‘Five Questions for Candidates’ kicks off with Aaron McDowell, who registered on July 4 to be a candidate in Mynarski ward, where he had done case work as an EA for over 10 years. This is a great discussion with a person who understands the ways a city does- and does not- work properly, and how that affects residents and businesses every single day.
“A meat and potatoes campaign” is how he describes the upcoming council race, addressing core issues for families and the area businesses, and explaining how a councilor has to hear out the people they will be representing. Aaron talks about his supportive family, the challenges of the north end ward, improving the quality of life, and the neglectful attitude of city hall – council members included – towards Mynarski’s issues. He repeats what is his calling card: “My neighborhood is burning down and nobody is doing anything about it.”
A very animated speaker, Aaron first talks about the support of his family for his career in public service; then he describes a major campaign issue: how absentee landowners use derelict and vacant properties as “ATMs”, endangering the North End where he lives and works.
“And when they burn down… the adjacent properties burn down too.”
He outlines a solution he’s worked on for six years to push through the bureaucracy, but will require the cooperation of the province. And we discussed the fact that on 92.9 KICK-FM, we spurred councilors to take action on vacant houses. Except that was 15 years ago, and he insists sterner actions are needed.The insight Aaron gained into municipal government after years inside City Hall allows him to speak clearly – and bluntly- about crime and public safety, and the failure of other levels of government to support policing – “Morale is just shot. The cops are overwhelmed”.
He goes over the history of the Bowman regime eliminating pro-active policing – which Aaron believes led to a police chief saying adios. We raise the issues of courts and justice systems failing the city, and asked our standard Number 4 Question- isn’t it time for the City to stand up to the Province for endangering the vulnerable in Winnipeg? Aaron gives a great answer and thumps the table addressing the sense of fear around the city from violence being caused by “the federal government and the provincial government off-loading their responsibilities onto municipalities.”
He fills us in on the history of the issues around the new and increasingly expensive north end police station, (and hey! who knew the bus barn across from the Matheson and Main Sals was closing?). We end off by debating how the North End gets the short end of the stick – and how that has to change. Aaron speaks of a tremendous divide between the city neighborhoods.
“We are the second-tier people on this side of the tracks. We truly are.”
Listen to why Aaron McDowell chose to move to the area right out of high school, and why he is so attached to “what’s basically been my home my entire adult life.” He also promised to do an entire episode with us just on City services.
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