Confusion reigns supreme
Is anyone else confused by some of the statements coming out of City Hall these days?
Yesterday, Councillor Halberstadt called our city “financially disabled“, yet the very same day Windsor’s Mayor was quoted in the Windsor Star as saying “(t)he city does not need (the) money“.
City council opposed the motion to extend an emergency loan to the Art Gallery of Windsor, with ward 5 councillor Jo-Anne Gignac pleading “We can’t afford to throw money at this,” “Our industrial tax base is disappearing, our residential taxpayers are losing their jobs“, while figures disclosed in budget documents prepared for council state that “Windsor is saving $6.6 million annually, a figure that is expected to exceed $25 million annually by 2024” credited to “the city’s focus on debt reduction and pay-as-you-go municipal spending”
So, we’re too poor to support the arts even though Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine explains: “Once seen as the result of economic development, the arts now are viewed as a catalyst for job creation” generating $134 billion in economic activity and $24 billion in tax revenues. However, we have no problem whatsoever in throwing millions into road work like the “$6.3 million upgrade of “beat-up” Tecumseh Road East between Jefferson and Lauzon, completion of the Wyandotte Street East corridor, the start of the Riverside Drive Vista enhancement project, replacing the College Avenue bridge and improvements to Walker and Provincial roads.” or the mayor pushing ahead with a proposed downtown canal project. There’s nothing like having our city plan on counter-productive stimulace development to get a guy excited about our future!
Don’t even get me started on just how confused I am with the whole this-bridge-is-better-than-that-bridge or feeder routes baloney!
Is it just me being consumed by this ball of confusion?
(oh yeah - how hypocritical are we with the current media frenzy about the 4 cases of Swine Flu in the province, when nobody seems to question the hundreds of automotive deaths that occur in the same jurisdiction! It’s too bad our economy and jobs aren’t intricately linked to flu vaccines, then we wouldn’t mind the odd outbreak or two.)
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Great blog today Chris.
I ask the same thing. But will you get an answer? I doubt it.
Chris Schnurr pointed out a great fact. The mayor stated in 2006 that by spending as we go we will save $40 million annualy by 2024. That money is now at $24 million and yet there is no investment in the core neighbourhoods (Walkerville, Drouillard, heck even Sandwich) yet. But there are gobs of money for the suburb neighbouhoods.
Hasn’t the Mayor understood that investments in core areas will give him more of a return on OUR tax dollars than placating yet more sprawl areas like the proposed jail site.
But then we all know that lower income areas have a lower voter turnout than does higher income areas so we know where he wants and needs the votes most. Too bad because this city could be an incredible place to live.
The Mayor did say in 2006:
“And by 2010, our plan will result in dividends of approximately $40 million dollars. Then another $40 million in each and every one of the following years.”
Now it’s $24-million by 2024.
Chris, it’s interesting how figures change so conveniently in politics. Great post btw!
I would be interested in finding out what the city’s outstanding debt stands at. I believe, unless I’m mistaken, that one of the good things this council has done is reduce our city’s debtload significantly.. Or perhaps those figures have been conveniently misreported by council aswell.
Seems confusing.. 40 to 24 million is a big jump.
But to be fair, in 2006 nobody anticipated the largest market collapse since the great depression would occur in 2008, that caused all funds to shrink, including all cities’ funds. Having the economy base that we have here made this region even more vulnerable to this stock market crash.
JP, Just what has this mayor done to navigate through these difficult waters? Mill rates are about to rise yet again; Water rates are to rise, yet again. Even afte the massive hike last year; Enwin is about to propose a 2.5% rate hike which I believe will be approved.
And yet the city gets dividends paid to them! This is what is called a back door tax and it is killing this city. Ask the people who flock to the burbs why they left Windsor. #1 reason…TAXES! Ask small business, the true backbone of a solid economy, the #1 reason why they leave Windsor for the burbs or just close down…TAXES!
Now I ask you. What do we get in return for all of these taxes? Not much! It sure isn’t police protection with their bloated budgets (and relatively high crime rates if it were for fleeing residents). It sure isn’t mass transit as we spend one of the least amounts of $$ on mass transit in the province per capita. It sure isn’t an economic development group capable of even hiring a CEO. It sure isn’t a vibrant downtown. It sure isn’t parks which are mediocre on a good day (if one wants to see REAL world class parks go to Niagara Falls it’s only 3 hours away).
What strategies is the mayor looking to entice business here when Windsor is known as a very anti-business city. I know, I live in this world everyday and hear it on an almost daily basis.
The CIFBA wants to get the third crossing done but we get stalling.
The residents want investments in neighbourhoods but we are ignored.
The Arts, after showing just how much money it does provide the economy when all it needs is a bit of a boost is ignored and one of our treasures, The Capitol Theatre is shuddered.
Yes, the economy stinks but it is those who navigate, those who can overcome that are real leaders. Not those who talk for the sake of hearing themselves.
Case in point. Bert Weeks during the turbulent 1970s built 10 new parks (talk about quality of life!) and balanced the budget the entire time he was mayor and he didn’t have federal or provincial govt’s throwing money at him either.
Hey! But at least we got a funky new arena for a private company, who got the best contract money could buy, all on taxpayers backs of course. Just wait until the “new downtown” gets built out there. Farhi, Eddie’s pal will reap the rewards!
Fair? Absolutely. But where is the fairness with regards to citizens and their lives not to mention quality of life?
Seems some live high on the hog while others fight for the slop that falls from the trough.
Good rant Dave! I must also add that city hall support for the Windsor Public Library is the lowest in Canada in comparative cities of the same size and smaller!
And I guess the latest is the mayor’s dirty tricks and lack of transparency and respect either for council and the citizens of Windsor is trying to ram the canal down our throats without public input.
I will come and say it..I believe that this mayor is lying to us about all the financial dealings and monies in this city. That he wouldn’t give us the truth if his life depended on it! And the majority of the spineless council goes along with this.
This will go down as a record as the worst municipal government any city has ever had anywhere in Canada!
Your are correct Mark. I did forget about the library.
It is bizarre to say that I would never had thought that after only one mayor after Hurst I would do anything to have him (Hurst) back over Eddie Francis any day of the week. Unbelievable!