Fort Rouge Coun. Jenny Gerbasi, who voted against the water park, says the city now has an opportunity to build a more inclusive aquatic facility — or at least place the potential tourist attraction downtown.

“We’ve taken money from rapid transit, put it into a water park and now we’re nowhere further ahead,” she said. “We still haven’t spent the money from 2004. Where’s the social benefit? This should be spent on recreation that’s accessible to everyone.”

April 29, 2009

Winnipeg Free Press

“It’s like a breath of fresh air,” said Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi. “Finally someone is clearly pointing out that the mayor and (senior politicians on executive policy committee) have not sought adequate public input into the budget process. They are missing a crucial step in by­passing early consultation about budget priorities. Instead they give people a few short weeks to react to a budget that is pretty much a done deal.”

    Winnipeg Free Press
    February 17, 2008

But Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said it’s a good idea for “public services to remain under the control of the public,” and argued water-related service sales to nearby municipalities are not what Winnipeg needs.

“If we’re going to make these deals with the capital region and start selling services, I don’t know how that can do anything but encourage ex-urban development and sprawl,” Gerbasi said.

    Winnipeg Sun
    November 7, 2008

After fielding a complaint about the planned closing of the Riverview wading pool, Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi set the wheels in motion for a reprieve from Katz. “He was not happy about it,” Gerbasi said of her talk with the Mayor. Within an hour he called me back and said he had arranged for an additional appropriation to cover the costs of opening up the pools again for the rest of the summer.

    Winnipeg Free Press
    August, 2008

“If you walk into a Winnipeg grocery store, you know what you’re buying. You can look at the label and make a choice. If you go to a restaurant, in most cases you don’t know what you’re getting.”

A Statistics Canada survey released yesterday found Manitobans had the greatest proportion of households that used pesticides, at 44%, during 2006.

“In Winnipeg, we kind of think the traffic isn’t that bad and there’s enough landfill space so we don’t have to worry about these issues,“ said Winnipeg city Coun. Jenny Gerbasi. “I think we need to wake up and realize we’re part of the world.“

Gerbasi chairs council’s non-essential pesticide reduction committee, which is expected to report on suggestions for a city bylaw in the fall. She said the survey proves the city is lagging behind in Earth-smart policies.

“What’s really clear is that when governments bring in bans they are really effective for reducing the use of pesticides,“ said Gerbasi.

    Winnipeg Sun
    July 12, 2007

“The optics of the mayor’s cabinet deciding to write off the Mayor’s tax bill are unacceptable“

    Winnipeg Free Press
    December 11, 2008

Gerbasi says she’s been pushing for the plan since she was elected eight years ago.  She said the fruition of the plan required extensive community involvement and it was one of the first of its type for such a unique community.

She hopes the plan will act as a template for other character neighborhoods like Corydon and will minimize confrontation in future development.  

“It’s a model for development without the adversarial process.”

    The Metro
    November, 2006

“This is a model of how to plan in urban communities because the end result is so superior to just plunking down something without the community’s involvement. It’s a fabulous day for the Osborne Village, the community and Canada Safeway.”

    Winnipeg Free Press
    March 17, 2005

I’m optimistic that Winnipeg has great potential as a city. I’m also pessimistic because this potential could be more actively cultivated, but mostly I’m realistic that we need to keep working hard to make this city better in 2008.

    Winnipeg Free Press
    January 2, 2008