Why its wrong to blame the Mayor
This exerpt from the hamilton spectator book review articulates my views on our Mayor and those who lambaste and villify him. Especially when the real problem as I see it is citizen dependancy and entitlement. I don’t being or seeing others scolded or put through an inquisition at council for their views, however the article below states what the real problem is with our leadership and some of those from Windsor.
Community: The Structure of Belonging. by Peter Block
Creating community takes leadership, although not in the way we currently know it, practice it and crave it.
Too many of us hero-worship larger-than-life leaders who can deliver us from evil, take us to the promised land, make the tough decisions and do the heavy-lifting that we’re not prepared to do ourselves.
And when our fearless leaders prove mortal, disappoint and fail to live up to expectations, we start searching for the next great leader. Block says this isn’t the way to build community.
“It lets citizens off the hook and breeds citizen dependency and entitlement,” says Block.
“It undermines a culture where each is accountable for their community.”
Instead, we need leaders who use their power and position to convene meetings that bring folks together, especially people from the margins.
Once we’re in the room, leaders then need to ask the right questions and actually listen to what’s said and not spoken.
“Leadership begins with understanding that every gathering is an opportunity to deepen accountability and commitment through engagement.
”Questions are more transformative than answers and are the essential tools of engagement. Questions create the space for something new to emerge.”
With engagement comes a shared sense of accountability and a mutual commitment to change the world. With engaged employees and citizens, the impossible becomes possible. Without engagement, you go nowhere fast and communities and organizations stay stuck.
”While visions, plans and committed top leadership are important, even essential, no clear vision, nor detailed plan, nor committed group of leaders have the power to bring this image of the future into existence without the continued engagement and involvement of citizens,” says Block.
”The world does not need leaders to better define issues, or to orchestrate better planning or project management. What it needs is for the issues and the plans to have more of an impact, and that comes from citizenship accountability and commitment.”
I couldn’t have said it better, and I believe I’ve heard the mayor tell me something very similar, unfortunately it was difficult to hear it as it was in a monologue instead of in a dialogue.
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Citizenship, accountability and commitment, eh?
Has our mayor shown good corporate citizenship by not engaging a corporate taxpayer in consultation on border issues. Where is the accountability of city hall on the 400 Building, the border file the arena deal without tender the tunnel deal with Detroit. What has city hall done to demonstrate its commitment to improving our city? Knocking down historic buildings, continuing a policy of sprawl and threatening lawsuits everytime someone disagrees?
Mark, it may not be just the mayor, we have to hold the ten councilors accountable too but, the mayor is the leader of the city and policy follows his lead. Who will be the mayor when the lights go out on a city bankrupted by bad deals and poor planning?
Sorry, I have to agree with James. Being Mayor is about being a good leader, not just getting to wear the title. I vote for Eddie, twice!, based on his statements about bringing accountability and transparency to the city. Unfortunately, he has done exactly the opposite and mired the city in a political quagmire of deceit and mistrust. I’ve watch council proceedings — he rules that meeting with an iron fist. I doubt if anything that has transpired over the past couple of years has escaped his scrutiny. While it is nice to think that Mayors and council are going to grow up and be leaders, the reality is that Eddie has shown that he is cut from the same rancid cloth that so many politicians seem to be.
“We have learned, by sad experience, that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. ”
The quote continues on to define WHAT a great leader should be. Unfortunately, I don’t see Eddie, or many of the councilors, filling that role of leader. It is more of the old boys club — who can I impress with my shiny new title.
Last quote —
“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” — Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
By that measure, I think that Eddie Francis has failed miserably.
I would respond to your points 1 by 1. Each one has been debated at length but you’re cherry picking only one side of each issue and you can argue them both ways. Here’s me being devils advocate.
Has our mayor shown good corporate citizenship by not engaging a corporate taxpayer in consultation on border issues.
I can argue both sides of this, how do the residents accross the border in the neighborhoods the bridge took over feel about this corporate taxpayer
Didn’t they let the neighborhood degrade and take it over at reduced prices?
The mayor’s issue in this is how he can justify his contradictory stance of preventing a new end to end nexus crossing
Where is the accountability of city hall on the 400 Building,
What type of accountability, its 20% over budget? If you’re astounded that a public bldg went over budget I question your sanity.
The real issue is not the audit, the real issue is that all new municipal bldgs in the U.S. are built as anchor tenants in a mixed use residential/commercial bldg. We could have leveraged that building to create new development downtown but didn’t. The faiilure occurred
when the original issue was discussed with no one presenting that alternative.
We need a new city hall eventually, will we make the same mistake again?
“The border file”
The mayor and city’s fight to date resulted in preventing an ‘at grade’ highway. The problem now is the level of conversation and some unintelligent comments by a few councillors
“the arena deal”
Mayor said he’d get us an arena and he did, he and council ran on this deal and only one incumbant didn’t make it. Other than a few grumblings, the construction association stayed quiet until after the deal.
“the tunnel deal with Detroit.”
The management of the tunnel by two separate entities is a problem. When you See tolls on the U.S. side being different for Canadians than they are for Americans you know that the decisions are being made for political reasons and not for business ones. Thats a real problem
The problem I see it is that the economics of the deal have changed due to reduced tunnel traffic. No one has set out at what point would the economics have to change before the deal doesn’t make sense
What has city hall done to demonstrate its commitment to improving our city? Knocking down historic buildings, continuing a policy of sprawl and threatening lawsuits everytime someone disagrees?
The problem here is one by all councillors who support not hiring staff to save money. Everyone acknowledges the bank bldg was an oversite. The martin house is saved. Sprawl is provincial and county responsibility.
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I think Joshes Quotes actually prove the quotes in my case that I’ll repeat
“Too many of us hero-worship larger-than-life leaders who can deliver us from evil, take us to the promised land, make the tough decisions and do the heavy-lifting that we’re not prepared to do ourselves.
And when our fearless leaders prove mortal, disappoint and fail to live up to expectations, we start searching for the next great leader. Block says this isn’t the way to build community”
However Josh’s last quote was way cool and deserves repeating
Last quote —
“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” — Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Trust me, I have issues with our Mayor, but what we desparately need is a list of “Who does what” and hold everyone accountable.
Problem is when you hold someone accountable for all failure you must also give him credit for all success. Walkerville and Erie Street never looked better, Downtown street closures meet tremendous response.
All of those successes are due to the work of individuals and the only credit the mayor and council deserve is the fact they got out of the way!!!
Windsor *is* looking for salvation. They need a messiah — someone to lead them out of the funk that has led that city to the brink of failure. To hold Walkerville up as a success is almost laughable considering the deliberate destruction of heritage class buildings, the rampant property crimes that plague that neighbourhood and the mass exodus of small businesses to the bankruptcy courts from Ottawa and Wyandotte.
You are right, looking to a single person to save the city will not bring success. I, personally, would like Eddie to simply fulfill his campaign promises. Make the city accountable, increase transparency and, damnit, just for once, instill some trust in the office of Mayor. Why being mayor consecrates one to being among the priviledged, I don’t know. I thought being a public servant was, just that, being in the service of the public. I know the Mayor can’t be everything to everyone, but why the hell does he pander to the wealthy and influential minority instead of building a better city as a whole?
Yes, I am disappointed by the leadership in Windsor. Yes, my standards are high but should I lower my standards to meet the current offering or demand that the office of Mayor rise to the challenge and lead our city for the development of “the greater good”?
I have taken some time to read all the above and I come out on the side of Josh and James, Francis is not a leader and I am not looking for a messiah! What we got is a petty clan chief or pseudo want to be war-lord that doesn’t govern with any resemblance to a fully democratic society that we should expect!
Francis is not a big thinker but a knee jerker, just look at the new arena, public money spent for the exculsive use of a private business! In an area of the city that disenfranchises all but those with cars, in a neighbourhood that isn’t walkable and the closing three community recreation areas to boot!
The tunnel! You, Mark, haven’t been reading Ed Arditti’s blog, Windsorcityblog, have you. Under Francis watch the tunnel has lost revenue, the tunnel enhancement plaza is stalled. And now he wants to control both sides secretly for the federal government who he hopes is his benefactor! The so called tunnel deal is nothing short of the mayors dealing to extort money from the feds and the province. He is totally incompetent at deal making! And what senior government is going to loan him (meaning us in the city of Windsor) him $75 million to give to a foreign city to bail them out! We haven’t heard from Homeland Security nor the U.S. Attorney General..yet! Both of whom I have written asking them to look into this deal as a very concerned citizen.
Francis has done nothing for the neighbourhoods of this city but allow developers or demolishers free reign to do as they will, while he denies every individual citizen their right to do as they wish with their property! Leadership? More like corporate favouritism!
WE must change the conversation! Which really means in Francis terms is listen to me and keep your mouth shut! “I am the voice!” Much like Mugabe don’t you think? With goon squads of lawyers going about the city shutting everybody up with threatening lawsuits! And now he has a switch at his chair in council that can turn off all the microphones and at his whim turn on those of those he wants us to hear!
Siting what you posted above;
“With engagement comes a shared sense of accountability and a mutual commitment to change the world. With engaged employees and citizens, the impossible becomes possible. Without engagement, you go nowhere fast and communities and organizations stay stuck.”
So where is the engagement, when Francis threatens, bullies city council and thus the citizens of this city into submission behind close doors, with banks of lawyers, obfuscation, contrived press releases, watered down and whitewash reports and audits with no information, a mayor that is more infallible than the pope and he is not anyways near the Mayor of Hamilton!
Sorry Mark, but Francis is not a leader, he doesn’t build consensus, he does not listen to any conversation but his own voice, and the only engagement he wants is one on one in armed combat! Remember he is a very strong type A personality, these aren’t the ones that are good municipal leaders, maybe corporate raiders but not leaders of people. They don’t instill anything in their workers except to point towards the exit, they don’t listen because their ego is talking all the time, almost like a szophrenic, he is paranoid that any blame whatsoever will stick to him!
Mayor Francis would not make it as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, they have higher qualities of leadership than what he has shown towards this city and its citizens. And the armed forces demand good leadership, leaders that men and women will follow into danger and possibly death, I wouldn’t follow Francis to a seniors bake sale. Maybe Francis should apprentice with General Hillier for a while if he wants to learn about leadership!
This mayor and the majority of city council is the worst in city governance that this city has ever experienced that I can remember, Mike Hurst is almost an angel compared to Francis.
I don’t like the hang’em high take on Eddie Francis … and I think Mark’s original comment echoes my thoughts made several blogs earlier …. when we are faced with major complex issues, we tend to believe that there are very simple one-dimensional solutions to our problems … I think, to a certain extent, that it is just human nature to do this … Again … a multi million $ bailout for Ford Co and Windsor will get back on track! … a new Mayor that can lead us out of the funk we’re in!!
I won’t pretend to be all knowing on the issue, but … hasn’t Eddie reigned in some of the extravagent spending and deficits? seen with earlier councils, hasn’t he finally delivered an arena (although I personally feel it and the bus depot would have been better located near the former Central Chrysler on Goyeau), hasn’t he had to deal with fuel cost increases, refugee claimants, a previously crisis border situation, US$ value changes, a long time Dtown development issue, mfg job losses, a city that refuses to recycle / use public transit … holy smokes I could go on …
The one thing I have seen with Eddie, is that he has made attempts to bring closure to some of the long term issues in our community … has he screwed up some times? … sure he has … but I believe the good he’s done is significantly better than the negatives …
And, to again echo Mark’s quote … it is up to us as individuals to engage, to make the investments in our community, to personally take responsibility for our actions, words, and I believe one of the significant ways we do this is how we choose to spend our $ in our community. Do I drive out to Walker Road to go eat and shop in the many corporate behemoths in that area or do I choose to walk to a locally owned neighbourhood business? If I choose the latter, I am using less fuel, putting less demand on our road network negating the demand for further road construction, getting healthy, engaging with my neighbours, becoming eyes on the street acting as a crime deterrent, supporting local business that keeps some of the $ spent in our own community, and when we get to know our local shopkeeper / store owner we can discuss the need for locally sourced goods / eco friendly products … and I can go on!!!
And lastly, Eddie has spoken at length about changing the discussion … and, as someone who has lived outside of this city for a number of years, I find this to be right on the mark! … amongst many in our fair city there is a general negativity, a sense of helpness, constant criticism of ANY decision that is made by individuals, government, or business, and a lack of action that results from this uncertaintly and negativity,
I have heard over and over from Windsorites that there is nothing here, no jobs, no entertainment, and that anything here is second rate or substandard or hicksville … Is changing the conversation a bit of a cheesy idea, yeah, it might be … but the conversation that has been part of our Windsor culture for many years is NOT APPEALING!!! Who likes to hang around with a depressed, down in the dumps person who never has anything positive to say??? Many of my out-of-town friends ask me why I’m in Windsor … and based on my experiences living in other cities, I have learned that your city, community, even life … is what you make of it … if you seek out change, engagement with others in your community … you can create a positive environment for yourself and ultimately those around you!
Again, it may sound very cheesy, but I do believe each one of us is accountable for building our community, isn’t that why we read and write in this blog?? … Happy Canada Day!
I fully agree with Willy. I feel that the hardest job that Eddie has as the mayor of Windsor, is changing the mentality and attitudes of the people. Ever since I can remember, the only constant with Windsor is the non-stop complaining, yet very few stand up for what they believe in, or bring forward actual ideas for change.
Coming from a demanding corporate position which held me accountable for hundreds of millions of dollars, I fully understand how a project can go over budget, especially when factoring in the rising costs of fuel, steel and other commodities. When council first approved the 400 building, they had no way of knowing that the cost of fuel would rise as much as it has over the years. I read all of the stories in the paper and on various blogs about the secrecy of the auditors report, yet no one seems to take into account that they have a legal team reviewing this document. In my mind, that signals that there must be some legal issues surrounding this building, and until those issues have been dealt with legally, the mayor cannot possibly consider releasing this document. Of course people might ask why wouldn’t the mayor make that known, but would you if you were him? Writing from an outside point of view, he can’t seem to do or say anything, without the entire city finding wrong in all of his actions. Typically when dealing with such a project, everyone involved would be required to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), which means that you cannot discuss the project until everything has been fully completed and signed off on. If the report is released and facts show that the mayor did what was required to settle any legal issues, will the people who have posted negative statements online apologize publicly to him?
I understand that it is the job of local politicians to attract new industry and jobs to the area, but at what point are citizens of a city held accountable for adding to local issues? What can someone working on the line at an auto factory do to help keep the jobs in the city you ask? How about taking a pay cut? I know you spent you life working for a company building up seniority, so the last thing you should have to do is settle for a pay decrease, right? Would that decrease in pay be so bad if you changed your current habits? Why not start buying cheaper locally produced food, using less energy to decrease your monthly utility bills, or taking public transit and getting rid of the car that you seem to park on a pedestal every night? How will doing that help the local economy? Well, it will keep you employed (maybe not forever, but for now), it will help keep your fellow community members employed (farmers and their help, the bus drivers, mechanics who work on the buses, etc), and most importantly, it will help make you and your family more active and healthier overall.
I know the first person to blame for the problems is the mayor, why not? He and council continue to allow urban sprawl with big box retailers surrounded by massive parking lots and six lane feeder roads, so why not blame him? But when you think about it, isn’t he doing what you want? He’s providing jobs to those who help build these new shopping areas and the roads that lead to them, jobs for the people who work in these retail locations, and if he didn’t allow this and the city was condensed, where would you drive your car that you value so much? Do you blame the mayor for you not wanting to take the bus to work or when you go shopping? Is it the mayor’s fault that more people aren’t taking the bus, which would only lead to improved levels of service and a better transit system overall? Don’t be scared to turn your back on an industry that has now turned its back on you! The mayor is there to help run the city and make the tough decisions, not get up early in the morning to go to everyone’s home to walk them to the bus stop in the morning. Maybe it’s time to stop the blame game and be part of the solution.
Boy does our mayor elicit some strong feelings!!!
Josh, I think you lack perspective
The mayor of Monmouth site shows Walkerville in a great state. The heritage bldg loss was due to mistakes and not in any way by means of a council or mayor that lacks the will to preserve heritage. Their fault lies in saving pennies by not hiring a heritage officer at the costs of tons pounds of heritage.
No one man will ever save Windsor, ‘member it takes a village to save…..
Which Specific Promises did our Mayor leave unfulfilled? You Only speak of vague platitudes of which Citistat belongs
Urbanrat I think comes closer to the point with image but no one has ever been able to show the Arena decision was anything other than the mandate of the vast majority of WIndsorites
Do you make a 75 year decision based on a few years. I believe the mayor is countiing on the go ahead of the new dowtnown tunnel plaza. Detroits major investment in their downtown residential sector to increase revenues in the long term. I feel strongly about maintaining a downtown to downtown connection. Part of two nation destination strategy
Francis has done nothing for the neighbourhoods of this city but allow developers or demolishers free reign to do as they will, while he denies every individual citizen their right to do as they wish with their property! Leadership? More like corporate favouritism!
As far as Consensus bldg goes, what compromises has his opponents offered. Most of his opponents are equally as guilty as he is. My problem is that he needs to take the few of us up who offer compromise on their offers
Now, I have my own criticisms of our Mayor which is why I started the blog the way I did. I wrote this specific blog because I love to engage. I have engaged him and I feel that I have not been listened to. I can’t change the conversation with that.
I want the mayor to engage constructive and even destructive critics instead of dismissing or scolding them. Only then can the conversation change.
As for where the mayor is to blame, Platitudes don’t mean much to me. Specifics do.
1. college campus
2. transit terminal
3. Arena closure
4. Convention center and Arena
5. Peace Beacon site
Areas I have a problem with our Mayor
1. No RFP on City Center West Lands and a very disingenuous statement that the land is available.
2. Flip flopping on the Bellmio Report recommendations
3. Finding money for gateways other than the gateway that downtown streetscaping continuity represents
4. micromanagement of Detroit event participation with no public consultation or input
I gotta weigh in on this debate but I am too lazy to type all of my thoughts.
Arena Deal - Only done when Windsor was threatened with loss of OLG money from race track when it was to be moved to Tecumseh. Very haphazardly done but done nonethless. Half a check mark (still don’t see teh need for one for a privately owned company).
College Campus - check mark! Great job IMO.
Transit Terminal - stalled to the point they had to rush and find a site. Not well thought out at all! Done nonetheless. Half a check mark.
Peace Beacon - done with money and specifics from estate of Cliff Hatch and Greater Windsor Foundation (where is the money and ideas from Chimszuk estate???) not from Eddie.
Greenlink - last minute “presentation” to DRIC when city had months to prepare and give it to them. As if they would wait for Windsor to comment at the last second.
Tunnel Deal - nothing more than ego here.
Airport - Why is a former classmate who has no experience in the aviation field running an airport?
Red Bull Airrace - waited last minute to get banners up and respond. My little birdies told me Red Bull loved the response from Windsor but was very shocked at the lackadaisey attitude of Windsor administration.
Transparency - less transparent than former Mayor Hurst. though ran on a platform of transparency and fiscal repsonsibility.
Fiscal Responsibility - any person who runs on this must stay the course. Eddie has not done so. Slashed parks & recs budget then goes about putting in $1.8 million in gateway projects. Neighbourhood houses still burned out and standing because no money to enforce owners to tear them down.
Yet after all of this, lawyers fees increased over 10% (up to 22%) over last years budget!
Citizens - has CIP’s with community involvement only to ignore what citizens want. Listens to citizens but does not move forward.
WUC fiasco - this was done as HIS watch and when he was on the board as well.
A cut and paste from Mark’s last paragraph above because I agree wholeheartedly.
Personally tourism and economy are not his fault IMO. Though what is he doing to help small business weather this storm? No task force, no help from city hall at all! We should be going after these lucrative Big 3 payouts to help people start their dreams of owning small businesses yet Windsor lags yet again.
I believe Eddie’s haert is in the right place but it is the tangible results though not necessarily what has to be seen, that count. He has little accomplished in this column. Talk, talk, talk with lots of lawyers but little results for the average taxpayer.
As for “two nation destination”. That is a dead horse that Detroit stopped using years ago. It seems this is still be flogged by Windsor but has little effect to the proposed outcome. Kill it now!
Excellent list ME. We both forgot the one item that is probably the most important.
1. Saw a population drop of 10% in the Core under his watch with no viable plan to increase residential population in the foreseeable future.
Also most other cities gauge the health of the population by tracking education levels of core residents. No tracking or statistics to show if there is a further problem that we are not acknowledging of the … (whats the word for the opposite of gentrification?)
P.S. those half check marks are relative, if you blame him 100% for everything wrong then it would be logically consistent to give him 100% credit for everything thats right. or completed
Also The “two nation destination” is only dead if we let it die, The mayor has a connection to Penske, however no one else has made any contacts on our side
WIFF has a connection with the DIA, I’ve met with Ann Lang from the Downtown Detroit Authority (but without results) and James and I participated in the one Great Lakes Urban Exchange meeting
If more citizens built bridges to their detroit counterparts based on the mayors lead, the “two nation destination” would ve a viable option.
Found the word for the opposite of gentrification. Unfortunately its “Ghettofication”. I was hoping for a better word but that describes the area South of City Center West, Glengarry Marentette and between walkerville and erie
I don’t blame him for 100% of failures nor 100% of all things that are positive which is counter to what Mr. Francis himself claims.
When the shit hits the proverbial fan Mr. Francis blames councils voting. When all is good he takes the credit himself as “leader” of the council.
“Ghettofication” is a horrible word but it describes those areas perfectly. I was going to post that word but you beat me to it.
Anyway, until this city adminstration realizes that a downtown of any city is the area most used as a benchmark for a city we will continue to see the half-assed measures being put forth from the mayor’s office and from council.
I am not going to sit hear and whine without putting up what I believe and what studies show to be the best and biggest bang for the buck but I have put that up here time and again and I am sure everyone knows where I stand and what needs to be done. I am still going to fight for what I believe our downtown should be and more. I am willing to negotiate and work with others to acheive a truly cosmopolitan downtown that benefits everyone. The same cannot be said about our current mayor.
Mark please see below. One look at the Seagrave’s site and the Bank of Montreal building that was recently torn down and we have to wonder why? Look at downtown and think the samething. Yet replace “Detroit” with Windsor and the exact samething can be said for our city.
One would conclude that we have the best example only 1 mile away of what to do and what not to do yet we follow the not to do list to a “T”. It boggles my mind!
http://americancity.org/magazine/article/everything-is-going-to-be-alright-demolition-and-adaptive-reuse-in-detroit/
Look, I’m just as disappointed about the loss of heritage bldgs but lets keep things in perspective
The Seagraves bldg was not due to lack of political but a mistake, a preventable mistake, but alas a mistake. If it would have been caught it would have been saved
The Bank bldg is a very bad example as it was an oversight by all. Can’t make decisions based on that.
In fact the debate by council and the editorials show that for the first time ever, heritage bldgs are getting their just consideration.
I found this cool exerpt from a blog (Sweet juniper is a blog of a stay at home dad new to Detroit)
When we first moved to this terrible, beautiful city, we realized that among those willing to stick it out here, there were two major camps: the misanthropes who wallow in every bit of proof that the city is failing, and the optimists with a perpetually rosy outlook on its vast, largely-untapped potential. We quickly decided that the best course of action was to simply accept this city just as it is, and not to get our hopes up too much. Don’t expect the police to show up when you call 911, and when they do, welcome them as heroes. When you hear news about new development, don’t expect it to actually happen. Don’t expect your municipal politicians to actually be smart liars. If you can learn to love it for what it is, and not get too wrapped up in hope for what it could be, you will find yourself much happier here.
Mark, it was totally political! The city could have replaced Nancy Morand as heritage planner immediately and they chose not to. They could also have diverted a few dollars from their precious lawyer fund to help insure a better heritage department. They fell flat on their faces!
I will always be an optimist in my city but I will also call out anyone who has chosen not to do their due diligence in their capacity. Lack of foresight, lack of will are all traits of someone not deserving of being called a leader or a role model.
This is not to say that the mayor is totally at fault here. The fault also lies with council for not not demanding better from the city itself and for administration to go along with the ride.
Don’t know if anyone saw it, but in Saturday’s Star, it seems as though the city has posted for the Heritage Planner position. Could it be that our constant pestering amounted to someone getting a job to protect our local heritage?
Forgot to add. Maybe Mr. Detroit in your post above should demand more. I for one don’t believe in being a curmudgeon for the sake of having no hope which is what the guy you quoted above is doing.
What good is it not to expect anything from your city? I should expect everything possible and demand it. Why not reach for the highest level possible and then question why we are not there yet. Without reaching a person or a city can NEVER reach it’s full potential! And if that is the case then why bother living in a city or voting at all!
Maybe we will soon see progress being made in preserving historic buildings. The city currently has an available position for a Heritage Planner. Anyone on here qualified to represent the citizens of the city? If so, now’s the time to take a stand and apply!
I’m hoping that this position has been well advertised and we get a flood of qualified applicants, Kevin. I don’t know of too many people locally who have the qualifications the city is demanding their new Heritage Planner holds.
Well, give me a few more years and I will happily push out anyone in this position! I am going down there to study environmental studies and urban planning. Unfortunately my current business degree doesn’t qualify me. I truly hope that some great candidates apply for this position. It’s unfortunate that the city of Toronto has basically the same position posted, at a better rate of pay. Of course I am fully aware of the benefits of living in a much cheaper city, but I am more than aware of the attraction of a dynamic bustling city such as Toronto. Windsor -$63, 761-77,502, Toronto $71,890-89,180.
What a coincidence, Kevin. I am talking to my advisor right now and am in the process of registering for the Environmental Studies program for the fall! Unfortunately, the Urban Planning program here at the UofW is defunct and has been for about 4 years.
Just a thought…
As I sit watching the 400th anniversary of Quebec City on tv, and it makes me wonder what happened to Windsor. According to Wikipedia.org, Windsor was first settled in 1748, making it the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Canada, west of Montreal. Did these settlers live in tents? Were there no general stores? What happened to all of the buildings and structures which were inhabited by these people? Yes, we are fortunate to have a few buildings remaining in the Sandwich area, but there must have been more. This only proves the importance of preserving any remaining historical buildings left in the city. Anyone who has been to Quebec City or Montreal can feel and see the history, as well as the pride of the people. Have we lost all history because we have no pride? Maybe the City of Windsor should put an ad in the Quebec papers for a Heritage Planner.
Hi Chris, I was looking into the Urban Planning program at Wayne State University. Although I can’t imagine paying the program costs over there, I may still take some courses.
As a graduate of the ‘defunct’ U of W planning program I would have to say that it was as valuable or even more so than my graduate degree in Planning. Not too sure what the ‘requirements’ are for the planning program at Wayne State regarding American Planning Association (APA) accreditation (if schools in the US need accreditation), but due to the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) strict course and program requirements (as well as funding issues and internal politics) the planning program at the U of W went under. Not too sure what I would do in the Windsor area while looking for urban/environmental studies type learning.
On another note, after being away from the Windsor-Essex area for some time now, I’m looking at a potential return in the not too distant future. If all cards fall into place it could become reality, but if not PLEASE keep up your great work and continue working toward making the region more locally sustainable.
http://www.farrside.com/book/
Hey Redefine Yourself - why don’t you apply for the Heritage Planning position? Sounds like a natural fit with your qualifications and interest in the sustainability of the Windsor/Essex region.
Chris, thank you for suggestion. I’m definitely keeping a close eye on the happenings in and around the City. While I’m interested in the overall sustainability of the Windsor/Essex region, my real passion is in the sustainability of the natural environment through planning. Not to say that I believe Heritage Planning is not important, because it is most definitely critical to true sustainability efforts. Also, I’m technically not qualified as I do not have the years of experience for the position. Hopefully the City will get some very qualified applicants for the position as it will be very difficult to fill Nancy’s shoes!