Winnipeg - Of Interest

[pspeid]

Biff gives us an important perspective as Winnipeg tries to deal with it's homelessness issue. It is not a "Winnipeg" thing but an international problem. That being said, local efforts, supported by all levels of government, are going to be essential to try to reverse this trend as much as possible.

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by pspeid

Biff gives us an important perspective as Winnipeg tries to deal with it's homelessness issue. It is not a "Winnipeg" thing but an international problem. That being said, local efforts, supported by all levels of government, are going to be essential to try to reverse this trend as much as possible.

There are homeless people in every city. The fact it's worse in LA should be no consolation.LA is 20 x bigger and is warm year round. Compare Winnipeg to other Canadian cities of a similar size, Hamilton and Quebec city. How are we doing compared to those cities? How are we doing with homelesness, crime and violence???? Or even compared to bigger cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa?

[bomberjet]

In Winnipeg, people come in from all around during the summer months for the 'City fun' life. Then go back in the winter to live with relatives and such.

[EdwardTH]

Originally Posted by Luisito

There are homeless people in every city. The fact it's worse in LA should be no consolation.LA is 20 x bigger and is warm year round. Compare Winnipeg to other Canadian cities of a similar size, Hamilton and Quebec city. How are we doing compared to those cities? How are we doing with homelesness, crime and violence???? Or even compared to bigger cities like Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa?

Most of them are experiencing an uptick in similar issues, even if the severity might vary. The ball is being dropped just about everywhere on addictions and mental health and it's showing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/com...ht_party_life/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comm...en_exhausting/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Calgary/com...eality_erlton/

[blueandgoldguy]

It could be that a good percentage of those homeless people you encountered in Los Angeles are working, but are unable to find an affordable place to live. Thus, why they will not bother you for money.

I've seen a few youtube videos of people living in tent cities in California along bike paths.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iat67dnYw-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhy3zI3wvAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF7hWzqdPDk

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by EdwardTH

Most of them are experiencing an uptick in similar issues, even if the severity might vary. The ball is being dropped just about everywhere on addictions and mental health and it's showing.

]

The ball is being dropped by who? Society? Government? Or people deciding to use drugs? I think the severity needs to be taken into consideration. Why are some places doing worse than others?

[Biff]

Originally Posted by blueandgoldguy

It could be that a good percentage of those homeless people you encountered in Los Angeles are working, but are unable to find an affordable place to live. Thus, why they will not bother you for money.

Interesting, I hadn't thought of that - thanks.

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by Luisito

The ball is being dropped by who? Society? Government? Or people deciding to use drugs? I think the severity needs to be taken into consideration. Why are some places doing worse than others?

I'd love to see the data that supports the notion that homelessness is ONLY caused by drug use/mental illness. Yes it's going to play a role, perhaps a significant role, but there will also be a large number of people made homeless by economic stresses, domestic abuse, etc. Lots of different people, lots of different stories.

On the other hand what a great way to justify a complete lack of empathy for a needy group of people!! They're druggies, nothing we can do, write them off!!

[Luisito]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by pspeid

I'd love to see the data that supports the notion that homelessness is ONLY caused by drug use/mental illness. Yes it's going to play a role, perhaps a significant role, but there will also be a large number of people made homeless by economic stresses, domestic abuse, etc. Lots of different people, lots of different stories.

WHo said homelessness was only caused by drug use? It certainly is a contributing factor and has exasperated the homesless problem here in Winnipeg. You say a large number of people are homeless from economic stress?. Obviously there is economic stress, but what does that mean exactly? Are large numbers of proffesionals without any mental health or drug issues becoming homeless in winnipeg? Is the economy here really that bad? Please explain what that means.

Should Winnipeg hault all immigration to the city since the economy is so bad here?

On the other hand what a great way to justify a complete lack of empathy for a needy group of people!! They're druggies, nothing we can do, write them off!!

Where is the empathy for people getting killed, assaulted, robbed? Getting their cars, homes and businesses broken into, their property damaged?

[borkborkbork]

[QUOTE=Luisito;9798629]

Should Winnipeg hault all immigration to the city since the economy is so bad here?

Absolutely the opposite. Immigration is basically one of Winnipeg's only hopes for revitalization. We need population growth, young workers and families, talent/skills, etc.

[optimusREIM]

[QUOTE=borkborkbork;9798652]

Originally Posted by Luisito

Absolutely the opposite. Immigration is basically one of Winnipeg's only hopes for revitalization. We need population growth, young workers and families, talent/skills, etc.

Agreed. We should probably encourage more local population growth too, I feel like immigration alone won't cut it.

[Luisito]

[QUOTE=borkborkbork;9798652]

Originally Posted by Luisito

Absolutely the opposite. Immigration is basically one of Winnipeg's only hopes for revitalization. We need population growth, young workers and families, talent/skills, etc.

I agree 100%. It was rhetorical question.

[pspeid]

[QUOTE=Luisito;9798629]

Should Winnipeg hault all immigration to the city since the economy is so bad here?

What??? Where the heck did THIS come from????


Where is the empathy for people getting killed, assaulted, robbed? Getting their cars, homes and businesses broken into, their property damaged?

Again.....what?????

Seriously, this is a weird statement. Are you suggesting that all homeless people are out committing crimes? I have no doubt that some are, just as some crime is being committed by people who have homes.

Maybe it's a bit of a radical idea, but I don't think I have to pick sides. IMO it's possible to have empathy for BOTH people suffering homelessness AND people who are victims of crime.

Empathy, btw, doesn't mean a get-out-of-jail-free card. If a homeless person commits a crime, there need to be consequences appropriate for the crime and it's circumstances.

What should those consequences be? We have to avoid caving in to the desire to punish people for being homeless or suffering from addictions. Hopefully it's something that provides a degree of restitution to the victim if possible and tries to put the homeless person in a place where they will not commit any more crimes in the future.

[Luisito]

[QUOTE=pspeid;9798782]

Originally Posted by Luisito

Again.....what?????

Seriously, this is a weird statement. Are you suggesting that all homeless people are out committing crimes? I have no doubt that some are, just as some crime is being committed by people who have homes.

Maybe it's a bit of a radical idea, but I don't think I have to pick sides. IMO it's possible to have empathy for BOTH people suffering homelessness AND people who are victims of crime.

Empathy, btw, doesn't mean a get-out-of-jail-free card. If a homeless person commits a crime, there need to be consequences appropriate for the crime and it's circumstances.

What should those consequences be? We have to avoid caving in to the desire to punish people for being homeless or suffering from addictions. Hopefully it's something that provides a degree of restitution to the victim if possible and tries to put the homeless person in a place where they will not commit any more crimes in the future.

Being homeless is not a crime. Using certain drugs are though. When did our society started oking and normalizing drug use?

[thebasketballgeek]

Originally Posted by Luisito

Being homeless is not a crime. Using certain drugs are though. When did our society started oking and normalizing drug use?

When the country legalized marijuana. With looming talks about decriminalization of most hard drugs soon the war on drugs will end. I’m pretty sure BC will start decriminalization as soon as next year.

Also, “drugs” as a concept is very vague. I assume you are talking about hard drugs such as cocaine and meth, however, for all intents and purposes alcohol and caffeine are drugs but are normalized in society for a variety of historical and contemporary factors that would be hard to list. In Alcohol’s case are just as damaging as some of these hard drugs as we’ve seen plastered ads of distracted driving, bar fights, alcohol poisoning etc…

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by thebasketballgeek

When the country legalized marijuana. With looming talks about decriminalization of most hard drugs soon the war on drugs will end. I’m pretty sure BC will start decriminalization as soon as next year.

Also, “drugs” as a concept is very vague. I assume you are talking about hard drugs such as cocaine and meth, however, for all intents and purposes alcohol and caffeine are drugs but are normalized in society for a variety of historical and contemporary factors that would be hard to list. In Alcohol’s case are just as damaging as some of these hard drugs as we’ve seen plastered ads of distracted driving, bar fights, alcohol poisoning etc…

Yeah I meant hard drugs like meth. Meth is really the driving force behind alot of them mess we see on the streets today. Alcohol also. Specially here in Winnipeg, there is no denying that.

[Sheepish]

There was a time...not long ago that stores - particular on Main St and in the core, could not sell (or display) products such as lysol and hair spray. The cans were being punctured and drained, then mixed with 7 up/sprite/cola to create a cocktail. You would see the 2 litre soda bottles being shared among a group of friends. There was also a time that public intoxication was permitted...but it was out there. Before meth there were gasoline or glue soaked rags for a cheap high that would practically fry brains. So what we see now has nothing to do with legalization of marijuana. It is an escalation to meth (and other hard drugs) from other chemical intoxicants, it is an inability (or lack of political will) of our police to monitor or control the public intoxication, it is increasing disparity in financial resources, a lack of hope in a wide swath of our population (particularly in some corners of the indigenous community)...and on and on. Chicken or egg...did homeless beget drug abuse, or the other way around. Frankly it doesn't matter anymore. For the good of humanity and the health of our city - its way past the time to get these people off the street and into some respectable housing situation.

[Luisito]

Originally Posted by Sheepish

There was a time...not long ago that stores - particular on Main St and in the core, could not sell (or display) products such as lysol and hair spray. The cans were being punctured and drained, then mixed with 7 up/sprite/cola to create a cocktail. You would see the 2 litre soda bottles being shared among a group of friends. There was also a time that public intoxication was permitted...but it was out there. Before meth there were gasoline or glue soaked rags for a cheap high that would practically fry brains. So what we see now has nothing to do with legalization of marijuana. It is an escalation to meth (and other hard drugs) from other chemical intoxicants, it is an inability (or lack of political will) of our police to monitor or control the public intoxication, it is increasing disparity in financial resources, a lack of hope in a wide swath of our population (particularly in some corners of the indigenous community)...and on and on. Chicken or egg...did homeless beget drug abuse, or the other way around. Frankly it doesn't matter anymore. For the good of humanity and the health of our city - its way past the time to get these people off the street and into some respectable housing situation.

A few months ago I saw some one inhaling hairspray near the corner of Henderson and Mcleod. it was infront of the Starbucks near that intersection. My daughter was with me and asked Dad what is that guy doing? I looked over and saw the guy getting high with hairspray. The guy then proceded to yell and throw the hairspay bottle at a passing bus. It's hard to believe but people use anything to get high, still happens etc.

I have seen people smoke meth openly in many places at bus stops and the back doors of Portage place mall.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Former Winnipeg city councillor Al Golden, a prominent presence at city hall from the late 1980s to early 2000s, died Sunday at the age of 76, his family has confirmed.

Golden served as the councillor for St. Vital from 1988 until 2000 and ran for mayor three times, losing to Bill Norrie in 1980, Glen Murray in 2002 and his former political ally Sam Katz in 2004.

He also founded or ran six Winnipeg businesses, including the St. Vital Hotel and Transcona Country Club, ran the volunteer Golden Retriever Seniors Transportation Service bus and kickstarted the revitalization of Old Market Square in 1978

source https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manit...obit-1.6663027

[blueandgoldguy]

[QUOTE=Luisito;9798817]

Originally Posted by pspeid

Being homeless is not a crime. Using certain drugs are though. When did our society started oking and normalizing drug use?

When Big Pharma convinced government that opioids were not that addictive and were necessary for pain relief.