Proposed cuts to city recreation budget rile readers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/02/2015 (3960 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Many readers were stunned to learn Mayor Brian Bowman’s first budget calls for closing wading pools and cutting recreational programming, with older neighbourhoods and the city’s poor bearing the brunt.

 

Let’s sacrifice a few suburban amenities to save a few inner-city ones, and I suggest we start with Mr. Bowman’s neighbourhood.

I’m sure he would be happy to sacrifice the recreational opportunities for his kids and their friends in the name of the budget.

— Southend

 

I guess the real Brian Bowman is here now.

Smiling Brian seems to have problems with blurring the facts and dealing in a professional manner. This grandstanding he has been doing since he has been elected is disgraceful.

I am wondering how he can make things happen in a smooth and efficient manner when his first step is to publicly chastise and berate the very people he has to work with rather than spending some time getting full information and explanations first. There needs to be cuts in the budget, but why are the most vulnerable the ones who bear the burden? The older and poor areas of the city are not the places to start.

Interesting that all the areas with high home prices are able to retain their services. Also interesting that “full disclosure” included telling the councillors to keep the information private.

— Karmajoss

 

I, too, would willingly accept an additional increase in my property tax, if targeted for recreational purposes. Having the additional funds generated end up in general revenue, the chances that resource would actually end up supporting recreation are slim to nil. Council can’t be allowed to play the shell game.

— Gord Richardson

 

Very disappointing. For such a small amount of the city’s budget, these programs do a lot to support Winnipeg families. Kids have places to go and play rather that getting into trouble.

This is similar to Mr. Katz cutting grant funding to NPOs in the last budget. It’s time to get control over the biggest budgets at city hall, not this nickel-and-dime stuff.

— Citizen#101

 

I know cuts have to be made, but this is not the area that needs to be cut. These pools are an inexpensive thing for families to make use of. The bus-lane project should be put on hold. If we cannot afford to keep pools open for the children who need them, then we cannot afford a bus lane.

— 23615082

 

Bowman made a campaign promise to complete the BRT by 2030. Stupid idea. He did not promise to leave recreational programming alone. In his mind, it’s probably OK to use the poor as a stepping stone to keep his stupid promises.

— Holly Hannah

 

Inner-city kids don’t often get the chance to motor on down to the beach or their cottage, so we must allow these children areas of play to give a useful use of energy during the summer. Or, shall we do the New York polka and have them open the fire hydrants?

— RusJ

 

I do not agree with closing inner-city facilities, but this info was leaked and we don’t know how accurate it is. I’m holding my judgment until I have all the facts.

— 23641982