In this episode of Windsor Speakeasy, host T.J. Bondy is joined by local artists and activists Bilal Nasser and Kam Cusumano to discuss the latest updates on Windsor's Safe Consumption and Services Site, SafePoint.

Despite the clear need for a Safe Consumption and Services Site in Windsor, Mayor Drew Dilken and Councillor JoAnne Gignac have been stalling the implementation process with fear-mongering tactics and bureaucratic delays. Bondy, Cusumano, and Nasser discuss the harmful effects of these delays and the importance of providing support and resources to those struggling with addiction in our community. They also discuss the specific challenges that Windsor faces in implementing SafePoint and the ways in which residents can get involved to support this important initiative.

Join us as we dive deep into this important issue and explore how we can work together to make our community a safer and more supportive place for all.

Guest :Erica Bassakos, Registered Social Worker employed at Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare

Erica speaks from her experience as a social worker and is not speaking on behalf of her employer, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare. We had the privilege to chat with Her about harm reduction, and how a safe consumption and treatment site in our city integrates and relieves stress on other parts of our healthcare system. Consider this a bonus episode to supplement the voices heard in our most recent episode;”Downtown Councillor motions to delay life-saving healthcare”.

Guests: Renaldo Agostino, Brandon Bailey, Rino Bortolin, Brian Yeomans

We talk about Ward 3 Councillor, Renaldo Agostino and other stakeholders about his notice of motion to rescind the approval of a Consumption treatment and services site (CTS) delaying the project that was set to be serving the community in March. We brought up some archival speakeasy tape of outgoing Ward 3 Councillor Rino Bortolin talking about how his work over his term to gain public buy-in from all sides. We Talk with Brandon Bailey about his advocacy in the past for a safe injection site (SIS) in the city and what these sites mean to people who use drugs. We also talk to outgoing DWBIA chair Brian Yeomans about the consultation process during his term on the BIA.

Rino Bortolin: 7:21
Brandon Bailey: 13:49
Brian Yeomans: 27:45
Councillor Renaldo Agostino: 41:21

Resources:

Recording of this week's town hall presentation:

https://youtu.be/Nni_O7kYfxo

Website with other reports and resources:

https://wecoss.ca/

Link to the notice of motion:

https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/city-council-meetings/pages/notice-of-motions.aspx

Pozitive Pathways Petition:

https://chng.it/CGcS7mZTRc

We are joined by arts and community catalyst Tom Lucier, owner and operator of Phog Lounge and Meteor. Phog Lounge just celebrated its 19th birthday, we talk to Tom about running a small business downtown Windsor. We get to talk about how small businesses thrive, what role landlords play, and the significance of safety through urban design. Phog continues to nurture a community of young people bursting into the arts scene, we talk about how this has come to be. Tom breaks down what Phog's schedule is like on a weekly basis and the cool things that are worth checking out.

Episode art by Mike Edwards.

We are joined by Darcie Renaud to chat about the upcoming budget and how Windsor city council will be creating a committee so that new councillors and the public can learn more about the municipal annual budgetary process. We also talk about the Budget tools the city has put out as part of community engagement.

2022 budget:

https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Budget/Documents/2022%20Approved%20Operating%20Budget%20(v4).pdf

https://www.citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Budget/Documents/2022%20Captial%20Budget%20-%20Capital%20Projects%20Detail.pdf

Related articles:

https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/windsor-passes-2022-budget-increase-despite-heated-debate-over-transit-1.5706215

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/city-expected-to-delay-2023-budget-talks-into-spring

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/new-budget-committee-not-most-appropriate-forum-for-public-presentations-city-cao

Budget tools:

http://cityofwindsor.ca.abalancingact.com/city-of-windsor-2022-approved-property-tax-budget

http://cityofwindsor.ca.abalancingact.com/2023-capital-budget-prioritize

https://cityofwindsor.ca.abalancingact.com/2022-city-of-windsor-taxpayer-receipt

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Speakeasy’s back, tell a friend.

We chatted about Bronwen’s first city council meeting and had our first guest, Gabe Ciavaglia, to chat about the transit investment that was voted on at that meeting. Council approves $100 million in transit investments but misses the opportunity to build the new bus garage leaving the Transit Master Plan “severely constrained”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/bus-garage-council-vote-1.6667296

We also talked about the survey that is open for public input for the Ojibway National Urban Park. Please take the opportunity to have your voice heard on how you want to see this project carried out.

https://letstalk.citywindsor.ca/national-urban-park-windsor/survey_tools/survey

Why is panhandling something that should be illegal but the Goodfellows are praised for their good will?

City agencies, boards, and committees' application deadline is extended to December 31. Take a look and apply to be a changemaker in our city.

www.windsorabc.ca

Essex County elected the first female warden ever. Congrats to Hilda MacDonald on shattering a glass ceiling and bringing representation to this level of government.

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/essex-county-councillors-elect-new-warden-deputy-warden

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Episode art from The Transit Master Plan document, City of Windsor.

In the final hours of this campaign we talk about the two political heavyweights duking it out to be Windsor's next mayor. Incumbent, Drew Dilkens faces a strong challenger in Chris Holt. We talk about why kind of leaders we think these two men are. Our icebreaker for this episode is one for the books. Get out and vote on Monday.

Check out our resources page for more info:

www.windsorspeakeasy.com/info

On October 20, 2022 the Friends of Adie Knox hosted a final candidate's meeting for the coucillor hopefuls of ward 4. Five of the candidates attended the meeting with those not in attendance sending their regards but unable to attend. Moderated by Linda MacKenzie thanks for the all who attended as asked questions.