The Questions Detroit Council Should Ask

I like American Big City politicians. They know how to play

"I am a Mayor of a small town...I have no authority, I have no clout." You'll never hear a Detroit Mayor say what ex-mayor Mike Hurst said. Nor will you ever hear a Detroit Councillor say what Councillor Valentinis said to the DRIC people, "Why won't anyone listen to Windsor?" Nope they tell the DRIC people, and the Governor, that if they do not listen to Detroit, they do so at their peril.

I am sure that the Detroit politicos will be polite with their small town neighbours. After all, we were willing to help them clear the snow during Super Bowl. That should count for something. I understand that there will be a brief reception before the main meeting so everyone can get to know each other. I assume that Mayor Kilpatrick will not be there because of the American separation between different branches of Government, a concept unknown here.

What they discuss will determine how friendly the meeting will be. If some of these questions are asked, then Windsor Council better make a hasty exit to their bus to return home:

1. We thought the #1 reason for the meeting was to deal with the border, especially the truck issue, while it appears that all Windsor wants to do is discuss a commercial deal about the Tunnel.
2. It appeared that Windsor wanted to take advantage of Detroit's financial position but only "sweetened" its offer after a bid from the Ambassador Bridge Co. was presented. Why should Detroit now consider accepting a bid from the City of Windsor when what was presented before was inferior to that of the Ambassador Bridge Co.
3. Why should Detroit receive about $600,000 in Tunnel revenues while Windsor receives $6 million
4. In August 2004, it was written that "the Windsor Tunnel Commission may have to increase tolls or suspend a multimillion-dollar dividend to the city to stave off a looming $15- million deficit. According to a budget report released Thursday, the tunnel faces a $2.72 million deficit this year after its $7.66 million operating profit is gobbled up by debt repayments and the city's dividend. That deficit is expected to grow to $15 million by 2006 as the commission wrestles with debt payments and improvements to the tunnel plaza and ventilation system." If that is the case, is Windsor in a financial position to do a deal with us
5. We note that in early 2005 "Toll revenues at the Windsor-Detroit tunnel have fallen more than $370,000 behind the same three-month period last year because of continuing reductions in passenger vehicle traffic. Passenger vehicle traffic is down almost nine per cent over the same period a year ago. This represents 63,813 fewer vehicles than in the same three months a year ago and 25,319 vehicles short of 2005 projections. At this rate, toll revenues will not meet 2005 budget expectationsfor the year. " If that is the case, is Windsor in a financial position to do a deal with us
6. Do you intend to enter into a financing deal with a third party? If so , who is the financing source and what is the anticpated amount that Windsor expects to receive
7. Do you consider it neighbourly for your Mayor to retain a lawyer to look into "the legality of any proposed lease buyout" or for your Federal Government officials to threaten us with a legal proceding from the law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, the Canadian government's legal counsel in the United States..
8. Has the Windsor Council ever told its citizens that it wants to own/operate/lease the Tunnel
9. Why did Councillors Gignac and Brister oppose the Ambassador Bridge plaza expansion plan which would have helped prevent tie-ups of trucks on the American side
10. We on our side have spent about $200 million to improve the roadway around thge border with the Ambassador Gateway project. How much has Canada spent on your side on the road network
11. Coun. David Brister said the city could be forced to sue to tie up the border plan in the courts if route concerns are not addressed. How long will this litigation be in the courts before there is a final resolution and how does this lawsuit improve the border situation
12. If the City of Windsor favours a bridge at Prospect, then do you understand the negative impact that bridge would have in South West Detroit and in particular, our Delray West community
13. How can you justify protecting Sandwich and yet you want us to destroy Delray
14. Please explain to us how your poor road system will result in improved economic development of the region
15. Do you intend to build a toll road to the border and if so, do you understand that this would result in a reduction of volumes
16. We have lost about 25% of our traffic already. Do you appreciate that your inaction on the border is driving increased traffic to Port Huron/Sarnia to our region's detriment
17. Why does Windsor keep saying there is a border crisis when there is not one, thereby jeopardizing our region's economic viability
18. Do you agree that traffic volumes are down such that the DRIC traffic projections are probably inaccurate now. If so, will you support a "No-Build" solution but also agree to commit to improve the connecting road systems on both sides of the border.

Now I had a thought about how to get the Detroit Council working with us and the fact that our Council is dysfunctional will help. What has been the big issue at Council in Detroit for the past few days: the fight to save the Detroit Zoo. All we have to tell them that it is a zoo over here and then they will fix everything up!