Montreal City Weblog

Kate 10:33 on 2020-08-10 Permalink Reply  

• Ian 13:23 on 2020-08-10 Permalink

  When the borough came around asking if we wanted a green alley I happily signed the petition. It’s great having a nice green space just the other side of my gate.

  This summer though I’ve actually been avoiding my green alley because my neighbours have taken to having gatherings in it – they sit around folding tables, not distanced, chatting and drinking. Very civilized and pleasant in other times but seeing 6-8 unmasked families and their kids socializing in an outdoor but still fairly enclosed area has made me realize that for some, green alleys have become a sort of private park where you & like minded people can get away with flouting the social distancing rules. I have been seeing alley parties all over, it’s not just mine.

  I know the idea of green alleys was to create family space but it’s starting to feel more like private parks for the yuppies and bobos that are slowly taking over the neighbourhood, along with the rest of the gentrifiers to do whatever they heck they want. It should hardly come as any surprise that most of the bunch in my alley live in single family dwellings that used to be duplexes before they bought them.

• Tim 23:23 on 2020-08-10 Permalink

  I wonder if the neighbours you have typecast as yuppies and gentrifiers have noticed your absence in the alley. They’re probably too busy enjoying such a fantastic neighbourhood. I even bet those jerks don’t buy enough chips, smokes and beer to keep your local deps open either. 🙂

• Ian 06:44 on 2020-08-11 Permalink

  Oh I’m sure they notice absolutely nothing that hasn’t directly got to do with them. We all go to the same dep, and frankly they buy more smokes, chips and beer than I do … but one thing I can tell you for certain is they aren’t buying the masks they sell there. I’m kind of glad summer break is coming to a close despite being worried about sending the kids back to school, at least theirs all go to private schools.