This is how the skier’s Mogadishu parable was commented on at the Hakunila store

National team skier Vilma Nissinen described Vantaa as Finland’s Mogadishu on Thursday. According to Nissinen, Vantaa has been “Mogadishu” since the 1990s, and especially in the suburbs of Hakunila, all sorts of things can and do happen.

Nissinen does not live in Vantaa. So it is appropriate to ask the people of Vantaa themselves, Do they feel unsafe and restless.

The interview location is, of course, the Hakunila shopping center. It is a real shopper of the old union, completed in the 1980s.

The area is calm and relaxed on Friday during the day. There are parking spaces, no troublemakers to be seen. Especially families with children, couples and the elderly will be welcomed.

The first thing that comes to mind about the exterior of the shopping center is the adjective dilapidated.

Riikka Luukkonen says that he does business at Hakunila ostar regularly. He moved almost next door, i.e. to Itä-Hakkila, from Helsinki’s Lauttasaari two years ago, when a bigger apartment became necessary for the family.

“I have never experienced any kind of insecurity in the area. We go outside a lot and like living near the forest. The best thing about Vantaa is nature,” says Luukkonen.

“I think there is more insecurity in Helsinki than here.”

Are you ashamed to live in Vantaa?

“Not at all. Rather, I’m proud.”

What do you think of Vilma Nissinen’s Mogadishu parable?

“It sounds pretty wild. I don’t know what his experience is based on. But everyone has their own experiences, of course.”

Marko Ratinen moved to Hakunila in 1972 and lived in the area for over 50 years until recently moving away.

“A few years ago, we moved to a new house, which had a rat problem, because even neighboring houses started bringing trash to our company. It wasn’t enough, even though we emptied it twice a week. Everything was carried out into the yard, from treadmills and washing machines.”

“We moved to Klaukkala, but we wouldn’t have left without the housing company’s waste problem. As a man, I’ve never experienced insecurity here. We live in a lot of apartments in Hakunila.”

On Sunday, Ratinen read in the media what the skier had said about Vantaa.

“There were no problems before, and they have done well in life since then. I myself am academically educated and I don’t see any shame in living in Vantaa.”

Do you understand the long line of Nissinen’s parable as a resident of Hakunila?

“Well, yes, I think he’s telling the truth a little bit. I know, for example, that in our new house the native Finns were in a really big minority, as well as in my friend’s child’s school class, everyone else spoke a foreign language. There are not only positive thoughts about the trend.”

Arja Varis does business at Hakunila ostar in Vaarala, where he has lived since 1982.

“This shopping center has also changed over the decades. Nowadays, it is quite calm, but there were times when there were more drug users and a bit of restless youth here.”

“You can come to the store here in complete peace. And Vaarala is a great place to live.”

Regarding Nissinen’s statements, Varis says that generalization is wrong.

“Vantaa is such an enormously large area that it’s incredibly difficult to say it’s this or that. There are different and different types of residential areas. Probably here in East Vantaa, the problems are focused on certain areas. For example, Länsimäki and Hakunila are a bit more troubled places, but still good places to live.”

“Vantaa also has great sports facilities and sports areas. And parks with walking paths. I myself am a dog lover, and there is a great setting for that here in nearby Ojango.”

Varis says that his children used to go to schools nearby.

“There were no problems before, and they have done well in life since then. I myself am academically educated and I don’t see any shame in living in Vantaa.”

Henna Bush lives in the nearby Itä-Hakkilä area. He does business at the Hakunila market with family members and a friend.

Busk moved to Itä-Hakkilä ten years ago.

“I think it’s quite safe here. I haven’t felt unsafe, so I don’t quite agree with the aforementioned skier, but of course it depends a lot on the area. Maybe the going is a little wilder on the Sotung side. The whole of Vantaa can’t be classified into any category.”

“It’s really peaceful in the East Hakkila area, even sociable. The atmosphere is good. I can recommend this as a place to live.”

Vilma Nissinen apologized for her statement on Friday.

“Immediately after the competition, the comment I made was inappropriate and inappropriate. I sincerely apologize for it,” Nissinen stated in the Finnish Federation’s press release.