Another office moving out to the ‘Burbs.
While sitting in council chambers last night with my ScaleDown Radio cohost Andrew Foot, awaiting our turn to speak to the Ward Boundary Review report going before council (BTW - it was deferred until July 13, as Councillor Marra was absent and wanted to take part in the discussion), an interesting item was extrapolated from Item 8 of the Communications Agenda by Councillor Halberstadt.
It appears that MPAC will be moving their offices from the 500 Ouellette Avenue building to someplace out in Tecumseh! This was corroborated by Mayor Francis, as it seems they had a bunch of meetings with some stakeholders, unable to sway their decision. (I’d love to be a fly on the wall during some of these meetings, just to see how Francis acts and why it seems everything in this city is a battle)
Good luck in dealing with this provincially-mandated body after the move, especially if you don’t have a car. Transit is a four-letter word in Tecumseh!
Halberstadt asked about the corporation writing a letter, and I suggest that we all do the same. Write to Dwight, Sandra as well as their board of directors (here’s their Windsor office info) asking them to please not punish the City of Windsor because our administration refuses to play nicely with their Provincial counterparts in Queens Park!
I mean - how bad has the relations between our Mayor and the provincial government really become when Queen’s Park goes against their very own anti-sprawl policies on Smart Growth (but then again, as Mark Bradley reported today, is the provincial government really serious about their plans to stem the growth of sprawl?) to move the offices of one of their administrative bodies out to the suburbs?
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That is just sickening!
Chris you bring up a good point. What about those who do not have a car? how do they get proper access to the mafia…er MPAC?
I guess I should expect as much form the parasitic town that is Tecumseh. I wonder if the taxes they pay will be less than what they were paying in Windsor? Oh the irony!
I don’t think the blame lies with Tecumseh, Dave. They are doing what anyone would do in the same situation - taking advantage of a weak competitor. Fault lies squarely on the shoulders of Windsor and the Provincial Government.
The current situation doesn’t exclude anyone from visiting MPAC. County and suburban residents all have cars, and while it may be a pain in the butt to drive to the city to visit MPAC’s offices, it’s what they chose when they moved to the ‘burbs. On the other hand, with MPAC’s move out to the ‘burbs, it’s just one more service that urban dwellers (especially the poor) are excluded from.
What we’re witnessing is the end result of road widening that makes it easier and easier to access the suburbs. Take a look at the list of Windsor projects that are getting funded under the stimulus package! It’s not going to end anytime soon. This could all be seen as some warped master plan to drain municipal coffers, with our city council sitting complacent on the sidelines! Who’s running this city anyways?
The slippery slope is getting slippery-er every day!
Everybody knows that the poor are too poor to own property (and if they do, it’s not in the range that Ontario and this city see as desireable tax rate under $250,000), so why care about them - Ontario and the Feds don’t! And it is the same attitude towards public transportation in Windsor/Essex!
Almost ten years into a new century and what does Windsor still build — more roads, with our city economy tanking and to quote someone from the street Sunday night “Windsor is a dying and dead city - we’re (his family and relatives) moving to Alberta.” Soon there won’t be anybody to use the new and improved roads in this city and maybe in the burbs also.
MPAC = Make the Poor Access Critical
How exactly are we a parasite to the city? You do understand that shared services are both funded by the city/county, or am I assuming to much here? I support there decision as it moves the office to a community which is actually growing as opposed to the shrinking city. We have an administration out here that actually works with the senior levels of government instead of having a sense of having a sense of entitlement the city has even after they bash the upper levels! Good for MPAC and good For Tecumseh.
Tecumseh Res are you suggesting that this is a political decision? I hope it is not.
1 - Public transit is not funded by Tecumseh. They have refused to fund it repeatedly. This is a costly regional public service that provides all residents mobility. If MPAC is moved to Tecumseh seniors, students, the poor, and others that simply chooce not to own a car are denied access.
2 – The symphony, AGW and other cultural services are not funded by Tecumseh. Again these are regional partly-public regional services that we all can enjoy and add to the
amenities of the entire region.
3 – Regional development and building policy mistakes are a regional cost. Building a new building when the region has a horrid commercial vacancy rate can only be characterized as idiotic.
I guess the simple answer is that sprawl is a regional cost that Tecumseh does not fund.
Tecumseh Res, I don’t think that this is a political decision. I think it is simply a bonehead oversight. One of a litany of bonehead oversights that in aggregate amount to the situation the region is in now.
Let’s see…new arena in the far, far, far east end, major development around the arena, The Globe and Mail stating the new arena is located in downtown Windsor (Freudian slip– is the east end the new downtown of Windsor?) and Now the move of MPAC to Tecumseh. Speculating on this, the agency just might be on very western edge of Tecumseh, possibly close to the new downtown arena. So why would Eddie be upset, it fits into his plan for the new downtown Windsor.
Their Municipal taxes are probably too high. Maybe there is a satin liner in all of this. If they are sticking it to the city then maybe now is the time to get our property taxes re-assessed.
I’m typing this from my desk on the 10th floor of the building in the photo. Sad news, indeed. We should start keeping a record of all of the “pro-sprawl” / “anti-density” decisions made and throw it in council’s face in front of everyone.
i heard a rumour about this a few months back. i had heard that the city was trying to keep them here…i guess whatever they offered wasn’t enough
No way. Not happening. No more apathy that allows this shit to happen. Windsor is a city of 200,000 and Tecumseh a town of 20,000. We will not allow access to Windsor residents to be denied without a fight. Not anymore.
Let’s gather the facts: Who are the decision makers on this move? Why are they doing the move? What political pressure if any is involved? Is there really an accessibility issue? Have they considered it in their decision? Have they considered the anti-sprawl Ontario policy? What can we do (I’m thinking a Windsor resident campaign to appeal the mpac assessment - bog them down with work)? That might show mpac that we will not allow the tail to wag the dog anymore.
I understand your anger and frustration, Edwin. But unless we can bolster our numbers a lot, they (municipal, provincial and federal alike) are going to continue to bog US down with more and more decisions like this that we learn after-the-fact and race around to try and fix! It’s getting to the point where we don’t know whether we’re coming or going.
We need a LOT more committed people on our side willing to do the trench-work of researching facts and communicating ideas. Unless more people step up to the plate, we’re going to be writing stories like this a lot more often than we are now…
I agree, we need to mobilize and rally people to action. Creating awareness is the first step (I think we’ve done that to some degree). Now we need to organize and act. This might be a good test run.
This move is clearly unfair - there are accessibility issues and against provincial policies. It is an inopportune time for the move – read the headline Windsor worst GDP in Canada. It is unprecedented – in almost every other region the mpac office is in the major population centre. Finally, it’s an easy sell – a fight against the taxman. This is the issue we need to stand-up on. Enough hollowing-out of the core!
That sounds like to words of the person heading up this campaign, Edwin
I’m feeling ill right now, so looking to set up a conference call to discuss some ideas and a plan of attack. I’ll let you know the details soon (this might become a weekly thing too).
I’m not really the limelight type. But I’m realizing that you and Tim (from WTF discussion) are right. We need to organize. We need to do more. We can’t wait.
Parking! I suspect was the sole issue…there isn’t any near the building. OF course in time there will a lot of parking in the burbs when this area dies and those that can, and those that have to move..move away. When that happens will MPAC move to London?
Sorry, I was wrong, there is parking in the Doherty garage on Wyandotte round the corner but given peoples inner city navigation skills that would be to hard to find, nothing beats like driving right up to door and only having twenty morbidly obese steps to walk.
I wouldn’t want to get on Tecumseh’s bad side…they’ve got you surrounded. Pretty soon Gary Mac’s going to start annexing neighbourhoods. It will start with Riverside, then Forest Glade & Fountainbleu. Then Remington Park will be taken by force. Ten minutes later, Remington Park will be given back. Before you know it, Windsor will be reduced to a small part of the GTA (Greater Tecumseh Area).
Next, scaledown.tec.ca will be launched and there will be dozens of bitter posts about those bastards in Emeryville poaching Tecumseh’s resources.
Seriously, Chris is right - Fault lies squarely on the shoulders of Windsor and the Provincial Government - you can’t force people (or businesses) to remain. You can only make it so they have no reasons to leave.
Give direction to your municipal government and replace ‘em when they don’t take that direction. Keep spreading the word and hope that others choose to fix things instead of leaving…that’s all you can do.
I live in Belle River but not because of any dissatisfaction with Windsor. I had been commuting from Windsor to Tilbury for 2 years. My wife worked in Tecumseh so the move made sense geographically. The lower property taxes are, admittedly, a bonus. Flash forward 4 years and I am working in Windsor again. Am I going to move back? Most likely. I refuse, however, to lose money in the process.
Anyway, I understand the frustration of the Scaledown community. I agree with your feelings about a strong downtown core, sprawl, Big-Box development, etc. I have even grown an intense dislike of Stucco.
If I can add my unsolicited two cents, I would say to humanize your arguments. Remember, at the core, this is a people problem. I listen to the show each week, I visit the site, read the blogs, etc. There are a great many positive discussions and articles to digest. Increasingly, however, there is an undertone of negativity bordering on arrogance when discussing the suburbs. It’s one thing to call out Gary McNamara; like Eddie Francis, he’s a target. Fine. Part of the job. But to call the people of Tecumseh & Lasalle parasitic is distasteful and counterproductive. I also perceive some East End hatin’ starting to brew. The arena process was laughable but it’s done. Let’s build around it instead of giving the impression that East Windsor is somehow less of a neighbourhood than Walkerville or Sandwich.
On a positive note, I know you’re all passionate about (y)our city and you all want positive change. Thanks not only for advancing the cause but for making it interesting and, dare I say, entertaining.
Terry, is this going to be an invasion? Should I get my Riverside neighbours together and form a militia? Or would I be better off working on moving the Tecumseh town limit west to Lauzon Rd.
You know, I’m gettin’ a little tired of the East End Hatin’! Maybe this is a way to go.
P.S. if you don’t want to lose money on your real estate you may be waiting a looooooong time. Figure out if there is really anything to gain by moving. Your social conscience might take a bit of a hit here but if you can live local in Belle River, blend your errands with your commute you just may be able to justify staying put. Just sayin’
GTA (Greater Tecumseh Area). LOL. That is a great one, Terry
Most SDers and I would love to see regional co-operation. If Tecumseh and other edgies were playing nice in a regional sense the issues we have with the move of the mpac office would be a moot point. If we had regional transit, access for those without a car would not be an issue. If we had regional development planning and land use policies the hollowing out of the core would not be an issue. If we had a sharing of regional costs, then there would be no unfair competition.
But Tecumseh can’t have it both ways. Refuse to co-operate on regional issues, and represent the entire region with mpac. Even Mighty Mac can’t win this one. Duncan and Pupattelo would have to defend him on something that is clearly unfair.
“A” News repoted on the MPAC move last night as a done deal. Nothing from the Star yet…
Apparently, they’re moving to some place on Manning Road. They didn’t talk to any MPAC officials, but Halberstadt was interviewed on Ouellette in front of the 500 building saying that it appears that this was an internal MPAC decision with no inpout from the provincial gov’t.
I’d say it’s time to go over MPAC’s heads on this one and get the politicians involved! At least they’re susceptible to public outcry.
I emailed a letter and called both MPP’s.
You are right Chris. For whatever MPAC’s reason’s (whether disdain for the city or other) this one isn’t Gary’s fault. But as Edwin has pointed out he always wants it both ways. I believe he is trying to pattern himself as Essex’s version of L. Brooks Patterson; sadly I believe he will accomplish as much as well to the chagrain of the rest of the region (as Patterson has done for Oakland to the rest of southeast Michigan).
I too am sick and tired of losing so much to the suburbs and everyone makes good points. What pisses me off the most is the damn widening of more roads that LEAD OUT! Do these politicians really believe that is bring people in? Are they that clueless?
For once I would love to see investments in our neighbourhoods that isn’t just a quick repaving of the road and a sewer replaced. Where is the beautification, branding etc? We don’t always have to think big we just have to think smart.
Yes, because replacing sewers, watermains, roads and sidewalks are minor investments that really don’t help neighbourhoods. Who cares about providing modern infrastructure in the older parts of the City? So long as it looks pretty, everything will be fine.
And you wonder why people are ‘flocking’ to the burbs. Maybe because they don’t want their basement to fill up with shit?
This is a copy of the letter I just sent to Ministers Duncan and Pupatello. I would highly suggest that the entire SD community (and Windsites as a whole) do the same.
This move is bothering me more and more, the more I think about it…
I have yet to receive any acknowledgements, let alone answers, to the questions posed in this email from either Duncan, Pupatello or MPAC.
You’d think that accessibility from public transit should be mandatory for all public sector office locations.
Maybe thats what scaledown should be making a campaign issue.
Perfect Chris. Both tone and message capture the crux of the issue.
Okay, here are some early details of the conference call thing. Looking to set-up a call for early next week to explore some of the facts and issues of this mpac thing.
There will be some info or experts on the call that will refer to some of the big themes involved in this that will help frame the discussion like regional governance, sprawl policy, and mobility equality Then I hope to have a voice from the city, from mpac, provincial government, regional government and of coarse all of you to delve into the specific issues with mpac.
I hope the whole thing will be interactive with lots of questions and dialogue. At the end, the call will be available online and will hopefully help inform and fuel further discussion.
First of all, I do not own the property they are in or are moving into …howver, a loss to the downtown is a loss to all. i had sent this email out in a few weeks back:
From: Joseph B Mikhail [mailto:mikhailholdings@cogeco.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 3:19 PM
To: dduncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org; Sandra Pupatello; bcrozier.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Cc: ‘City Council’
Subject: Relocation of MPAC from downtown Windsor to Tecumseh
Importance: High
Dear members of Parliament,
It has recently been noted, that the MPAC office, located at 500 Ouellette Avenue in Windsor, will be relocating to the Manning site in Tecumseh.
This news is deeply concerning to Windsor business groups, and especially the downtown Windsor establishments. As we all know, the downtown core has been challenged over the years and continues to fight for its survival. As businesses continue to leave, the problems widen. I had called on our elected officials over the years to work towards bringing in government jobs into our core, and more specifically, provincially located jobs from expensive centers such as Toronto.
To have our elected members not address this issue is one thing, but to cause further deterioration by their own hands is but another matter. In my conversations with MPAC, they advised that the rationale for the move to the county was to be able to service all the tax payers from one central location, versus a focus on a downtown center. This rational appears weak in light of the communities and provincial authorities stated goal of attempting to preserve and encourage downtown development. I would ask you to consider whether this is really the time for a government funded agency to inflict more pain on an already challenged downtown?
The cost to the City of Windsor, apart from its loss of more bodies will also be felt in actual dollars and cents:
1. The more people that move out of the core, the more likely existing businesses cannot survive and will likely also leave, further reducing the tax base.
2. The move from 500 Ouellette means that the building, will apply for a vacancy rebate on their property tax, as well as apply for an overall valuation reduction which will further lower the taxes collected by the city.
3. The city along with the county pays MPAC for their services. The higher MPAC’s costs to operate, the more everyone pays. The new location, will likely be a new build, meaning, as a minimum, the cost will likely be double than what they are currently paying. This would mean the City’s share will also increase … another direct financial hit to the city.
I would respectfully ask that the decision to relocate outside Windsor’s downtown core be reviewed, and if it cannot, I would once again respectfully ask that the province look at bringing other government offices to our core. I thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Joseph B Mikhail
Mikhail Holdings Ltd.
100 Ouellette Ave. #1201
Windsor Ontario
(519) 944-2929 Fax (519) 948-8482
http://www.mikhailholdings.com
Well written letter, I wasn’t aware that they were moving out (not that my opinion carry’s much weight) and its a shame the media didn’t report it until it was too late.
Just to be clear. Any excuse of this being an arms length organization does not hold water since the MPP’s quick and direct involvement in the OLC purchase of foreign cars for prizes. I guess reaction to this shows where Downtown lies in priority.
When will our MPP’s see downtown as economic engine as they do WAP? what will it take?
From A News Windsor
Property Assessment Offices To Re-locate
http://www.atv.ca/windsor/news_69043.aspx
From The Windsor Star
Downtown losing assessment office - to Tecumseh
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Downtown+losing+assessment+office+Tecumseh/1706712/story.html
How do people find offices in places like downtown Toronto? Or are most people in Windsor-Essex just plain stupid?
It’s the “twenty steps rule” that is alive in Windsor and Essex county Vincent. Rule: No entrance to any place of residence, nor office or place of employment or mall or government service will be no more and in given situations less than twenty walking steps/paces from the drivers door and in plain sight and well designated, so that the driver will not be confused or suffer mental distress or anxiety on his/her intended destination(s), nor suffer physical distress in obtaining either egress or regress to or to said services there of.
Devonshire Mall because of its enormous cancerous growth, is in direct violation of the above rule, forcing vehicle operators mental and physical anxiety in trying to comply with the natural law of the suburbs (the twenty steps law). They are so distress that they can’t wait once parked to run into said establishment and seek relief from their anxieties and in some case rage in over consumption.
Parallel parking is a lost art form in todays suburban existence.
HA! If you’ve ever witnessed some suburban drivers trying to park in my ‘hood for Art In The Park, you would wonder how they ever got their drivers licence!
What’s parallel parking
During my road test in early January 1984 in Brantford, the examiner asked me to pull to the side of the road. He then proceeded to say that I should pretend there were parked cars in front and behind me and wanted me to pull out of my imaginary spot. I kid you not. Apparently, I passed that part of the test.
- Sprawlalious new single-storey 16,000-square-foot building at Manning Road and E.C. Row
-”Excellent Transportation Access”. LOL. Only if you have a car - whoops.
Was this lease tendered out? What were the criteria of the tender? (if there was one).
Why can the Provincial MPP’s get involved when the OLGC buys prizes they don’t like but not when something like this happens.
Can anyone take seriously claims that customers had trouble parking even though the MPAC offices are located within a stones throw of two parking garages, one with an hour free parking.
If these offices went to any other existing downtown office bldg they would be in walking distance from a minimum of 3 parking garages.
MPP’s are you going to remain silent on this?
Vincent, there is no reason why both can’t be done. But why is it in this city it is an either/or action.
Still, I dont’ think widening roads yet again is the answer.
But what exactly needs to be beautified in our neighbourhoods? Just wondering? Why can’t property owners and residents take some responsibility and pride in maintaining their properties and neighbourhoods?
They (MPPs) sure are as I have not heard a peep out of them yet.
Better sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian streetlamps, benches, streetsigns and posts.
I don’t disagree with you either about people taking care of their own properties. But when there are so many houses owned by landlords that don’t care and live 300kms away it can degrade a neighbourhood very quickly. Thats why I believe we need tax incentives to help out depressed neighbourhoods in this city.
Many road reconstructions and/or sewer projects involve replacing sidewalks. Further, the City has an ongoing program that replaces sidewalks as needed.
Regarding crosswalks, you may have noticed that over the past 10 years that many cities have moved away from the flashing lights to actual traffic lights, partially because of liability issues and partially because that is the new ’standard’. Traffic lights are much more expensive than flashing lights. Just food for thought.
I’ve noticed that Transit Windsor has been installing new benches that don’t carry advertisements and don’t have a garbage bin attached to them.
One area we can do better is burying cables underground. I have never seen a City with so many overhead cables as Windsor. Drive down Tecumseh Road and all you see is a line of tall hydro poles with many lines.
Vincent, I’ve raised this issue elsewhere when it was brought up (Chris Schnurr’s blog I believe) about SUE.
SUE was implemented for a section of Telegraph Rd/US 24 with the argument that it would reduce traffic accidents involving utility poles. They are now facing a lot of backlash as to the added costs of SUE versus the benefits.
I know that you’re referring to aesthetics and not motorist safety, but SUE costs are prohibitive, especially as a retro-fit option due to the existing underground infrastructure.
I’m not saying looking into SUE measures isn’t worth it, it’s just that there a lot of problems associated with it.
I have no idea what you are talking about. What exactly is SUE?
SUE - Sub-surface utility engineering.
It would help to complete more than one block at a time for streetscape
We have at least 5 more blocks north south and 12-16 blocks east-west (less intensive) think about where that puts our completion date. Think about the Decade(s) long dustyptions to business that deter investment
Dont get me wrong, streetscaping is a very necessary need. But Detroit streetscaped 8 blocks in one year leading to superbowl, why can’t we.
Heck we applied for pelissier when we should have applied for 3-5times the area
I’ve finally gotten around to writing my letter to our MPPs. It’s a little rough around the edges and I just sort of threw it together by spilling out my feelings on the matter. I encourage anyone at SD who hasn’t done so already to also write in about this issue..
MPPs Pupatelo, Duncan and Crozier,
As someone who truly believes in the potential that Windsor has as a
thriving urban center, I was inspired to write this letter to you
after reading in the Windsor Star thatthe MPAC office serving the
Windsor-Essex area will be moved from it’s current location in
Downtown Windsor at 500 Ouellette to a new site not yet built in the
town of Tecumseh.
Reading this article I had to give my head a shake - is this the same
government that has a well documented anti-sprawl policy in place?
Moving this building out of the core means even fewer feet on the
ground downtown, less centralization and essentially further decay of
a key urban area. I thought this government wanted to encourage
vibrant downtown cores and discourage car-dependence and sprawl.
Speaking of cars, what about the property owners that do not own a
car? We will no longer be able to access MPAC at it’s new location as
Tecumseh - although a vital part of the Windsor-Essex community - has
no transit system and has to date refused to cooperate in bringing a
regional transit system to fruition.
I have visited Europe and lived in Japan and know first hand the
benefits a vibrant downtown brings to a city both economically and
sociologically. Government offices being moved out to decentralized
suburban locations is a step in the wrong direction.
I only hope it is not too late and this decision can be reversed
somehow. I eagerly await your reply.
Timothy Miron
Great letter Tim. Have you thought about forwarding it to MPAC’s board?
You’d catch a couple other MPPs that way, including Bas Balkissoon, who’s a pretty reasonable person. I can only presume that the board must have been apprised of this proposed move by now.
http://www.mpac.ca/pages_english/about_mpac/board.asp
The more I think about this issue, the more it bothers me. The thought that a representative of the field office would have the audacity to spin this move as making them more accessible and responsible to taxpayers is obnoxious.
The latest conspiracy theory was that this office move was announced 2 days before the council jail decision as an example of what could happen in Windsor if he City did not capitulate to jail site negotiations.
I still think our media is flawed for not asking why such a large contract would not be publicly tendered. 11,000 ft2 bldg at between 11 and 15 bucks per square foot times 5-10 years. We’re talking about a lease that can now be sold for about a million bucks. Why didn’t anyone else have a chance to bid?
Pssst. I’ll let you in on a little secret: The Province does not need local land use approvals to put a jail on those lands. Once the land falls under Provincial Jurisdiction, they can just build it.
While the Province is bound the Planning Act, it is not bound by local zoning by-laws. Heck, the Province doesn’t even have to obtain a building permit from the local municipality.
If anything, the reason the Province went through the needless process for the jail, was because of DRIC. This illustrates that they are willing to work with the City. Unlike the City working with DRIC.
Probably for the same reasons the arena wasn’t publicaly tendered or the lucrative leases for sublessee’s at the Canderel.
Great points Vincent and Chris S. and we all know where those points lead. To the typical ol’ boys club of Windsor.
Just like Coco Paving and their horrendous job on the streetscape of Ouellette Ave (take alook at those awful pavers that are already sinking because of improper installation, amongst other things) wonder why her company got the tender??
On another note. I received a piss-poor reply back from MPAC. REad the last paragraph. As Chris already pointed out, it already does impact those who don’t have a car. Are these people that dense?
I received your email of June 17, 2009 regarding the move of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) office from downtown Windsor to nearby Tecumseh.
After much consideration of all pertinent and relevant business factors, MPAC will be moving its Essex County field office operation to 1695 Manning Road in Tecumseh in January 2010. We will continue to serve the City of Windsor, County of Essex and all Essex County Municipalities: Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Lakeshore, LaSalle, Leamington, Tecumseh and the Township of Pelee.
This central location will increase operational efficiencies to better accommodate the higher construction levels and residential growth in the County areas. The Manning Road location also provides excellent access to all major transportation routes for property owners in the City of Windsor and the rest of Essex County.
I understand your concern but assure you our service to the property taxpayers of the City of Windsor will in no way be diminished. Thank you for expressing your concerns and we look forward to opportunities to be of service to you.
Yours truly,
Paul Galaski
Vice-President, Customer Relations
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Copy The Honourable Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance
The Honourable Sandra Pupatillo, M.P.P. Windsor West
Carl Isenburg, President and Chief Administrative Officer, MPAC
Gerry Stuart, Vice-President, Corporate & Human Resources, MPAC
Now, what will the MPPs do? I am sure not much of anything.
One goes another steps in!
I was in the branch of TDCanada Trust at Wyandotte and Ouellette yesterday and I asked if this branch was going survive after the new bank is built downtown. The woman with the bank said no, this (very old) branch is not going to survive but in the new bank, TD’s business sevice branch on Rhodes Drive will consolidated downtown.
That’s good news!
Both downtown TD branches are being merged into the new location.
Tecumseh shows the regional co-operation spirit yet again. Seriously, is this the type of behavior that is going to be rewarded by the province with a regional MPAC office? Inconveniencing many and denying access to some to reward sprawl policy and childish isolationism.
Non-resident pooches banished from dog park (300+ comments and counting)
http://www.windsorstar.com/Life/resident+pooches+banished+from+Tecumseh+park/1725776/story.html
I know Edwin will agree with me on this one, we NEED to come up with a plan of ACTION, a protocal, etc. for dealing with situations like this. Evidently our elected officials don’t care about our letters enough to even acknowledge receiving them. So what is plan B? Maybe we should take a page out of the union playbook (I can’t believe I’m saying this) and storm their office, hold a sit-in and demand to speak to them face to face. =P
Has anyone heard back from our MPPs yet?
I know that most of you feel that it is probably too late to change this decision, and you’re probably right, but I’m not happy with this. This is not fair and the province and MPAC should at least be forced to acknowledge the accessibility issues for non-car owners.
Regional transit
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Regional+transit/1763351/story.html
I know the premier is in town and likely the MPPs as well. Maybe we should meet at the transit station later today and take the bus to one of our MPP’s office, and keep doing it every following day, until they acknowledge our concerns.
Anyone know Sandra Pupatello’s constituency office hours? I tried calling and left a message to find out but no response.
They don’t answer me either, Edwin. Must be nice to be able to just avoid answering questions that you deem uncomfortable, eh?
I wish I could help, but I probably know less than you do! I can’t help organize anything right now, but name a time and place and I’ll try my darndest to squeek an hour or so from my schedule and meet you there!
Good luck Edwin! I sure hope that you can reach the MP, or better yet, Dalton himself!
Nothing from me either. I called both and left emails to no avail. I guess this passes for politics nowadays. Just ignore things and put your head in the sand and everything will be better. Hasn’t that been what McGuinty has done throughout his reign? It must be great to just make up arbitrary legislation and then not follow it.