: rich and powerful people pose as those in solidarity with those most desperate among us."

http://www.geezmagazine.org/blogs/entry/day-1-on-four-dollars-of-food-per-day/

***************

A lot of the recent criticisms about the Downtown Biz stem from the unrealistic statements on downtown safety coming from their office and public officials after the Air Canada memo was made public.

My column in the Jewish Post about the controversy

http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431%3Atelling-it-like-it-is-about-winnipegs-downtown&catid=34%3Ademo-articles&Itemid=78

garnered the following response:

"I finally just had the chance to read the Jewish post article about downtown and it was fabulous man. Well done. Its completely unbelievable how air Canada is getting blasted and no one is actually talking about the real problem. J"

Plus this view from an eyewitness:

" In my last job, I used to be at work for about 5:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday. I would drive down Ellice and make a right at Garry Street. The first left you can make before Portage Avenue takes you down a small back lane. On Garry and down that back lane was a regular occurring show of sex (orgies included), drug deals and then the individuals who thought they had privacy masturbating in public. If you drove down there and startled one of them, you ran the chance of having someone urinate, throw feces or blow their load onto your vehicle.

I used to park in the underground lot at the TD Center. Because it was heated, individuals used to sneak in on occasion and have sex. There’s nothing like stumbling upon that at the end of the day!"

and we also got the following email from a former resident:

"Good article on the downtown. This is what happens when political correctness takes over."

EDIT: and finally, this quote from a documentarian and activist from Los Angeles; his speech this past summer at CDI College was not deemed worthy of attendance by Winnipeg's CEO's for lack of a ribbon to cut or other similar PR trade-off, I presume.

"every person working in homeless services should spend at least 4 hours (1/2 day) each month on the "front lines". They need to "feel" the real pain of homelessness to better understand people and find solutions to help"

Mark Horvath

*********

Inasmuch as poverty is a frequent issue raised in matters of homelessness and downtown crime, this blog analysis by Brian Gilchrist about how food banks are seeing more 'working poor'

http://bgilchrist.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/not-numbers-to-be-proud-of-a-clear-example-of-the-ndp-failing-the-working-poor/

led to this FB comment:

"I agree with two of his points...

Minimum Wage is part of the problem... Minimum wage went up 5.26% in October, which is over 2% mora than inflation. Minimum wage goes up, businesses that higher unskilled/minimum wage labour, such as those working at grocery stores, have to raise their prices to compensate above and beyond the usual 3% inflation.

Since we are on a variable rate taxation system, and that won't change for the forseeable future, I think the best thing they can do is make the personal tax exemption limit 25% less than minimum wage at full time, which would currently be $15,600, which means low income earners pay tax on just $5,200 per year. Now, I can predict now the socialists in the group will say, WAIT!!! They shouldn't pay tax at all! If they make minimum wage then they should keep all their money.

But, if that was the case, the take-home income for someone earning $30,000 per year would be $21,050, after tax, which is only $250 more than someone on minimum wage who got to keep everything. So everyone, even the lowest earners need to contribute to taxes to keep things fair."

************

One of the news stories we kept the spotlight on for years was the Crocus Fund rip-off. The wrist-slap deal made between the Securities Commission and 8 of the Directors - that ONLY TGCTS looked into the details of - fed public cynicism about what justice means under the NDP:

"The sad thing is the people who are responsible won't get punished."

*******************

Lastly, you may want to occupy a few minutes of your time by taking part in the following process that recognizes true leaders in our community:

"Dear Friends, Family and Colleagues,

As many of you are aware over the past number of years I have been involved in the Future Leaders of Manitoba Council (FLMC). On Thursday, January 26th, 2012, the FLMC will be hosting the Fourth Annual Awards Gala, which honours young Manitoban’s aged 25-39 for their amazing achievements in the areas of Business, Community Service, and The Arts. We are always looking for new talent, and cannot wait to honour Manitoba’s finest once again this year.

If you know someone exceptional, please visit the FLMC website at www.flmc.mb.ca for more information on how to nominate. Each finalist and their nominators will be given 2 tickets to the event, to come and celebrate Manitoba.

Nominations are due on Saturday, December 10th, 2011. All nominators will be entered into a draw to receive 2 tickets to the Winnipeg Jets vs. Anaheim Ducks December 17^th hockey game courtesy of FLMC Media sponsor, HOT 103.

Thank you in advance for taking some time out of your day, to honour your friends, family and colleagues by nominating them for one of the exciting and prestigious Future Leaders of Manitoba Awards.

If you have any questions about nominations please feel free to reach me by email at jfarber@qualico.com."

**************

NEXT PODCAST IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8TH

Follow us on Twitter @TGCTS

Shots ring out all weekend long in Murderpeg as Crimestat under fire

If anyone complains to you, that CTV is a US style 'crime/violence/fear' TV newscast, well you can tell them the station doesn't do a very good job of it.

For instance at 6 PM Sunday, the anchor said Winnipeg had our 34th homicide tying the record, but didn't point out we have 2 months to go.

And the victim number 33, whose family declined to speak to CTV but who did talk to Richard Cloutier on CJOB radio, seems to have been a straight-laced Asian young adult of 20 who was in the passenger seat - the passenger seat mind you - of a car after going out Friday night, presumably to an Exchange District bar, for -- Halloween.

And the news script concluded, that police explained, "it's hard to predict who may have firearms and when they might be used".

How comforting, for parents whose kid go out trick or treating or to community parties, let alone their older kids who go to bars and socials. Just in time for the cops to admit, they have lost control of the streets of this city. Lovely.

It is notable how many of the killings and stabbings this year have been open-air, rather than inside dingy apartments or 1 star hotel rooms on Main Street.

CTV also, on this quite violent weekend after last years' pre-Halloween shooting and killing spree- split the crime reports up on the newscast. It separated the Lincoln Hotel shooting - which wasn't identified by either CTV or the Free Press as the second north end shooting location in 12 hours - from a stabbing at Aura nightclub on Portage Avenue one block from the University of Winnipeg (and showed the blood on the sidewalk).

Instead CTV did a 180, following the Exchange District murder with a glowing upbeat cheerleader piece about the opening of the new airport, mentioning that "problems with the underground pipes" led to a one year delay , but not connecting the delay to any increase in cost -- although the cost had been mentioned too.

Getting back to the crime aspect, the police department has to completely rethink the way it deals with the press and public. This week former deputy chief Menno Zacharias carved the sanctimonious piety of Crimestat upholders into little bits, stemming from Stefano Grande's recent comments and opinions on Twitter, blogs and, well, maybe some radio but not radio where the questions to the Downtown Biz director would be guaranteed in the Zacharias realm --- challenging Grande's fantasy that downtown is safe.

Zacharias showed that only the most serious of crimes- such as, oh, people being shot - made the daily press releases.

"In September 2011 the Winnipeg Police Service issued 26 News Releases. In those 26 news releases, however, the Service made reference to only 10 of the 787 offences reported on Crimestat during September... During the month of September, 59 of the 111 muggings reported city-wide were committed in District 1, which encompasses the downtown area. "

http://mennozacharias.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/crimes-committed-vs-crimes-reported/

North end blogger Rae Butcher, who has fought tooth and nail for accountability and proper information about her own street, noted how important measures of public safety such as stabbings are under-reported as robberies on Crimestat and arsons are not calculated into Crimestat at all.

"What is the actual purpose of the CrimeStat map on the WPS website? Is it to arm citizens with valuable information on crimes being committed throughout Winnipeg? Or is it designed to create illusions of Winnipeg as City Hall sees fit?"

http://adayinthehood.blogspot.com/2011/10/crime-stat-vrs-police-releases.html

She also enumerated recent PR and non-emergency bulletins issued by police email last Friday which the number of which dwarfed the real news. (Not to mention what Tom Brodbeck of the Sun has to say about the real news downtown and Mayor Katz.)

The time has come for the revival of placing someone the press and public can trust to meaningful compile press releases and reports with some basic comprehension that the idea is to report on crimes, not to promote Chief McCaskill's social work agenda and manipulative style (like when drinking parties turn bad, and the official lingo is " they were socializing".)

The time has come for a civilian spokesman who understands what the public needs to and wants to know, and to assign the officers to what we paid to train them to do - be cops and deal with crime and criminals , not with keyboards and microphones.

As of CTV, the segue to the weather was "I don't want to say we dodged a bullet yesterday - but we did"

You'd think on a weekend when 2 men are gunned down and a 14 year old gets dropped in broad daylight on Selkirk Avenue and barely survives, CTV would have thought thru how their "happy-chat" clever-word quotient would be expressed under the circumstances.

And you'd hope someone in the MSM will ask, what role the police chopper played in the response to any of the 3 (known) shootings this weekend. If any.

Happy Halloween.

(Next podcast is on Monday, this was a stand-alone blog piece. )

CKUW host calls out "teflon" Downtown Biz for ducking public safety discussion: "We're not idiots"

"It's an important debate that needs to happen", explains CKUW assistant news director Scott Price about why he tried to get Downtown Biz honcho Stefano Grande to tackle the issue of downtown safety mano-a-mano with urban affairs blogger Brian Kelcey on live radio.

But as the host of the thrice weekly morning show People of Interest tells TGCTS, "His first response, I just shook my head. "There's no debate with the Biz, there's only moving forward." What the heck does that mean?"

"I have little to zero journalistic training, but that doesn't mean I don't know the issues" states Price, who chased Grande by Twitter, email and phone to appear on the show on October 17 to no avail. "We're not idiots", Price exclaims, believing that Grande "probably didn't want, as knowledgeable as Brian Kelcey is, isn't something Stefano wanted to do on a Monday morning".

What he, as a citizen journalist sees of the Downtown Biz, is "this strategic, tactful, trying to sidestep things put on the teflon so things don't stick approach" that fails to recognize that Grande's suggestion to go on CKUW to talk about topics such as housing was insufficient at best and insulting at worst.

"If we're talking about downtown residents, crime and safety is at the top of the list ... Our audience is Downtown, West Broadway, west end. To me, when the Biz was evasive, these people give us their money ($50,000) every year to keep us as a media source, every year, there's a disconnect there, maybe Mr. Grande doesn't realize that."

Price admits that even at 6'2" and over 200 lbs, it was "heads up hockey" out there, going so far as saying he and his friends as a rule plan to "only make 1 beer run" to avoid being jacked leaving the Sherbrook Hotel vendor. In our exclusive interview, he is as unimpressed by the Downtown Biz' CEO Sleepover stunt as we were, and also criticizes, as we had, the charade of City of Winnipeg public consultations for the Sherbrook bike lanes and the Our Winnipeg open houses.

Campus radio certainly "gets it" when compared to what Price saw as the mainstream newsroom "oligarchy".

Also on the Friday podcast:

A review of the racist attack on the Okay Groceries supermarket (3 blocks from Health Sciences Centre) by radical supporters of the deceased shoplifter Geraldine Beardy yesterday, leads TGCTS to ask serious questions.

Will Justice Minister Andrew Swan and the police brass will take action to crack down on vigilantiism against the Korean storeowner after charges against him were dropped? Or does the store have to have the windows smashed out or be torched by arsonists first.

Listen to the Friday podcast and the interview with Scott Price here:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/28/ckuw-host-calls-out-teflon-downtown-biz-for-ducking-public-safety-discussion/

Bizarro Manitoba: Crocus Fund directors pay no penalty; foreign students and polar bears NDP priority over humans in need

When newsrooms report that the punishment for 8 Crocus Fund directors who admitted selling shares far above their worth, is to bar them from doing it again FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR, and the mainstream media fails to identify who those directors are or question the Securities Commission about the post-election timing, this province is in a serious free-fall of accountability and ethics.

When foreign students getting free health care and multi-million dollar shelter for Polar Bears is more important to local philanthropists and the Selinger government than access to doctors for Manitobans and shelter for victims of domestic violence and the homeless, this province is in a serious free-fall of financial and moral judgement.

When a political party that fell under 10% support thinks people will now pay to join up, this province is in a serious free-fall of critical thinking and common sense.

When mainstream media reports on a poll about Mayor Sam Katz based on at best, 450 responses, and more likely only 300, and the pollster is allowed to claim '1.2% accuracy 95% of the time' without challenge, this province needs a strong alternative media more than ever.

These topics, plus an explanation about the legacy of hug-a-thug sentencing in the Tony Lanzellotti murder, a police chief who cares more about being a social worker than caring for police dogs, and asking why cars crashing on winter streets isn't called an "accident" but the wrongful release of dangerous violent offenders into the community is, rounds out the show. Plus shout-outs and some surprising visitors to our blog today.

Please note that on Friday, we are scheduling a special about the Air Canada memo, the war of words between realists and pollyanna's, and the attitude adjustment needed by the Downtown Biz to truly get a handle on the crime and safety problems downtown.

That episode will feature an exclusive interview with a citizen journalist, who explains why it is indisputable they represent a neglected segment of the community. Wait till you hear what he has to say about the players and the political game, the message he has for Stefano Grande, and how remarkably similar his observations and experiences are, to the positions taken and causes championed by TGCTS for the past 5 years.

Far from being on the wrong track, we were right on the money about the issues and the role of campus radio to raise awareness and create a sense of community, regardless of what Red River College censors like Cathy Rushton and Graham Thomson thought.

To prepare for that special, take a look at photo-blogger Bryan Scott's danger spots in downtown, which we also reviewed today. You'll recognize all the usual suspects instantly.

https://twitter.com/#!/wpglovehate/status/121643407121711104/photo/1

THE WEDNESDAY PODCAST IS HERE:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/26/bizarro-manitoba-crocus-fund-directors-pay-no-penalty-foreign-students-polar-bears-ndp-priority/

Exclusive details: Judge Ted Lismer facing QB hearing to turf him from Labradoodle trial

October 25th is the 22nd anniversary of the final election of Bill Norrie as Winnipeg's mayor - which I covered on MTN-TV. Time flies, eh ?

Along with a brief recollection of that vote, and shout-outs to our friends the Greendell Falcons for their valiant losing effort in double overtime at Canad Inns Stadium on Sunday in Midget Football playoffs and to Kenny Omega for winning the World Junior Heavyweight wrestling title in Japan, the Tuesday podcast focuses on our personal observations of the proceedings in the Labradoodle trial, now being challenged by an application to Queen's Bench by lawyer Gene Zazalenchuk for a Prohibition Order to turf the judge.

http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/local/article/1005804--small-talk-a-big-issue-for-judge

What's with this court case about allegedly abused dogs ? We tell you all about it.

Missing warrants - as in there was none.
Missing Inspection Notices - was there ever one, or was there none ?
Missing the point - a provincial court judge who is now accused of creating an apprehension of bias after being seen speaking in the hallway to the 'star' witness from the Provincial Veterinarians' Office and refusing to recuse himself.

Excerpts from an official transcript and affidavit, combined with James Turner's report in Metro, gives TGCTS listeners a pretty complete review of the situation involving Judge Ted Lismer they can't get anywhere else in the local media.

In civics, somehow we use Dan Lett's column to tie together Phil Sheegl's statue of 3 monkeys, Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, and the bike lobby. It makes sense to us, anyways.

In the public safety update, a drive-by in Elmwood proves the Safer Communities initiatives bragged about by the NDP government are a dangerous joke. Why did neighbours get no action after 15 calls about the house - until it was finally shot up? Maybe police were too busy chasing the cold, cold leads in last year's triple shooting in the north end. Plus, a listener advises that another Winnipeg hospital may yet be the scene of the next Brian Sinclair tragedy because it tolerates non-patients to loiter in the ER.

Also, here is the link to my latest column in the Jewish Post and News about downtown safety that names a few prominent Pollyanna's.
http://www.jewishpostandnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431%3Atelling-it-like-it-is-about-winnipegs-downtown&catid=34%3Ademo-articles&Itemid=78

(Although it didn't get mentioned in the podcast, check out this hilarious take on Terry Nelson's new career in the used car business:
http://slurpeesandmurder.blogspot.com/2011/10/crazy-terrys-used-car-capital.html)

HERE IS THE LINK FOR THE TUESDAY PODCAST:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/25/exclusive-details-judge-ted-lismer-facing-qb-hearing-to-turf-him-from-labradoodle-trial/

Tues. Podcast: Kelcey missed Grande's real message: Downtown crime realists to be ignored

After a great morning helping CDI College produce compelling new ad spots for Streetz104.7, and an afternoon investigating your story leads, the Tuesday podcast is finally ready !

- State of the City has Part 3 in their crime analysis disagreement with the Downtown Biz. But in sending a polite message to TGCTS about a proposed debate, Brian Kelcey might have missed the real message sent by Stefano Grande to critics from the alternative media. Between a tweet to Graham Hnatiuk and communications with CKUW, we piece it together and it does not bode well for Biz members or the general public.

- Speaking of Hnatiuk he raises the kind of pick-their-pocket story about the Forks-North Portage management from businesses at the Forks and "free" parking for Jets games that they are in the end paying for, that the MSM would never delve into and do what Kelcey endorses - question authority. It's another message that also should cause concern for Biz members.

- - We set the record straight about the departure of Dave Shorr from Manitoba Liberal Party offices at 405 Broadway and the deck chairs being shuffled;

- And an "Our Mistake" classic from the Free Press: "She was dead before she was alive";

Plus more on youth criminals, violent home invasions, and runaway teens repeatedly in the police bulletins.

Here is the link to the Tuesday Podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/18/tues-podcast-kelcey-missed-grandes-real-message-downtown-crime-realists-to-be-ignored/

ON TWITTER: @TGCTS

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Remembering Reg Alcock; Grande challenged to debate Kelcey; Online media helps find teen

A personal recollection of the late Reg Alcock from my MTN days at the Manitoba Legislature, and a reminder of how an interview with Krista Erickson may explain why he fell out of favour with voters in Winnipeg South, leads off today's show. Reg passed away suddenly on Friday morning.

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/

Slim pickings for NDP cabinet; Kelcey hammers out truth about crime and downtown cheerleaders

The Thursday podcast starts off with a brief tribute to my mentor, Yoram Hamizrachi East on the first anniversary of his passing.



Part one of the show is all about provincial politics, as we recount an interesting opinion piece from the publisher of the Neepawa Banner, Ken Waddell, and then explore an issue only TGCTS addressed during the election campaign - the wafer-thin depth of the NDP backbenches with 2 cabinet posts to be filled.

Blogger Brian Gilchrist looked at the poor crop of Finance candidates,
http://bgilchrist.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/matt-wiebe-for-finance-minister/

FP reportrix Mary Agnes Welch focused on the rudderless Conservation department which even Bill Blaikie didn't bother to fix

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/welch/Conservation-speculation-131619163.html

Part two continues the Air Canada/downtown safety controversy, utilizing not only the op-ed analysis of Brian Kelcey "Downtown spinners in crime denial"

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/downtown-spinners-in-crime-denial-131575468.html

but also his excellent and revealing blog post with a first hand account of harassment of AC employees and other vulnerable (potential) victims of habitual drunks

http://www.stateofthecity.ca/front-page/2011/10/13/added-op-ed-on-crime-in-downtown-winnipeg.html

And we ask, how can the police brass be expected to develop strategy to deal with the bums, when they can't even figure out how to use internal security cameras to protect their own cops from false claims of assault?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/10/12/winnipeg-police-station-cameras-iteam.html

And in the last segment, imagine the nerve of the defence attorney asking for leniency for a Native Syndicate member who broke into his own cousins' house in Lake St. Martin, mistakenly thinking a drug dealer lived there, and robbed the family anyways before firing a shotgun into the air to scare the little kids even more ?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/gangster-off-to-prison-for-chilling-break-in-that-scars-kids-131772638.html

Shout-outs today to our new followers on Twitter,
Illegal Curve's Richard Pollock @ICrichyp
and, The Pony Corral @ponycorralwpg

(And let's all welcome FP editor Margo Goodhand @margogoodhand to social media)

Here is the link for the Thursday podcast:
http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/13/slim-pickings-for-ndp-cabinet-kelcey-hammers-out-truth-about-crime-and-downtown-cheerleaders/

TGCTS PODCASTS RESUME ON MONDAY.

Tuesday podcast - Gordo and pals gang up on Air Canada; fail to refute valid downtown safety concerns

With Yom Kippur and Thanksgiving observed, today's podcast is a classic TGCTS stream-of-consciousness tapestry reflecting on the reality of the state of the downtown, that starts and ends with Gordo himself -- all because of this drivel from Saturday:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/its-the-kind-of-face-many-fear-131379728.html

Listen to the Tuesday podcast to hear our own Jim Nielson story, and our analysis explaining

- how the distorted Freep headline and "reporting" about downtown crime rates tried to conceal the fact that maybe, just maybe, there is a basis for Air Canada to be concerned for the safety of it's crews on layovers,

- the lecture by Lloyd Axworthy from his U of Winnipeg fiefdom,

- a government lease in the "once-downtrodden North Portage" relies on those evil surface parking lots,

- exactly what Judge Fred Sandhu said about alcoholism fueling social disorder with no solutions from government in sight (H/T James Turner who ran the transcript here),

- how $40 million of provincial tax dollars earmarked for the CMHR could be used to make our community safer instead of pumping up the pet project of millionaires

- why the social do-gooders don't pressure the NDP to deal with it: because Greg Selinger didn't tell them too

- and in the Crime Courts Public Safety Update, election day news about Greg Selinger's favorite rapper and his dealings with Air Canada and Montreal police (here's our previous story about Brooklyn and his pals, he's on the far right, yo);


plus a recap of a violent weekend in the 100 block of Main Street, including a midnight firearm-backed sexual assault and a broad daylight stabbing of a Good Samaritan.

(Off the top of the show we shout-out to our new Twitter followers, we end with our favorite story about a Game 1 Jets fan and a challenge to Gordo, and for those CFL and wrestling fans, here is a link to my book review of Angelo Mosca's biography http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2011/09/29/18759781.html )

Tuesday Podcast link:http://tgctspod.podbean.com/2011/10/11/tgcts-oct-1111-gordo-and-pals-gang-up-on-air-canada-fail-to-refute-valid-downtown-safety-concerns/

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