WINNIPEG — Many Winnipeggers have been complaining about slow city services all winter but it appears there’s a way to get city hall’s attention — call the media.
On at least three occasions in the past month, city crews showed up to fix problems, from garbage pickup to frozen pipes to back lane flooding, shortly after angry residents invited reporters and cameras.
Residents at an apartment complex in the Maples had gone without garbage service for weeks. They were told by the city the rut-filled alleys were impassable and pickup couldn’t happen.
After Global News called city hall Tuesday, crews showed up later that day.
“It’s unacceptable. It’s unsanitary,” said Alex Millar, a resident at the complex. “You’re going to start getting rodents, bugs.”
It was a similar situation for Atlantic Avenue residents whose back lane was submerged in 30 centimetres of water from the melt.
Residents were told Sunday it would take 11 days for crews to show up but after a news story about the trouble aired Monday, the city showed up that night.
Same story for Pet Peripherals. The business had gone without water for weeks due to frozen pipes and was on the verge of going out of business. It was only after media calls to city hall last month that crews began thawing the store’s pipes.
No city staff were made available for an interview but a communications officer said city work orders are based on priority and service has nothing to do with media coverage — if that happens, it’s purely coincidental.
One city councillor suspects the city reacts only after a public relations embarrassment.
“We are worried about our image and providing service,” said Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie. “That’s what it comes down to: we do want to serve.”
Not good enough for residents like Millar, who said any service should be based on need, not how loud people complain.
“Really there is no excuse for this,” said Millar. “Somebody is not doing their job, that’s all I can say.”
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