Getting Angry

There is no doubt but that people in Windsor are getting very angry. I'm really not sure what triggered it. I don't think it was one specific instance but rather the culmination of a number of things:

86% WUC increases, a costly arena, US $75 million Tunnel deals, possible property tax increases, high unemployment, lack of economic diversification, stalled border solution, falling house prices and mortgage foreclosures with a Mayor and Council that just seem to be playing silly games as evidenced by the openness debate.

The latest joke is school crossing guards. Check out the Star's Forum http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=944611e4-929b-4e38-a57f-e8a4a317f7ec&k=76862

When our leaders seem out of touch with what we know instinctively, then they lose all credibility. We are in a time of crisis notwithstanding that the Mayor is prepared to dismiss anyone out of hand who dares say otherwise. We all know the problems but the politicians cannot admit it because then we would ask what they have been doing while the perfect economic storm clouds gathered.

Isn't that the WUC affair and why people are so angry about that. For years, the decision-makers within that organization knew that there were problems and it seems did very little about it. Then, bang... a huge increase that taxpayers have to pay even though taxpayers in other cities seem to be paying significantly less. We had hoped for a true examination of the affairs of that organization but instead we're going to get a whitewash audit. That does not sit very well. All it does is create dissension.

The demand for rah, rah, rahing by a media who have not served this City well just seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back. Attacking Bloggers for heaven sakes. Is that the best that our media can do.

That's all background for a letter that I wish to post today that came from one of my readers. It's from a very successful business person with operations in both Canada and the United States. He sent this note to a number of people including me and he gave me permission to post it for your consideration. When a business person gets this angry to write a note like this, then you know that he is but one of a number of business people who feel the same way.

He's had enough and who can blame him. My only hope is that he and his colleagues do not walk away from this City but hang in for a little while longer. We can't afford them going elsewhere and taking jobs and investment opportunities with them. I also posted a letter from a person who left and why he did and the consequences!

They don't need the Mayor and Council... they can do it all themselves in spite of our local politicians. They can prosper and the City can prosper. We have to encourage them.

In my opinion, and I saw it happen before and can see it starting now, a number of Councillors have had enough. They know the mess that we're in better than we do. They're on the inside looking out with a lot more information than we will ever have. They learn about it in gory detail every Monday night. They get the phone calls and e-mails and letters from angered constituents who demand answers. We have to encourage them as well.

I hope this letter strikes a chord.

• "If anyone wishes to view a classic textbook example of how to get things done, cross the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor into Detroit & when you enter U.S air space, look to the left. You will see hundreds of millions of dollars being dug out of the ground & put to work on new on-ramps, off-ramps, freeway changes, buildings, toll lanes, utilities, bridges & area streets. The attitude in the United States is to play it safe is not to play – let’s roll.
  
  Thankfully, Dan Stamper & the bridge company are no Eddie Francis & the corporation known as The City of Windsor. You see folks, inaction breeds doubt & fear. Action breeds confidence & courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit in your council chambers & think about it behind closed doors. Go out & get busy. Pity the leader caught between unloving critics & uncritical lovers. For the City of Windsor, doing nothing is very hard to do because they never know when they’re finished. The City of Windsor must realize – without labor, nothing prospers, there are no free lunches. This applies to everything they participate in, not just the twinning of the Ambassador Bridge.
  
  My experience in business has taught me that when it comes time to getting things done, we need fewer architects & more bricklayers & carpenters. Some would argue that Manny Moroun & Dan Stamper are going out on a limb with these statements but I would shoot back by saying, “Why not go out on a limb? Isn’t that where the fruit is??” I applaud Dan Stamper’s comments this morning in the Windsor Star because he is setting an example. Setting an example of leadership is not the means of influencing another, it is simply the only means. As President of my Group of Companies I can relate to this line of thinking because an example has more followers than reason.
  
  The City of Windsor’s leadership policy of “Fake it ‘til you make it” is in full bloom on this subject. When Mayor Francis discovers the center of the universe, a lot of people (city councilors mostly) will be disappointed to discover they are no longer in it.
  
  A word to the wise is not necessary here. Dan Stamper has already spoken. It’s the stupid ones who need the advice & my advice to them is, “Shut your mouth, get on board or get the hell out of the way.”
  
  Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night."

Just one more short one from another business person:

• "I went from 12,000 a year in property taxes to 1,200 a year by moving from Windsor to [Name of town outside of Windsor]. Created jobs in the process.