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Some more postings from readers. Hey....I have not received yours yet!

1) Nina Van Horn performs at Le Steak at Fillmore East

Le Steak at Fillmore East announces that French Blues Great Nina Van Horn will be performing on Thursday August 16th, 2007. Tickets are $65 per person (plus tax & gratuity) which includes a five course meal. The event starts at 7:00 PM with opening act Claudia DiNatale and James Walls; dinner is served at 7:30 PM; Nina Van Horn performs at 9:00 PM. Le Steak at Fillmore East is located at 53 Pitt Street East, Windsor, ON.

2) What I read is just amazing.

1) They cannot bore a tunnel because a tunneling machine that big does not exist.
2) The ground is way too soft even if there was one.
3) If they build a tunnel it must be dug down and then covered.
4) That type of tunneling destroys acres of land around it. So much for the envoirnment.Can we say destruction of heritage land?
5) Tunnels just blow the exhaust into the surrounding area. It does not catch any fumes and remove the hazardous toxins.Whose neighbourhood would get the brunt of it? I see the new bus routes are effecting people almost 20 hours a day. The excuse is that they cannot please everyone but they will look at it. Same scenario different picture.
6) Fire hazard. Many trucks could not use a tunnel due to potential fire hazards. Even flour trucks could not use it. They would end up using city streets anyway.
7) Emergency planning. How would they get into the tunnel if there was an accident? Response time is a critical aspect.
8) Why is it the bridge twinning is the only project that is related to as not being redundant?

Does this mean two of everything must be built just so there is redundancy, and they cannot be built close to each other for security reasons. It seems to me the ferry is not redundant yet poses the greatest threat to the envoirnment if there was a spill.

Since we are on a "pipe dream", why doesn't Eddie propose to send trucks to the newly acquired airport and fly trucks across the river?

I'm being sarcastic. How else is there to react these days?

If the city is worried about heritage areas then they better get out their war drums because the tunneling will change the land and not for the good.

Ed, where do you find the time.........

3) DesRosiers on the Chinese Threat to the auto market:

Observations on the so called China threat. In a few words, the same was said about the Korean threat ..

20 years later they sell about 600,000 units and a third are build in North
America. They account for about 3 percent of the North American market,
there were not thousands of jobs lost and the millions of vehicles that were
suppose to be imported never materialized ..... why would the China
experience be any different??? [NOTE: He has written an article on this if you want to read more]

4) With all the fanfare that is going on you would think the City and Eddie should keep an eye on what is happening today.
The 401 will be finished up to Manning Road.
Tecumseh has gotten border money to fix the corner at the expressway and Manning.
Would it be cheaper and easier to widen Manning Road for truck access to EC Row and then to Huron Line?
Even if it is only temporary until the new road is built, I would hazard a guess and say that would most likely turn into a major corridor whether we like it or not.
The tunneling bylaw??? put forth by council was a waste of paper and breath. Besides, they know it is brake dust that is the foremost irritant. That comes from every vehicle stopping. Could it be caused by traffic calming measures? Stoplights and stop signs.

The Windsor Tunnel or let's coin it the "Wunnel."
1) Its way too expensive.
2) The timelines just would not fit for completion
3) The safety factor and emergency access would be horrendous
4) Tunnels just blow the fumes out into the open (See Windsor tunnel)
5) The tunnel would not let motorcycles in as the oils would create a hazard
(See Windsor tunnel)
6) Politicians come and go. We would be stuck with a huge maintenance problem (See Windsor Tunnel) whether it be municipal, provincial or federal.
7) A local corporation wants to carry the cost burden of a new crossing and Windsor won't let them. No names need to be mentioned.

The one that stands out is the timeline. In the last 6 years alone so much wasteful money has been put AGAINST the improvements, yes IMPROVEMENTS, that the powers that be will still be arguing long after they have been replaced.

5)Hello Ed,

I run the local website Art Windsor and I've posted many videos today that I filmed last night at Artcite for the Citizens For The Capitol Theatre meeting. There's some very good clips with Stephen Funtig and Drew Dilkens as well as others that may interest you.

http://www.artwindsor.org/





6)

Another success for your esteemed Mayor. Housing starts in Windsor are down this year by 55 percent the lowest of all CMAs in Canada. I suspect the blinders are still on though. This means that lay offs in the construction trades must be brutal but hey as long as you have rose coloured glasses. After all Windsor is the City of Roses!

7) Ed, I would really like to see that tender for the tunnel scrubbers that the City does not feel necessary. Why is the health of the downtown core not worth it? Maybe this should be a health and safety issue. Do you have that number of the lady that poured bleach on the eggs? She should have a field day with this one.

With all the complaints about diesel exhaust along Huron Line you would think it would be a priority. Can we say hypocrisy?

Besides, what tunnels have these scrubbers? I haven't found any yet. They just use blowers to change the air. Just like the Windsor tunnel does now.

The city is not telling any truths; rather they are placing restrictions on others but not following their own rantings.

With the new bridge there is no redundancy. The tunnel has been like that since the beginning.

That is getting really old.

Personally, I do not like to use the tunnel. Not because it costs more, it is that in the event of an accident or fire there is no escape. Tunnel fires burn hot, smokey and quick. But, that's just me. Being safe.

8)Hello Ed

I'm still enjoying your blog.

Question. If the mayor and council are adamant that there should be no U.S. bound trucks on City of Windsor surface streets why do we need to build any accommodation for trucks at the new tunnel plaza? No U.S. bound trucks could get to the tunnel without using CoW surface streets.

Could there be legal action against the city if they are acting in bad
faith (against their own published statements) against the wishes of the
majority of Windsor's citizens?

On another note, I was voicing my complaints about how our city was being run the other day and a friend asked me what I would do if elected mayor? So I thought about it...

1. First order of business would be a meeting with the bridge company. I would encourage them to build their second span and I would want to know how I as mayor could help them. In exchange for my support I would want the bridge company to establish their construction office in the abandoned CIBC at Sandwich and Mill and I would want them and the local construction labourers union to work together to actively recruiter workers from Windsor's west end.

2. Then I would ask the Windsor-Essex Economic Development Committee to locate a group of investors to purchase the Hiram Walker distillery from Pernod. I am offended every time I drive by and see the "Proud home of Wisers Whiskey" sign. The new buyers would restore the Canadian Club brand and identity, especially the lighted sign on top of the grain elevators (using energy efficient LED lights of course).

3. The tunnel deal needs to be examined in the light of day. In fact every city meeting, unless it is really and truly sensitive, should be open to the public. The city government and bureaucracy should be serving the citizens and the public should have some input.

4. City owned assets have been reviewed before but they should be looked at again. The corporation of the city should not be in competition with any private sector business.

5. The city has sprawled and spread itself too far. It makes no sense to service farmland for expansion when the existing infrastructure is deficient and there are several industrIal sites available, especially in the core of the city. These areas are convenient to public transit and the tunnel and bridge.

I could go on.

So if you know anyone that wants to back my run for mayor let me know...