Ridiculous reasoning
News
Posted By Elisha Dacey, Managing editor of The Daily Graphic
Posted 1 month ago
I
t was a decision that brought to mind the oft-hysterical Simpsons character Helen Lovejoy, screaming in horror "Won't somebody think of the children?"
In a ridiculously-reasoned move, on Tuesday Portage la Prairie city council voted down an application to allow a car dealership to open up at 124 Duke Ave., despite a recommendation from its own administration to allow it to go through.
This was not your usual car dealership. Instead of cars lined up in an ugly parking lot, festooned with helium balloons and garish signs, this was all to be inside the building, out of sight. The business owners agreed that no signs advertising individual cars for sale would be used outside, a conditional use that would have kept the building and surrounding area neat, protected and within the asthetic of the neighbourhood.
Instead, council bowed to the pressure of one special interest group who pointed out there is already a daycare going in next door.
Cue the hysterical reasoning.
There are children there, they said. Children! They might be run over!
Council seemed to agree, conveniently ignoring the fact there are already two major daycare centres situated on the busiest road in town, on Saskatchewan Avenue. Despite the unfortunate lack of sidewalks, hundreds of children go there every day. Haven't heard of any being hit. Those daycare workers are pretty careful. Not to mention, there's the fences seperating the children from the speeding traffic.
Other concerns were brought forth, too, like the car dealership would bring increased traffic.
Of course it would. Any business that goes there will bring increased traffic. But how many cars would go in and out of that dealership in a day? Far fewer than any other kind of retail shop.
After all, consumers don't stream to their local car dealership daily. Should council wait for a business that won't bring in customers?
Or how about this one: Car dealerships attract more vandalism and crime. Codswallop. This one would attract less vandalism and crime, thanks to its indoor concept.
Then Council stated they were afraid they wouldn't be able to enforce their own rules on the dealership.
What an insulting thing to say, not only to the local by-law officers who apparently won't have the intellectual capacity to drive by the business every once in a while to note if there are illegal signs outside, but to the business owners, who they automatically assume would break the rules, at the risk of their business licence.
It also highlights the shortfalls in the City budget, if they can't afford to enforce their own rules.
Something to think about on election day.
Elisha Dacey is the Managing Editor of the Daily Graphic.
editor@cpheraldleader.com
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