More, More, More Stories Keep Coming

More and More and More stories of interest in case you missed them.


MAPQUEST ROUTING: ITHACA, NY-DETROIT, MI


Part of the route that this service suggests taking. It goes through Canada, right through Niagara Falls too, to Windsor and then through the Tunnel.










PARDON ME

• "Civic leaders press prosecutor for resignation deal for mayor
  
  Compuware Chief Executive Peter Karmanos Jr. assembled a coalition of prominent business and community leaders to meet this week with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to broker a deal that would lead Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to resign, plead guilty to some charges and bring closure to one of the city's most shameful sagas, the Free Press has learned."

You will read a lot about this type of deal over the next few weeks. Stories have started already.

My guess: if Kwame pleads guilty and resigns, then the Governor will exercise her power to pardon him and Christine Beatty. Or if he resigns, then all charges will be dropped (so he does not lose his licence to practise law):

• "The Constitution of the State of Michigan provides for the power of pardon to rest exclusively in the Governor of the State. Article 5, Section 14 of the Michigan Constitution states:
  
  § 14. Reprieves, commutations and pardons
  
  Sec. 14. The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons after convictions for all offenses, except cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and limitations as he may direct, subject to procedures and regulations prescribed by law. He shall inform the legislature annually of each reprieve, commutation and pardon granted, stating reasons therefor."

Here is the precedent:

• And I have sought such guidance and searched my own conscience with special diligence to determine the right thing for me to do with respect to my predecessor in this place, Richard Nixon, and his loyal wife and family.
  
  Theirs is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must.
  
  There are no historic or legal precedents to which I can turn in this matter, none that precisely fit the circumstances of a private citizen who has resigned the Presidency of the United States. But it is common knowledge that serious allegations and accusations hang like a sword over our former President's head, threatening his health as he tries to reshape his life, a great part of which was spent in the service of this country and by the mandate of its people.
  
  After years of bitter controversy and divisive national debate, I have been advised, and I am compelled to conclude that many months and perhaps more years will have to pass before Richard Nixon could obtain a fair trial by jury in any jurisdiction of the United States under governing decisions of the Supreme Court...
  
  The facts, as I see them, are that a former President of the United States, instead of enjoying equal treatment with any other citizen accused of violating the law, would be cruelly and excessively penalized either in preserving the presumption of his innocence or in obtaining a speedy determination of his guilt in order to repay a legal debt to society.
  
  During this long period of delay and potential litigation, ugly passions would again be aroused. And our people would again be polarized in their opinions. And the credibility of our free institutions of government would again be challenged at home and abroad.
  
  In the end, the courts might well hold that Richard Nixon had been denied due process, and the verdict of history would even more be inconclusive with respect to those charges arising out of the period of his Presidency, of which I am presently aware...
  
  As President, my primary concern must always be the greatest good of all the people of the United States whose servant I am...
  
  Finally, I feel that Richard Nixon and his loved ones have suffered enough and will continue to suffer, no matter what I do, no matter what we, as a great and good nation, can do together to make his goal of peace come true.
  
  Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July (January) 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974.

WHAT ARE WINDSORITES THINKING

Laura Berman, A Detroit News columnist had this to write:

• Mayor's continued lies leave him zero credibility
  
  ...But having blown his own credibility, Detroit's mayor is spooking Windsor's officials, who were contacted by Wayne County prosecutors Thursday.
  
  Now Windsor residents are criticizing the city's mayor for wasting taxpayer funds on lawyers talking to reporters.
  
  And you can bet they're wondering who is really telling the truth: Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis or Detroit's Kwame Kilpatrick.
  
  As a disbelieving judge said to the mayor the other day, that's a no-brainer."

A LOT OF RED BULL

I am shocked that Eddie did not provide the Red Bull team with signatures of support from those that enjoyed the air races. he should have mounted an ad blitz as he did with Greenlink to try to convince DRIC to accept his suggestions.

The reason I mention this is that Radio Canada reported that in Quebec City:

• [Translation] "The draft air race Red Bull Air Race can count from Monday evening on a new support.
  
  A petition of about 2900 names will be filed in Quebec City Council...
  
  The aim is to demonstrate public support for this event and put pressure on the administration"

In another story I read, it was said:

• "Bids from around the world were considered before the final calendar was decided. For the first time, Detroit will appear as the second city in America to host a round of the 2008 World Series"

Does "bids" in this case mean as the dictionary states "ask for or request earnestly" or does it mean "offer: propose a payment."

If it means the latter, how much has Council authorized the Mayor to spend to get the race here again? He would not dare offer to spend money on his own would he!

Just to let you know what I found on a quick search:

• [Translation] "Competing air Red Bull Air Race could take place next year above the river, near the Chateau Frontenac. The organizers of this event in a speed circuit air want to include the city of Quebec on their international circuit, for the month of August 2008. Karl Talbot, president of Nemex Network for the project originated, said he must now convince Quebec City to participate in the project and pay, either alone or with partners, sponsorship required 3 million..."

Also:

• "Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said the event was a "spectacular success" and a great outcome for the state's $2.75 million investment to secure the air race.
  
  The state Government has secured the event for three years but then must re-bid against other cities with bigger budgets. These include Sydney and Melbourne, as well as overseas cities."

And Red Bull would want Windsor considering this:

• "We’re among a number of U.S. cities making a pitch," said Joe Moeller, president of the San Diego International Sports Council, whose mission is to attract world-class sports events to San Diego and Tijuana. "We think we’d be a terrific host."
  
  Even with necessary approval, Moeller cautioned that Red Bull must select San Diego over other U.S. cities, including Indianapolis and New York, before it officially lands the event.

As Detroit Air Racing said

• "Hundreds of bids from many big important cities around the world we received, and for the first time, the infamous industrial City of Detroit will host 1 stop of the Red Bull Air Race World Series in 2008."

If Eddie gets the race here, congratulations to him BUT what will it cost us.

Oh and by the way, his holiday Monday press release is still not up on the City's website.

MAYOR'S DITHERING SAVES WINDSOR FAMILIES FROM FINANCIAL DISASTER

All those families who might have moved out West if the Mayor had acted promptly on his commuting plan (the real objective according to Western officials was not to have them commute but to move out West) should breathe a big sigh of relief:

• "Western Canada on verge of housing slump
  
  Western Canada is on the verge of a housing slump with almost every major city suffering from inflated market prices, according to a new study by a pair of Merril Lynch Canada economists.
  
  The report shows that homes in Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton are all overvalued by more than 10 per cent. In B.C., Victoria and Vancouver's market prices are estimated to be inflated by about 35 per cent. Saskatchewan's housing market is said to be overvalued by about 50 per cent."

JULY 10 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Silly me. Hiding things? Not this City!

I tried to find them in the Minutes section of the Council website since it was a key meeting re the Tunnel deal. I could not do so. My error. They were right there in front of me after I received this Administration note:

• "The minutes for July 10, 2008 can be found attached:
  
  http://www.citywindsor.ca/002288.asp
  
  It is under the July 21, 2008 Council minutes, Page 24."

I should have known.

One interesting point. When the Tunnel update was being discussed, the only non-Councillor member of the Tunnel Commission there, T. Fuerth, left the meeting. Why? Wasn't he supposed to know anything? Or was that just an administrative error and he was really in attendance?