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Originally Posted by halifaxboyns
Looks like there is trouble a foot for concerts on the commons. There was something on the CBC news today about someone getting signatures for a petition.
It wasn't that she was upset about having events there (as she points out to the pow wow that recently occured); she (and those signing the petition) aren't happy with the access being blocked off for long periods.
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Yes, she is one of the usual suspects who lives in the area that the CBC gives a disproportionate amount of airtime to in order to put forward her position that it is her backyard. I found it interesting that she had no difficulty with the native gathering there that also impeded access to the Common. Seems her problem is using it for an event that may or may not make money for the promoter, whereas she has no difficulty using it for an event that uses public money to give to certain chosen groups.
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My first thought was this generates money for the city so tough; but I thought about it some more. If sufficient pressure is put on these concert people to get things done and up/torn down fast - then you could still have them but the time it takes to but up and take down the concert venues could be reduced?
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I would suggest that the blocking off of the area is the city's fault. They could have chosen to insist that the concerts take place on back to back weekends as a condition of use, or any number of other strategies. In any event, it is largely a red herring. Half of the space has remained totally accessible the entire time, and the remainder could have easily had the sidewalks remain open around the perimeter with a little reconfiguration of the fencing -- again, HRM's fault. However, all of these minor issues become a huge cause celebre for the NIMBYs who live there, who really are quite parochial. Many of them termed this past weekend's country music event as "hickfest", a hugely offensive term. You can always count on the CBC to give them a platform to air their gripes.
Within reason, these concerts give a sense of much-needed vibrancy to the area and I congratulate the promoter on doing them.