In Episode 16, you’ll hear our conversation with Harold “Mr. Bones” Brazil discussing why he is looking at returning to his north end roots and vying to become a city councillor.
Part 1- Listeners are brought up to date on the latest ground breaking columns from Marty Gold in the Winnipeg Sun:
NDP floats “better health care” and “lower costs” slogans to the masses
Asagwara swamped by multiple disasters in health care
City encampment policy failing to protect neighborhood residents
9.44 Part 2– He’s “98% sure” he’s going to put his name on the ballot in the October election. But first, Harold Brazil wants to guage public opinion about the issues and public support for a political outsider taking on 16 year Mynarski representative Ross Eadie.
With varied careers including starting the Mr. Bones Pizza franchise, becoming an emergency room nurse, and more recently working as a realtor, Brazil has always been an optimist and a go-getter. Coming from the Lord Selkirk housing projects, as a kid he collected beer bottles with his wagon to cash in. But the decline of the area troubles him:
“I would not let my 9 year old walk that area now, it’s not safe… people do not feel safe in Mynarski and the North End and I would like to bring back safety.”
He says problems with Transit, potholes, snow removal on sidewalks, and community parks are being raised by people urging him to stand for election. Also, how “we have not taken care of downtown.”
26.22 Part 3- Brazil talks about the marketing successes of Mr. Bones pPizza in the 90’s, and admits that their business model would be challenged nowadays by safety concerns for their delivery drivers and store staff. He also speaks about his experiences as an ER nurse.
33.40- Brazil explains that city council’s failure to deal with public disorder and arson is undercutting the investment of longtime homeowners in Winnipeg neighborhoods.
“The closer you get to downtown, it gets harder to sell and these houses are on the market for 30 days or more.”
Hear him describe how private mortgage lenders are redlining certain areas of the city, including the North End near St. John’s Park. They won’t finance a home purchase, “even with a 35% down payment.”
40.35– Harold Brazil reflects on the fight he had in the 1990’s against the Manitoba Telephone System hiking prices on small businesses- and how Peter Warren of CJOB took up the cause. The publicity helped force MTS to back down within 3 weeks.
“I helped save Manitoba businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a 22 year old, I went against the big corporate, and I’ll do the same thing for my ward when it’s time. I think they need a fresh new energy… to try to make change.”
He can be reached through his Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/harold.brazil.bones
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