More News Stories For You To Read

 

A number of very interesting new stories that I thought you might like to read.

Once again, as in many of the cases, I'll suggest some thoughts of mine that you might want to consider when reading the article. 

WHOSE FRIEND IS BILL MARRA 

I really wonder if Councillor Marra is going once again to be a member of Council.   

I must admit I don't have a final answer that he will give us before the next election. However, he certainly seems prepared to make tough decisions that some people in Windsor would not be very happy about, including some politicians.   

Just take a look at this and wonder whether what Marra is saying now will impact the decision to be made by his fellow Councillors. And then impact him when he runs again for Council, for better or worse: 

"Matty Moroun 'not relevant' in Abars debate, councillor says

'Whether you like Mr. Moroun or not is not relevant. He is a corporate citizen. We need to treat him fairly' 

 

Ownership of Abars shouldn't play a role in whether council votes to designate one of the last Windsor roadhouses a heritage site, Coun. Bill Marra warns. 

Billionaire Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Moroun also owns Abars through one of his subsidiaries. His Canadian Transit Company is embroiled in a number of lawsuits with the City of Windsor. The legal fights surround his attempt to demolish several properties on Windsor's west end in order for Moroun to build a second bridge span there... 

"We need to separate the issues," Marra said of Moroun's bridge battle and the Abars proposal. "You really start blurring the lines when you start talking about Matty Moroun." 

Marra called it "very bad politics" to link the Ambassador Bridge fight to Abars' future. 

"I'll be very troubled if that's the approach by anyone. Whether you like Mr. Matty Moroun or not is not relevant. He is a corporate citizen. We need to treat him fairly and equally," Marra said."  (Greg Layson, CBC News May 11, 2016 ) 
 

One does have to admit that Marra has guts to say what he did. 

AN EXTRA $5 MILLION TO BE SPENT 

Why would a Mayor and City Council want to spend extra money, the highest cost for a  project? Can one argue that this seems silly and Tecumseh citizens will take action against their local leaders to  get them  out  of  office? 

Take a look at what was said about why extra money is to be spent and decide whether the politicians are going to be attacked by their opposition: 

"Old Tecumseh Core Getting Pricey Facelift

"Tecumseh councillors are going with the most expensive option in revitalizing the old core of the town on Tecumseh Rd. near Lesperance Rd. 

Council unanimously approved a nearly $19-million design that will guide planners in mapping out the project. The main difference in the design compared to the $14-million baseline option is the removal of hydro poles and burying that wiring in the ground to open up more usable space. 

Mayor Gary McNamara feels it’s crucial to see those hydro poles removed in order to meet the vision of the main street corridor...

 

However, the move to bury the wires isn’t purely aesthetic. 

“It improves the reliability of the systems as well,” says McNamara. “They’re not subject to lightning, vehicle accidents and so forth, so reliability actually improves.”  (Ricardo Veneza Blackburnnews.com May 11, 2016 )

Hmm.  Wait a minute. Maybe this means that citizens will re-elect him because his comments make a lot of sense. 

WHO CARES ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR 

That seriously has to be one's conclusion about what other educators think about our University here.  Take a look at this story:   

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/jarvis-u-of-w-may-join-manufacturing-consortium

Jarvis: U of W may join manufacturing consortium 

Already, 3 Universities are involved in the project but not the one in this City: 

"The goal is to develop new technology, create new products and production methods and generate new, highly skilled jobs. The consortium will collaborate with industry on long-term projects."    

It must be that others think that this City's University cannot do very much to help out. Therefore, ignore it in a major project.  After all, here is what the article stated: 

"Excluding Windsor and the University of Windsor from the announcements was seen here as not only a snub but damaging, sending the message that there is little innovation here and making it more difficult to draw investment and talent and promote local companies." 

Here is what is scary for the automotive industry in Canada and suggests this area must let others know how important we are in the industry: 

"Canada is ranked 10th in the world in automotive production, producing 2.4 million units in 2014. That production is expected to plunge 18 per cent, to 1.9 million units in 2021, the biggest loss of any automotive producing country. Mexico is projected to increase by 45 per cent and the U.S. by 7.8 per cent. 

“That’s what’s scary,” said Dino Chiodo, president of Unifor Local 444, which represents minivan workers, and a key player in the negotiations to get the University of Windsor in the consortium. 

“If we don’t start standing up, talking about what’s important, what we need to do, we’re just allowing this to happen. We’re trying to keep Windsor in the mix. Windsor is not a lost cause.” 

MY NEW AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE 

I have to admit in all seriousness that I would like to buy a Mercedes vehicle. Unfortunately, notwithstanding that its cost is much too high for a person like me, I do like to consider whether I can purchase one. 

Regretfully, one of the negatives about the vehicle is that it is not one of the "shapely" ones. Its design seems to be somewhat old and relatively boring. Why spend that much money on a vehicle like that when its competition is making their vehicles look pretty good. 

Thankfully though, it appears that Mercedes is doing something quite different. It certainly mean that I may have to consider spending the money on it when I have to get a new vehicle. After all, this vehicle will be coming from one of the major automobile manufacturers in the world. Here is what is going to happen: 

"With 2016 GLC 300, Mercedes finally banishes boxy build  http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/2016/05/11/glc-mercedes-banishes-boxy-build/84251884/  

Thankfully, its replacement, the ★★★ 2016 GLC 300, banishes the box. 

Where the GLK seemed austere and upright, the GLC’s design is sumptuously soft, with a relaxed, refined elegance that rests upon a strong underlying visual structure. Its large wheels and aggressive stance make it appealing to women, as well as those of us with Y chromosomes. Its styling possesses the essence essential for a premium crossover — and it’s even sized like one. And this time, it’s no illusion." 

More importantly, here is what it looks like ie not like the typical Mercedes vehicle. Here's what I saw on the Autoweek website: 

 

Perhaps I might start writing more articles about this Mercedes vehicle and suggest that others should be changed as well to make them more attractive to rich purchasers. Who knows, if Mercedes agrees with what I say, I might get to actually drive some of their vehicles as well so that I can do auto reports on them. Now that would be fun!