A rant by: GreatFlatLand

With the recent talk about builing a new Stadium for the Blue Bombers it got me thinking a great deal about the mentality that we have all now grown to accept. The main proposal that is being shopped around is to have the new stadium and other CanadInns buildings located on the Red River Ex site. Some people have already been sold on the idea and see it as a great site. My question to Winnipeggers is a good site for whom??? Yes, the pictures look great and yes having it as a stand alone way out in the boonies (is that how you spell it?) lessens issues of traffic but really what benefit is there to Winnipeggers and to a greater extent Manitobans? Think about it. We as citizens do not benefit from this site. What if I want to leave my car at home and take the bus to the game? Say I'm in St. Boniface, it would take like maybe 2 hours and 6 bus transfers to get there. Good luck to those who don't own cars! This acceptance by some of this site is in great part because businesses have accustomed us to the Big Box mentality. I'll give you an example. The big box development at Kensaton is full of what the bizz call "stand alone stores". The concept of a stand alone store is that the store is not linked to any others and access to competition is limited. The business case is simple, keep your competition away and you increase you chances of selling people stuff. Is someone willing to shop around as they would in a mall if you have to walk back outside and walk to the next store to save $5??? The answer is no. Now I ask you who benefits from the big box store development? One person, big business. The land it takes to house those stores is rediculous. All of the stores at Kensaton could easily be fit into a mall the Size of St. Vital and would be much more convenient for partons. Problem is that convenience and accomodating people is not what big business is about, they're about the bottom line. Sorry if I'm starting to sound a little preechy. Peopl ahev to start asking themselves how developments like those at Kenaston accomodate them. In addition, during the Bomber stadium debate people should ask how the new stadium will work for them. After you have your opinion based on information, hold your politicians to it. I ask you, were Winnipeggers considered in the development of the Kensaton Big Box development??? If not, why did City Council approve it. As politicians, how can they make the case that it is a good thing for people to be roaming outside from store to store when we are in near polar conditions for roughly half the year. People have to start demanding that our city's work for us not other interests.

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