In this space the Rose City Politics panel will analyze, breakdown, and critique a local political issue that affects each and every Windsor resident.
Rose City Politics
What Can, And Should, The Municipal Government Do, Post-COVID?
For the April 2021 edition, the Rose City Politics panel opines on how Windsor can best position itself for recovery and resurgence post-pandemic. There are many different strategies that governments of all levels will take, to deal with the impact of COVID-19. Windsor City Council is tasked with coming up with a strategy for all Windsorites. We’re inching closer to a post-pandemic world every day. Windsor’s experience has been difficult and painful — hundreds lost their lives and thousands more experienced a frightening, potentially life-altering, illness. Businesses faced a kaleidoscopic environment of everchanging rules and restrictions. Sometime in the near future these challenges will be behind us. If we’re wise, the experience will lead us to a better way forward. There are things to build on in Windsor’s response to COVID-19 — Windsorites should take pride in the way they rolled with the changes, found ways to adapt, and stepped up to help those in need. Strong, creative organizations found ways to innovate, improve, and survive. Businesses shifted to new markets and evolved with the needs of their customers. Community organizations found new ways to serve. Local government worked with residents and businesses to create opportunities.
Jon Liedtke It’s time to leave the past behind. We’ve done perpetual budget cutting in Windsor for so long that some have forgotten what it means to invest and reinvest in our community, or even see the opportunities right in front of us.
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Downtown business owner Renaldo Agostino told me: “The City and its businesses are all on the same team for once and we are playing for survival. After all this we know anything is possible. We have seen the negative, now it’s time, with everyone cooperating, to balance that out with the positive!” Maybe it shouldn’t take a global catastrophe for City regulators to look for ways to get things done instead of finding ways to say “no”, but now that it has happened, City administration should build on it. When leaders listened with an open mind and made decisions based on empathy, evidence and trust, their choices helped to soften the impact and avoid a worst-case scenario. People suffered most when those things didn’t happen. As we recover and rebuild in the aftermath of COVID-19, our community should go forward with a renewed commitment to consult widely, innovate out of their comfort zone, and find solutions beyond the status quo.
Doug Sartori is a political observer and organizer. When he’s not recording podcasts or getting people out to vote he runs Parallel 42 Systems, a technology consultancy in downtown Windsor.
Windsor can take cues from other progressive cities and use the global pandemic as an opportunity to reinvest in our community itself. Federal money will continue to flow and Windsor can make meaningful investments that can be impactful and innovative. A major opportunity is to capitalize on remote work and meaningfully support small businesses. Not only is living in Windsor more affordable than many other cities, you also get big city amenities for a third of the expenses. This is an opportunity to grow our population with higher income jobs. If someone in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary can work remotely anywhere in Canada, Windsor is well positioned to take advantage, if we want to do so. When it comes to supporting small businesses, a cohesive policy is not only necessary but warranted. Look no further than outdoor patios to see the impact. For a minimal investment the city provided a
significant impact; this is how you help businesses, if we want to. Having lived under lockdown for the better part of a year, residents have explored their communities and used their assets, whether they be parks and patios, or trails and beaches. People move to and live in communities that are vibrant and with minimal investment and the city can help spur that. Why not have a live music series in our parks, provided free of cost by the city? We can, if we want to. Instead of saying “no” to proposals, why don’t we start by asking “why not”? Why can’t we offer patio extensions or ice-skating for free annually? How can we best utilize our existing assets and animate our spaces? That’s the question we need to focus on as we emerge from this pandemic. Jon Liedtke is a Co-host and Producer of Rose City Politics, a business consultant focusing on cannabis and marketing, an occasional reporter and writer, and a band member of Windsor’s The Nefidovs.
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Doug Sartori
