City devotes $1B to downtown
The city has a billion-dollar plan to develop the downtown core including a plan to have the Quartier Latin open 24 hours and be declared the “quartier de la francophonie”. Issues of cleanliness are also on the list. Didn’t see clowns listed yet but there’s an emphasis on dressing the place up.
Ian 21:41 on 2024-01-16 Permalink
Well, I for one appreciate the initiative. That whole area has been left to collapse in itself for too long. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into another gutless QdeS but anything is better than what’s happening now.
carswell 23:14 on 2024-01-16 Permalink
Didn’t see clowns listed yet.
Plante was making noises about “animation” on CBC Radio this afternoon.
PO 08:21 on 2024-01-17 Permalink
Quote from someone with Ensemble:
«… La majorité des Montréalais ne se sent pas en sécurité au centre-ville de Montréal. C’est un problème immense… »
A majority??
Daniel 08:31 on 2024-01-17 Permalink
I’m a long way from anti-capitalist, but it’s interesting to see homelessness, drug use and other social ills described in terms other than being first and foremost a problem for the people living with those diseases and circumstances!
I mean, yes, the “social” in social ills suggests that those things are also problems for other members of society. But it’s weird to read “let’s make this the quartier of the francophonie! and, btw, there are some homeless people and people addicted to drugs that we somehow have to address along the way.”
Basically, I’d be a lot prouder as a Montrealer to live in a city that has addressed the people problems than
to live in a place that has 24-hour businesses.
Blork 11:02 on 2024-01-17 Permalink
So if the QL will become the “quartier de la francophonie” does that mean people can speak other languages (even English!) unfettered in other quartiers?
Kate 15:09 on 2024-01-17 Permalink
Blork, today Martineau is doing a big kvetch about how incompetent Mayor Plante is, and complaining that a “quartier de la francophonie” reduces French to a ghetto.
Actually, I had the impression the “quartier de la francophonie” thing was moving towards creating that museum of francophone music in the old St‑Sulpice library, which has been talked about for awhile but nothing done. Also the Franco folies. Does Martineau want francophone culture celebrated, or not? (No link here but the column is in the obvious place. I’m not buying him lunch.)