Static VS Progressive municipalities
On the radio show yesterday, we debated the City Of Windsor’s list of “shovel-ready” projects and how it can be considered a road-map of development ideals this administration holds for Windsor.
The list lays out where the city is choosing to allocate precious resources, and by omition, which projects aren’t important to them. Their vision is one of propping up the status quo.
Which is interesting, since it appears there are other Ontario municipalities that are actually looking towards the future with their lists, by focusing on “analyzing existing and new goals in business enhancement, training and post secondary development, tourism and Kenora attraction.”
Kenora, Ontario actually has its development commission preparing their list instead of their traffic and public works departments. This would suggest an eye towards infrastructure investments that pay dividends down the road and leverage those funds towards more private investment in their municipality,
“Kenora’s Economic Development Commission is moving forward confidently amid a national flurry of “shovel-ready projects” competing for a share of newly announced federal injection to Canada’s infrastructure.”
They are also focusing more on the “soft” infrastructure which would provide lasting employment for Kenora residents as opposed to temporary road paving projects,
“Plans for the downtown revitalization project’s Phase II have already been submitted and Wallace added a slew of development ideas under the euphemism “shovel-ready.” Plans are underway to improve the five beaches that surround Kenora, building Norman Park as a more central attraction for tourists, and expanding the trail system including plans for Tunnel Island when political time comes.”
It is said that crisis = opportunity, but I am thinking that Windsor’s vision of opportunity is the same as that of Coco Paving and not of the citizens of this city.
Tags: economic development, investment, revitalization, sustainable development
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We also debated the varing criteria the mayor seems to use to judge exactly what “shovel-ready” means on the show. This is something I would love to investigate further. Maybe our readers could help.
A few weeks ago during a regular televised council meeting, Councilor Halberstadt asked a council question, requesting that the RDVIP be included in the list of “shovel-ready” projects being submitted to the FCM. Mayor Francis immediately criticised the request, saying that the RDVIP was nowhere near being “shovel-ready”, even though it has already gone through the E.A. process and has received ministry approval. Yet this same mayor didn’t argue the fact the the Tunnel Plaza rehabilitation was on this list. (See Chris Schnurr’s website for the arguments against that project being considered “shovel-ready”) Councillor Halberstadt stated on his blog that all we are waiting for to get the RDVIP built is for “infrastructure money (to be) unlocked”. Isn’t that the entire goal of this funding request to the FCM?
Does this mayor have an “agenda” as to what he personally deems appropriate for this infrastructure funding list? What is his criteria, as it seems different than the stated criteria?
Is this a fair process? We just want to sing from the same hymn book, that’s all.
It was interesting hearing Marra on City Council last night asking the Mayor for better meetings to discuss the future of the city. I keep thinking about employment and I’m not so happy with what has come to this city. Especially how it’s been attracting call centers. Is that all that’s in our future here?
Just thought I would add that the owner of the tunnel plaza gave Eddie’s campaign funds a lot of money. I have even heard the rumour (I have not been able to prove it…yet) that the owner is even a cousin of Eddie. Is this a conflict of interest?
Just like the airport lands and the new director of the airport, Ms. Nazzani, who was a good buddy of Eddie’s through high school. Is that too a conflict of interest?
I will agree with Chris that Windsor’s vision of opportunity is the same as that of Coco Paving and not of the citizens of this city. (didn’t Jenny give Eddie a bunch of cash as well?)
We can spend $5 million on lawyers for tunnel deals (with no purchase of said tunnel, only leasing) and Greenlink but the steetscaping of downtown, without the input of the DWBIA, is cancelled due to sky-rocketing costs (borne from admin’s ad hoc attempt). Where again are the priorities? Where again are ANY shovel ready lands?
A fellow out here in PEI is predicting a 50% chance that life goes to hell in a handbasket as this financial mess unfolds. Council needs to start planning for the worst, and hoping for the best. No more “pie-in-the-sky” projects.
(If Keep it Coming is correct, Eddie is far more nefarious than I ever thought. People like Eddie scare me; if he proves to be a wolf in sheeps clothing.)
Josh, 50%? The economic system has collapsed already. We are attempting to re-boot the system.
http://www.bloomberg.com/avp/avp.htm?N=video&T=Stiglitz%2C%20Gurria%2C%20Arroyo%2C%20Abhisit%20Discuss%20Global%20Economy%20&clipSRC=mms://media2.bloomberg.com/cache/vsBIlVxu0i5k.asf
In a seismic event, when the credit bubble popped something like 10% of western consumption disappeared. Big business, which operates on the razors edge, can’t withstand such a seismic event and are collapsing all around us. You can follow the devastation in a concentric ring from the epicenter western consumption: biggest consumer item – homes, second biggest- auto, …electronics, retail, etc.
I just received this message (you see - I love Detroit almost as much as I love Windsor) about the up-coming mayoral election in Detroit. Could you imagine if we saw this kind of interest locally leading up to November 8, 2010?
…Something is rotten in denmark…..