Rocker Chic Boutique owner is pulling up stakes on York Street and looking for new location in city, describes downtown Fredericton as “ghost town” for new retailers
I see there was no direct mention of the homeless problem downtown. I refuse to shop downtown because of constant harassment by some very aggressive homeless panhandlers.
In fact I am terrified for my safety and we'll being.
And don't tell me the problem doesn't exist and gaslight us by City Council, F'ton DD, Chamber of Commerce by publicly claiming something is being done and the problem is not that bad.
In fairness, a couple of the parties mentioned that issue in my interviews, but without some hard numbers, I felt it would muddy the waters of the piece. Some are saying the problem is being and has been addressed/curbed, while others continue to demonize a vulnerable population.
Ultimately, the story is about business and downtown commercial traffic. No piece of journalism can cover ever potentially relevant factor exhaustively. There's a conversation to be had there about panhandling, mental health, homelessness and more, but I didn't feel this was the piece for the avenue through which to explore those elements.
How is telling the truth about aggressive panhandlers demonizing a vulnerable group? Ignoring the problem or claiming a group is being demonized is weak.
Good story Don that covers a lot of the issues. It is concerning though that you decided to leave out the homeless problem. I’m downtown a lot and it’s absolutely a major problem. Having someone dispensing drugs to them in the core isn’t helping either.
Reporters should report what they are told in a story, not what they want the story to say. That’s the issue with media in general.
I would also note that the owner of the business leaving the downtown area didn't broach that as a reason for her departure. That's another reason why I didn't delve into it, as the party raising the issues of concern didn't include it in her comments.
I'm not trying to shy away of any issues. If I was, I wouldn't have acknowledged some made comments about the panhandling/homelessness problem here in the comments, out of fairness. I'm no social worker. I was just trying to write a business-focused story, not solve all of society's ills in one report.
Look at it this way: it's prompted the conversation here. Isn't there value in that?
I live downtown and walk there at least 3 times a week. To state that the area is unsafe sounds like a joke to me. I’ve lived and visited many places around the world. Homelessness is not an issue for this downtown.
I have lived in Frédéricton for many years, mostly in the hill area and find it too difficult to find a parking or deal with the different way of understanding the parking informations, so I avoid doing business downtown, unless it is evening hours or business such as Victory Meat Market who have great parking and service, my feeling is that stop adding huge buildings and build somewhere else If it is not retail purpose, thanks for allowing our 2 cents worth, H. M.
Don Smith you hit the nail on the head. It is sad that Mr. Macpherson takes the main stream media's approach to problems they don't like to talk about; let's ignore them and pretend they don't exist. Are we to believe what we see with our own eyes or are we to believe what bleeding heart "journalist"/ wanna be social workers tell us?
Jim, I don’t believe that is accurate statement at all, the homeless population is a problem downtown and it simply wrong to believe that in spirit of protecting a “vulnerable population” we ignore the problem. Want to know what else is becoming a vulnerable population, “ the majority” I know plenty of other couples who want nothing to do with downtown so they do not get accosted and threatened well going to supper or shopping.
Perhaps if these businesses worked on accessibility to ensure the 26.7% of NB Residents with a disability could enter and shop they would be remaining open. Is your Freddy business rated on Access Now? If so, what did these ratings say??
Placing the entirety of responsibility for accessibility on the business owner isn't entirely fair, as few of them actually own the premises. As such, they could be limited in what sorts of improvements or renovations are needed to improve accessibility.
Don't get me wrong - they have a role to play. Furthermore, some of the sidewalk access points aren't as accommodating to the disabled as they should be, and that falls under the city's purview.
And it is the city that we are complaining about for the accessible parking spaces. On Queen (from Bill Thorpe to Northumberland Street) there are SIX (6!!!) handicap parking spots. Not very inviting for someone with mobility issues to venture downtown to a business if you have to travel two or three, or FOUR blocks from an accessible parking spot to the business you would like to patronize. There are only THREE on King Street within those same boundaries.
While I'm fully supportive of increased parking for people with mobility issues, I must point out there are more such parking spots available than Jeff suggests. The parking garages offer them, and off the top of my head, I know there are such spaces along King Street (in front of Chancery place and the NB Power building, for example), and in front of Ross Drugs on Queen Street, among other locations. Jeff refers to some of these, but I think he's under-representing the number of them that exist downtown.
The problem is Don almost none are for van ramp parking- which then makes the spots of little value to anyone who must open their ramp to get out. Almost every time I am downtown I see someone who has placed a motorcycle or is in the next full spot but over the line into the ramp area (the yellow stripes). As soon as you are into that spot at all, people cannot open the ramp. If they are inside their vehicle, they cannot get out- but even worse is when returning to your vehicle and someone is into the ramp area, and you cannot open your ramp to get back in. That only needs to happen once and you'll never go back. Better signage on ramp lines, as well as police ticketing and towing almost immediately will help.
Parking on King is not very good if you are trying to go to a business on Queen Street...?!!! I gave you the EXACT NUMBER of handicap parking spaces on Queen Street, and on King. What business(s) are located in Chancery Place?
I agree- it is not 100% on the renter, but they can bring forth the needs of persons with disabilities (not disabled. Your car can be disabled, my body is not disabled, but there are many barriers in society that do not permit the bodies of persons with disabilities to participate). These businesses can also meet and ASK persons with disabilities (PWD) what their needs are- AND TRUST ME, it is much more than just needs for those in wheelchairs! And yes, sidewalk access is terrible in the summer, and absolutely horrific in the winter. For those with mobility disabilities, sidewalks are their roadways. This has been broached with the city numerous times. It is one of those issues- if it doesn't affect you, it is not as big of a deal. I sit on the Social Inclusionary committee- and we will be pushing this here again.
Not to minimize the situation, but everything is relative.
I have previously lived in Edmonton and Calgary, and I have visited most every other major city in Canada. Aggressive and/or violent panhandlers are a _much_ greater issue elsewhere; by comparison, I have never had a negative encounter here in Fredericton. I do maintain an awareness of my surroundings, and I occasionally have to cross the street or vary my route to avoid a potential confrontation.
More on topic, I rarely shop Downtown simply because there are few stores there that sell what I want to purchase. I would _never_ be a customer of Rocker Chic Boutique, regardless of where it is located.
I see there was no direct mention of the homeless problem downtown. I refuse to shop downtown because of constant harassment by some very aggressive homeless panhandlers.
In fact I am terrified for my safety and we'll being.
And don't tell me the problem doesn't exist and gaslight us by City Council, F'ton DD, Chamber of Commerce by publicly claiming something is being done and the problem is not that bad.
In fairness, a couple of the parties mentioned that issue in my interviews, but without some hard numbers, I felt it would muddy the waters of the piece. Some are saying the problem is being and has been addressed/curbed, while others continue to demonize a vulnerable population.
Ultimately, the story is about business and downtown commercial traffic. No piece of journalism can cover ever potentially relevant factor exhaustively. There's a conversation to be had there about panhandling, mental health, homelessness and more, but I didn't feel this was the piece for the avenue through which to explore those elements.
How is telling the truth about aggressive panhandlers demonizing a vulnerable group? Ignoring the problem or claiming a group is being demonized is weak.
Good story Don that covers a lot of the issues. It is concerning though that you decided to leave out the homeless problem. I’m downtown a lot and it’s absolutely a major problem. Having someone dispensing drugs to them in the core isn’t helping either.
Reporters should report what they are told in a story, not what they want the story to say. That’s the issue with media in general.
I would also note that the owner of the business leaving the downtown area didn't broach that as a reason for her departure. That's another reason why I didn't delve into it, as the party raising the issues of concern didn't include it in her comments.
I'm not trying to shy away of any issues. If I was, I wouldn't have acknowledged some made comments about the panhandling/homelessness problem here in the comments, out of fairness. I'm no social worker. I was just trying to write a business-focused story, not solve all of society's ills in one report.
Look at it this way: it's prompted the conversation here. Isn't there value in that?
I live downtown and walk there at least 3 times a week. To state that the area is unsafe sounds like a joke to me. I’ve lived and visited many places around the world. Homelessness is not an issue for this downtown.
I have lived in Frédéricton for many years, mostly in the hill area and find it too difficult to find a parking or deal with the different way of understanding the parking informations, so I avoid doing business downtown, unless it is evening hours or business such as Victory Meat Market who have great parking and service, my feeling is that stop adding huge buildings and build somewhere else If it is not retail purpose, thanks for allowing our 2 cents worth, H. M.
Don Smith you hit the nail on the head. It is sad that Mr. Macpherson takes the main stream media's approach to problems they don't like to talk about; let's ignore them and pretend they don't exist. Are we to believe what we see with our own eyes or are we to believe what bleeding heart "journalist"/ wanna be social workers tell us?
The author didn't say what I wanted him to say!!!!
Jim, I don’t believe that is accurate statement at all, the homeless population is a problem downtown and it simply wrong to believe that in spirit of protecting a “vulnerable population” we ignore the problem. Want to know what else is becoming a vulnerable population, “ the majority” I know plenty of other couples who want nothing to do with downtown so they do not get accosted and threatened well going to supper or shopping.
Perhaps if these businesses worked on accessibility to ensure the 26.7% of NB Residents with a disability could enter and shop they would be remaining open. Is your Freddy business rated on Access Now? If so, what did these ratings say??
Placing the entirety of responsibility for accessibility on the business owner isn't entirely fair, as few of them actually own the premises. As such, they could be limited in what sorts of improvements or renovations are needed to improve accessibility.
Don't get me wrong - they have a role to play. Furthermore, some of the sidewalk access points aren't as accommodating to the disabled as they should be, and that falls under the city's purview.
And it is the city that we are complaining about for the accessible parking spaces. On Queen (from Bill Thorpe to Northumberland Street) there are SIX (6!!!) handicap parking spots. Not very inviting for someone with mobility issues to venture downtown to a business if you have to travel two or three, or FOUR blocks from an accessible parking spot to the business you would like to patronize. There are only THREE on King Street within those same boundaries.
While I'm fully supportive of increased parking for people with mobility issues, I must point out there are more such parking spots available than Jeff suggests. The parking garages offer them, and off the top of my head, I know there are such spaces along King Street (in front of Chancery place and the NB Power building, for example), and in front of Ross Drugs on Queen Street, among other locations. Jeff refers to some of these, but I think he's under-representing the number of them that exist downtown.
The problem is Don almost none are for van ramp parking- which then makes the spots of little value to anyone who must open their ramp to get out. Almost every time I am downtown I see someone who has placed a motorcycle or is in the next full spot but over the line into the ramp area (the yellow stripes). As soon as you are into that spot at all, people cannot open the ramp. If they are inside their vehicle, they cannot get out- but even worse is when returning to your vehicle and someone is into the ramp area, and you cannot open your ramp to get back in. That only needs to happen once and you'll never go back. Better signage on ramp lines, as well as police ticketing and towing almost immediately will help.
Parking on King is not very good if you are trying to go to a business on Queen Street...?!!! I gave you the EXACT NUMBER of handicap parking spaces on Queen Street, and on King. What business(s) are located in Chancery Place?
I agree- it is not 100% on the renter, but they can bring forth the needs of persons with disabilities (not disabled. Your car can be disabled, my body is not disabled, but there are many barriers in society that do not permit the bodies of persons with disabilities to participate). These businesses can also meet and ASK persons with disabilities (PWD) what their needs are- AND TRUST ME, it is much more than just needs for those in wheelchairs! And yes, sidewalk access is terrible in the summer, and absolutely horrific in the winter. For those with mobility disabilities, sidewalks are their roadways. This has been broached with the city numerous times. It is one of those issues- if it doesn't affect you, it is not as big of a deal. I sit on the Social Inclusionary committee- and we will be pushing this here again.
Not to minimize the situation, but everything is relative.
I have previously lived in Edmonton and Calgary, and I have visited most every other major city in Canada. Aggressive and/or violent panhandlers are a _much_ greater issue elsewhere; by comparison, I have never had a negative encounter here in Fredericton. I do maintain an awareness of my surroundings, and I occasionally have to cross the street or vary my route to avoid a potential confrontation.
More on topic, I rarely shop Downtown simply because there are few stores there that sell what I want to purchase. I would _never_ be a customer of Rocker Chic Boutique, regardless of where it is located.