George Sofos' Problems

Here is a job for "GAZELLE FEEDER" the Windsor-Essex superhero who is to search out for small businesses and help them grow larger.

Help out George Sofos so he can hire a whole bunch of people in the West End to help that area in Ward 2 prosper! I know it is not Sandwich but George can make sandwiches so that should be enough to get the Ward 2 Councillors onside!

I had heard about George for some time and finally met him a few weeks ago when one of my readers told me that I should see him. So it was interesting to read the story in Saturday's Star about him.

Now I do not like being a conspiracy theorist---all right I do---but there were some interesting facts that came out of Dave Hall's story in the Star and some that were not there that I thought were of interest. Frankly, based on what I know and what Councillor Postma, his Ward Councillor, says, if she does her job, George should be in business soon. She claims that "he has support there [at Council]." It would be very easy for her to take charge on Monday night to accomplish this task.

Imagine, though, having support at Council and not being able to get into business. If he has "seven or eight city councillors...[who] have said they support his plans," then why is he still complaining about not having the proper licence? There must be a reason. Can you figure it out?

Consider this:

• Don't you find it interesting that the matter is put on the agenda when one of George's biggest supporters, and whose absence was known, Councillor Halberstadt, is NOT going to be at Council.


• Read George's misery from the Councillor's BLOG http://www.alanhalberstadt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view§ionid=0&id=60


• In that story it said that "The liquor board hearing drew City Hall heavyweights, united in opposition to The Junction. Four Councillors attended, including Brian Masse, now an MP, and Eddie Francis, now the mayor."


• The story stated "Sofos attempted to acquire a liquor licence for the business a number of years ago but a neighbourhood protest supported by then-city councillor Brian Masse prevented him from getting one." And you remember where Brian's house is located in relation to the Junction don't you.


• Councillor Postma's comments are interesting: "Coun. Caroline Postma, whose ward includes the Junction property, said "if George applies for an amended use as a public hall and gets it in front of council, I'm sure he'd be successful because he has support there." Why doesn't she help him "get it in front of Council." Isn't that her job to help him get it there?


• The story said "Escape Cafe on Riverside Drive recently opened and offers music and dancing." According to the Councillor also said: "Postma said Escape was allowed to open because it was grandfathered as a result of its prior use."


• The Councillor should know that George has submitted a letter stating why his property should be "grandfathered" as well and nothing has happened with that at Council.


• If the Councillor wants to do her job, I would suggest that on Monday night she introduce a Notice of Motion to be heard when Councillors Halberstadt and Valentinis are back "grandfathering" the Junction. That would allow him to get his Entertainment Licence like the Escape Cafe to permit music and dancing! Actually, if she has the votes she should have the Motion passed on Monday night by asking George to supply an affidavit re his past activities at the Junction. If she dared do that, I'd love to watch how the Mayor would invoke the Procedural By-law to deny her the right to do so. (All she has to ask is for the rules to be waived to get around that issue)

That Motion when passed would be simple, clean and effective. It should instruct Adminsitration what to do too so they can't stall it off and give a deadline.

But George may have a bargaining chip after all. Here's an interesting comment I found when searching the Minutes that George made at Council:

• George Sofos, and Christina Sofos-Giamos, appear before Council to state support for the City Centre West Urban Village Development Incentives, but asks that those who had lands in that area expropriated, be allowed the opportunity to repurchase those lands.

Hmmmm it looks like George had lands in the Urban Village area where Eddie wants the University's Engineering Complex to go. His lands were expropriated for the Western Super anchor and not for a University building. What rights does he have now, if any?

I think George ought to go and talk to his lawyer about that soon! He might have some fun now too because in effect the City has said that the lands are no longer required for its purposes. It's now required for the University's purposes.

Life is made so complicated in Windsor that even the simplest matters cannot be dealt with expeditiously! I guess it's all due to inexperience and fear of failure.