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Ano ang say ng Mayor mo tungkol sa North End?Kilalanin sina Paula Havixbeck at Mike Vogiatzakis |
By Noel Lapuz
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Paula Havixbeck |
Mike Vogiatzakis |
Mula ngayon hanggang sa susunod na mga buwan bago sumapit ang eleksyon, ay magiging daan ang Batang North End (BNE) para makilala ninyo kung sinu-sino ang mga mayoral candidates ng Winnipeg. Tinanong ko sila ng pitong common questions tungkol sa North End na maaari ninyong maging basehan sa inyong pagpili sa kanila. Ngayong buwan ng Hulyo, narito ang tugon nina Paula Havixbeck at Mike Vogiatzakis.
Ang North End ayon kina
Paula Havixbeck at Mike Vogiatzakis
1. What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say, “North End” and why do you say that?
Paula Havixbeck: “My childhood is the first thing that comes to mind. I grew up on Sinclair Street in a small house very close to Sinclair Park. I remember many special occasions in our neighbourhood; everything from birthday parties with many people in our back yard, to planting our garden, to spending time with our neighbours.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “The north end needs to be revitalized, we need to beautify it, make it safer, add more business to bring more people to the neighbourhood, clean up the streets and clean up the infrastructure. Most of all we need to give the North End a new image – an image that allows people to feel safe when walking in the North End.”
2. What are your specific infrastructure projects that would benefit the North End area?
Paula Havixbeck: “Immediately and on council currently is the extension of the Chief Peguis Trail, which I pushed for with Councillor Sharma to make it a higher priority. This will be an important completion of the inner ring road system to help people move more quickly.
There needs to be an improved focus on local streets renewal, improved garbage and recycling collection services (both private and in public spaces) and improvements to snow clearing operation compared with other areas of the city.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “I would try to clean up the North End image, I would help fix the roads and sidewalks and I would consider certain areas in the North End to become safe zones. Safe zones are a new project I will be bringing on if I become mayor. In my opinion we all deserve safe neighbourhoods. I have a strong vision and determination to take gangs and drugs off our streets. I’m a firm believer that our children should not be bullied and have equal opportunities as other children meaning a safe, clean neighbourhood. I would create projects to help bring a new vibrant image to the North End allowing people to feel safe and comfortable in this area.”
3. In terms of doing business in the North End, how likely would you consider its potential to compete with other areas of the city?
Paula Havixbeck: “I think the retail and business landscape has changed considerably in my lifetime. Some has been for the good and some has not unfortunately. Groups like the Biz, NE Renewal work very hard to improve street-scaping and safety so our support needs to continue. Its competitiveness is reduced so we must try to help. My father had his business on McGregor and safety seems to have become the biggest issue. I will look at overall city safety but something tailored to the North End would be helpful-more community policing. I think there is a fantastic potential to build more-restaurants, retail shopping and more destination needs to be attracted and promoted.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “I believe the North End has great potential, all we need to do is provide opportunities to new businesses, allowing the North End to come alive and building a state of the art community fitness center. For example Selkirk Avenue in the North End has one of the greatest potentials to become another strip like Corydon or Osborne village. The neighbourhood offers a welcoming atmosphere. I truly believe if we worked on making Selkirk Avenue a safe zone it will attract more businesses and bring the community together as one. We would have to give people an incentive to fix up the housing and make the area look more appealing.”
4. There have been negative impressions about living in the North End and raising your kids here, how would you change that?
Paula Havixbeck: “I grew up in the North End with many friends and I still keep in touch with them 40 years later! We celebrated the Faraday School anniversary and the St. John’s High School anniversary, and I think it’s important we celebrate all the people and special places. Doors Open Winnipeg is [a] good [event] and more places are opened. Let’s build on that together and create a history guide and more walking tours.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “We need to start bringing a positive attitude with positive stories that will relate to changes in the North End. It does have an image of being the tough part of the city. By cleaning up the neighborhood and adding new businesses we will clean up the perception of the area and promote a positive image, with a safe neighbourhood. We need to bring the community together; have community events that bring people to the area.”
5. What is your favourite part of the North End? Why?
Paula Havixbeck: “My old house (see photo) and neighbourhood. We knew everyone in every house. Schools, stores, community centres, church, and work were all walkable.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “The North End has a strong unique character that can’t be found in any other part of the city. Parts of the North End are extremely run down and definitely need to be updated, but you will never find the amazing character and diverse buildings in any other area. The North End has a strong cultural diversity, serving all types of people.”
6. If you win this Mayoral race, would you consider having a satellite Mayor’s office in the North End?
Paula Havixbeck: “Perhaps I might but it will be something mobile at specific times where people could have discussions and idea exchanges.”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “Absolutely, I will be a people’s mayor; I will be open to conversations, advice, and other people’s visions and thoughts of reconstructing the neighbourhood.”
7. What is your message to the residents of the North End?
Paula Havixbeck: “I grew up in the North End as did my father and I am very proud to have done so. My grandfather came in 1898 and settled on College Ave. This was the first generation to build our city and we need to respect and build upon that.
“Occasionally I attend St. Nicholas Church on Arlington with my mother and I’m always proud of my Ukrainian heritage, but I enjoy reflecting on the diversity I grew up with – Poles, Germans, Filipino, Jews, Asian, Aboriginal – all of these cultures and more living together in harmony as a community. We had so much fun and did so much together.
“When I visit friends or drive in the area, I am often reminded of my childhood and I remember fondly all of my family and friends and their parents.
“So my message is this: I have a special place in my heart for the North End. I recognize many of the challenges it faces and I will work towards revitalizing that sense of community in areas it is missing. The North End will not be the forgotten child of our city and we will work together to find new ways to make the area safer, improve infrastructure and create opportunities so that everyone can succeed. We will do this together!”
Mike Vogiatzakis: “Together we could build a new community. We need to change the image of the North End. This isn’t something I can do alone as future mayor. I need your help, the residents of the north end. We can make this place a safe and vibrant neighbourhood. It’s what we do in these neighbourhoods that changes the image and perception people have.
“We need to get rid of drugs, gangs and violence, and bring people together. We need community events, and a safe place for our children to grow up. You live in a neighbourhood that has so much potential. We need to reach out and work together to show Winnipeg the strong neighbourhood we really have. The changes we make today will last forever. Together as a community we need to make a commitment to help our neighbourhood grow, change, thrive and make others feel comfortable as they enter the North End of Winnipeg.
“Our main priority should be to get rid of the gangs, drugs and violence the North End is so well known for. As a neighbourhood we shouldn’t tolerate this. We should report activity like this to local authorities because this isn’t fair to you, your children and your family to have to put up with drugs, gangs, and violence. We as a community need to say no to this activity to truly get the neighbourhood how it should be. Our voices should speak out loud as one voice, all of us united to make that change happen and freedom you deserve in the neighbourhood.”
Sa susunod na isyu ng BNE ay abangan n’yo ang pananaw nina mayoral candidates Robert Oullette at Michel Fillion.
Si Noel Lapuz ay dating OFW sa Middle East (Dubai at Qatar). Nagtrabaho nang sampung taon sa City Hall ng Taguig bilang Human Resource Management Officer. Naging bahagi ng Bata-Batuta Productions bilang manunulat, entertainment host at stage actor. Nagtatag ng Kulturang Alyansa ng Taguig. Kasapi ng Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP).