Never Ending Stories

Here are more stories for you to read with your coffee.

By the way, have you forwarded my BLOGsite address to your family, friends and colleagues? Alternatively, feel free to send me a list of e-mail addresses so that I can send out my "teaser" e-mails to them as well. Word-of-mouth is the way that my subscription list has grown and grown.

TRANSPORT CANADA TRAFFIC NUMBERS

Perhaps US DRIC could get their information as to volumes from their partner in DRIC. They would see a rather drastic decline

LIBRARY SEARCHES FOR BELL REPLACEMENT

I told you that naysayers cannot compete when it comes to destroying Windsor's image. Who would come here to work at the Library after reading this:

DOES FARHI SUPPORT THE BRIDGE COMPANY

Not directly of course, because I don't even know if the men behind the two companies have ever met.

As you well know, dear reader, and as the neighbours know even better, the City’s demolition bylaw prevents the Ambassador Bridge Company from tearing down their vacant homes so that they can improve the neighbourhood using the services of the University’s Green Corridor group.

Of course, many people believe that the City's actions are foolish but then again those people are not professional land owners and developers. They are only people who might be negatively impacted by those homes or are mere citizens of Windsor.

One would think therefore that if a sophisticated real estate person is concerned about vacant property then the City ought to be as well, especially when there was a fire in one of the Bridge Company’s homes.

Here is what Mr. Farhi had to say:

• "It is true that, if the Ontario government fails to act responsibly... it [Elgin County courthouse] will likely become vacant...
  
  It would never be my choice to demolish such a landmark, but it is a sad fact that empty buildings too often tend to attract misfortune. Locust Mount and Alma College are only some of dozens of heritage properties across the province that have fallen prey to vandals."

Perhaps now City Council will ask the Bridge Company to tear down the homes!

A LESSON FOR COUNCILLOR VALENTINIS

Perhaps the Councillor might learn something and, since he is an academic, could teach his colleagues, especially the Mayor, how to get things accomplished quickly. It's called co-operation, not wasting money by threatening lawsuits as an obvious negotiating tool.

On June 27, 2008, we saw this Press Release:

• CANADA AND ONTARIO TO WIDEN COUNTY ROAD 22
  
  WINDSOR — The governments of Canada and Ontario, in partnership with the County of Essex, today announced funding for the widening of Essex County Road 22 from Lakeshore Boulevard to Patillo Road. This project is one of several projects under the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy. Funding for this strategy comes from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund, a joint commitment by the federal and provincial governments to invest $300 million in the Windsor Gateway.

Lo and behold, only just over a month later, we saw this one:

• August 15, 2008 CANADA AND ONTARIO ANNOUNCE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON ESSEX COUNTY ROAD 22
  
  WINDSOR — The governments of Canada and Ontario, in partnership with the County of Essex, today announced the start of construction for the widening of Essex County Road 22 from Lakeshore Boulevard to Patillo Road. This project is one of several projects under the Let's Get Windsor-Essex Moving strategy. Funding for this strategy comes from the Canada-Ontario Border Infrastructure Fund, a joint commitment by the federal and provincial governments to invest $300 million in strengthening the transportation networks in Windsor-Essex.