Mayor Hope Predicts Prosperity

[MapleCityStar]

Mayor Randy Hope has made the bold prediction that Chatham-Kent will lead the province in economic recovery from the current recession. He claims to see signs that we will fare better than the rest of Ontario. Apparently, these signs still include significant hardships, bankruptcies, and foreclosures. Hope says this bright future will be realized despite acknowledging that, "The jobs that are leaving us are not coming back." However, Hope has not taken much concrete action to replace those jobs other than engage in wishful thinking.

Is Mayor Hope addressing our economic problems in a credible, effective way, or has he spent too much time reading the tea leaves?

[MacIntosh]

Could this be the same Randy Hope i used to work with at the factory? Not too bright and talked your head into circles? If that's the best you guys back in Chatham can find for mayor, your screwed. Of coarse he's lying. It ain't likely the tea leaves he's been consulting.

[Diddley]

I'm afraid so. This is indeed the same Randy Hope who was also our MPP for 4 miserable years back in the early 90's, during the last recession under Bob Rae's NDP, a government that nearly bankrupted Ontario in the process.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I don't think Randy's judgements are the best either, but he does seem to have his best intentions at heart.  With that said, it's painfully obvious that he's also not a very smart man.  Truth be told, I can't even watch the council meetings anymore because of the nonsense that goes on.  The BS and constant bickering, the amount of money this city pisses away on stupid things, combined with a dysfunctional council in general has me shaking my head in disbelief at times.

I'd sure like to know where Randy sees encouraging signs that we are weathering the recession.  I have seen 4 businesses close up shop since February, with one only lasting three months before shutting its doors.  Perhaps north Chatham is performing better, but the empty storefronts and abandoned shops in South Chatham speaks for itself.  It's terribly depressing.

What's happening with Chatham is the same thing that's been going on for years and years in the Maritimes and Atlantic Provinces.  It's called the "brain drain".  That is, all the smart people have left.  Anyone who had a clue or any ambition at all to do anything with their lives have gotten the hell out of here.

[SurveySez]

This Mayor and his buddy Mary Lee were so confident of being first out the recession that they dropped a few big leads and figgured they could afford to. Mayor Randy Hope - What Me Worry? At what point will this guy start excepting his responsibility and stop blaming Gagner for his incompetance? Whose advising him anyway, idiots? He actually let a factory get away right under his nose. Guess it's okay when he forgets to follow up something important 'cause he beleives Chatham-Kent will be the FIRST OUT. The CAO and his wife at ED will make sure Mayor/CEO Hope doesn't wear this.