2012-02-15T05:10:38Z http://blog.barriedna.ca/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blogcast tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2011-04-05:6988694 Murray Hawman 2011-04-05T19:43:09Z 2011-04-05T19:43:09Z I really don't care how many bars are downtown as long as they comply with the law and pay for any additional policing their patrons may create the need for. The cost of this extra policing should not be paid by the taxpayers! tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-29:3683804 S.M. 2010-09-29T23:04:53Z 2010-09-29T23:04:53Z I have lived in numerous cities, including Ottawa, Toronto, London, Aurora, North Bay, Barrie, etc, and I work for law enforcement, and can attest that this is the norm for the downtown area of all cities. I lived on Dunlop St East right downtown here in Barrie and have found that the "problem" is not widespread as you are trying to make it out to be. Unfortunately, the problems are about the individual people frequenting these places. You cannot control how people act...simple as that. Bars are the money makers. They are what attract people to downtown Barrie. The businesses, other than the bars, that exist downtown are lacking in so many ways. We have one of the most boring downtown areas I have ever seen. tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-18:3629890 Ben Strudwick 2010-09-18T13:42:22Z 2010-09-18T13:42:22Z Mr Walsh, the BDNA is not opposed to growth in the downtown. In fact we want to encourage growth, but we would like to see balanced growth. The downtown should not be just an entertainment centre. There are not enough daytime attractions in the area. We have a rich and varied history, along with an opportunity to attract daytime tourism to the downtown, which we are not exploiting. Were we able to do so, the tax revenue from the downtown area would double. So we want balanced growth. As for eliminating the bars, that's never going to happen, and would be undesirable, however, the city has allowed high density residential growth in proximity to the bars, but has failed to ensure quality of life for those who choose to live there. I'll bet none of the individuals who moved into the highrises checked them out after 11:00 P.M. when the noise is at it's most invasive levels. Many of the bars downtown have recognized and corrected their problems, but there are still those who have not. Those are the owners/managers we want to reach, and seeking restrictions is the only way we have to drive our point home. <br /> <br /> If we ever do have a beautiful, functional downtown, why should we allow intoxicated patrons from the bars to damage the area both physically and esthetically. There are things we can do as responsible citizens and business people to mitigate the circumstances surrounding the bar business without adversely affecting the profits or the quality of nightlife in downtown Barrie, and that is what we are attempting to encourage. The Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Association is working to promote a safe, healthy, accessible city centre. Our goal is to make the downtown core the heart and soul of our community, inclusive and culturally diverse. That includes you and I, and everyone else in the city. Maybe we could work together to find solutions. tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-17:3626785 scott 2010-09-17T18:33:20Z 2010-09-17T18:33:20Z You people on this Association are a bunch of Liberal do gooders, who have a skewed sense of reality. Do you really think by hiding drug paraphernalia in stores is going to solve any problems? It is called free enterprise and market driven. I agree in a perfect world, I wouldn't allow these businesses to operate either. But it is a free country where these particular businesses are operating within the law. Now to address your position on the bars downtown. Again, same thing. Market driven. There are a high concentration of bars in the downtown core, because that is what the market will withstand. People choose to go downtown and have a good time. And it should be painfully obvious to you people on the committee that the City and the AGCO has allowed this number of licensed establishments in the downtown core to exist. The City wants downtown to be an Entertainment District. If you people had your way, the bars would be silent. Have none of you ever been to a bar, dance club, or Christmas Party where the music and people were loud? Get you heads out of the sand. I have heard rumblings about your meetings and some of the ridiculous things that you discuss. It is only a handful of people who ever complain to the police about the "noise." People that live right above the bars don't complain, it is the whiners like Mr. Melson and Mr. Riddell who complain, and probably dream of a day when the bars pack up. Newsflash! Nothing will change with the bars downtown. Nothing! They will continue to solve alcohol, play loud music, and unfortunately there will be the problems associated with it. Learn to live with it. Don't like the bars being so close to your residence. Simple solution. MOVE! These bars contribute thousands of dollars every year to the City tax coffers. They have some legitimate concerns and rights to. Don't get me wrong. I am not advocating for the bars, as I very seldom ever attend them. Why don't you whiny, snivelly babies on this committee move onto something more productive. And if this Association is truly open to public scrutiny, then you will post this blog, and any other blog in its entirety, and remove the "Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed." from this site. Feel free to respond with an intelligent, factual based response.<br /><br />Scott Walsh, Downtown Resident tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-15:3614786 Annalee Manning http://localseoservicescompany.com 2010-09-16T02:05:40Z 2010-09-16T02:05:40Z This was the perfect article. You completely made my analysis a lot simplier and easier. tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-15:3614093 Jack Garner 2010-09-15T23:15:20Z 2010-09-15T23:15:20Z The time has come to change the standards downtown !!!!! NEW STANDARDS -<br />"IF YOU ARE DRUNK IN DOWNTOWN BARRIE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED, CHARGED AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE DRUNK TANK. PERIOD.<br />ZERO TOLERANCE !!!!!!! Zero means ZERO !! tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-14:3609208 Julie Lapierre 2010-09-15T02:48:14Z 2010-09-15T02:48:14Z Thank you to those that took part in this night time walk. The more attention you bring to the problems in the downtown core the more people will talk about it and perhaps what more can be done. Thank you for doing this and enlightening those that don't know what is happening. tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2010-09-02:3542216 Jay 2010-09-02T20:56:09Z 2010-09-02T20:56:09Z I am pretty sure than when the recent and unfortunate incident happened in the downtown, the police investigated, and laid some fairly serious charges as a result of a lengthly investigation. What more can they do besides patrol which is obvious by the shear number of police cars downtown during a typical busy bar night. As unfortunate as these incidents are, they aren't as epidemic as some believe and the fact of the matter is that when you congregate 6000 people under the influence of alcohol in a geographical area confined to two - three city blocks, things are going to happen! More needs to be done, but casting police into the mix, saying the faith in our police service has been lost seems a little like throwing the baby under the bus. The police didn't create an entertainment district, the city did. i am not so sure you can even lay blame on the bar owner businessman trying to run a business there. tag:blog.barriedna.ca,2009-11-23:2585392 Ross Rodgers 2009-11-23T15:52:17Z 2009-11-23T15:52:17Z I'm on the BHNS committee in the downtown &amp; my primary interest is in pushing for more enforcement of "quality of life " bylaws. I'm doing some research on items like motorcycle noise. Has your group had a meeting with the bylaw enforcement people at city hall ,as to their attitudes to these problems ie- illegal signs,graffiti,noise from bars etc?