Letter to the Editor

Share

The survey results released by the BIZ are honest and straightforward, and the letters to the editor disputing them are exaggerated.

NRG Research Group conducted 803 interviews with Winnipeg residents across the city in late 2009, asking several questions including their beliefs about the cleanliness of downtown. Over 60 percent of those surveyed felt the downtown was cleaner than the year prior. Interestingly, women and those who visited on a regular basis felt downtown was even cleaner then the average response (approaching 70 percent).

The BIZ was advised that survey of this size has a margin of error +/- 3.46 percent 19 times out 20, and the data was weighted to ensure the results accurately replicated the overall distribution of the Winnipeg population.

Our bus shelter survey questions were randomly administered across the entire downtown by our Downtown Watch, over two weeks, at different times during the day. Who better to ask this question than those people that use the bus shelters, transit riders, every day? 80 percent of those that responded said bus shelters were definitely cleaner this year than the year prior.

Our Portage Avenue Safety questionnaire was a simple random intercept survey to judge the perception of those walking on Portage Avenue over a week. Some days it was warm, other days it was cold. Our normal cleaning and safety programs were in effect. The reason we targeted Portage Avenue for the survey is because we wanted to gauge pedestrian perception prior to some Portage Avenue programming that rolled out in mid May and will continue all summer long. In September, the same random intercept survey will be administered to determine if our programs were effective. I am sure a survey along Broadway, or Gary Street may provide varying results.

The BIZ undertakes these surveys to measure how effective our programs are. If they are working we continue, if not, we change them.

Crime is down city wide, especially downtown. It was down in 2009 by 14 percent from 2008, and for the first quarter of 2010, down a whopping 24 percent . And with only 5.6 percent of all the crime occurring in the city, occurring downtown, this is positive news.

Of course the BIZ is aware of the social issues in our downtown, and that perceptions of safety in the evening are less than during the day. In fact, we reported on this as well in the Free Press several months ago. This is why our Watch program is 24 hours now, and why our BIZ has expanded our role to assist intoxicated people off the street. It's also why we've been championing for more police presence and why the city and province responded with the WPS Cadet program.

We have stopped complaining about safety and cleanliness issues for several years now, and are offering solutions that are working, and our partners like the City of Winnipeg are working closely with us.

Let's agree that a cleaner and safer city and downtown is what we all want. And lets agree that we can't do it alone. Working together, championing for more improvements, and celebrating success is the name of the game.