More Quick News Items

Here are some more quick stories for you

WHY DIDN'T BUZZ GET THE MEMO

Both the Windsor Star and Ken Lewenza Jr. paid lip-service to the Mayor's comment at his State of The City speech

• "For example – some believe we have militant labour unions in our city. That turns them off.
  
  Regardless as to whether this perception is real or not, it is something we need to address...
  
  The Minister and I have had to counter some of the negative perceptions that are being used against us, as she attempts to attract more jobs and more investment to our city.
  
  That’s why I am calling upon our labour movement to show Windsorites, and to show the world, that we are modern and sophisticated. That we have moved on.
  
  That we share a common interest that balances job security and corporate success.
  That the perception held by some, that we still have militant, old-fashioned unions, simply isn’t supported by the facts.
  
  And that our words and our actions from this day forward will not give our competition the fuel that they need to spread these distorted perceptions."

Hardly anyone outside of Windsor will read the nice words in our paper about how wonderful the rally was Instead, they will read the Globe and Mail. Here is what they will read:

• "Thousands protest loss of manufacturing jobs
  
  
  Canadian Press May 27, 2007 at 4:47 PM EDT
  
  WINDSOR — More than 38,000 people converged in Windsor Sunday for a massive rally to threaten action if the manufacturing sector continues to bleed jobs.
  
  The Canadian Auto Workers union organized the rally to draw attention to what President Buzz Hargrove called a crisis in the industry.
  
  Mr. Hargrove told those assembled that General Motors workers in Windsor are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their jobs, which are being threatened by plans to locate a new transmission plant in St. Catharines.
  
  “I want to send a message on behalf of the General Motors workers at the transmission plant to Mr. Harper but especially to General Motors that, by God, we've started the fight to save our jobs, to get a new product in Windsor, and we'll carry it through to the bargaining table and a strike if necessary in 2008,” he said.

Thanks for your help Buzz!

DUPLICATE EVERYTHING

An interesting story about the terrorist threat:

• "Plan to protect infrastructure from terrorists
  Andrew Mayeda, CanWest News Service, May 26, 2007
  
  OTTAWA - The federal government plans to roll out a national strategy this summer to protect critical infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines from terrorist attacks and other threats, according to documents obtained by CanWest News Service...
  
  The national strategy would reach far beyond the oil and gas sector to cover everything from power plants and telecommunications networks to banking systems, hospitals, transport routes, food-distribution networks, manufacturing facilities and the water supply."

I assume that the Ambassador Bridge is included under "transport routes." The funny thing is that it seems everyone wants another bridge in Windsor because of the security risk but the Report in the news article does not say to duplicate all of the other potential targets.

It's interesting as well that everyone wants Shared Border Management in Fort Erie yet when the Bridge Co. offered it here withtheir 200 b00th proposal they were opposed and their advocacy of "reverse customs" has gone unheeded for years.

What I also found amusing is this part of the story:

• "Canada has identified 10 critical sectors that require protection, such as energy and utilities, as well as communications and information technology. But the Canadian plan could run into resistance from industry, which owns and operates much of the infrastructure, and provincial, territorial and municipal governments, which in many cases claim jurisdiction."

So others including government are so "private" even with respect to security issues. It's not just the disinformation being spread about the Bridge Co.

Can you say "double-standard" to try to force the Bridge Co. out of business!

POWER FAILURE

Interesting co-incidence.

The day of the big power failure at the University was the same day its Board was to discuss possibly moving the Engineering complex downtown to the urban village lands.

I wonder if the they blew the transfomer cranking up the air conditioning since there was an expectation that the meeting was going to be hot and heavy!

It was.

MORE EDUCATIONAL NEWS

I hear that many of the programs at the state of the art Ford Centre for Manufacturing Excellence at St. Clair College need students: Manufacturing programs, tool and die programs, mold maker programs.

So when you need students, what should a school do---go out and recruit them. That is what St. Clair is doing

I figured that the recruiters were heading out to Alberta and the land of plenty since the weather was much nicer now and they need workers in that Province.

Well I was wrong. I was told that the recruiters were heading out west, further west.... across the Pacific....to CHINA. (or is that to the East?)

There is a disconnect somewhere.....Rally for jobs in Windsor and recruit Chinese students and train them to take our jobs for China.

CAPITOL MEETING

From CHYR but not from our local media:

• "Over two months after the Capitol Theatre filed for bankruptcy it’s fate is still in the balance.
  
  Capitol Theatre bankruptcy trustee Stephen Funtig met yesterday with inspectors, creditors — possibly about a third party interested in buying the venue.
  
  The group gathered for an hour and a half at Funtig’s downtown office.
  
  Nobody in attendance would comment after the meeting.
  
  Funtig says something might be announced within the next few weeks.
  
  The theatre went bankrupt on March 14th."

HE PULLED A WHOPPER OF A MOVE

I see that Burger King is going to appeal the City decision not to let them relocate:

• "Burger King Restaurants of Canada has filed an appeal with the Ontario Municipal Board after city council rejected its zone change application to build a new restaurant on the downtown property of the former Top Hat night club...
  
  "Burger King has filed an appeal, but our administration is continuing to work with them on this," said Mayor Eddie Francis. "They also may file a new application (to council)."

I wondered why Eddie voted on the Motion. It had been lost on a 5-4 vote and he then voted in favour to make it 5-5. Under the Procedural By-law, the Motion fails on the tie vote. His vote made no difference at all yet he voted. Can anyone remember the last time he voted on something, especially to make a tie which did nothing?

That tells you the character of the man. Always thinking, usually ahead of everyone else. Very calculating. Very protective, of himself. Good at "branding." As for me, I always try to look behind what his public statements say to understand what is happening.

I can just hear him at the OMB hearing. "Why I am pro-business. Look I voted FOR Burger King's move. You cannot blame me for anything. Why I even offered them the old Bus Terminal site as an alternative"

Another application might be filed???? For the same site???? Clearly there is a big story about everything that has gone on for years with this. One day, someone might actually tell us what it is. Perhaps my MFOIA might do so!

I wonder if this is a taste of what may happen on the Bridge Co. demolition vote?

MY SNOW WILL BE PLOWED AND THE MEDIAN GRASS CUT

Remember I told you that a Senior Windsor politician is thinking about moving into Ward 1.

Well I hear that the politician and spouse are still looking in South Windsor. In fact, I hear that the home they are looking at now is around the corner from me. They did not do a deal it seems on the other home they were looking at. Probably bid too low hoping to get a bargain.

The new home is also quite near the home of that famous Cabinet Minister Sandra Pupatello. Imagine how often they could speak together as they are cutting the lawn or planting flowers.

I hope that they buy.....I won't have to worry any more about Enwin power outages or the streets not being plowed or grass being cut. Politicians have some value after all.

NO ONE TOOK ME UP ON MY OFFER

I was hoping that a Motion would have been passed asking that the City call me to solve the Capitol problem for them but none was.

Oh well, the Capitol matter will drag on for a year or two at a cost of how much as the theatre deteriorates. Why the lawyers cannot even agree in which Court the matter should be heard.

Thank goodness that Eddie was able to tell Fulvio that if people were concerned about the Capitol to tell them that the City tried to do everything to help out including getting an asset worth a couple of million dollars for lands and building for a payment of about $200K to unsecured creditors!

Heck that was a great deal for which the Trustee could have been sued if the City had no valid position. Trustees aren't supposed to act that way. They have to get the best price for the Estate, not just Eddie's price!

And I really liked his threat that unless everyone knuckles under to him that he just might not want the theatre if it has been dark for 9 months! [Yawn]

Go back on read my BLOG March 14, 2007 "Don't Cry For Windsor, Councillor Valentinis" to find out why there is a mess. All the City had to do was take over the Capitol once it was insolvent but it chose not to do so. There would have been no bankruptcy and no issue as to the validity of the "mortgage." Why didn't Eddie act then is the real question to ask but no one has yet.

Two Thumbs down on the drama that the Mayor tried to orchestrate at Council. However, he needs a better script writer who can create a happy ending.