The Detroit News today had an article entitled “Woe is Windsor”
Maybe this will open some eyes:
Hello Eddie Francis? Hello Larry Horowitz? Look at the results above. Do you see that? Can we plase now stop trying to make our city into a playground for Americans? How about we work on making it a destination for actual residents of this city? A little retail would be nice, how about making business taxes a little more reasonable? Maybe if they were Anne’s would still be “On The Avenue” instead of in a strip mall in Tecumseh.
P.S. – STOP FUNDING EVENTS LIKE THE GRAND PRIX! Instead of pissing away my tax dollars across the river on events that bring NO benefit to Windsor, why don’t you put that money into our Libraries, I think they need funding too… Too bad you’ve rammed through a few more years of funding huh?
Take a gander at a few of the comments on the Detroit News Cyber Survey:
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No, I don’t go to Canada anymore period. Two years ago, while trying to cross the bridge with my family to attend a yearly family picnic, despite the fact that my spouse and I had plenty of ID, we were pulled over at gun point, and our vehicle searched. We had our four young (all under the age of 8 at the time, including a newborn) children with us.
It was one of worst experiences of my life. I won’t be going back.
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I used to go to Windsor a couple of times a month prior to the smoking ban. Why would they think that we are going to spend our money in their bars but then they are going to make us go outside for a smoke? Yeah right, I can stay on this side of the border, go to American Casinos with American Workers, go to bars over here and I can smoke if I so choose. I doubt I will ever go back to Windsor.
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I use to take at least one camping trip to Canada every year, and an occasional shopping trip when the exchange rate was good. They were like a friendly younger brother. But in recent years their attitude toward the US has gone sour, and their open display of animosity in their political dealings with the US, as well as hits on our culture from their entertainment industry, has turned me off. Add to that the strengthening Loonie, border hassles and expenses, and what reason is there to make the trip?
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Canada is completely two-faced. They forget that we can receive Canadian television in southeastern Michigan, so we know what they’re saying about us. They try so very, very hard at being unlike Americans, and then they whine when we don’t go over there. In fact, the most insulting thing you can do to a Canadian is look at them thoughtfully and say “you know, you’re just like Americans.” Try it, it makes them livid.
All they have to offer anyway is gambling, which is available here, and the sight of their womens’ bodies, which (thank god) is not available here.
Our current governor is a Canadian, to boot. Isn’t that enough? With an export track record like that, who can blame us for avoiding them?
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I don’t go over there anymore. I use to when I was 19-20, but everything I can do there, I can do in the states. Maybe when they stop bullying people to get accross the borders, especially the younger generation, people will start going back.
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Nope, I won’t spend a dime in Canada and have no desire to ever go back there. I’ll keep my money in the United States, thank you.
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I always loved Windsor, the cleanliness, the frendly people, nice restaurants and casino, although the Detroit casinos pay better, but with the hassles at the border it’s just not worth it anymore. It’s too bad, I can’t see myself going back anytime soon.
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I do not want too waste my time waiting in line to get into Canada and now I have too wait longer to get back into the USA! I will just stay home! Not worth the hassel with it!!!
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We used to go alot, but since Sept.11 happened and the border became a hassle we have stopped going over.
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Windsor can come back -- as discussed on that Ottawa Street thread last week, some of these 'hoods are still intact, though the establishments are not there. Erie Street, ottawa, walkerville, even downtown.
These things turn around with leadership though, political and BIA -- both of which can equally slow down the process by either going for quick fixes or avoiding making difficult decisions that have long term gain.
Good to see that our city's funding of the Grande Prix and super Bowl are hitting the mark. Makes for a very indelible brand. Just a word for our Municipal Leadership: Keep up the good work!
Definately and interesting article....I sure hope the poweres at be...pay attention to it.
It seems to me that a large part of the problem is that Windsor's tourist economy is predicated on a strong American dollar. No strong American dollar means no real reason for our American friends to make the trek to Windsor. This is compounded by the no-smoking bylaw and the border crossing hassles. As the author above stated, "Windsor literally took a gamble and lost big time".
As many others have stated, now is the time for Windsor to concentrate on fixing itself and making it a place that its residents can enjoy to the fullest. Windsor's economy has always been subject to the boom-and-bust cycles of the auto industry, but it's pretty clear this time around that the best years are over. Now is the time for the city's leadership to think creatively and attempt to diversy the city's economy. This is a tall order I know, but not an impossible one. The city's leadership has to stop actiing like it's business-as-usual in Windsor and start facing up to the city's reality. At this point Windsor is close to crisis mode.
In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to change isn't the city's leadership but the citizens themselves. It's up to the people to demand what they want. The people need to realize that the good 'ole days are over and in the future Windsor is going to be a very different place. It's up to the citizens to decide whether it's going to be another Detroit or whether it's going to prosper in the future. If everyone did their part I guarantee a big change would be evident. Ride your bike to work once a week, support mom & pop retail and restuarants, pick up trash, etc. etc. It's up to you to save your city, nobody's going to do it for you.
Truth.
Every single word of it.
" Hello Larry Horowitz?"
The DWBIA support of a Grand PRix event downtown set the precedent for being able to close many downtown streets for festivals. There are 6 such closures planned for 2008, that wouldn't have happened without the Grand Prix Weekend.
This will allow us to go a long way towards implementing the Project for Public SPaces recommendation to view "Streets as Places"
Mark for me the jury's still out on if the closures are a good idea or not. Personally, I'm not a big fan. Maybe for the average person who drives in from Lakeshore or South Windsor doesn't mind, but for those of us who actually live downtown, it makes simple things like going to the bank or to a friend's on the west side of downtown a massive pain in the ass. However I can see they are for the greater good, but we need a better variety of business downtown. You might bring people down for a festival, but they need a reason to come back. Bars and restaurants are great, but there's more to a city than that...
It all goes back to what I was saying about making the downtown for the residents, not as a playground. The $85,000 US spent every year on a VIP tent and tickets for the mayor and his pals are not a good investment in eyes.
I seem to remember before we turned the Riverboat casino parking lot into a festival plaza, festivals were held downtwon on city streets. I would love to see Bluesfest move back there... The riverfront plaza is a horrible location for the events, they are too far away and detached from the core.
Also - it doesn't change the fact that our support across the river is a one way street. We give, they take, they stay on their side.
Does anyone know if Larry Horowitz or the Mayor read this and similar blogs? I hear that Alan Halberstadt does
Even if they read them are they smart enough to understand them?
My guess is no, or that they simply don't care about the residents, at least as far as King Eddie is concerned.