THE MAYOR IS WRONG. THE MAYOR IS WRONG.

Get out of the way. It is going to get very ugly politically in the Windsor area. The attack and the defense the other night on the A-Channel news was so bitter. The Melanie Deveau interview. Now it hits the Star's pages. My only fear is that Windsor loses.

Councillor Valentinis should know exactly what I mean by now.

Perhaps now that Gord has written about it, Fulvio will understand what I have been saying for so long and will understand why I have been begging him to take a leadership stance:

• "First Stephen Harper. Now Dwight Duncan. I must have missed the memo about this being declared "Whack A Downtrodden Border City Week" in Ottawa and Toronto, because it seems hardly a day goes by without a senior politician putting the boots to Windsor.

When political historians look back, the moment in time when A-Channel News ran the story on their six and 11 p.m. news broadcasts is the moment when the political career of Eddie Francis as Mayor of the City of Windsor ended. Of course, he has three more years to remain as Mayor but he became truly lame duck after the Minister of Finances, Windsor's own Dwight Duncan, uttered these eight words on television:

"THE MAYOR IS WRONG. THE MAYOR IS WRONG."

I was shocked by the outburst and its directness. I am sure many others were as well. This is not the norm in Windsor politics. When have you heard one politician locally say something that strong about another except in the heat of an election campaign or some other nasty battle? But at Queen's Park and during Question Period in Ottawa, this kind of remark is standard form. It's just that our Mayor hasn't played in the big leagues before. He may not be used to people saying things negatively about him after years of being handled with kid gloves by his colleagues and our Media.

Do you think that polling was done before the outburst? There was no need to do so. Think I am tough on the Mayor. The Mayor and Councillors should go and see what Star Forum readers have to say about the Dwight/Eddie war. I am very tame by comparison. Go to the Forum page http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/features/soundoff/story.html?id=6fa8a870-0a24-4095-a16f-318cbe059322&k=95423

Eddie has lost support of the people in such a short time. They obviously voted for him to give him the benefit of the doubt, to allow him a chance to complete what he said he started. Instead he has lost their trust. He is doing nothing but hurting the region now and people have clearly had enough. They have seen though him to what he really is.

I thought Gord's column was interesting since there was no strong endorsement of Eddie personally. There was one cheap shot though at Dwight:

• "Was it mere coincidence that Duncan launched his tirade on the same day as he was getting a corporate earful in budget consultations? Was it coincidence that he went on the offensive knowing his nemesis, Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, was away in Germany and would be hobbled in responding?"

Gord should have said was it mere coincidence that Eddie ran to Germany (heck, why overseas in these tough economic times except to grandstand) when Dwight came to town? Why wasn't Eddie there fighting for Windsor rather than buying a pair of Lederhosen!

Are the gloves off now between our Provincial and Municipal leaders? It sure seems likely. Whatever the political deal was before the Provincial and Municipal elections amongst Eddie, Sandra and Dwight, that interview signified that it was over.

There is more though. This last week or so has been a fascinating view of how quickly things can change in this City. The viewpoint of lonely Bloggers seems to have been picked up by Windsorites in general and now by senior politicians. All of us have had enough of stalling and inaction as Windsor falls deeper and deeper into economic despair. And the finger of blame is being pointed directly at the Mayor of Windsor, Eddie Francis. Nothing that he will do will be able to redirect that finger to his Councillor colleagues. Not when the Minister of Finance says that

• "THE MAYOR IS WRONG. THE MAYOR IS WRONG."

The prize for the funniest Letter to the Editor of the year I am sure will have to go to the letter writer who said

• "...I campaigned with Eddie Francis in his first campaign...Eddie Francis is smart, savvy and relentless in his pursuit of doing the right thing. If he goes, we lose."

Interestingly, the letter writer was from Carstairs, Alberta! I wonder if he was one of the refugees who left Windsor for greener pastures during the term of this Mayor.

I am glad that Dwight has finally picked up on something that I have been saying in this BLOG for a very long time:

• "We have got to get on with it. We don't need high-priced Toronto lawyers threatening each other down in this way.
  
  The time for dilly- dallying, the time for lawsuits and the time for that kind of nonsense is over. We've got to get on and fix the border."

I am so confused by our Mayor. He said I thought on Face-to-Face a mere few weeks ago that his relationship with the Senior Levels was good. Please explain to me how that can be when in his "rebuttal" to Dwight during the phone interview, Eddie said that he has “known it all along” that there are plans in place by the Senior Government that instead of doing the right thing—by that he means HIS Greenlink plan—they are going to choose to offer the cheap solution.

I must admit that, if that was me, I would be pretty upset at the Senior Levels and my relationship with them would not be very good. Why didn't he just tell the truth? Why didn't he try to rally us on his side? I remember asking those same questions with respect to Schwartz #1 also and never got an answer. Clearly, it is history repeating itself with Eddie and the electorate. He just does not trust us to let us in on the truth.

The Mayor seems to think that when he snaps his fingers we will do what he wants us to do just because he tells us so. That just doesn't work for me; I don't know if works for you. It has worked with him with Council but perhaps that is changing too.

Something is going on behind the scenes. I wish I knew it was. The united front of the three Canadian Government levels seems to be falling completely apart right now. Even their desire to defeat the Bridge Company no longer can keep them together. There is obviously no love lost between the Province and the Feds either.

Wouldn't this be funny... which level of Government will soon go courting the Ambassador Bridge Company? Eddie needs a friend. The Province needs someone with power to help them against the Federal Government. And the Feds, they are so confused over whether they need a new DRIC bridge or not that it is ridiculous already. They need someone to teach them the facts of life.

Congratulations finally to Minister Duncan when he said:

• "You know what we've got to get on with all of these projects

It has only taken him about five years to figure that out. Better late than never Mr. Minister.

I just want you to know that Dwight is the ultimate politician and there is no doubt that he could jump to the federal field and be successful. As you may have forgotten, Dwight's riding not only includes Windsor but the town of Tecumseh as well. As well, you may not know that the Mayor McNamara is also a very good Liberal.

Do you think that Dwight is giving Mayor McNamara a bit of a payback over Manning Road given that Project Ice Track died? One Liberal helping another? Yet, the Minister of Finance cannot afford to make the City angry at him. So what does Dwight do: he gives everybody something!

• "Manning Road is completely appropriate and I would urge the City to get on with the Lauzon Parkway extension. If they want the airport to be viable and competitive they need that."

What a politician!

The Engineering Complex: Our Next Canderel

Canderel here we go again! Don't we ever remember anything in this City or has the amnesia disease spread to the University Board Room already.

The students at the University should be out there protesting. However, I must admit that U of W students seem to be a fairly passive bunch-- remember the "weekend" destruction of the 80-year old Grad House--not like the good old days when I was going to school. There has been hardly a peep out of them.

What connection is there between the Canderel building and University of Windsor students? Much more than you think. You see it will be the Students who will be stuck with the costs if the University makes the decision to go downtown. It will be their tuition fees that will have to increase to cover a foolish move to curry favour with the Mayor. Or else Windsor taxpayers might get stuck with footing the bill.

In reading Monica Wolfson's story I couldn't help but laugh. Here's what ought to concern the University students and/or Windsor taxpayers:

• 1) "The University owns all the property it needs to build the facility on campus"
  
  2) "it would be contingent on whether city officials could deliver on pledges of cash and buying additional land from private owners, board members said.
  
  Coun. Drew Dilkens said no detailed financial proposal has been given to city council"

Monica was gracious in not using the word "expropriation." If she had, people would remember the fiasco at the Canderel building where the costs of expropriation skyrocketed. Have all of the files been closed yet? And how many millions above what was thought to be the expropriation amount was the final figure?

What would happen if the cost of buying the property downtown would increase dramatically as well? Who picks up that tab or does it mean that the Engineering Complex facilities are reduced by the increased expropriation costs.

I wonder which additional properties would be needed and who the land owners are. I understand that Board members have been told which are the preferred properties already. I for one would like to know which properties they are.

I have not looked into it but there may be a question as to whether the City is in a position to deliver lands that were expropriated for the Western Super Anchor to the University. Has anybody obtained a legal opinion saying that it is possible? I have heard about one former land owner who may dispute what is going on. If this person is successful, then what happens? If worst came to worst, the City could re-expropriate but at what higher amount now and at what additional time-frame?

It is all well and good for the Mayor to make promises about what he will do if the University goes downtown. However, I'm rather shocked that the Councillor would state that Council has not seen any detailed financial proposal. What assurance is there for the University that the Mayor will deliver? How much more time will the delay be while the University negotiates with the City?

I hope that University Board Members don't have short memories with respect to Mayor Francis and money for the University. Remember what I wrote some time ago about money that former Mayor Hurst supposedly was going to contribute to the University and to the College. Why doesn't Eddie meet the previous request for money first to show his "good faith" in dealing with the schools :

• "The issue arose over the $8 million that the two educational institutions thought they were to receive from the City. As the Star reported about 2 years ago:
  
  "St. Clair College president John Strasser said a signed letter from Hurst saying he would recommend to council a $3-million contribution to the college was instrumental in securing $12 million in provincial Super Build funding for the college's Ford Centre of Excellence but has now placed St. Clair in a costly and embarrassing predicament.
  
  According to Strasser, the college had to borrow the $3 million that it was counting on getting from the city and is now paying six- per-cent interest of more than $180,000 annually on that debt.
  
  In a similar letter to the university, Hurst stated he would recommend the city contribute $5 million to support the institution's application for $10.7 million in Super Build funding.
  
  The university contributed $5 million, private industry and alumni donated $8 million and the County of Essex gave $1 million. The money was used to build the new health education centre, a drama school and a centre for automotive research at a total cost of almost $30 million.
  
  "It wasn't an outright promise, but it was a clear statement the city would be on board," University of Windsor president Ross Paul said. "We're $5 million short and it's the city's pledge."
  
  According to the ex-Mayor, Hurst said
  
  "that he carefully worded the letter in support of the projects and purposely made no promises to the institutions.
  
  "The message was a very clear one and all it said was the mayor was prepared to recommend to council."
  
  Hurst said the matter was never brought to city council for a decision because "other circumstances overtook" it.
  
  "I didn't have an occasion before I retired to bring the matter through to Windsor city council."
  
  What was the reaction of Eddie and Council:
  
  "Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis said he's been approached by Strasser and Paul about the written commitments made by Hurst but rejected their suggestion he should take the lead in approaching council about the $8 million.
  
  The mayor said the city still has a debt approaching $200 million, one of the highest debt ratios in Ontario, and is committed, as a condition of this year's budget, to paying down another $10 million in 2005 on top of regular debt payments.
  
  "Everybody's in a bind here," he said.
  
  The two presidents have been meeting privately with members of council, but their reluctance so far to make a formal presentation to council stems from the frosty receptions they've received. Said Paul: "Nobody wants to go to council just to get shot down."

What makes anybody think that dealing with the City of Windsor makes any sense or will be any different? Just look at what the Minister of Finance had to say about dealing with our Mayor. We're getting the same stalling with the Engineering Complex that we have with the border. It is all designed for a political purpose to improve the position of the Mayor rather than to help out the University.

The University did a magnificent job of reorganizing their finances just over a year ago. Now they're prepared to take the risk in moving downtown rather than staying where they are. It makes sense from a financial point of view and also an educational point of view for the students to remain at the campus.

Who cares must be the answer when you have a legacy to build. It's only the next generation's money. Who cares how much debt the City is in. It's only taxpayer and student money.

I expect that the University Board and the public will expect the University President to prove that moving downtown will NOT be a waste of money especially since the University will depend on contributions from members of the public--about $20M worth-- to help pay for the building:

• "We have a responsibility to ourselves as educators and administrators, to our students and to the community and our supporters to examine all options, to test every strategy and to measure the value of each public dollar spent to ensure that what we are creating are monuments to unexcelled excellence in our region.
  
  Within the City of Windsor, where we build is less important to all concerned than how we build."

Dr. Paul will have to demonstrate conclusively that:

• "The project will stay within budget"

Remember what was said when the first words came out about a possible deal:

• "Paul said he has always been a huge downtown supporter. "If we could pull something off it would be wonderful. But we're not going to move downtown for the sake of moving downtown. Where it makes sense, we would absolutely like to do that."
  
  Paul, who will retire in 15 months, said he has no intention of leaving the university with a big deficit as part of his legacy."

I know, I know, I am fixated on the border. But this reminds me so much of the mess that we have with respect to the border issue.

The Ambassador Bridge has all the property that it needs to build their Enhancement Project without wiping out Sandwich and Delray. However, our Governments on both sides of the river have this strange desire to spend billions of dollars to duplicate facilities that are already in existence and probably to force hundreds of residents and businesses out of Delray in the process. It is a Megaproject run wild since no one really knows what the cost will be although we do know that the traffic is not there to justify the cost from a financial perspective.

Please tell me how the Engineering Complex going downtown differs. The University has all the land it needs for the Complex and need not concern itself about property values downtown that may devastate their budget. They have already wasted a year looking at something that probably makes no sense whatsoever and which has resulted in the cost of the project increasing just by the delay. And we know what delays in Windsor cost that City in some other projects: 30 to 40% over budget.

There must be some logic to all of this but I don't see it. If was a University of Windsor student, I would be pretty upset about what my tuition costs are going to be in the future to pay for this bad mistake. Let the Students learn at an early age what taxpayers are feeling must be the driving force behind the move to downtown. Just as taxpayers have had to pay increased taxes to pay for the Canderel fiasco, the students can pay for the Engineering Complex disaster- to-be.

Engineering Complex And The Challenges Of Change Report

My insiders say that the the University of Windsor Board will be voting on a location for the Engineering Complex early next week.

Count on it going downtown! As the Star reported several months ago:

"The university has been under intense pressure from the city and the downtown business community to establish a downtown campus."

But with Board Chair, Dave Cooke, a big fan of downtown, where else would it go:

• "Dave Cooke when he and finance czar Floyd Laughren overuled top civil servants and insisted that the interim casino would be built downtown, not out at the racetrack where the bureaucracy was demanding it go. "

How about this:

• "Former provincial cabinet minister Dave Cooke, a ferocious advocate of a downtown arena on the so-called Western Super Anchor site...
  
  Cooke believes the proposed downtown urban village is a pipe dream, given the decline in the housing market, but remains a believer in an arena/multiuse facility that would produce spin-off benefits."

Add in a bit of "politicing" behind the scenes, mix in the needs of a President who wants a "legacy" other then being President for years of the bottom-ranked University in Ontario and top it off with the fact that many of the Board members are also University staff who have to get along with University Management. You see what I mean. It is a no-brainer.

In passing, I wonder if any Board members who have dealings with the City directly will recuse themselves from the vote since the City is involved. Would there be a conflict?

However, before the vote is taken, Board members may want to take a look at this Report. I will wager that very few of them have any idea what this Report is all about. It only came out I believe in January, about 5 months after the Economic Summit Conference ended. That is a short time period for a Commission that took so long to discover it had no brochures to hand out to investors!

They should look at it given the role of one of their faculty members.

• "The Windsor Essex Development Commission, with major financial support from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, hosted a first ever summit of community stakeholders interested and involved in the economic development of the Windsor Essex region on August 24, 2007."

I must admit that I do not remember seeing very much about the outcome of this meeting and I just happened to find by chance a copy of this report. Presumably, it must make a lot of sense and the people who were invited to speak must be experts in their fields.

I am bringing it to your attention only because of one section of the report, a section dealing with Dr. Mark Meldrum, professor of entrepreneurship with the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. He talked about the partnership between the auto company Saab, the local university and local government. Clearly, that was designed as a model for Windsor and it is something I believe that makes a lot of sense. The professor is working on plans for an incubator which will provide start-ups with both administrative support and leased quarters.

Take a look at what was written in the report about what he said:

• "Dr. Mark Meldrum, from the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor, presented “The Saab Story” (see Appendix 2) which described a community in Sweden facing a dismal economic future that had its fortunes reversed by a business incubator in Linkoping, Sweden that was created as a joint venture by the Swedish company Saab, the local university and local government. The “triple helix” effect of academia, business and government working together was the key to the success of this model. More than 100 spin-off companies have been created from university-based research and Linkoping has created a 70 hectare technology park which currently houses more than 400 technology intensive companies. Dr. Meldrum challenged the Windsor Essex region to develop new models of cooperation. He also used the analogy of making a movie to explain how everyone involved with an initiative must be on the same page, essentially “making the same movie.”

Do you know what the most important point is? Come on, in the Mayor's terms "Spit it out!" It is the fact that a 70 hectare technology park was created.

Remember the BLOG I did on the technology zone in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. It was stated:

• "The Research Triangle Park, now 7,000 acres, was formed in 1959 on scrub farmland located midway between three major universities -- Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State."

The Southern US is not slow either in regard to automotive research:

• "BMW, the state of South Carolina and Clemson University formed a partnership to establish a premiere automotive/motorsport research center in Greenville. The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research is located on a 250-acre campus along I-85"

BMW partnered with a big research centre. Toyota gave our University a car!

Why is this South Carolina centre a significant concern:

• "There are more automotive manufacturing companies within 500-mile radius of Greenville, South Carolina than around Detroit."

How about Milwaukee and their joining together of business and University:

• "The Milwaukee County Research Park Corporation (MCRPC) is a non-profit organization created to manage the development of a university-related research park on 175 acres of Milwaukee County owned land in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The Research Park will nurture technology-based companies, strengthen Milwaukee County's business base, create new employment opportunities, and facilitate technology commercialization. This objective will be accomplished by bringing together the substantial academic, intellectual, business and entrepreneurial resources of the metropolitan Milwaukee area in a physical environment conducive to such activities."

Pfizer Global Research & Development in the health sector has four major locations across the United States and England. Facilities in which they are located range up to 390 acres in size.

What do all of those projects have in common... space. Acres and acres and acres of land to allow expansion. None of them are located in a downtown that would limit the amount of space that is available. What are we going to do, build skyscrapers for research facilities? I hardly think so.

But in Windsor, we talk about a downtown Complex that will be hemmed in if it ever tried to expand. Does that make sense? It doesn't to me. Then why are we talking about it? It should be obvious. It's the politics of expediency. It's all designed to make us forget that there is no downtown arena and there is no urban village.

Neither the University nor the Provincial Government should give in to pressure from City Hall. To do so would be a disservice to students, industry, the University, Government and the citizens of the City of Windsor.

However, next week, there will be some joy probably at City Hall when the vote is announced. It will be trumpeted as a major accomplishment for the Mayor. He will be pleased. And so will the property owners located near where the Complex will be constructed as their property values shoot up dramatically! Such good fortune.

When The Going Gets Tough...

...Eddie goes Lederhosening.

Where's the Mayor?

That's the big question that a number of people are asking today. Why has our Mayor chosen this week to fly off to Germany when there are so many important events that are taking place in Windsor? Couldn't his trip have been delayed a week or two? Was it really that vital that he go this week?

Who knows what the real story is but it is pretty clear that negotiations have been going on for some time with respect to the Ford plant. It is also pretty clear that there is a problem getting $30 million from the Federal Government. What did our Mayor do... did he partner with the Province and call up the Feds and demand action? Did he offer to go to Ottawa to meet with the Minister of Finance? Did he call up Jeff Watson and demand that he do something for the region? Did he get involved with the CAW rally in front of Watson's office? Nope... he was off in Germany.

I wonder if the Mayor knew that the Ford jobs were dead but didn't want to tell anyone in case he got blamed. His position will probably be that he had this feeling that the Feds might turn down the project so he went to Germany to try to find new jobs. I told you that he had a psychic as a consultant.

Mind you to be fair, Eddie did do something. Before he left he "sent a letter to federal Minister of Industry Jim Prentice." I'll bet it was a good one too.

Then there was the pre-budget meeting yesterday in Windsor with the Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan in town. The purpose of the meeting was

• "Provincial money for local interests will be the topic of discussion when Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan meets with a wide range of public and private sector groups for a pre-budget consultation in Windsor this afternoon."

The City Treasurer stated:

• "Colucci said the city wanted to make sure the concerns of municipalities were "front and center" to Duncan.
  
  "Municipalities face a lot of challenges these days. Especially municipalities in an economically challenged area, such as Windsor," Colucci said.

The Mayor knows all about these challenges and is such a great orator. I would have thought we had an interest to get some money in Windsor for the road to the border, to help our manufacturing industry, to help our tourist industry and so on.

Who should have been our spokesperson advocating that money needed to be poured into this City since we have one of the highest unemployment rates in Canada: the Mayor. Did Eddie deliver a speech designed to get money for the hardest-hit part of the Province. Nope... he was off in Germany.

Did you see Dwight on A-Channel news? Boy was he steamed at our Mayor. He let him have it right between the eyes on Manning Road and Lauzon saying that if he wanted anything done at the airport, he better fix up the road system. It seemed to me as well that he was blaming Eddie for the delays in getting anything done on the border. It was almost as tough a shot at someone in Windsor as his personal attack on WeACT's founder, Chris Schnurr.

I wonder if Dwight was angry because he hoped to be able to give Windsor some money if only the Mayor had made an impassioned plea for it. Now he probably can't do it and will take a beating from the electorate and the media as if it was his fault. If only Eddie had shown up and made the case for us. I guess Cabinet's position may well be that if Eddie didn't show up, perhaps things are not so bad here after all.

Seriously, how can Councillor Valentinis still wonder why this City is being taken for granted by the Senior Levels? How much longer will the Councillor sit by while the City is destroyed?How much more can this City take before the Councillor will act? It really all rests on his shoulders.

My information is that Councillors found out about this so-called massive German investment opportunity in camera on Monday. Apparently they were sworn to secrecy as well as could be expected. I can imagine their surprise when they saw the story plastered over the front page of the Windsor Star and on CKLW.

I don't understand that part of it at all. Why would the Mayor reveals something when he told his colleagues to keep it confidential? I know he likes the limelight but still.

I know several people who are involved in business development and here's what they wrote to me:

• 1) Any idea if this German food distributor investment the Mayor is blabbing about to all the media is a done deal yet? If not, he has breached what most politicians do when potential investors show interest in a location... the politicians just can't keep their mouths shut!
  
  
• 2) I was hoping you'd take a stab at this.
  
  Why would Fast Eddie go? The Commission was probably too busy trying to figure out the layout and wording of their up and coming brochures.
  
  The Development Commission Mission Statement as per website:
  "- to attract new business, capital investment and other assessment and employment creating enterprises"
  
  Ya! Maybe they were doing that.
  
  
• 3) The net developable area [at the airport] is unknown at this time since a significant amount of the land area is expected to be retained in a natural environment designation/zoning.
  
  Furthermore, there are huge constraints to development since servicing is minimal or non existent and the lands at the airport will require amendments to the City's Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The servicing costs will be in the multiples of millions of dollars and the planning changes are excruciatingly slow, especially if any objections/appeals necessitate OMB resolution. Also, there are airport zoning regulations that restrict height and use of exterior building materials and equipment to avoid any interference with air navigation systems and aircraft safety...
  
  Economic development is a percentage business. Many hurdles to go and many ifs to overcome to get to the promised land!

Here is the strangest part though. The City and the County pay over $1 million a year to set up an Economic Development Commission. I don't understand the need for this Commission now at all. The City should ask the County for the money instead since it looks like the Mayor has taken over their function.

Can't the Mayor delegate? Doesn't he trust the Gazelle Feeders to do their job? If he does not then why doesn't he recommend that they be fired now? Aren't they supposed to be the experts in this area, not him? Why does Eddie have to micromanage everything!

You know what I think... the Mayor knew that the situation with Ford was going to be rough. He knew that Dwight was coming to town and didn't want to be in a position where he would have to confront Dwight about Greenlink because he knew he would lose on that. He knew that he couldn't bully Harper or Duncan or the Premier.

What did he do instead? He left town with the excuse of flying to Germany to find his 50 jobs. What was important was that Eddie save his political neck. That was the Mayor's #1 priority.

Ach du Lieber Himmel, is this what leadership means in Windsor?

Who Is Really Running For Mayor

I am sure that he thought he was being oh so clever. Mocking us and Councillors as he was gearing up for his election run in 2010. Putting the pieces of his election team together in about as a stealth a fashion as can be imagined. Slowly building up files and columns and new stories that he can point to when he submits his name to be a candidate for Mayor.

He had learned well from Windsor's master politician, the Teflon Mayor, the man who is never wrong, who can never be blamed and who can never be pinned down. The man who is always positive and has a Plan and a dream to lull the masses while he lets others do the dirty work.

But he suffers from the Mayor's weakness. He has to give away little hints so that he can point to them and say with wonderment on his face... why are you so surprised, I told you so.

He thought no one would notice. He thought that even if someone did they would not understand the consequences of what he said.

Naturally, as an insider, he underestimated Bloggers who learned to read tea leaves and animal entrails in Windsor to try and understand what is going on.

Of course he has a way of words that few in the City can match. His words can mean anything he wants them to mean but we know what he really means don't we, dear reader. You have been reading this BLOG long enough to uncover and understand the hidden messages.

Have you figured out who it is yet? If not, read on.

There was a tantalizing hint at the end of the Page 3 column on Saturday. Speaking about the Marra vs. Brister upcoming battle, the remark was made:

• "Yeah. This could be fun. A classic showdown to kick off the next decade. I almost wish I could be around to enjoy it."

Did you notice the word "almost." There was nothing final in what he said. He learned from Brister's faux pas about "never" running for Mayor.

Councillor Halberstadt in his Letter to the Editor in the Star also allowed us some insight when he said:

• "I got a kick out of Gord's front-page story suggesting Mayor Eddie Francis will run for re-election in 2010, pitting him against grandstanding pretenders itching to ascend to his throne, including me.
  
  As a longtime media guy, I totally understand Gord's cravings to stir political pots with an election almost three arid years away. Gord is free to speculate to his heart's desire"

Cravings, stir pots, three arid years....Put it all together. The secret is out now. You read it here first!

Yes, dear reader, Gord Henderson has just announced that he is running for Mayor of the City of Windsor in 2010! That's why he won't be around to watch the Marra/Brister fight. He will be a main participant in that battle for election. He saw what Percy could do to make a few extra bucks on top of his CBC pension. Being a celebrity helps doesn't it. And who is bigger than Gord!

He is not retiring as the Saturday column may have suggested. From being a columnist on the Star perhaps, but he is starting his new career: politician par excellence.

Do you like the way that Councillor Halberstadt combined the two Henderson stories in his letter with respect to Eddie running for Mayor for a third term and the dysfunction in Council. The canoeing buddy of Henderson set it up perfectly. Just like the hint that Henderson also gave us that the relationship between Halberstadt and Francis is strained only a few weeks ago. Henderson and Halberstadt are rock solid together as they play their banjos with their hope of Deliverance for us all from seven years of Francis rule.

Halberstadt is politically savvy enough to know that he cannot be Mayor since it takes a pile of money and organization. He has also made too many enemies on Council for obvious reasons so he would face major opposition. It appears he does not want the job anyway. He serves us well by being Leader of the Opposition no matter who the Mayor is. He always asks the tough questions. If he cannot have the job, then why not his buddy whom he trusts?

The two recent stories by Henderson accomplished exactly what the man who knows everything about everything and everyone in Windsor wanted to accomplish. It was brilliant political manoeuvering and strategizing that Eddie's Eminence Greasie could only admire.

First, Henderson made sure that Eddie could not possibly run again for Mayor when he wrote the 3rd Term story. The public's outcry and hostility eliminated a major competitor.

Next he continued to set up the Councillor formerly known as Councillor Budget as the one to blame on the arena file to a eliminate him as a competitor.

Of course, thirdly, he was in there with a dig against Councillor Marra as the Mayor in Waiting to put another nail in that coffin.

Fourthly, and this is the genius part, he has Councillors fighting against Councillors, the insiders against the outsiders. They will be too distracted looking over each other to worry about him sneaking up and becoming the lead candidate. Keep describing Council as dysfunctional and needing leadership that none of them can provide for the next year or two and he is a shoo-in.

If you want proof of this, how can anyone describe Councillor Dilkens as an outsider. He has done nothing negative by asking for openness and transparency or looking at the truck problem on Dougall Avenue. He is acting in the best interests of his constituents. That's the problem though... he might become too popular. We cannot have that happening can we... Dilkens needs to be cut down to size by describing him as a co-conspirator. Why else would Henderson mention Councillors Jones and Postma as supporting Eddie for a third term. That eliminates them too.

It is even more sinister than this I am afraid. Do you really think that the Sheriff and the media Renegades are doing this on their own?

Don't be so silly. Clearly, they must be following orders.

Remember what I wrote a long time ago that the "Media is the Government" in Windsor. Well the Media needs to reassert their position in Windsor since certain politicians think that they are above them. They need to put one of their own into power to clean up what has been going on during the last few years. No wonder that the Media needed to support the concept of openness and transparency. They needed to know what is going on didn't they behind closed doors. They had concerns.

Oh it is a diabolical plot. Do you really believe that the writers dare defy their Editors at the Star? Do you really think that anyone would dare speak against the CKLW News Director's point of view at the station?

Strap a "W" on your brain folks! Everyone is now trying to squeeze into the phone booth aren't they! The media is finally supporting the Bloggers' opinions so you think. The transformation seems to be happening overnight doesn't it and in a coordinated fashion, too coordinated in my opinion. That is what gave it all away. It was all too sudden and too surprising. There was too much media unity.

You have now been warned about what is happening in Windsor. Laugh all you want. Call this ridiculous. But have I ever been wrong yet!

Hey Gord, when you become Mayor, could I have a position on the Enwin Board. I hear it pays pretty well.

PS. I am just kidding. This BLOG is just meant to be a joke, satire, to give you a chuckle during your afternoon coffee break. It's not happening is it. I mean really, it is not..............???

Immediate WUC Judicial Inquiry Required

Better late than never?

I assume that this must be our attitude with respect to Council and the ongoing Windsor Utilities Commission fiasco. If it had all been done properly in the first place with a forensic audit by an independent third party, I would not have had to write this BLOG. The matter would have been properly investigated and Windsorites' questions answered.

Instead, we had the Council manoeuvering to prevent citizens from appearing as Delegations, the steps taken to prevent the Provincial Auditor General from acting, the Mayor's Whiteboard presentation, and the limited section 9 Ministry whitewash audit.

And now we have more questions raised that lead to a need for a Judicial Inquiry, not another whitewash audit, the results of which we are still waiting. Council has no excuse for not acting properly this time around. Or does the Ministry have to be pressured again to undertake a section 10 audit?

Let me set out first what the Municipality can do under the Municipal Act:

• 274. (1) If a municipality so requests by resolution, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice shall,
  
  (b) inquire into any matter connected with the good government of the municipality; or
  
  (c) inquire into the conduct of any part of the public business of the municipality, including business conducted by a commission appointed by the council or elected by the electors. 2001, c. 25, s. 274 (1).

Accordingly a simple Council Resolution brings in a judge who can look at the relationship amongst Enwin, WUC and City Council and can look at the affairs and the business conducted by WUC. We can finally get the truth.

Notwithstanding the big fight at Council between the Ward 3 Councillors, there is a very close relationship between Enwin and the WUC. It was conclusively proven when the Enwin spokesperson wrote the Letter to the Editor of the Star on behalf of WUC. I'm not going to go into a big explanation stating the obvious. Enwin and WUC belong to Taxpayers.

We need to understand what monies have gone into and out of those entities and where those monies have gone. We need to understand the decision-making taking place at both of those organizations and how they impact taxpayers. We need to understand who is making the decisions and why.

There's a lot of money at stake. We are looking at over $800 million in watermain replacements. Huge water levy and sewer levy increases have an immediate impact on families in the City and there are negative for new businesses to move here. They also supply significant amount of cash for someone to use as well with the sewer surcharge levy that goes to the City considering that the money does not all go for sewers as I have Blogged before. It is obvious that the budgets are not viewed in as much detail by our City Council Budget Committees since they are the budgets of a Commission and an incorporated entity.

I wrote a BLOG the other day asking where all the capital funds went that were supposed to be invested in watermains. There is something else that I was told by one of my readers. Is it true or not, I do not know and it might be something for the traditional media to investigate. All I was told by Sylvia DeVries was

• "Thank you for your email enquiry regarding MaXess Networx. Please be advised that EnWin does not comment on matters that are speculative or rumour driven in nature."

Here is the news tip:

• The Maxess fibre optics business has been sold for an amount between $15-$20M or is in the process of being sold. The buyer is a major communications company.

If you did not know, Maxess is a division of Enwin.

If this tip is true, then my question is where did all that money go or where will it go? Who is using it and for what purposes?

But that is not the reason for my request for judicial inquiry. Did you read the BLOG of Chris Schnurr on Monday? He has revealed some startling information:

1) The Swain report.

The Star reported it this way:

• "We've got 100 years' worth of construction coming due in the next decade," said Swain.
  
  "It's a huge problem. We've got time to do it right, we can do it without hideous price shocks, but we can't delay."
  
  Swain believes 30 years of under-investment in water and waste water infrastructure must be addressed and the actual cost of water be reflected in the prices charged the consumer.
  
  "If consumers get faced with the full costs of their consumption they will modify their behaviour accordingly," said Swain."

Obviously back in September, 2005 it was clear to WUC that consumers were going to be faced with a huge cost increase yet nothing was done! Why not?

The Inquiry needs to look into the role that "politics" played in this matter. Remember that when the WUC matter first broke the Mayor blamed it all on politics You remember that in 2005 the Mayor in fact wanted a rate reduction.

What is more disturbing however is that WUC seems to take great pleasure in the fact that it was able to offset "the attack on increased water pricing." How did they do it? Through their "strong media relations that support our initiatives... in return for our support of the reporting needs and our ability to provide easy access."

Again, the Inquiry needs to ask what this means. Is this a you scratch my back, I scratch yours approach to the relationship between the media and City Hall organizations to the detriment of the public interest?

Was the media compromised? If so, this is a shocking indictment in which certain members of the media ought to be ashamed. We need to know if the media gave us the straight goods or not and was this approach reflected in other relationships.

2) Pipe line realigning pilot project.

One of the concerns raised with respect to the huge increase in water rates was whether or not there were other alternatives that could be considered to reduce such rates. I find it shocking that rates are increased dramatically and only afterwards is there is a discussion about a process that could extend watermain life by 50 years and cutting costs 50 to 70%.

The Inquiry must examine why this technology and other alternatives were not examined before water rates were increased. Is there a reason why the Commission only discussed this matter in November? Had the whitewash Auditors started their examination of the Commission at this time or was their work already done? If the latter, the question to ask is why the discussion was taken afterwards.

If this technology makes sense, then why aren't rates being decreased now?

3) The consultant

The consultants hired at great fanfare and who put on a performance at City Council during the fiasco were told to close their file.

The Inquiry should investigate why such a step was taken. In the Earth Tech/Watson report there was an expectation of a further study to take place:

• "the Commission may wish to further evaluate different rate options. It is expected that this will be undertaken during the next phase of the study."

Why all of a sudden was there no need to look at the different rate options other than a massive price increase. Was this report merely undertaken to satisfy statutory requirements and then to be ignored by the Commission who have their own ideas about what citizens should pay for watermains?

The Inquiry would need to understand why the Commission in effect dismissed the consultants. I have real trouble understanding why that was done given some of the issues that the consultants discussed that could impact what the water rates were to be in future.

Such things to be examined included:

• recommendations related to general accounting and financial principles for the water system
• amendment of current practices policies and bylaws and development of new policies and bylaws
• review and commentary on the fiscal relationship between the Commission and the City in the area of debt, debt capacity and debt handling and to make recommendations for alternate approaches
• the development of an Asset Management System Development and the implementation of Trenchless Technology applications that could reduce infrastructure replacement needs in the 10% range so as to smooth out potential water rate increases and reducing reserve needs
• implementation of an Unaccounted for Water program to reduce the 21% in water losses (part of this loss is in the treatment process but Windsor's losses are about 3.5% to 4.5% higher than the industry norm)
• creating water efficiency programs including leak detection as alternative to developing new water supplies in expanding treatment facilities
• various ways to finance capital construction including the use of debentures so that future users of the system actually pay for it.

There was a huge outcry after the rates were increased, the consultants were paraded before Council and citizens and then the Commission dismissed them leaving outstanding subject discussed above.

4) Bamwell Reservoir

Some more questions are raised with respect to the Banwell Reservoir and pump station. That Reservoir and a proposed elevated water tower were factored into the costs over the 100 year lifecycle analysis. Yet now we learn that the environmental assessment for the Reservoir has been deferred. The Inquiry officer should look into this matter is well.

Shouldn't rates decrease if this capital project is deferred for who knows how long. Or is it "politics" again? Will we face a huge financial disaster in the future when we have to build the facility immediately in a crisis situation?

Perhaps everything is all right. Perhaps everything is all wrong. Perhaps there's a bit of this and a bit of that. The problem is no one knows, a whitewash audit will do nothing for us and more and more issues are coming to the forefront.

There is only one way to get the truth and that is with a Judicial Inquiry. Let the Municipality call one finally under the Municipal Act and let's get the WUC matter off the table and resolved. Do the Councillors have the guts to do so?

We are not talking about pennies but hundreds of millions of dollars of perhaps unneeded expenditures. Now you know why the City needs an Auditor General now!

City Hall In The News

We are going to journey far afield today. Here are some recent thoughts I had about City Hall.

I'D FLY A MILLION MILES FOR...

Looks like the Mayor will fly off to Germany to get 50 jobs but won't drive across the river to the Bridge Co. offices to get several thousand. Instead of flying to Germany, he could fly to Toronto and Ottawa to get 10,000.

I wonder who would negotiate the deal if the German Company comes here. Naturally, the terms would remain confidential a la Canderel and the Arena. The excuse would be they are the first tenants in the airport lands expansion and they insisted on it.

If it is Eddie, can we expect the equivalent of the deal of the century for tenants on Canderel sub-leases, 5 cent Keg parking, Mady garage loss, sell-out to Greyhound of 50% of the funky bus terminal, naming rights for WFCU or failed Tunnel deal with Detroit.

The deal will wind up being something like this:

• the land will be serviced to be shovel ready at the huge expense of Windsor taxpayers
• the land will be sold at a low cost to a developer who will build the warehouse facility
• the German company will then lease the warehouse
• the Senior Levels will throw in more taxpayer money for grants and financing and worker retraining funds to get the deal here
• Manning Road will be stalled off some more using the EA process and the Lauzon EA and upgrading E C Row will be expedited as Administration wants.

The German company will get a great deal since they will take advantage of the politicians by throwing in their faces all of the "perceptions" about border problems. Can't have perishables perishing.

Ironically, guess who will supply the German company's trucking needs!

Hey, who gets the airplane frequent flyer points since the trips are paid for by the City?

DO EDDIE AND REMO EVER SPEAK

I wonder why Mr. Mancini as head of the Development Commission did not fly over to Germany but the Mayor felt the need to do so. Is this a vote of non-confidence in the Chair and the Commission by the Mayor on their ability to close a deal? Is this Mayoral micromanagement? Or is the Mayor that desperate for publicity, any publicity given the negative reaction to him by Windsorites?

I think they really need to get together one day over lunch and talk about what economic development means in Windsor. Taxpayers would pay because it's a business lunch so it should be very palatable.

I don't think that they have their act together and that they are working at cross purposes. That can't be good for them or for us because the Credit Union might decide not to provide any funds next year and the County might actually be interested in finding out whether the Economic Development Commission has been able to produce brochures to hand out to prospective investors.

Here's what I mean. And I still can't get over this comment, I am sorry, about the Commission:

• "Because of the nature of the region’s strategy, traditional performance measures such as the number of new plants attracted, or the number of jobs retained, albeit significant, should not be the primary indicators of success. These could actually be counterproductive by driving the wrong behaviour."

Eddie on CKLW had a different point of view.

• "Everything we do has to be focused on jobs. Everything we talk about. Everything that we strategize about. Everything that we act on has to be about bringing more jobs to this community."

See what I mean. If they're confused, no wonder no one wants to invest here. They would get a mixed message. Pass the hors d'oeuvres please.

ANYTHING THE BRIDGE COMPANY AND DRIC CAN DO, EDDIE CAN DO BETTER

I guess that the Mayor must be tired of hearing how many new jobs his enemies can create. The Bridge Company's Enhancement Project and the DRIC road would create over 10,000 direct and indirect infrastructure jobs in Windsor, many of them very high paying unlike the call centre jobs.

So Eddie has to top them. Again on CKLW he told us about this exciting economic development at the airport (no wonder he wants to stall Manning Road). It will bring a tremendous amount of jobs in the City except no one knows when the announcement will be made and what it is all about.

So now we find it that it is between 50 and 500 jobs for a food distribution company from Germany. That secret was revealed quickly wasn't it?

I see that Eddie and Windsor Airport general manager Federica Nazzani are going to Germany to try to get the business. I wonder if they fly via Detroit Metro Airport to Europe or via Toronto so they use YQG!

IT'S THE INTERMODAL HUB STUPID

Of course, the leaks on CKLW and in the Windsor Star really have nothing to do with bringing a few jobs in a food warehouse to Windsor. No, it is the start of the new Eddie dream for Windsor. Seriously, when Eddie and Donna Cansfield met for lunch, what you think they were really talking about. It was not the border but the intermodal hub.

Eddie will come back from Germany as a hero whether the plant is built are not and will say that this is the beginning of the Intermodal hub at the airport that will revitalize Windsor and diversify our economy. Remember when he visited Texas. Here's what the Star talked about:

• "Mayor leads NAFTA lobby: Francis named co-chairman of political, business coalition;
  Windsor Star 04-11-2006
  
  Mayor Eddie Francis will serve as co-chairman of a political and business coalition formed in Dallas that is striving to become a lobbying force for communities along the NAFTA highway corridor...
  
  The mayor will travel to Dallas next Thursday and Friday (April 20-21) where he will assist in leading the coalition's meeting and also tour the city's transportation hub where rail, road and air freight is exchanged...
  
  Dallas has emerged as a major U.S. transportation hub within the NAFTA corridor, which includes major cities such as Cincinnati, Nashville, Memphis and San Antonio.
  
  Goods arriving from China at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach head west to Dallas, then either north to central U.S. states and Canada (through Windsor) or south to Mexico through the border town of Laredo, Tex...
  
  Francis was looking forward to touring Dallas's transportation hub, a concept he is striving to introduce to Windsor on lands near the airport.
  
  The goal is for Windsor to become a hub for international trade in relation to freight transfers, the mayor said.
  
  He estimated funds required to establish such a transportation hub locally would cost between $200 million and $300 million -- an investment that would help maintain national productivity and remain competitive in a global economy.
  
  "The dollars are significant, but everyone realizes the cost of not doing this would be greater," Francis said.

The previous Eddie dreams are dead--Schwartz, full tunnelling, Schwunnels and Greenlink. Long live the new Eddie dream, the intermodal hub, for the next three years anyway.

WILL A CHINESE AUTO PLANT COME TO WINDSOR

When I first heard the story on CKLW about jobs near the airport, my immediate thought was that the Engineering Complex was going to go near the airport. However I remembered that the University gave up a whole bunch of land recently that they had there so that didn't make too much sense to me.

When I found out that it was a food distribution company, what a let-down. Here is what I was hoping it was:

I remembered that an inside source at the Casino told me that the Development Commission took over the VU bar a few months ago and held a big party for about 20 to 30 people, most of whom were Asian.

That I imagined might be a precursor of good things to come now that we see all the stories about the Chinese auto companies during the Detroit Automobile Show. Can it be, I hoped, that one of these companies will open up a gigantic plant here that will employ thousands of people? Is that the reason why Eddie wants everything so positive about Windsor so that when these people read the newspapers they will see nothing but good here?

So much for that theory!

I truly hope that Eddie has kept his Councillors in the loop and that he is kept all of them advised as to the status of whatever he is doing. I wouldn't want this to happen. Gee, it was just five years ago wasn't it when the Star wrote this editorial:

• "Monday night, Windsor city council will be asked to retroactively approve more than $350,000 in payments to consultants and lobbyists. The money was spent on a project that councillors knew nothing about.
  
  However, the mayor, members of the development commission and some senior city administrators did know about the "Blue Bell" project, which turned out to be an attempt to lure the $1.2-billion DCX Sprinter van development to a site near Windsor Airport.
  
  Some members of council are furious that they were purposefully left in the dark over several months while the Blue Bell project proceeded. They should be. The $350,000 had not been budgeted by city council and was spent without the authority of councillors.
  
  Essentially, councillors were prohibited from fulfilling their duty to constituents, which is to oversee the city's business and mind the interests of taxpayers.
  
  Mayor Mike Hurst defends the decision to leave out council due to the fact that the discussions were being kept confidential at the insistence of the automaker."

I am sure that Eddie remembers this section of that Editorial and that the the City Hall amnesia disease has not wiped out this memory:

• "However, if the development commission and senior bureaucrats could be part of the process, why not council? As Councillor Eddie Francis says, one of the central issues that's been raised is one of trust.
  
  "The fundamental issue here is that someone decided that the most important people in the equation -- councillors -- couldn't be trusted with the information and that's infuriating," says Francis. "As councillors, we have a professional obligation to maintain confidentiality and we have to be in the loop. But someone decided to neutralize council on this issue and screw the Municipal Act."

SPEAKING OF FOOD

I see that the Economic Development Commission is going to contribute $25,000 for something at the Detroit auto show. While the cheque will come from the Commission, it is actually taxpayers in the City and the County paying for it. You see when it comes from the Commission, no one really can get too mad about it just like when cheques come from the Convention and Visitors' Bureau rather than from City Hall directly.

It's just like WUC levy increases. They aren't tax increases but you will have to pay for them out of your pocket.

Dinner prices in Detroit must have gone up, skyrocketed in fact, even with the higher Canadian dollar. In January, 2006 for example,

• "Ed Agnew, Inter-Governmental Grants and Special Projects Co-ordinator, Strategic Services appears before and is available for questions regarding the last minute request to participate in the 2006 North American International Auto Show’s Automotive Dinner to be held on January 18, 2006, where four local restaurants will be featured and will be attended by approximately 2000 representatives of the auto industry, and states that it would cost the City $12,500 in U.S. funds to participate, which would be a step forward in developing our Windsor/Detroit area as one economic unit for our mutual benefit."

Council agreed

• "That the City of Windsor PARTICIPATE as an associate sponsor for the 2006 North American International Auto Show - Automotive Industry Dinner to be held on January 18, 2006 at a cost of $12,500 in U.S. funds to BE CHARGED to the budget stabilization reserve fund."

The 2008 payment almost slipped by unnoticed but for Councillor Halberstadt asking the question. Is Roger Penske involved in this event as well?

WORKING, PLAYING AND INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN WINDSOR CAN BE MURDER

Wow, Eddie at Council sure made it attractive to come downtown didn't he. I just can't wait for people to flock downtown now after he said:

• "There will be another murder. There will be another gunshot in our downtown... it is going to happen."

Wasn't it nice of the Star to drop the word "murder" from their news story? They saved him since it would have been embarrassing if it was in print forever. If there is such a violent crime again in the downtown no matter when, it is NOT Eddie's fault since he warned us didn't he. We cannot blame him. I told you that the psychic is now a consultant to the Mayor!

I'll bet the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Casino will be thrilled to put that statement on their brochures as a positive statement about coming to Windsor. Their competition surely will. That should bring us some very big groups don't you think. And yet, the Mayor had the nerve to tell us to be careful what we're saying if we want to bring conventions downtown. Such hypocrisy and such arrogance make me sick.

Aren't the Councillor-children tired of being scolded by their Kindergarten teacher, the Mayor. Another Eddie lecture after the vote was taken. I don't see anything in the Procedural Bylaw that allows him to take centre stage and to mouth off after a vote is taken. But it's easier then isn't it, nobody can tell him that he's wrong to his face because the debate is over. If anyone tried, he would merely rule him/her out of order. Why does he do this, and he's done it on a number of occasions. We know how well it he takes criticism. NOT. Just ask the pesky environmentalist.

Why he didn't speak before I don't know... he was clearly opposed to the Motion. However since he did not vote, he has it both ways doesn't he? If the three a.m. closing works, he did not vote against it. If it does not work, all he has to do is point to what he said at Council. Of course no one will remember what he said exactly.

He's getting bolder now. Not only is he scolding Councillors but is also scolding the Downtown Business Association and the public as well. What's the matter with everyone, haven't they bought into his vision yet?

Now when the Mayor tells us that something doesn't happen quickly, it's probably true. But it also means he can't be judged on performance or results. You can tell him he's doing nothing downtown because the vacancy rate downtown is huge and retail is nonexistent. That doesn't bother him one bit. You see we just don't understand. It's all part of his overall scheme to bring in people downtown so the retailers can prosper. You know the funky bus terminal, the St. Clair students and the Engineering Complex. I think he forgot about the Keg restaurant which used to be the basis of his revitalization of the downtown. It's all part of his Plan.

Just give it time. Just like with stalling on the Border road. Eddie will be proven right in the end oh ye of little faith.

The reality is that Eddie has to shut everybody up. He has to keep them quiet and get them to agree that this is a long-term problem. He has to do this so that he can build up his resume to become the next Attorney General in the John Tory Government if the Progressive Conservatives ever get elected.

Who dreamt up the line "Guns, Drugs and Gangs." It plays so well in the media and captures all of the buzzwords that scare us. Clearly it was the Eminence Greasie who is manoeuvering Eddie for his next job. I lost count how many times Eddie used that expression at Council. However I am glad that Councillor Postma picked it up in her talk. She is on the team all right.

Thank goodness for the Ward 2 Councillor. She gave us a lesson in the subculture that she knows so well it seems. I sure would not open up a restaurant downtown after listening to her. I would not want to be run out because my windows were broken by those after-hours people. Her words help create an investor reality that will scare them off whether she understands that or not.

She at least kept the same theme as the Mayor telling us that a wrong look means that something will happen. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

Eddie is right about one thing however. After listening to his comments I know that the problems will not be solved quickly in the downtown. With no urban village, the downtown being shifted towards the Casino area, the arena in the East End, a faltering economy in Windsor, talk of murder that is going to happen again, Judith Veresuk who is going to Vancouver with her husband and leaving the job as executive director of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association is probably the smartest person around.