An Appeal to Mayor Brian Bowman

I admit that I didn't pay much attention to you during your first time in office.  Frankly, I was glad that the previous Mayor was gone and I was complacent.  Your victory came out of nowhere and I didn't know much about you but you were handsome, appeared hard-working, and liked dogs.  What was not to like?  I apologize for my complacency.  I should have paid more attention. 

Since you launched your re-election campaign, I have reached out to you to have some time to ask you some questions.  I wanted to give you an opportunity my concerns.  You have not responded and my concerns have grown.  I am very concerned about the low morale at City Hall that led to atleast one department to show blatant disregard for the tax payers of the City of Winnipeg.  I don't like how you have treated the transit union.  I don't like nor understand your lack of a working relationship with the province.  The level of violence in the City seems to be growing and the opiod crisis is tearing us apart.  You can not solve this by yourself, not that I see much evidence of you trying. Regardless, we have serious problems which require serious cooperation from all levels of government.  This also includes involving people with lived experiences. 

The last time I saw you on the news you were urging Winnipeggers to give our heads a shake.  It wss not only the words but the tone that caused me to shake my head.  How dare you express such a patronizing attitude to the people who elected you and people who were just having knee-jerk reactions to the magnitude of the recent storm.  We have heard so many selfless stories of neighbours helping one another and you chose to focus on a few reports of people putting branches on public grounds.  Lead with compassion and by example.  Don't tell us to give our heads a shake, tell us what is the right thing to do.  Better yet, show us.  So, I have to admit, that give your heads a shake comment has been thinking of you in a less favourable light. 

Yesterday, November 1, after a week of horrific crimes and violence, everyone in Winnipeg was thinking of 3 year old Hunter as his family was saying their good-byes. This little innocent angel and his story has profoundly affected most of us.  We feel powerless and overwhelmingly sad. 

While community activists were figuring out how to ensure that this never happens again, it was reported that you were at City Hall doing a photo opportunity with new immigrants to Winnipeg.  At some level, I understand this.  They are an attractive couple, you are an attractive man, the photos I saw were nice.  However, they would also be nice next week.  I am sure another week would not diminish their status as "new Winnipeggers".  It was entirely tone deaf for you to do that photo opportunity yesterday. 

You need to have canceled that and been at the hospital offering condolences and listening to the members of your community.  It was really important that you grieved with the rest of the city.  Something is actually wrong in the state of Denmark.  Our city needs to change.  It is not going to change for the better unless our leader is not acknowledging that there is a problem. 

Canada's heart beats today for Hunter.  A little boy I never met but is in my prayers and I cry just looking at his beautiful smile.  Maybe we don't need a Mayor right now, maybe we just need a neighbour.