A Healthy BLOG Diet
- Time to reduce the size of BLOG portions.
Instead of full-course BLOGS, here are some smaller ones for you to digest easily.
MICHIGAN AND A NEW PUBLIC BRIDGE
Are we living in a dream world? Isn't it time that someone woke up to reality?
Oh sure, Michigan is going to duplicate the Ambassador Gateway project by spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and give up billions in federal matching funds all due to the Bridge Co. "private" project at a time when the Free Press says:
- "Granholm to staff: Prepare for partial state government shutdown
March 28, 2007
By CHRIS CHRISTOFF, FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF
LANSING — Gov. Jennifer Granholm is planning for a possible partial shutdown of state government sometime in May because of the state’s worsening finances.
With a $940-million deficit, the state faces a cash flow shortage of some $400 million by May 1."
Now I have a great idea to help out Michigan in their budget woes. If MDOT thinks that P3s are such great ideas, why don't they take their "public" bridges, say the Blue Water Bridge as a starter, and make them a P3. Find an investor and fill up the State Treasury.
My Company has some very good financing contacts and my commission rate is very attractive...
A REGULATOR REGULATING ITS COMPETITOR
If Governor Granholm did not have enough problems...You remember during the Canadian Parliamentary hearings the undertone of how can Transport Canada deal fairly with the Bridge Co. when both are competing to build a crossing in Windsor/Detroit.
That "conflict of interest" subject burst out over the last few days in Michigan with the issue of Private Activity Bonds:
Windsor Star:
- "The transportation mogul is competing with a government-backed process seeking to build its own separate downriver crossing in an industrial corridor linking Sandwich and Delray... The fund is overseen by a nine-member, governor-appointed board of directors...A final decision on allocations under the PABs program ultimately must come from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation."
- "While MDOT does not make the final decision on the bond approval, it will make a recommendation to the fund's board.
MDOT is competing with the bridge company to build a second border crossing to Canada. The department, through the Detroit International River Crossing, a joint effort by Canadian and Michigan transportation officials, has narrowed its choices for a second bridge to two sites in Detroit that are both farther south of the current bridge.
Stamper said it is a conflict for MDOT to have a say in approving the company's bonds because of its efforts to build a second span."
- "The race to build another bridge from southwest Detroit to Windsor has taken an odd twist.
Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel "Matty" Moroun has applied for $1 billion in U.S. bonds to help pay for a twin span -- and the agency that will help decide his fate is his chief competitor.
The Michigan Department of Transportation will recommend whether Moroun's Detroit International Bridge Co. will get the tax-exempt bonds, MDOT spokesman Bill Shreck said Tuesday.
MDOT is pursuing its own plan to build a bridge, working in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration and provincial and federal authorities from Canada."
I guess the Star Editor had one too many apple martinis earlier in the evening and forgot how to spell the name of the owner of the Bridge Co. in the story headline although it was spelled properly in the story:
- "Bridge in $1B bond bid
Maroun launches application in race to build twin span
Dave Battagello, March 27, 2007
Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun has launched an application to U.S. federal authorities for $1 billion in Private Activity Bonds (PABs) for his twin span proposal."
Can you imagine what the result would have been if David Birch of Cognetics Inc., a Cambridge, Mass., research firm, had used "deer" instead of "gazelles" as the animal for Economic Development groups to nurture.
DID THE CITY TREASURER SAVE POSTMA'S CAREER
Remember what Councillor Postma said about city taxes and a new arena:
- "Voters are not going to see a difference on their tax bill as a result of this project."
Remarkably and notwithstanding that the tax rate may go up 3.6%, the Treasurer is able to say
- "The $65 million arena won’t have an impact on taxes...As debt is retired, money that would have been used for payments on the debt is put into the fund to pay for major projects. The arena will be paid off by 2010 using this strategy."
Hmmm, what if we had no major projects, say like no $65M and counting arena. Could that money have been used to offset increasing taxes? What about the $5M in financing costs until the arena is paid off as an example, is that chopped liver?
Nawwwwwwww monuments to ego are more important. Why allow taxpayers to have that money. It's only a few dollars per family using Councillor Lewenza's logic! All the better to spend it. Your pocketbook will never notice the difference.
BLEEDING RED INK AT THE AIRPORT
Is it true that shortly it will be announced that SERCO, the company managing the airport, is no longer the manager.
Is there a multi-million deficit at the airport? Have you heard anything about this during the Budget discussions? Dont worry, we won't hear much of that!
Here is what is going to happen:
- "Francis wouldn't tip his hand on plans for Windsor Airport, which has been bleeding red ink under a contract with a private operator, but said the airport, and especially the airport lands, will be a top priority. "I don't think we've used it as a primary driver in economic development but we will," he vowed. Don't be surprised if neighbouring London Airport, which is booming under the inspired leadership of a non-profit transportation authority, becomes a role model. And the airport transportation hub proposed by New York traffic guru Sam Schwartz? Francis said a Transport Canada study is continuing and it's far from a dead issue. "
SON OF SAM, SON OF SAM, SON OF SAM! All as a "THINK BIG" career booster for the next Provincial election.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
Councillor Jones is a very smart politician. He was quoted in the Star about getting a few civil service jobs for Windsor:
- "Coun. Ron Jones seized on the decentralization theme last week in an interview with The Star's Grace Macaluso. He wants the city to push the province, through our cabinet ministers, for a fair share of civil service jobs and will raise the issue at council Monday.
"We are in a desperate situation here in Windsor. We are in crisis. And that's even more reason why the provincial government should be looking at this," Jones told me Wednesday. "Stand up for us. And see this for the opportunity it is." That's his advice for Dwight Duncan and Sandra Pupatello. He said the two ministers "have the influence and the ability" to deliver provincial jobs for Windsor."
He knows how Windsor can get thousands of new jobs almost right away. Let's see when the Ward 2 Councillor proposes that! Dare he become the Fourth Blind Mouse and then bring Councillors Postma and Lewenza with him to form a Council majority?
WHO WILL DANCE ON THE FLOOR IN THE ROUND
A reader sent me a note to make sure that I did not miss the story about poor George Sofos who has said that "he has spent almost $200,000 renovating the former children’s entertainment venue" to make it a banquet hall.
Bill Jean of the City had this to say:
- "When that interim control bylaw expired, it was adopted citywide.
“It was not intended specifically to include Mr. Sofos, but it does,” Jean said. At the moment, Mr. Sofos can offer music, he can offer dancing but he can’t offer both.” Jean said Sofos can apply for a zoning exemption or a rezoning of his property."
Oh, in case you are wondering where the subject headline came from, it is from the song "Billie Jean" from Michael Jackson. It just seemed to fit so well!
posted by JoeBlog at 12:15 p.m.
<< Home