Welcome to Wyandotte - not!

**467riverfix** · August-20-09, 08:10 AM

Here's a story about a couple of innocent Canadians who were out for a Sunday drive discovering Downriver Detroit including the pleasures of Grosse Isle. But for all of the City of Wyandotte's desire to create a friendly downtown with trendy galleries and cafes, as well as the Wyandotte Street Art Fair, it was lost on them. The art fair [[July 8 - 11) finished the day before their visit. They had known that. Crews were taking down booths along Biddle Ave. After strolling around downtown and window shopping - and going into the only store that seemed open [[it was about noon) - they got back in their car to head downriver. They inadvertently turned on to Biddle because it seemed partly open. They drove toward Eureka Rd but it was barricaded. So they turned around and tried to find a side street. All of a sudden a large City of Wyandotte public works truck started driving towards them. They thought the truck was going to pass. But it stopped immediately in front of their car so that they could not drive further. It also kind of wedged them in so that to leave they had to make a couple of back-up manoeuvres to twist themselves out. There were two workers in the truck's cab. One, in the passenger seat, was laughing his head off. There was no attempt to communicate that the tourists were in the wrong place. The public servants' behaviour was bullying and intimidating. Also surprising was that, after sending e-mails to several city officials including the mayor and the person who oversees the art fair, there was no response. Not even an acknowledgement they had received the e-mails. Finally, after more than two weeks, a phone message was left at the office of Mayor Joseph R. Peterson referencing the e-mails and saying that no one had responded. That very same afternoon [[surprise surprise!) they received an e-mail from His Worship - rather grudging they thought - suggesting the street was closed and they should not have been there but that the complaint would be forwarded to the public works dept. This was July 28. They have heard nothing since. Hurray for Wyandotte!

**dcmorrison12** · August-20-09, 08:16 AM

"Hurray for Wyandotte!"

Hurray!!!

**MikeM** · August-20-09, 08:18 AM

I thought by now we've learned letter writing campaigns don't work.

Stosh · August-20-09, 08:23 AM

I learned early on that the only thing these people [[politicians) respond to is public embarassment. I'd suggest that the Canadians enquire about the date of the next council meeting. They should show up there, and raise holy hell. With any luck, the local newspaper, or what passes for one, might be there and pick up on the story.

Retroit · August-20-09, 09:00 AM

"There was no attempt to communicate that the tourists were in the wrong place."

It appears that it could also be said that the tourists made no attempt to communicate that they were lost. Why didn't they ask the Public Works workers for help?

"Should we ask for help?"

"No, let's wait till we get home, and write a bunch of angry e-mails."

**rajdet** · August-20-09, 09:11 AM

I have always valued my Canadian neighbors south of the border. I have had great experiences in Windsor, Toronto, Montreal, Guelph, Point Pelee, Holiday Beach, and many other places because of friendly and welcoming Canadians. Let me be the first to sincerely apologize for the way you were treated both by the Public Works people and the Mayors office. I hope these ass holes will not deter you from visiting in the future. Ugly Americans indeed!

**Novine** · August-20-09, 10:34 AM

"It appears that it could also be said that the tourists made no attempt to communicate that they were lost. Why didn't they ask the Public Works workers for help?"

If they weren't supposed to be there, the workers should have made the effort to find out why they were there and to get them going in the right direction. The fact that one of the workers was laughing tells you that they had no interest in helping. Sounds like the City of Wyandotte has some clowns on their workforce who need to understand that they work for the public and it means acting professionally at all times while on the public dime.

**Cushkid** · August-20-09, 11:20 AM

As a Wyandotte resident, I personally apologize. As with any city there are always a few bad apples to make a whole group look bad. Next time you decide to come to Wyandotte let me know and I will personally show you around and tell you about our normally wonderful town and its amazing history.

**Roq** · August-20-09, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Here's a story about a couple of innocent Canadians who were out for a Sunday drive ...

story being the operative word.

**Danny** · August-21-09, 09:46 AM

Wyandotte has a revivalesque downtown. It's walkable and filled with predestrian life it would make folks who lived and worked at Downtown Lincoln Park jealous. Wynadotte has a walkable riverfront. Even through they could not see a city in Canada, but only trees and nature, it's ok. People like to look at the naturescape over the river. I do when I have been over there.

**Ray1936** · August-21-09, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by MikeM

I thought by now we've learned letter writing campaigns don't work.

Oh, I dunno. I had a very bad experience with Dollar Rent-a-Car at Chicago Midway in July. Wrote a letter to the CEO in Tulsa explaining what had taken place. Got a very nice letter of apology from her yesterday, along with a voucher for $75 for my next rental.

Sometimes the squeaky wheel DOES get some oil.

**467riverfix** · August-22-09, 04:13 PM

Thanks much for the apologies, appreciated. A letter was sent to the downriver newspaper, the Times Herald, but, again, nothing heard in return.

**Sstashmoo** · August-22-09, 04:32 PM

Get license plate, truck numbers and names if possible. Simply saying a "city truck" or whatever is hopeless. What are you expecting they reprimand the whole DPW because you stumbled into a couple of jerks? Keep in mind this is pretty much standard operating mode for city and county services. Not all, but that is the common thread that runs through it. Screw off job.

Makes one wonder about anything the State and local Governments might be one day in charge of [[Healthcare).

Maybe Americans have too shitty an attitude for socialised anything.

**NoHeartAnthony** · August-22-09, 10:20 PM

Gotta love your passive-aggressive behavior. It really puts the City of Wyandotte in its place!

48302 · August-23-09, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by 467riverfix

Here's a story about a couple of innocent Canadians who were out for a Sunday drive discovering Downriver Detroit including the pleasures of Grosse Isle. But for all of the City of Wyandotte's desire to create a friendly downtown with trendy galleries and cafes, as well as the Wyandotte Street Art Fair, it was lost on them. The art fair [[July 8 - 11) finished the day before their visit. They had known that. Crews were taking down booths along Biddle Ave. After strolling around downtown and window shopping - and going into the only store that seemed open [[it was about noon) - they got back in their car to head downriver. They inadvertently turned on to Biddle because it seemed partly open. They drove toward Eureka Rd but it was barricaded. So they turned around and tried to find a side street. All of a sudden a large City of Wyandotte public works truck started driving towards them. They thought the truck was going to pass. But it stopped immediately in front of their car so that they could not drive further. It also kind of wedged them in so that to leave they had to make a couple of back-up manoeuvres to twist themselves out. There were two workers in the truck's cab. One, in the passenger seat, was laughing his head off. There was no attempt to communicate that the tourists were in the wrong place. The public servants' behaviour was bullying and intimidating. Also surprising was that, after sending e-mails to several city officials including the mayor and the person who oversees the art fair, there was no response. Not even an acknowledgement they had received the e-mails. Finally, after more than two weeks, a phone message was left at the office of Mayor Joseph R. Peterson referencing the e-mails and saying that no one had responded. That very same afternoon [[surprise surprise!) they received an e-mail from His Worship - rather grudging they thought - suggesting the street was closed and they should not have been there but that the complaint would be forwarded to the public works dept. This was July 28. They have heard nothing since. Hurray for Wyandotte!

i am totally surprised.

1. how did these Canadians even get in this country? with our completely insane passport rules, and the 5 hour lines, it is pretty amazing they even got in!

2. How much you want to bet that the Mayor of Wyandotte looked at the letter and said "I have tons of budget issues to deal with, on top of making sure that this place is running, and this canuck is writing me that he is offended by this nonsense? I thought Canadians were tough...dont they play hockey there?"

**terryh** · August-23-09, 11:50 AM

Im sorry but not surprised the visitors encountered such offensive behaviour in our rude adolescent society.The city employees are probably mopers who feel underpaid and underinsured. Could the police have became involved for the careless-reckless? driving of the workers?

48302 · August-23-09, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by terryh

Im sorry but not surprised the visitors encountered such offensive behaviour in our rude adolescent society.The city employees are probably mopers who feel underpaid and underinsured. Could the police have became involved for the careless-reckless? driving of the workers?

are you kidding me?

This is so ridiculous!

Fine, someone who works for the city of Wyandotte wasnt as nice as you.

BIG DEAL!

Like there arent any canadians who dont act like this?

I dont know about any of you guys, but I happen to have an X and a Y. The combination of those two chromosomes makes me NOT CARE when some dildo who isnt worth a damn laughs at me.

Grow some, please, and disregard stupidity.

As for complaining to the mayor and the newspapers about it....are you serious?

**SaintMe** · September-19-09, 08:45 PM

Sorry to hear about that bad experience. But I've got a lot of affection for Wyandotte. Not sure why everything downtown was closed. Possibly cuz the streets were still blocked from the fair? Maybe go there more than once and you'll have a different opinion.

Also, there is no Times Herald downriver.

**hudkina** · September-20-09, 12:29 AM

Are you people serious? Who cares? They drove down a one way street the wrong way and the city workers were laughing at the situation. Do we really need to write letters and do formal apologies?

I don't apologize. Next time you visit, I'm sure nothing like this will happen again. This is a one time thing and nothing needs to be done about it. It's stupid to write letters to city officials and newspapers over something as asanine as this.

This is such a typical Canadian superiority complex...