THREAD on Winnipeg poltics & urban issues. When Councillor @mathieuallard discusses bikes or pedestrians or transit on Facebook, posts very often gets shared to a Facebook group called Wise Up Winnipeg. Often its someone named Jan Leah who does it. She seems angry. 1/

This FB group belongs to an activist organization of people who generally believe traffic enforcement is a “$cam” and that City Hall is controlled by “the bike lobby” and other all powerful urban elites. 2/

There’s actually lots of ideas and policy thats compelling and convincing. Many members individually are intelligent and our office has corresponded productively with them before. Still do. Also, there’s lots of casual supporters outside the die hards who I like & respect. 3/

But the true spirit of the WuW community lies in its heart, in their 13K member Facebook group, and its there that the breathtaking venom running through its veins can be found.

So, Matt’s posts get shared into that group. 4/

As soon as that happens, the groups various members show up in the original post, absolutely livid. The worst of them get blocked. I’m talking VILE. Even the ones who aren’t swearing, threatening and freaking out get pretty upset though lol 5/

The true magic tho is in the actual Wise Up Winnipeg Facebook group itself. A Wild West sort of saloon where admins mainly exist to ban people who question doctrine, and otherwise allow some of the most belligerent rhetoric I’ve ever seen in muncipal poltics. All in 1 hour! 6/

Check it out! It’s Marcel Boille, the guy who ran against Matt in St Boniface in 2018. He’s something else. And his supporters above, I assume. 7/

Anyways. It’s something urbanists, bike & transit activists ought to know about. Literally any muncipal politician can be placed in their sights if they do anything their fragile leadership perceive as threatening driving privileges. And it all happens on Facebook, not twitter 8/

There’s no doubt in my mind that these few dozen keyboard warriors significantly affect perception of what public reaction is to pro bike/ped/bus policy in Winnipeg. No doubt even inside their well guarded bubble they also shape the understanding of reality. 9/

Also, they specifically hate Matt more in part because a few years ago we actually engaged with them on their issues and find common ground. In about 2 weeks or less once we hadn’t completely overhauled the entire city of Winnipeg yet they went back to freakin out. 10/

I’ve found this is common political behaviour, on hard right and left. A certain kind of activist is far happier being ignored and sidelined. When decision makers actually try to connect, work on their issues, or negotiate, they very quickly lose patience and go on attack. 11/

For context here’s the twitter version of the original announcement Matt made. Pretty outrageous I know! 12/ https://twitter.com/mathieuallard/status/1252659937852788736

This group are some of the worst people I’ve ever dealt with in 5 years at city hall. And I’ve blocked most of the really bad ones by now! Those screenshots are of the lighter variety. 13/

Anyways, I’ve thought about drawing attention to this phenomenon for awhile now and what better time than in the midst of their latest onslaught. What those notifications fly! 14/

Whenever they’ve actually tried to get involved in real elections, such as with Jenny Motkaluk for Mayor, they don’t perform well. But, I truly believe these peoples domination of social media affects political decision making and public opinion overall. My thoughts! 15/15