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This Jarvis piece does a good job of outlining the benefits to all of new hospital infrastructure. What she glosses over in one brief sentence is the key to resolving this impasse: the legitimate concerns of opponents of the site. https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/jarvis-while-we-debate-the-new-hospitals-location-covid-19-cases-surge
Critics of the 42 site have identified legitimate issues about the ways that location will harm the poorest and most diverse part of the community: residents of the city core. Notably, three of four core ward Councillors voted against Mayor Dilkens' motion in support.
If, as @winstarjarvis says, it is absolutely critical that this plan moves forward now and the support of a majority of Windsorites is key to doing so, the city has tools that can be deployed to achieve a satisfactory compromise and bring a significant number of critics onside.
There is clear evidence that the human cost of a change in the location in hospital infrastructure will impact poor and racialized communities the hardest. What is the city's plan to mitigate the impacts? Vague statements about more transit is the sum of that effort so far.
If WRH thinks this is the necessary location and the City of Windsor wants to move forward, more is needed. If Mayor Dilkens' goal is getting people on board as opposed to fomenting controversy for his own political ends, he can easily do so.
Step one: listen to residents with an open mind, acknowledge the truth of their concerns, and use hard data to measure the negative impacts of the new site. This is long overdue and would have been a far better use of resources than a political influence campaign.
Step two: Based on this data, commit to meaningful action that will mitigate the negative impacts. Don't just say there will be transit service. How much, how often and how fast? It comes down to political will. Be honest about what it will cost.
Step three: acknowledge and measure the impact on city finances of expanding our infrastructure to include Sandwich South lands. What will it cost to build? What will it cost to maintain? How will we pay? What will be sacrificed? Infrastructure debt is debt. Take it seriously.
Step four: recognize that you're telling the people who get the least attention and need the most support from their city to make a sacrifice. Bring that spirit to the discussion and prove that this is really a hospital for everyone.
Alternatively keep pushing this thing the way it's been done up until now, accept that many people are being harmed by it, and acknowledge that at the end of the day you just don't care.
