|
Your Ideas For Windsor
|
January 2009
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Saturday, 31 January 2009 08:00 |
 Years ago I would have penned a respectful farewell to departing Windsor Star Columnist Gord Henderson but that all changed after Eddie Francis assumed the Mayor's chair in Windsor. Since that fateful day in Windsor's history, Henderson ceased writing as a columnist and began working as a full time Windsor Cheerleader (TM) for City Hall. We will still be stuck with his self-serving scribbles every Saturday, but thankfully will be spared for the remainder of the week. Here's my answer, emailed as requested, to the Star's Marty Beneteau's question at the end of Gord's last article:
What type of columnist you'd like to see become the voice of The Star. Controversial? Provocative? Humorous? Homespun? Describe your ideal columnist by e-mailing
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
All of the above, something Gord seems to have abandoned since Eddie Francis assumed the Mayor's chair in Windsor.
Paul Synnott
Windsor Shadow
Hopefully they give the job to either Roseann Danese, Don McArthur or both, with the same editorial freedom that they allowed Gord. We'll all be better for it.
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 07:54 |
Congratulations to The Montreal Gazette for stepping up and saying what needed to be said regarding Canada's recent decision to purchase military vehicles from Navistar's Texas facility.
Canada is right to seek best deal for its trucks
The Gazette
January 27, 2009
The government has agreed to buy 1,300 much-needed new trucks for the Canadian Forces. This good news, a useful step in reversing the "rusting out" of our military, has been clouded by complaints from the Canadian Auto Workers union.
Who could blame that hard-pressed union for demanding that the vehicles be made in this country, at a time when southwestern Ontario's auto-industry job base is imploding? But from the broader perspective of what's good for all Canadians, it was the right decision to give the contract to Illinois-based Navistar Inc., which will make the trucks at its plant in Garland, Texas.
Spread the word
Cross-posted from The Torch
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 05:27 |
Blogger's nightmare. Spent the last hour working on a post. Hit the wrong button and ... bye-bye! I should have know better when working on a long post like that. It's not like that hasn't already been a well travelled road for me.
It was a damn good one too, if I do say so myself. Oh well, sometimes the best blog posts come out of accidents like that, once you get around to re-doing it. Hopefully I'll have time later on this morning to do just that.
PS. Yesterday's Just curious about something post has been updated with the actual rate of pay for the position and who the employer is.
|
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 05:56 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Monday, 26 January 2009 05:00 |
What do you think would be the going pay rate for the following job?
Marina Attendant
Under the direction of the designated supervisor, the successful applicants will provide services regarding marine facilities for tourists and residents. Duties will include but not limited to: provides maintenance of the marina including cleaning washrooms and launching ramps, changing garbage, cleaning offices, etc. Will rake/sweep excess debris,clean debris in parking lots and wash the docks. Will greet customers and answer any inquiries. Will make reservations for overnight dockage and call for taxi service. Will be required to fuel and secure boats. Will be responsible for handling cash, balancing register and cashing out. Will collect ramp fees. Performs Occupational Health & Safety duties as outlined in the Corporate Health and Safety Program. Performs other related duties as assigned.
Update: the job position above is for a City of Windsor Marina Attendant - rate of pay - $17.04 per hour for 2008. I was curious whether or not is was just me who thought that amount was somewhat above the market rate for this area.
|
|
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 January 2009 05:57 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Saturday, 24 January 2009 06:16 |
The Windsor Cheerleader (TM) comparing apples to watermelons today.
A tale of two cities
If the DRTP were building a new open cut railway line to a new tunnel, through the heart of Walkerville, his comparison might hold water. Might.
Related: Oops
|
|
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 January 2009 06:34 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 23 January 2009 08:39 |
 I'd certainly like to report something on the 2009 Budget, unfortunately, there is no information available. I decided to take a look at municipalities throughout Ontario to see if they are all treated like mushrooms, as we are here in Windsor. One thing became very obvious as I looked at various City websites around the Province. Even when Windsor does get around to publishing information, it pales beside that which other communities are offering. I suppose we can refer that issue to Service Delivery Review for future improvement. Maybe if we had a quarter million dollar communication department our access to information might be better. 
Hamilton - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Calendar of all budget related meetings. Final budget meeting scheduled for February 27th
London - Budget 2009 - information posted online December 10th, 2008. Four page Budget Guide distributed through local Penny Saver and the London Free Press January 9th and 10th. Online survey for Budget Guide. Final approval scheduled for February 25th.
Kitchener - Budget 2009 - information posted online December 2008. Final budget passed January 12th, 2009 with a 3.98 % increase. [That increase includes a 1.82 per cent increase to the city's base budget -- well below the current rate of inflation; as well as a 1.11 per cent increase for the city's economic development investment fund (EDIF) and 1.05 per cent for a provincially arbitrated decision which awarded the Kitchener fire department retention pay.]
Guelph - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Final budget passed December 15th, 2008 with a 3.74% increase. [City Council has approved a 3.74% increase over the 2008 budget. The average home in Guelph assessed at $257,000 would see a municipal tax increase of $100 next year. The municipal tax rate will be set in February 2009.] Note the Water (0.97 m3), Basic Daily charge (0.17 m3), Waste Water (1.05 m3) and Waste Water Basic Daily charge (0.25 m3) rates - a user pay system.
Ottawa - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Final budget passed December 10th 2008 with a 4.9% increase. [The total property tax increase for 2009 is 4.9 per cent and will cost the average household with an assessed value of $276,000 about $130 a year or $11 a month. The City’s operating budget for 2009 is $2.2 billion and the capital budget (excluding Transit and Police) is $306 million.]
Chatham Kent - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Final budget meetings scheduled for first week of February. Draft budget recommends a 2.3% increase.
Sarnia - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Public open house on budget held November 24th, 2008. Unable to determine when final budget vote will be held.
Kingston - Budget 2009 - no information posted online. Could not find anything on City website related to 2009 budget process.
Toronto - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Final Capital budget passed December 10th, 2008. Operating budget scheduled for final approval March 31st, April 1st, 2009.
St. Catherines - Budget 2009 - information posted online. Unable to determine when final budget vote is scheduled.
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 10:04 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 23 January 2009 08:15 |
Councillor Percy Hatfield's worst nightmare - six more blogs have been added to WE Speak!
Special Olympics - 2009 Windsor Games
Arts Council - Windsor and Region
Groovy Holly
Bike Windsor
Abitibi South
Democracy of Hypocrisy
Welcome to all. |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 08:39 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Wednesday, 21 January 2009 23:55 |
"For a long time now, there's been too much secrecy in this city," he said.
No, that quote didn't come from City Councillor Alan Halberstadt, it was from President Barack Obama regarding Washington. I figured with all the Obama-mania circulating in Canada right now, maybe the City of Windsor could find some inspiration. How ironic that an invitation for Obama to visit Windsor comes from Councillor Hatfield, given his recent opinions on Freedom of Information.
No surprise that Fortress Enwin continues to stymie taxpayers. The dog ate it would be better than what we're hearing from Enwin these days. Our representatives on Enwin must have pretty poor records retention themselves if none of them could come up with any minutes from that time period.
The WEDC continues their search for a new CEO, leaving no stone unturned in their fruitless 9 month search. We're led to believe that high unemployment and the challenges of the job are the reasons for failing to find a suitable candidate. I guess the revolving door at the CEO position over the last 5 years isn't a factor in potential applicant's decision making process. If someone with Matt Fischer's qualifications can't survive here, what would encourage anyone else to take a risk? Although we haven't heard anything, I'm sure the search for a Windsor Auditor General is going just as well as the WEDC. Here's a guess - two months from now we'll have announcements on both these postions, both of them internal hires. "After an extensive and exhaustive national search, it was discovered that what we were looking for was right underneath our noses" (sorry about that $100,000 dollar executive search expenditure).
At the other end of the spectrum we have Councillor Drew Dilkens establishing a culture of transparency at the new Tourism Board. We can only hope his efforts and intent carry over from the transitional board to the permanent one. Kudos to Dilkens for leading from the front instead of hiding behind the usual platitudes and excuses dished out to taxpayers.
Dilkens said the new board would make annual budget requests to the city and county and provide minutes of all meetings and audited financial statements.
“We’re not afraid to earn our lunch on a yearly basis,” said Dilkens. “Nothing would be unilaterally done.”
Someone should forward Councillor Dilken's comments to Enwin, the Tunnel Corporation, the City of Windsor, the Audit Committee, the Airport, the Windsor Essex Development Commission .... |
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 January 2009 06:13 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 06:21 |
News yesterday that the Chrysler Theatre is losing money. (I should say word, as this really hasn't been "news" for years). One of the more twisted turns of logic in the article comes from the WSO's conductor John Morris Russell:
Windsor Symphony venue in jeopardy
Mill said the symphony will stage 23 events at the St. Clair facility this season and that if the theatre was no longer available without a new concert venue to take its place, it would hurt the WSO.
“We would have to scramble to find alternative venues,” Mill said. “It would be difficult. I’m not saying it would be the end of the world — but you could it see it from there.”
WSO conductor John Morris Russell said the issue makes the argument stronger for renovating the former Windsor Armouries into a concert hall, as symphony officials propose.
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Tuesday, 20 January 2009 05:49 |
The first $217,000 wasn't enough. Now they're going to spend "up to another $60,000 on an ad campaign to inform residents about the merits of continuing the fight against a $1.6-billion border highway proposal touted by the provincial government."
City to spend more money on Greenlink
In these tough economic times, I'm sure the Windsor Star and ad agencies are happy, I don't know about anyone else. The last thing we need is more taxpayer funded advertising telling us how hard they're fighting for us.
"Clowncil" doesn't do justice as a description anymore. The worst part is that we're going to have to suffer through another several rounds of the Windsor Cheerleader (TM) giving his favourite cheer.
PS. Only in Windsor could we embrace two NDP MPs who can do nothing for us, heap scorn on two sitting Provincial Cabinet Ministers, throw spears at anyone who dares disagree with City Hall and then whine that no one gives us any respect.
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Monday, 19 January 2009 06:10 |
1. Today'sLetters to the Editor of the Windsor Star demonstrates what happens when a story focuses on drama rather than the facts. Canada hasn't had a domestic auto industry for decades. Military manufacturing is an even smaller niche market. If you want to build for the future instead of waxing nostalgic for the past, encourage the government to invest in the ZENN Motor Company. With a top speed of 40 kph, the ZENN isn't quite there yet for city use. Double that speed and you've got a winner on your hands.
2. Something I've been thinking about lately is gardening. Growing up in the 60s and 70s in Guelph, virtually every house in my neighbourhood had their own vegetable garden. We used to grow lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, radishes, green onions and even the plant you can't kill - rhubarb. From late spring to fall we dined on fresh produce. Lots of canning and preserving going on. Carrots were diced and frozen for the winter. Same for peas, strawberries picked by the flat at local fields, apples by the bushel or peaches when on sale. Today we rely on fast food and fast living. With the current depressed economy, will we see people returning to gardening to help stretch their budget? Ultimately it's better for us and better for the environment, but sometimes we need that extra special incentive of saving a buck or two hundred.
3. It's pretty rare that I agree with Spanky, but considering how cold it was last week, Hell might have frozen over. "the city has only spent $217,000". That should be a line that will come back to haunt in the future.
4. Good news for geeks like me and other blogging types - Blogrolling (new and improved) should be up and running again soon.
5. My fellow blogger at The Torch, Damian, could still use a donation or two to support his trip to Afghanistan.
6. Over 4 millions plays and growing - Playing for Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"
7. City of Windsor Council Commuications RSS feed. It'll only work from Friday till Tuesday, when the page gets cleared for the coming week.
8. January Windsor Bloggers Meet - tonight, 7pm at the Pour House.
9. Transparency and Accountability see the light of day at Windsor City Hall - although it's only the website, it's a start, albeit a very small one.
10. See Number Nine
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Monday, 19 January 2009 04:28 |
 Oops - I meant Winter Bites!
No, this isn't another rant or "naysayer" post, but a plug for a great initiative that launched yesterday, from our friends Adriano and Pina at WindsorEats.com:
It’s time to give winter a kick! WindsorEats.com invites you to a week long event, the first of it’s kind in Essex County.
From January 18 to January 24, 2009, diners can visit any Winter Bites participating restaurant and indulge in a 3-course meal of an appetizer, entree and dessert for only $25. Each restaurant will offer a unique Winter Bites menu where diners can select from 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 desserts.
Reservations are recommended to ensure a seating upon your arrival. The $25 3-course meal is per person and does not include beverages, taxes or tip.
Buon Appetit!
Head out, dine out and dig in!
|
|
Last Updated on Monday, 19 January 2009 04:36 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 16 January 2009 06:43 |
My favourite program for streaming Internet radio. Screamer Radio is a VERY small and easy to use program. I keep it on a thumb drive to use whenever I'm visiting my parents place in Guelph.
This is my current favourite list. You can copy/paste it into Screamer's favourite list. The program will ask you if you want to create one the first time you click on "Manually Edit Favourite".
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 16 January 2009 04:43 |
1. A Windsor Kijiji Yard sale - makes sense with this weather. Browse from the warmth of your home.
2. @TOTransitAlert - something I wanted to try out with the Tunnel Bus updates, but I haven't received any notifications of delays as yet (a good thing!)
3. An RSS Feed I created for the Windsor City Council Agenda - will have to see how it works week to week. I'm also going to take a shot at creating one for the Council Communications page, although this feed will only work from Friday to Monday. I always forget to check the Communications Items each week. This should help remind me by sending them in a feed every Friday. The City of Windsor Press Release feed should begin working again once they start posting Press Releases for this year. It looks like the page has been cleared and reset for 2009.
4. Councillor Hatfield is making all sorts of friends this week. No big deal - just another blog that nobody reads - right?
5. Why threaten - just do it!
6. Winter Bites - but this deal sure doesn't! 16 different menus to choose from.
7. For the do-it-youselfer - Adobe Video Workshop - great videos on how to use Adobe products like Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
8. For the artistic community, don't forget about the internet workshop coming up on the 27th of January. I hear the response has been great.
9. The City of Windsor is threatening a judicial review on this side, the Ambassador Bridge is ready to go to court on both sides.
The Department of Transportation said that, if approved, the new bridge could open as soon as 2013. But that seems unlikely given the extent of issues yet to be dealt with.
Some state legislators have objected to spending more state money on even planning a new bridge, let alone finding the estimated $1 billion for construction.
10. Today's Windsor Star Editorial - Truck contract - The answer isn't simple is quite wrong. I wish some people would do a bit of research. The plants in the States that are building the parts and assembling these vehicles are part of Navistar's Defence division, which Chatham, St. Thomas and Quebec are not. The cabs are made in Springfield Ohio, the engines in Melrose Park Illinois and final assembly is accomplished in Garland, Texas, Springfield, Ohio and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now the CAW wants Navistar to create a FOURTH assembly location? Just what is it about over-capacity in the automotive industry that everyone doesn't grasp here? Does anyone in their right mind think Navistar should be forced to tool up Chatham, change their supply chain and expand their manufacturing capability for an order of 1300 trucks? (that must begin delivering this spring and end in 2010).
On the other hand, maybe the CAW is on to something. In exchange for building the 1300 vehicles in Chatham, they can give back the new contract that CAW Local 2215 just received for Norwegian aircraft maintenance, and while they're at it, they can also send back all the work currently being conducted for the US Navy on their P3 Orions.
From the Navistar Press Release:
The C$275 million (~US$231 million) award will provide up to 1,300 vehicles and utilize the Canadian organization and dealer network of Navistar Canada, Inc for training, delivery, parts and maintenance support.
Navistar's extensive Canadian dealer network includes 93 dealerships. Approximately 600 units of the MILCOTS order will be delivered during fiscal year 2009 with the remaining units to be delivered in fiscal year 2010.
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 16 January 2009 05:50 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Thursday, 15 January 2009 05:23 |
Just a quick message for Councillor Percy Hatfield and the Windsor Cheerleader (TM). Councillor Halberstadt happens to be one of a growing number of municipal officials (Councillors, Mayors and even a library or two) who have taken up blogging as a method of communicating with their constituents. The City of Guelph is leading the country three Councillor's blogs (with four Councillors participating), one blog by the Mayor and a kick-ass municipal blog by the Guelph Mercury.
Just what is it about blogs that scares the shit out of people in Windsor?
Update: Councillor Hatfield (and others) might be surprised to know what the actual readership of some Windsor blogs is as opposed to his estimate of 20 or 30 people. Let me clue him in - he's as cold as it is outside right now. Another fun fact - every time they try to denigrate local blogs the end result is usually a spike in readership. Keep up the good work!
|
|
Last Updated on Thursday, 15 January 2009 11:57 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Monday, 12 January 2009 06:00 |
Welcome to two more blogs on the Windsor scene:
Photo 404
All Things Expounded.
To stay up-to-date on all things blogging in Windsor you can join the Windsor Bloggers Group on Facebook or the Windsor Bloggers Wiki.
Don't forget about the next Bloggers Meet on January 19th.
|
|
Last Updated on Sunday, 11 January 2009 20:49 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Sunday, 11 January 2009 05:28 |
Urban Rat, for Best Comment on a truly sad position for Windsor:
UrbanRat
January 10, 2009 - 12:39 PM
The city's Service Review committee should immediately recommend that the city move into the 20th century because they can't find the 21st century yet because it is in hundreds of uncatalogued boxes, stored in the Auditor General's office ( a closet in Eddie's office, where he can keep an eye on it) I suspect that the internal job of photocopist is a very well paying job at city haul, standing there day in and day out just to photocopy requests. Might as well use an old Gestetner machine than to publish documents electronically. Staff at the library can help you with this, if you are unfamiliar with the technology, they can even catalogue and index your documents for you, so that you can find them in a timely manner. IN this 21st century, this article is an indictment of current policies and practices of a governing body that has something to hide. Shame!
Urban Rat is definitely dating himself. How many people would actually know what a Gestetner machine is?
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Saturday, 10 January 2009 07:00 |
|
Damian Brooks, founder of The Torch is off to Afghanistan at the invitation of the CF. Donations are greatly appreciated to help him defray costs.
Warning orders: prepare to move...
This has been in the works for awhile. Years, in fact. Memos went up the chain of command, and back down again. Never any luck. And then, just recently, approval.
I'm going to Afghanistan.
I can't say when, but it will be shortly. I can't say exactly where, nor how long I'll be gone for. DND is understandably picky about that sort of thing. But if the creek don't rise, I'll be posting from over there at some point in the fairly near future, so watch this space.
This is a first for a Canadian blogger. A fairly narrow first, but a first nonetheless: bloggers have served, but not really written about it; American bloggers have embedded with Canadian troops; Canadian bloggers have gone over unilaterally. But to the best of my knowledge, a Canadian blogger has never before been invited on a CF-sponsored visit.
Cross-Posted from Blue Blogging Soapbox
PS: Don't forget to vote for the Torch in the 2008 Weblog Awards |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 09 January 2009 17:21 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Saturday, 10 January 2009 04:15 |
and the accompanying article is that the Windsor Star published it.
City earns 'D' for non-disclosure
By Monica Wolfson, The Windsor Star January 9, 2009
Windsor is one of most secretive municipalities in the country, according to a national freedom of information survey that found the city charged more than $103,000 for public information that others handed over at no cost.
How's that Auditor General search going? In these trying times, I'm sure it must be extremely difficult finding a qualified person for the position, given all the jobs that are falling off trees all over North America. With the City already using the "office" of the Auditor General to shield the 400 audit from being released, I fear the fix is already in.
Update: a reader emailed me with the City's likely response " ... we'll hire a consultant to study this serious issue. Once the report is concluded we will then hire Clifford Sutts to review the consultants report to ensure that no one's feelings are hurt (read responsibility assigned on any level). On completion of the legal review Council will study the report in-camera and decide that since this is such a fundemental issue it deserves to be referred for "immediate" action in the City's Service Delivery Review."
|
|
Last Updated on Saturday, 10 January 2009 10:02 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 09 January 2009 07:51 |
|
Here's some good news (for a change) from City Hall:
City of Windsor Selects Heritage Planner
The City of Windsor is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John Calhoun, AICP to the position of Heritage Planner.
Mr. Calhoun was most recently Assistant City Planner for the City of Oklahoma City, and he has over 18 years experience in municipal planning, with an emphasis on design review and revitalization in commercial districts, heritage documentation and planning. He holds a Masters degree in engineering and a master’s degree in planning from the University of Texas. In addition to his work with the City of Oklahoma City, Mr. Calhoun has also served as System Planning Engineer for Lone Star Gas Company (now Atmos Energy) and Industrial Engineer for Glitsch, Inc. in Dallas, Texas.
“John’s varied and impressive list of accomplishments, professional activities and community involvement illustrate his dedication to quality service,” said City Planner, Thom Hunt. “We congratulate him on this fine accomplishment, and we welcome him to the City of Windsor.”
Mr. Calhoun will be responsible for the entire Heritage Planning portfolio including:
· Identifying and researching heritage and archaeological properties
· Reviewing and commenting on heritage aspects of development, alteration or demolition proposals and recommending expenditures from the City’s heritage funds
· Reviewing new and existing data regarding heritage properties in Windsor with a view to developing a heritage management plan.
Now we just have to work on the Auditor General and Development Commission CEO. |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 09 January 2009 06:44 |
Mark your calendars.
Date: Monday, January 19, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: The Pour House Pub
46 Chatham St. W.
Time flies when you're having fun. Windsor Bloggers first met in January of 2008 (even though I organized the first meet, I ended up missing it due to the flu). Over the last year the group has continued meeting at various locations throughout the city. It's a great group of diverse people. All are welcome. We're looking at formalizing things a little more this year, maybe picking a topic to focus on each month or inviting different people to present something.
You can also join the Facebook group to stay up to date.
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 09 January 2009 08:09 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Friday, 09 January 2009 05:29 |
While I was surfing around the other day, looking for some info for my rant, I noticed that the WEDC website was missing a number of keyword and description data on various pages. Five out of the eight main category pages are missing either a description, keywords or both. Most of the sub-category pages seem to have all the appropriate data.
The other thing I wish they'd do is add on RSS and social bookmarking capability. I've managed to scrape feeds for the News and Events pages, but this should be provided natively by the site. Those two feeds have been added to my feed reader as well as used on WE Speak to spread the news about Windsor. You can use RSS feeds to create Widgets - like the City of Windsor News Widget (this was also created with a feed scraped by PonyFish).
Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on sole sourced advertising that people might view once before it hits the recycle bin, we should be looking to leverage simple syndication and social tools to spread the word AT NO COST. Since I created it, the City of Windsor Widget has been installed 80 times and generated over 130,000 views. While these aren't stellar numbers, they at least serve to demonstrate the potential of what can be accomplished.
When I was reading the Transit Windsor minutes earlier this week I noticed a mention about an email list for Tunnel Bus Delay updates. I sent in a request to be added to the list. Once I see the format of the email, what I'm planning on doing is creating a blog that will automatically post updates as they are received and then, utilizing Twitter Feed, post those same updates to Twitter. The result will be a FREE update service that people can subscribe to via RSS or Twitter and be instantly updated on Tunnel Bus status wherever they are. No human interaction required, no lists to maintain, just self serve service for those who wish it.
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Wednesday, 07 January 2009 04:39 |
Coming soon to City Council, sometime in 2009... I hope.
If anyone wonders why the Federal government is loathe to provide funding direct to municipalities, Windsor would probably make a good case study. Any stimulus money coming our way should be used to provide, you know, actual stimulus above and beyond what the City already planned to do for 2009.
In Windsor's case, I suspect we're simply waiting to see how much we will be receiving so that the majority of it can cover our looming operations budget deficit. Take $25 million from Capital and transfer it to Operations. Take $35 million in stimulus money and apply it to Capital. Voila! We're now spending $10 million more on Capital than was originally forecast.
Bump the Enwin "dividend" from $4 million to $5 million (Note: announce Water rate increase later on in the year so no one notices). Spend weeks in closed door budget meetings making tough decsions, emerging every once in a while to reassure taxpayers that you're working hard to make tough decisions in these trying times. Cut a few more front line staff, defer some other front line hiring and (gulp) declare a freeze on hiring for anything other than "essential" management positions. Emerge looking tired and haggard to announce that due to the gargantuan efforts of Council, the tax increase has been held to 3.5%. If cornered, point to Police, Firefighters and City Union contracts as the root cause of the City's budget problems, as opposed to the Councillors who negotiate and eventually approve those same contracts.
PS. icing on the cake is the salary improvements rushed through last year for non-union employees who are now, most likely, going to unionize.
All of the above is why I am in favour of removing significant amounts of direct Provincial and Federal funding for municipalities and transferring the appropriate tax powers. This puts the power and responsibility where it belongs. No more pointing fingers at Toronto or Ottawa.
|
|
Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 January 2009 05:43 |
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Wednesday, 07 January 2009 04:14 |
|
Welcome to Embrace the Bike and it's founder James. Prior to jumping off the deep end with his own blog, James has been a regular contributor over at Scaledown:
In the fall I threw a suggestion at Chris and well, he threw it right back at me. So, I am proud to announce that I am now the Editor of Embrace the Bike. With a push from Chris and the gracious assistance of Andrew Foot of International Metropolis fame I have a web site to run and a grass-roots organization to grow. My hope is to use this new site to help bring all bicycle users in Windsor/Essex together and to develop a community of cyclists, for cyclists, by cyclists.
Embrace the Bike will have an "open-door" policy. I will accept submissions from anyone that will help to grow our community. Pictures, poetry, short-stories, ride reviews, race reports, commuting suggestions, got a new bike and want to tell everyone about how great it is - write it up and send it to me.
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Tuesday, 06 January 2009 04:10 |
Definition: a bureaucratic hand-job meant to keep the taxpayers excited, the bureaucrats busy and the consultants consulting, all while accomplishing little at great time and expense. Results due to be delivered on the eve of the 2010 election with great fanfare.
City shifts service review focus
First we had the re-organization that was going to revolutionize how the City functioned, followed by an election and the undoing of the aforementioned revolution (at no small cost). Next up was the 311 revolution to which we then bolted on the 211 improvement resulting in an underperfoming, overpriced switchboard service that no one in the City wants to answer when the calls are forwarded.
The legal bills are skyrocketing, the consultants are dancing and the arms-length agencies are burrowing. The sun has long since set on transparency, most likely due to the fact that we haven't been able to implement our quarter million dollar communications department.
The Mayor and Council scream for leadership and action from senior levels of government hoping that if they scream long and hard enough no one will notice that we haven't even started Windsor's 2009 Budget.
Our Development Commission has re-organized, hired a new CEO, printed some pamphlets, fired the CEO, launched a new website, lost a Vice-President, hired a new Vice-President and is now, nine months later, still valiantly searching for a new CEO. The Airport is soaring and actually churning out a surplus, as long as you don't count the unfilled positions or salary being covered on the City books instead of the airport.
Our local Convention and Visitors Bureau has only just begun their reorganization, which surely explains why we continue to have the single worst tourism website of a major municipality in Canada. Microsoft Frontpage has long since gone the way of the dodo bird and websites created by it should have followed post haste.
Fear not though, as we have it straight from the Windsor Cheerleader TM that our Mayor will slog on, Council will meekly follow (except for those pesky people who dare to voice an independent thought now and again - rare as that may be) and Windsor's demise will be everyone's fault but our own.
/rant off
|
|
Written by Windsor Shadow
|
|
Monday, 05 January 2009 02:10 |
 A welcome to several new blogs that have been added to WE Speak over the last while:
Biscuits and Gravy Southern Bistro
Here Be Dragons
Seanmhair's WunderBlog
The Blogrolling Blogroll service is still down right now, pending release of their new version. Once Version 2 is rolled out, I'll be able to add all the new blogs to the blogroll.
If anyone knows of any blogs in the Windsor/Essex area that aren't currently on WE Speak, please let me know.
|
|
Election Countdown
left until the 2010 Windsor Municipal Election
|
