Complaint Driven Windsor

By Ian Paulson

(WINDSOR, ON) – Nothing will get done unless you whine about it. That’s according to Windsor’s mayor, Edgar Francis. What he actually said is that Windsor is “complaint driven”. If that’s the case, then why haven’t any of the complaints about the Francis regime been corrected?

What Francis seems to be saying is that the City of Windsor will not pro-actively do anything. That’s what I take from his comments at a recent Council meeting. Nope, Francis prefers the reactionary response to situations in Windsor rather than to be on top of things.

What Eddie’s words also say to me is that you can do almost anything you want in Windsor; at least until one of your neighbours complains about it. Want to keep urban chickens? Go ahead, By-Law Enforcement won’t do anything unless Nosey Ethel rats you out. Want to build a Quonset hut in your back yard? Feel free, unless Drew Dilligence peeks over your fence. How about letting your cats run at large? You can, unless Percy Hatfield is able to shove through his plans to license felines domiciled in Windsor. Oh wait. Even if he was successful you could still let them run free until a complaint was called into 311.

Know what? You can also let the grass grow on your property to any length you want as long as no one grumbles to Edgar; because he won’t act until there is a protest. Funny, though, how griping about the sorry state of Windsor’s economy hasn’t provoked much of a response from Francis. I guess he must have been out of town when the calls came in.

It seems like letting the grass grow under one’s feet is a favourite pastime in Windsor, if these photos are any indication.

Here is 3000 Star Way; home of the Windsor Star printing facility. The property extends east of the fence-line where the weeds rival the fence in height.

A close-up of 3000 Star Way looking south. Don’t let the fence line fool you, the property to the east of the fence is part of the parcel contained within the fence, and owned by the Windsor Star.

This corner lot at 2663 Temple abuts 3000 Star Way. The owner of the property has obviously attempted to cut the grass on his land, but old gates pose an encumbrance. As the entrance to the Windsor Star facility is no longer gated, so could this abandoned fencing be the missing pieces?

Some ditch weeds on Dominion. Considerably taller than the 12” specified in the bi-law.

The overgrown weeds and grass at 2101 Tecumseh Rd West almost obscures the fire hydrant.

This city-owned property is situated between 2600 and 2605 Temple. It’s the apex of a dead end that has been left vacant in case there is ever a need to connect it to the North Service Rd on the other side of the railway tracks. It still doesn’t explain why the City of Windsor doesn’t properly maintain its own properties.

This property is an empty lot between 1390 and 1400 Totten. There is no street address according to the City of Windsor web site which makes it difficult for people to complain about the obvious neglect. This property is owned by the City of WIndsor.

Again a property without a street address, this time at Quebec and Partington.

The Grace Hospital site. I know there have been numerous complaints about this property. Who should be cutting the grass here? The city, the province, or the deed holder? I know work on the facility is prohibited due to the presence of asbestos, but does that include cutting the grass? Families living in the neighbourhood shouldn’t have to deal with this?

Complaining may not make a difference (106 phone calls anyone?), but go ahead and call to get the problems sorted out. Even complain about Eddie if you like, but I don’t think there is a Service Request for removing him from office.

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