Some pre-COVID notes
On Facebook, regular reader Blork noted “Remember how a few months ago, not one, not two, but THREE huge food markets opened downtown, and how they were going to TRANSFORM THE DINING SCENE with their highly social form of dining?”
What else were we concerned about before the outbreak? Seven pedestrians had been killed in traffic since the start of the year, five of them over 60. The last ped death was on March 12.
Homicides are also down, as are the usual police blotter items about non-fatal stabbings and other incivilities. It may be that the media are simply not bothering to cover these stories, which would mostly get lost in the torrent of pandemic news – but it may simply be that, with people home and bars closed, there’s less opportunity for rumbling.
We had smog warnings.
There were pieces about the housing bubble and the general shortage in living spaces.
Lately, we haven’t seen much about Royalmount, and there hasn’t been anything about delays to the REM or to the blue line extension either.
People who dislike plane noise must be feeling better. I’m hearing a plane going over now, but there isn’t the usual barrage of plane noise in the mid to late afternoon. Does anyone know how much aircraft contribute to city air pollution?
JaneyB 12:39 on 2020-04-14 Permalink
Also spring garbage is everywhere and potholes are back! I heard redwing blackbirds on a walk by the river Saturday. They fear nothing and no one. Moving season beckons with its airbnb induced shortages, its slumlords, flighty man-with-a-vans, dubious curbside furniture, and the promise of perfect breakfast nooks. What will we do with the abandoned pets?
Bill Binns 17:21 on 2020-04-14 Permalink
Hopefully one of the positive things that could come from this event is that in the future there will be an “ick factor” to people being jammed in too close together and restaurants, theaters and airlines will be forced to adapt.
The one time my wife dragged me to the Time Out Market, I had to eat my $30.00 mini sandwich sitting across the table from strangers and children.
dwgs 10:08 on 2020-04-15 Permalink
Children??!!?? Heaven forfend!! Sorry Bill, I’m usually okay with your curmudgeonliness but speaking as someone who was once a child myself I must protest.
CE 10:35 on 2020-04-15 Permalink
That’s actually what I’m afraid will happen. I don’t see that as a positive at all. One thing I like about Montreal is that we do things in close proximity to other people rather than living in our own individual bubbles. I’d hate to have our restaurants, for example, start to resemble those in the suburbs where booths are spaced metres apart from each other or for all this to cause people to eschew public spaces or public transit because everyone is afraid of each other.