I know the U of M trains them and the City hires them. But what do they really do?
It sounds like a lot of responsibility. The name implies that they make plans to protect and develop the health and prosperity of a city.
I’m not even sure how they get their training.
Surgeons have to study the body as a system before they’re allowed to operate on any single part. And if they mess up, the results are readily apparent.
What about city planners? When the business strip in a neighbourhood struggles, is there an inquest to ask planners why it happened?
Maybe they should try the computer game called “SimCity.” It lets people build and plan a city. I’m sure the computer would scream “TILT!” if they tried to load a community with pawn shops, massage parlours, bars, private men’s clubs and other hangouts.
Certain business uses don’t get unconditional licensing and zoning approval precisely because they can be operated in such a manner that it really hurts communities.
Too many planners, politicians and others assume their bylaws adequately protect communities and that zoning and licensing revenue is good for the City.
But what about the neighbourhood? The “experts” ignore the cumulative effect of clustering these “conditional” or “non-conforming” businesses.
There are certain businesses which entrench and profit from some of the most serious social problems in our neighbourhood. They hinder our ability to diversify the business base of our community.
Do you think Tim Hortons or grocers would be excited about locating between a pawn shop and a massage parlour?
Can anyone tell me how pawn shops, massage parlours and private clubs further the revitalization of communities? Or are there neighbourhoods where we don’t care about such things?
Let’s be honest about what’s going on.
Most massage parlours are not engaged in massage therapy. There’s a big difference between a lusty “stroke and poke,” and a therapeutic massage of the rest of the body.
Yet the City of Winnipeg zones and licenses some parlours which are acknowledged fronts for prostitution. MTS sells them advertising. They beat around the proverbial bush. They play stupid or comment, “At least they’re not working on the street.”
The City essentially ignores the exploited working women and keeps their hands off the exploiting men. Worse than that, they hide behind outdated bylaws which have long stopped protecting the public.
For two years they’ve told me the new improved rules are coming “any day now.” Yet they’re always ready to pick up their annual $2,000 license fee from operators.
Move down a few storefronts and you come to a private club.
Does a concentration of “Private Club - MEMEBERS ONLY” pass a message of a business district that’s “open for business.” Does it further a friendly sense of community? Do leering, lascivious guys coming out for a smoke break improve the status of women in our community?
Maybe I’m wrong. I’ve heard a few of the local clubs make a regular practice of signing some of the local prostitutes in as their guests in the club. I’m sure it’s just for a friendly game of dominoes.
Many of the clubs are simply places where men segregate by ethnicity for a little gambling, chatting and boozing. Who can fault the old guys for having a little manly fellowship?
So why have wives called me, complaining of gambling losses and other problems in the clubs? They don’t call the City to complain. Why would they? It’s the City which licenses the establishment and turns a blind eye to the goings on inside.
Walk a little further and you see the cluttered windows and garish signs of some local pawn shops.
Pawnbrokers will tell you they’re the lenders of last resort. Bankers to the poor folk who aren’t helped by big banks. So they loan folks $100 one month, only to demand a return of $125 to $135 the next month – compounding the same fees monthly. Examining those fees, some might argue that pawnbrokers are more into helping themselves than helping the poor.
But perhaps I should be thankful. One pawnshop down the street was quite willing to sell us back goods that were stolen from one of our work sites.
The experts spend years turning their heads and playing like they don’t know what’s going on. Then later, they scratch their heads, philosophizing about the demise and deterioration of the inner city.
Lately, I think I’ve found a new application for the Lord’s Prayer.
I’ve discovered that my prayer to my Heavenly Father is echoed in my pleas to the City Fathers:
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us…”
Rev. Harry Lehotsky
514 Maryland Street
Winnipeg, Mb R3G 1M5
(204) 775-4929
lehotsky@escape.ca