Letters

Here are some more comments from readers. I really like a lot of them this time around:


1) Good for you - you have shaken the foundations of the Star.......

2) I loved your Guest Column in today's Star!WELL DONE ED! PS: If there had been enough Naysayers perhaps Canderal and MFP would NOT have taken place

3) Thanks for keeping up the good work, you sneering naysayer you. All the best


4) Way to go Ed! As usual, very well said.


5) Congratulations – they actually published it and you took full advantage!

Good job!

6) Be careful, you may end up having permanent lunch dates with Gordo.

7) The thought crosses my mind as to just who will be a reasonable choice at the next election. Character and integrity are major concerns but the electorate seems to find out about this after and not before elections.

8) Thought you might be interested in this article from TheRecord.com. Boy! Is the difference black and white between Waterloo and the City of Windsor when it comes to supporting public libraries. Not only in education levels but funding! Waterloo is where Windsor wishes it was. Please visit link: http://news.therecord.com/article/395040

9) This was an interesting turn of events for sure. Looks like the anti-naysayer campaign backfired. Judging by the nature other letters today one might speculate that the Star might be getting a lot of pro "naysayer" feedback. Looks like you're mainstream now.

10) Congrats Ed. You deserve it.


11) Congrats Ed, word for word, your comments are exactly what I'm always emphasizing to the many apathetic morons in this city who do nothing but bitch and yet make no effort to call their councilor/MPP, write the Star or call CKWW when the opportunity arises.

12) Congrats! I just noticed you were published by the star!

13) Impressive

14) Dawg... Re: "Pressing for Transparency "Naysayers" Positive Role": Looks like you have the Star's ear.

15) Congrats Ed! I never would have thought they would publish you. I am wondering if this is a peace offering or just a way to tell their readers that they are not so one sided in civic politics?

16)I just noticed the comments on your site about the matter of the tops of that train being crushed in July, when it attempted to take over-size rail cars through the tunnel.

Someone may have already clarified this matter, but in case they didn't the apparent confusion over the matter of claims that the tunnel can accommodate double-stacked containers can be explained as follows: It is technically true that the rail tunnel can accommodate these, but the key is the type of containers being referred to. This is the source of the confusion.

The tunnel can accommodate double-stacked marine or sea containers, but not regular sized containers. The former are a bit smaller than the latter (I forget the precise dimensions, but I think they are about 8 feet tall versus higher heights for the regular containers).

I hope this clarifies matters for yourself and others who may be confused. On the need for a new, enlarged tunnel, no question, Windsor and Detroit need that ASAP.

But just some additional thoughts, Ed. As has been suggested elsewhere, I think an excellent use for the present, older tunnels/tubes, once a new, larger rail tunnel is constructed, would be to use them for a cross-border electrified LRT service, linking up with, and forming a part of, the proposed Woodward Avenue LRT line in Detroit. Such an electrified LRT operation could travel via new or restored railway stations, near Tecumseh on the Windsor side, and a reopened Michigan Central station on the Detroit side. Such an LRT service could interconnect at these points with restored intercity rail passenger service linking Windsor and Detroit with Toronto and Chicago.

This would surely syphon significant volumes of local cross-border vehicle traffic from road routes, and free these up substantially.

17) Have you noticed the weeds already growing in the grass at the Dougall Ave.
beutification project, that didn't take long...........

18) Finding your blogs these days rather entertaining, but you may not have an appreciation for how out-of-date these ideas are.

The cross-river gondola and the cross-river ferry concepts were pitched years ago…we were privy to the complications involved in any cross-border transportation plan.

Listening to these re-cycled ideas come out of the mouths of our local politicians is smile-worthy…at least until I start thinking about how a tax base of 200,000 people is going to maintain them. Years ago I was part of a small group that was examining the viability of a [name of project]in Windsor…Our conclusion?...we could probably beat the bushes and find cash to build the thing…but it’s the continuous upkeep that kills you……..these projects all fall into the same category.

19) Was Eddie talking to Zoom Airlines for those job flights out west?

It's been over two weeks since a mega million dollar project has been announced.
What is Eddie doing, sleeping?

Shanfields is Windsor's best tenant in the downtown core. I never hear them whining about fixing the core and it needing millions.

20) In my hometown several long tenured and well-liked media folk (TV and print) have been let go because their years of service have driven their salaries to a level that is not competitive with well qualified but younger professionals. Maybe in Windsor also.

21) I deal with developers all the time and over the years have gotten a pretty good idea on how they work...

You'll notice that the concept drawings of the canal had nothing at all representing real projects... just blocked out faceless buildings. Any serious developer...would have presented detailed drawings of real potential projects along side the canal. They are more than likely, illustrations to present a "look" to create short term excitement...

I could be wrong, and this is a subjective judgment... a canal like the one proposed for Windsor would really be insignificant - even if it were built. We are surrounded by water. Just a couple of blocks away is the Detroit river with lake freighters, a great view of Detroit, excellent parks, beaches etc. What would be so special about a little downtown ditch to people in this area? At least in San Antonio there is not much water, so the concept works. In Florida the canals are functional. There is really no comparison...

I don't even think the "east side-renaissance" will be successful. An OHL junior hockey rink, a few ice pads for the kids, and the odd concert is not enough to attract the kind development [that is being talked] about. It may bring in speculators who are betting on pie in the sky dreams... However the location is just not right for hotels and downtown type developments. It will be interesting to see how many real developers invest their money in real concrete proposals describing what they intend to build. Don't hold your breath.

22) [Re the biggest Councillor disappointment] That's easy. Percy Hatfield.

23) I am in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Your blog stories about the DRIC project appear on the electronic clipping service that Google provides free of charge. I am very impressed by Google's electronic clipping service and even more impressed by what I am reading on your website...

There are some aspects of the early DRIC research work that were totally overlooked in the delineation of alternatives to be examined. Two of them that I believe should have been examined and that could still be examined would deal with ways to lessen congestion on the existing facilities --

(1) enhanced intermodal railroad service between SE Michigan (and perhaps NW Ohio) and the Greater Toronto Area, using existing railroad tunnels in Detroit and Port Huron
(2) a cross border light rail transit service to siphon some of the local peak hour commuter traffic off the existing Windsor-Detroit border crossings

One consequence of proceeding with the DRIC project that apparently is being ignored by DRIC advocates is the impact that the new crossing will have on the demand for widening 401 between Windsor and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Consider this: the DRIC traffic forecasts for year 2035 apparently are 4,800 truck trips per direction between the US side of the Detroit River and the GTA!

One of the DRIC reports asserts that one truck has the same highway space requirement as three automobiles. Thus running 4,800 truck trips in each direction each day on 401 is the equivalent of having 14,400 auto trips. Assume for a moment that all of them tavel during a 12 hour period each day, which would mean the total truck traffic accounts for an average flow of 1,200 auto equivalents per hour per direction.

A highway lane typically can not carry more than 1,800 autos per hour. Thus, the projected truck traffic between the Detroit River and the GTA probably accounts for about 66% of the capacity of one traffic lane. The implementation of DRIC will add credence to the argument that 401 should be widened all the way to Toronto. Somebody in Ontario should be adding the cost of adding capacity to 401 between Windsor and Toronto to the price tag for DRIC.

24)I think you are missing one of the biggest pictures with regards to the CCW lands. That land should be used for residential/mixed-use only. As it stands Windsor does NOT have a strong functioning neighbourhood downtown other than the West River Village (where the canal is "supposed" to go).

Putting a museum or any other "attraction" for visitors on that land would destroy any chance of the downtown area gaining a decent neighbourhood. If a museum needs to be built, and it does, I would suggest vacant land just east of the Casino or open dialogue with Mr. Sofos and build it on The Junction lands.

But then again egos would have to be left aside and we know darn well that isn't about to happen.

25) Ed, that voice clip of Senator Cropsey is the most disgusting scenario regarding the bridge project I have heard. Why, why, why are we looking at wasting half a billion dollars of public funds when it is not needed and is being overseen by a bunch of bumbling fools!! Are free lobotomies for politicians and bureaucrats paid for by OHIP?