Chris Schnurr
Carol Kosowan LL.B., B.A. (Law), B.A. (Policy)
Reminder: There will be no blog on Thursday or Friday because of a conference. I’ll be back Monday.
_______________________________________________
Councillor Hatfield said the most amusing comment during last night’s stormy council meeting. It is truly amazing to actually see councillors debate an issue unimpeded by Mayor Francis. For that, I extend my kudo’s to every single councillor there last night for finally having an open debate. Now only if we could have that type of discussion over the border; or say, a demolition exemption. But back to Councillor Hatfield’s comment:
“I doubt Mr. Masse would exaggerate.” I’ll give you a second to pick yourself up off the floor.
Councillor Hatfield doubts a resident who complains that she can’t carry on a conversation outside because of the noise produced by the Junction’s air-conditioning system, but doesn’t doubt Mr. Masse who complains he could hear music inside his house with the windows closed.
Perhaps Councillor Hatfield missed it when in the House of Commons, Mr. Masse claimed highschool students were wearing “oxygen” to school because the pollution was so bad on Huron Church, when in reality, they were wearing air monitoring backpacks. Or perhaps how businesses are struggling and streets and streets and streets are congested because of the truck traffic. Perhaps Councillor Hatfield should read Masse’s interview regarding the Ambassador Bridge.
Mr. Masse doesn’t exaggerate – surely you jest.
But although the motion to follow administration’s recommendation failed, it still does not mean George Sofos will be in business any time soon. Councillor Halberstadt had the most sensible “middle ground” if you may by directing administration to redefine entertainment lounge.
Another interesting quote by Commandent Lewenza – he stated that “Public consultation is important.” Too bad he didn’t feel that way when Ed Arditti asked questions during the legally mandated public consultation process for the formation of a municipal corporation regarding the operation and ownership of the tunnel.
And finally, Caroline Postma rhymed off a series “rebirths” occuring in the west-end – a new Tim Horton’s; a new grocery store on Crawford which plows right into neighbouring homes across the street from an existing grocery store; a new school (which replaces an old one) and investments in Bradley Park.
She conveniently ignored the development of a new medical school, which she failed to attend its ground-breaking ceremony (along with Councillor Jones) and the community effort put forth by an amazing group of people in the organization Friends for Atkinson Park who have been fundraising tirelessly on their own to raise money to expand the skateboard park; create a truly boundless playground; offer subsidized swimming for low-income kids among many other amazing things they have done for the west-end.
And Councillor Jones put on a good show tonight, dismissing the needs of residents outside of ward two as he played “lawyer” again challenging the petition brought before council in support of The Junction. I thought I was watching a deposition. I’ve never ever seen a delegation treated with such disrespect as I did tonight.
We finally learned that Brian Masse is anti-profit. He listed off all the other public halls in the city that are “accountable” because they are non-profit and run by a board of directors as opposed to Mr. Sofo’s who wants to make a profit. The Ambassador Bridge Company should take heart – they are not the only targets in Mr. Masse’s world. He then challenged the testimony of an 18 year old youth who would volunteer for security at the proposed teen dances, stating he has serious concerns about that.
Gee Brian, I volunteered for security at my high school dances. In fact, when I was 19, I was a bouncer at KICKS Rock Café in the market in Ottawa – I turned out fine (o.k. I admit, I am a lonely blogger, but aside from that). Rather than congratulating a west-end youth for getting involved in his city and volunteering his time, Brian Masse indirectly questions the youth’s stability because Mr. Masse was a “youth” counsellor years ago. So was I Mr. Masse – and I “councilled” counselled youth with a plethora of issues and I could only have hoped they would volunteer at events such as those proposed by Mr. Sofos.
Even though the motion to accept administration’s recommendation’s proposed by Postma and seconded by Jones failed, Mr. Sofos will still not be able to open legally any time soon.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I agree with your assessment from last night’s meeting Chris. However, for one who was a “councillor” of youth, one should know how to spell it.
“A council is a group that discusses things. A counsel is someone who gives advice. “Counsel” is also a verb meaning “to advise.” “Council” cannot be a verb.”
Another fine example of a council that can’t DO anything except spout off against anyone who makes a profit. I wonder where they think all the tax money and city revenue they spend comes from?
Roseland doesn’t want to make a profit? That explains a lot!
I can’t believe that the motion to approve the recommendation of administration failed. Seems some of the Councillors are afraid of Paroian – when he has no leg to stand on. First, he argues that The Junction was a Public Hall. The Chief Building Official said ‘I don’t think so’. Failing that, The Junction was an ‘Entertainment Lounge’. The Chief Building Official still says ‘I don’t think so’. The Junction was a Place of Entertainment and Recreation.
Sofos missed the boat when the Entertainment Lounge use came into being. He should have applied for a liquor licence the same day Entertainment Lounge was approved as a use. He could have argued that the liquor licence was just to ’serve parents’ and that he had no intention of becoming a kiddie bar aka Entertainment Lounge (which would require a rezoning).
Thanks JM – no reason other than laziness – it was late, and I didn’t re-read my posting.
The real issue is that Mr. Sofos was issued a building permit, renovated his building, was then given a list of deficiencies which he then fixed and now cannot open.
Can you imagine if you applied for a building permit to build your family homoe, built that house, fixed any deficiencies to pass final inspection and then were told you could not move in because that land was not zoned for that type of house?
Its an absolute travesty.
I’ve always opposed the definition of entertainment lounge and this is one of the reasons. (I’m not simply pro bar as I have supported, capacity limitations of 200, only one licence per building etc…)
Defining entertainment lounge by designated dance floor alone makes Windsor the fabled city out of the 80’s movie “Footloose” staring Kevin Bacon. Movies like that are not even made anymore because no one in this modern age would believe that a city would ban dancing.
Another flaw is that I can get a special occasion permit to serve alcohol and dance outside of the entertainment lounge zone. Why is that?
Another flaw pointed out by Councilor Valentinis and addressed by Councillor Halberstadt is that if you throw your 11 yr old daughter a birthday party, they better not be able to dance.
Just so everyone knows, Chuck E. Cheese has an area in front of their stage that would qualify as a dance floor. Yes they play pre-recorded music too and kids do dance.
Why have they not been shut down? If I were Mr. Sofos or Mr. Paroian I’d be checking that out.
We need the dance police present during Birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese ensuring the little ones don’t dare think of dancing.
THis is what happens when you try to legislate a problem rather than manage it. google the Responsible Hospitality Institute if you want to learn how to manage your hospitality industry.
figured that was the case Chris. Was hoping you’d do a ‘quiet’ post-posting correction like another blogger did a while back….lol
I thought about that, but I do try to demonstrate that I’m not always right; just expressing my opinion and assessment. I prefer openness and transparency – even if this is only a blog.
Just demonstrating I’m open to constructive criticism and exchange.
Over the years I have gotten to know George Sofos very well. I have talked in depth about the trouble he has had trying to get his liquor license. This man has invested in this community for years and years. These militant neighbors including the righteous “Mr. non-profit Brian Masse” have put there unfounded concerns a head of any form of common since for way to long. My own father was persecuted for signing a petition years ago in favor of the Junction liquor license. They went so far as to boycott his drug store during a time when he was fighting business slow downs from larger drug store competition and fighting cancer, a fight he eventually lost.
I have never been a fan of the NDP but I have often liked some of the efforts of Brian Masse, this issue launched his political career (I noticed he denied this in the council meeting) However I have to say that Mr. Masse needs to get off his high horse and let Mr. Sofos have the opportunity to turn a profit from his major investment. Yes Mr. Masse I said “profit” I don’t think I should have to point this out to you but “Profit” is the foundation of all business, including “non-profit business” when all non-profit businesses are run by strictly volunteers and not 6 digit payed executives I will retract that statement.
George Sofos is one of the kindest men I have ever met, as only a customer of the Junction when my son was younger George quickly became one of the reasons we frequented the place. He has a heart of gold and I truly feel his frustration with having to deal with the NDP attitude shown by Postma and Jones. Perhaps we should ask Postma if her little DJ service should be a volunteer position or ask Jones about the whole concert series at Malden Park should have been all volunteer positions ….. Oops, seeing how no bands were ever paid I would guess they ended up being volunteers.
I understand that the west side of the city is in need of investment, but why would any business man worth his salt even consider doing so with there anti-success kind of attitudes that are frequently expressed. If you want investment you need to help it, not hinder it. As a close I have to say that Postma, Jones, and Masse can no longer enjoy any respect of mine. I would suggest that I am not the only business man to feel this way.
Excellent points Mr. Boscariol.
The Responsible Hospitality Institute website, for anyone interested is:
http://www.hospitalityweb.org/
Come now Mark, can we put the hyperbole aside? There is nothing preventing a restaurant from having a dance floor area as an accessory use. It’s all about what is considered the main use – Sofos and Parioan know that.
First, it’s a public hall, now it’s an entertainment lounge. What’s next? You can’t pretend to be something you were not in the first place. The Junction was never a public hall or an entertainment lounge – it was never licensed to be either, so it’s quite a stretch for Leon to argue that The Junction is a legal non-conforming use as an entertainment lounge. You have to be legally existing before the zoning is changed to be considered a legal non-conforming use. I’m not opposed to Sofos running a business, but let’s follow the processes outlined in the Planning Act.
It’s amusing to hear Councillors talking about not being able to dance, when Valentinis and Halberstadt were on Council when the definition of Entertainment Lounge was approved. It’s typical political short-sightedness – the inability to look at the long-term repercussions of their decisions.
Administration was not to enthusiastic to get involved in the whole Entertainment Lounge issue, for most people thought that the market would take care of the kiddie bars.
Vince,
Does 29 Park have influence to limit the competition ?
When our little dictator Eddie came to power the dance floor was viewed as a WMD . The city came after all with dance floors with intent of restricting our licenses to adult only. Fifty years the Top Hat had dancing and never was it an issue ,yet we had to fight for special exception to operate as a family restaurant with a dance floor.
Amen Mr. Clement…
Dancing is just the smoke and mirrors. Everyone has to go back to the history of this argument. Looks like others commenting here are protecting the fringes of their own interests. A great way to dance around the core issues wouldn’t you say? Mr. Valentinis and Mr. Halberstadt were indeed players in the defining of “Entertainment Lounge” and since they both have similar pending issues in their own ward they are indeed very, very short sighted. Unless that is…They are trying to set a certain precedent. One not necessarily desired by their constituents.
According to the new licencing descriptions, any place that has a designated dance floor is an entertainment lounge. Thats the only part of bar restrictions I opposed, and it was exactly because of your point. If a place like “atrio” or “spago after dark” tried to open up anywhere else in the city they’d be in the same position that the Junction would be in.
Just to be clear, I supported limiting capacities and other restrictions during that bar exercise.
Your also right about it being a public hall, the problem is that our definitions are written so that another K of C or Caboto Club would also be labeled an entertainment lounge even though they’re really public halls.
Anyone wanting to open up a teen dance hall now has to go into the entertainment lounge zone which is inappropriate for them to mix in with the older drinking crowd.
Problem is that by limiting entertainment lounges to only one area of the city, you end up increasing density of bar patrons in that area. Thats when we get problems. Toronto increased density in one area thinking they could cordon it off and control it and Police there tell me now they are regretting it very much.
There should have been a few more zones in appropriate places to act as a pressure valve for density downtown. Fortunately the americans not coming is achieving that now in the short term.
The decision was made when Mr. Sofos got his building permit, whether you think that was a good or bad decision, is irrelevant. Our city made a decision that cost this man hundreds of thousands and our city needs to be accountable for that.
Money was spent and unless the city wants to buy his property they should let him open.
Well stated Mr. Boscariol. That was my biggest concern with this. Mr. Sofos jumped through the hoops the city told him to, invested more money into his building, did everything that he was told to do, and still can’t open.
Gee. So when he goes out of business, the city will have a nice newly renovated building to take over.
Work with the man and the Brian Masse’s can quit with the exaggerated stories and fear-mongering.
This issue is being exploited in a blatant attempt to distract attention away from the inaction of council and galvanize the support of the electorate in the affected ward(s), merely a common exercise in small-town politics. To be completely honest, I don’t think Windsor needs a smaller version of the Caboto Club or Serbian Centre. However, I’m fairly certain that Mr. Sofos knows whether or not his business will draw. In my opinion, this issue is a reflection of Windsor city council’s contradictions, moreso Father Francis’ State of the City speech, i.e. “narrow interests”. It is well-known that Windsor’s police force devotes a considerable amount of its resources to the downtown Windsor area, especially during the summer. If Windsor city council is genuinely concerned about this, why would they vote to limit the establishment of “entertainment lounges” to the downtown area? So they could justify the police budget? I, like many others, suspect that Mr. Sofos is being hassled for reasons other than the reasons furnished by Windsor’s city council; perhaps it’s as simple as Windsor city council not wanting to seem incompetent or lacking vision. Ultimately, though, it’s a posturing exercise for a possible mayoral candidate. But really, Mr. Marra, what’s a couple hundred-thousand dollars to you? A life?