Government motto: "Do as I say not as I do."
For the rest of us, we should ignore cheaper prices and time conveniences. Always Buy Local, so the "leaders" tell us. And I do so because I like it not because someone tells me to.
Jun 17, 2009 - WTOL - All America City competition welcomes Toledo in top 27
Tuesday night was the final rehearsal for the All America city competition in Tampa, Fla. But the mayor and several performers will fly out of Detroit. The mayor's chief of staff said there were no flights out of Toledo at the time they need to leave.
"We explored it. and we encourage everybody who can to use it, but it just didn't work out for us in this schedule," said the mayor's chief of staff, Bob Reinbolt.I don't care what airport one uses, but this is funny.
Toledo "leaders" competing in the All American City competition fly from Detroit instead of Toledo.
The Finkbeiner administration hits keep coming. What a glorious week.
- Jun 16, 2009 - Toledoans ticketed for parking in own driveways
- Jun 17, 2009 - Carty breaks up fight!
This is one reason why it would be sad if Carty does not get re-elected to mayor for a fourth term. I guess it means we need to enjoy these moments while we have them and don't take them for granted.
Feb 23, 2007 Toledo Free Press opinion by Kevin Milliken titled Mayor snubs Toledo airport :
Mayoral spokesman Brian Schwartz said the Detroit Metro flight was cheaper than one out of Toledo Express, although he could not provide exact figures when asked. Schwartz also says the mayor expects city staff to take flights that make the best use of their time. In this instance, there would be no layover at another airport for Finkbeiner.
All that said, there’s a big billboard along Erie Street as you enter Downtown Toledo, encouraging commuters to “Buy Local, Fly Local.” That’s the mantra the Port Authority has used for years trying to drum up business for Toledo Express, while hoping to stop some of the flow of passengers to Detroit Metro.
The Port Authority even pulled out some figures to show the economic challenges posed by people choosing Detroit Metro: an annual loss of $80 million to 100 million, plus a cost to the local consumer base of $14.8 million from people driving to Detroit to catch a flight.
Toledo City Council even joined the fray last fall, unanimously passing a resolution encouraging the mayor to have city officials use Toledo Express whenever possible.
We expect our elected leaders to be good stewards of our taxpayer dollars. If the mayor found a cheaper flight and saved some of our nickels, we should be glad.
However, if the mayor/economic development director/former port authority member sets an example that encourages more business leaders, city officials, and citizens to skip our local airport and go to Detroit instead, that could cost our region a lot more money in the long run.
Is that sending the wrong message?