Windsor Independent - March 2016

EDITORIAL
“ARE YOU PROUD OF
DOWNTOWN? WHEN YOUR
RELATIVES COME FROM OUT
OF TOWN, DO YOU STROLL
DOWN OUELLETTE AVENUE
WITH PRIDE? AND WHY NOT?
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT
THEY SAY BECAUSE IT’S BEEN
LIKE THIS FOR 30 YEARS.”
by Dean Scott
Last month, we sent another request to the office
of Mayor Dilkens, politely asking for fifteen
minutes of his time in order to discuss economic
growth, downtown strategy, transit, and urban
sprawl. As expected - and after some nudging - we were
denied an audience.
This has been our ongoing relationship with the mayor of
Windsor since he first took office. When we followed up
to ask for the reasoning behind our denied request, the
correspondence fell flat and was ignored.
This January, while out in Halifax for a four day visit,
we sent a request to Mayor Savage and found ourselves
sitting down with him 48 hours later. Though their city
certainly isn’t without their own problems and challenges,
there’s something to be said about the accessibility we
were granted which we aren’t provided in our hometown.
With the recent discourse surrounding patio
encroachment fees, the amount spent on advertising at
the Detroit Grand Prix, and the Mayor’s business trip
to India, it seems like more and more city residents are
discussing and questioning the decisions made in council
chambers. Is there a growing frustration in the city with
residents on the decisions being made by those in power?
Ryan Smith, owner of Pause Cafe on a vacant and
shuttered stretch of Chatham Street has become
increasingly dissatisfied with some of the choices made
8
involving the budget, urban planning, transit and
funding for the Downtown Windsor Farmer’s Market.
“Are you proud of downtown? When your relatives
come from out-of-town do you stroll down Ouellette
Avenue with pride? And why not? I would like to hear
what they say because it’s been like this for 30 years,”
said Smith.
“Call your councillors and say enough is enough
with the urban sprawl. It’s never too late to change.
If they’re committed to a walkable community and
high population density, it benefits everybody,” he
continued.
Councillor Irek Kusmierczyk of Ward 7 has his own
frustrations with some of the decisions that pass,
but isn’t sure whether there’s a growing dissonance
because of the silent majority who don’t openly
express their views.
“Is there frustration out there? Yeah, I’ve heard it.
I’ve heard it through social media, through emails
and through speaking to people. There’s no way
of knowing whether that is a general sentiment or
whether that is just some of the folks that I’ve come
across,” said Kusmierczyk.
“Residents can absolutely let their councillors know
how they feel about certain decisions. The more a
DENIED INTERVIEWS
20 +
ACCEPTED INTERVIEWS
1
REASONS FOR DENIAL
0
councillor hears about it, the more likely they are to
change tact, or to change their philosophy about it,”
said Kusmierczyk.
At the end of the day, Kusmierczyk tells us, all he
can only control is his voice and his vote. He’s not on
council to represent his own views, but the views of
the residents in his ward.
If only all of our elected officials believed that
democracy should go beyond a marketing tool and
that conversations concerning political decisions in
Windsor should be extended beyond city hall.
Local politics can be a messy circus, but the most
important thing isn’t for everyone to agree; but for
there to be a level of transparency and accessibility
within the community.
We’re going to keep reaching out to Mayor Dilkens,
and continue the conversation with members of our
city council in order to address the issues we believe
need to be addressed. If you’re frustrated with some
of the decisions that have happened recently - and
we bet you are - make your voice heard to city
council and other members of your community.
Drew, we’re calling. Will you answer?
MARCH 2016 Vol. 04 | Issue 03