Winnipeg is home. It will always be home. However, we have problems in our city. Urban decay and crime. It's time to take back our respective communities. Many of us take the ills of Winnipeg with apathy. We can make a difference!

We have to band together with other community members and eradicate drugs, violence, and street prostitution. How you may ask?

IDEA #1:
Legalize everything! The gangs will not be able to make money. Street prostitution is inevitale, so why not legalize it completely? Move it indoors, and restrict it to industrial areas, or a red light district like the Exchange District.

IDEA #2:

If this is impossible, we can still band together and get some paint, and wipe out all the gang graffiti. Nothing lowers property values like gang signs. We can have neighbourhood patrols who go in groups of 6-10, and report any crime (drug deals, violence,etc,) to the Police. We need to be proactive if this city is to become safe again. we can plant gardens in vacant building and lots. Spence and West Broadway are examples of this.

Maybe some areas will be impossible to save (projects on King and Jarvis, Jigtown, etc.). However, the West End, Elmwood, Point Douglas, and even Central are not lost causes). we must band toghether and fight the hoodlums. There are strength in numbers and nothing is impossible. Lets make Winnipeg a better place for our children!

Have things really become this bad in Winnipeg? Has Winnipeg really turned into the Detroit of Canada? Should I start to fear for the safety and lives of all my friends and family in the city?

Nah, don't get caught up in the fear-mongering. Pockets of the city, like every other city, are fricked up. But I feel very safe in almost every neighbourhood.

But we need to improve on certain pockets of Winnipeg that have been taken over by the gangs. The police will soon be targeting certain known problem areas just as they did the auto-theft problem. Seems there are a very small number of punks committing a great percentage of the crime. They will be targeted.

What we need to do is figure out how we can both enable the police to do this and to help them.

Concur with GOM.......Point Douglas is safe, very safe and quiet. Yes, stuff happens from time to time but not enough to affect my quality of life nor my bottom line.

West Kildonan is pretty safe despite some of my neighbours' concerns about our close proximity to the "dreaded North End".

We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

I have no fear where I live, my street is nice. We've never had a problem with vandalism or theft. We do have one neighbour who is an ass....unfortunately asses are everywhere!

The only reason Point Douglas is safe is because MizP is out on the streets enforcing the rule of law!
Legalizing everything that gangs are into is the perfect way to get rid of the gangs. I cannot figure out why prostitution is illegal? It has been around forever, and anything 2 consenting adults want to do , is OK . Making it illegal is so stupid! Such a waste of resources re: the police, etc. Must be illegal because of some bible thumping, holier than thou ,right wing nut cakes?
Small quantities of marihuana, who cares? Small quantities of other stimuli, such as alcohol, and other drugs, who cares?
Make it illegal and expensive and we have all sorts of crimes related t getting the item, and way too many lawyers, crown prosecutors, policemen, judges, juries, penitentiaries. Stupid, no balls politicians.

Geeze man, my opinion is changing and I am starting to think crime and gangs really are getting out of control in Winnipeg. What the frick is this? This sounds too American.........

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Two-shot-at-wedding-reception-51737177.html

the people causing the problems need to be round up and sent to boot camp for 6 months

The problem is not out of control , but it is getting worse no doubt . The violence is going up and the courts are doing nothing . This country's laws are a joke when it comes to these offences . Well we are complaining remember to be part of the solution report crime and take the time to help stop it .

I think we need to put more money into the Gun Registry. heh heh

Pavola - the reported violent acts are going down, not up. The Police are doing an excellent job! The problem is the court system, in my opinion, because when you shoot at a cop and then get 14 years , you should be in the pen for 14 years, keeping the scum bags off the streets, and safer.
here in canada we don't want to speng the million dollars it would costto keep the buggers locked up, hence the 1/6 and out on parole!
I think the politicians are taking another look at that crappy system. Violent offenders and blond females should be in jail!

HurtinAlbertan wrote:
IDEA #1:
Legalize everything! The gangs will not be able to make money. Street prostitution is inevitale, so why not legalize it completely? Move it indoors, and restrict it to industrial areas, or a red light district like the Exchange District.

I've often wondered about this, and the more I think about it, the more I doubt it would help. If you took away a gangs ability to make money, they are not suddenly going to go get jobs at the Piston Ring Warehouse and start caring for their neighbours. They'll look for something else to sell illegally, probably landmines!!!

You're right of course. But it sure would make life lust a little more miserable for the farging iceholes eh?

What about the Guardian Angel program? I thought that this was coming to Winnipeg soon?