Oh, for crying out loud; or, Petition to save the Main Hall
In a typical case of threat-by-bureaucracy, the proprietors of the Mile End Cultural Centre have been forced to cancel all ticketed events at the Main Hall for the rest of the summer because the “salle de réunion” permit the venue has held for the last sixteen years apparently does not allow for “spectacles.”
Yeah, that’s right.
According to their press release, the impetus for the sudden turnaround by the city is a noise complaint from one of the MECC’s neighbours, which may now jeopardise their application for a proper “salle de spectacles” permit. Because you know, if you’re looking for a nice, quiet residential street to live on, then Boulevard St-Laurent is just the place for you.
This isn’t the first time that noise issues have threatened cultural establishments in the north Plateau. Back in 2000, a proposal to turn the old Rialto Theatre into a nightclub was quashed at the last minute because of noise concerns. Meanwhile, in 2006, the borough very nearly evicted the Montreal Fringe Festival because of complaints about noise emanating from its beer tent in Parc des Amériques.
Coincidence? Probably not, as the borough has listed the reduction of street noise as one of the main priorities of its 2007 Budget participatif, which began public consultations in June and is scheduled for final approval in the fall.
Determined to buck the trend, the folks at the MECC have started a petition in support of their application, which you can sign here. For the full scoop, check out the organization’s website or, if you’re feeling networky, you can join their Facebook group. Tell ’em I sent you.
Because you know, if you’re looking for a nice, quiet residential street to live on, then Boulevard St-Laurent is just the place for you.
That just summed it up SO WELL (and cracked me up)
The End of Culture?
This seems like a good extension to an article that was written in Mirror a few years ago about the new Yuppie influx from the suburbs wanting to live in a vibrant neighbourhood but not wanting any of the perceived inconveniences that come with a vibrant neighbourhood.
http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2001/071201/news3.html
Get enough people to send letters to the city (paper letters mind you- email is worse than useless) and something might change. Sometimes all it takes is the time and materials to send a personal note to a politician or bureaucrat to make a difference.
those poor yuppies. Never fear-they will replace it all with high end farmers markets and pervervian flute bands.
It takes one complaint to start this process, but it takes alot more wtfs to stop it. Please do get involved…
Well said, RS. In addition to signing petitions and writing letters (Basil’s right–email is useless), phone calls can be very effective. Yet again, the person to call is Plateau borough mayor Helen Fotopoulos: (514) 872-9530.
Also, thanks to Chris for an amazing link. If you haven’t read the article yet, do.