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Rose City Politics
Rose City Politics is a weekly, hour-long show about the politics, behind the chatter, and movers-and-shakers affecting Windsor.
Join us as we dissect, debate, educate, and inform on the political happenings in Windsor Ontario.
Latest Audio Episodes
Latest Biz X Magazine Column:

BIZ X Magazine: State of the City: A Rose City Politics 2022 Retrospective
For January 2022, three of the panelists take a look backwards, rather than forward, to provide a retrospective on 2022 before moving ahead to what 2023 will bring.
Latest Posts

RCP SHOW: Turbo and the Baconator
Kiemia, Jon, Don, Melinda and Doug review the fallout from Councillor Agostino’s CTS motion, a possible anti-panhandling bylaw, and Transit Windsor buses running at capacity.
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IT and Sewers
We have been putting up trinkets and shiny lights when we should have been funding critical technology infrastructure. We are pennywise and pound foolish. As is inevitable, those chickens are coming home to roost.
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RCP SHOW: Live from Maiden Lane – Mostly Gristle
Jon, Don, Melinda and Doug discuss local politics over cocktails at Maiden Lane Wine & Spirits. We talk about panhandling bylaw proposal, The motion to reconsider Council’s support for a Consumption and Treatment Services site in Windsor, and the makeup of the Windsor Police Services Board of Directors.
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Rino Bortolin on Safe Consumption Site rescind motion
Former ward 3 city councillor Rino Bortolin opines about newly elected ward 3 councillor Renaldo Agostino’s Notice of Motion to rescind city council support for the Safe Consumption Site’s approved location.
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Hamilton gets a “Bus Barn”? Why not “Garage Mahal”?
Hamilton’s “Bus Barn” is Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens’ nightmare “Garage Mahal”, and while Hamilton is going to see a new transit garage sooner than later, Windsorites are left wondering when we’ll get ours and if more cohesive political support could help…
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CTV Windsor: Windsor’s ‘outdated’ IT system another sign of large orgs leaving tech departments ‘starved of resources’ – Sartori
Software consultant and political commentator Doug Sartori, pictured in Windsor, Ont., on Jan. 20, 2023, says a recent report on Windsor’s IT system is yet another example of large organizations failing to prioritize and invest in their information technology systems “due to a lack of commitment from leadership in all things digital.” (Sanjay Maru/CTV News…
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ROSE CITY POLITICS: Jon Liedtke asks Premier Ford if health changes are enough (VIDEO)
Premier Ford recently said he spoke to a hospital executive who said Ontario’s healthcare system is only comparable to North Korea and Cuba, so I asked him whether his plans to expand access to private clinics will go far enough…
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RCP SHOW: Powered by Millennial Rage
Doug, Don, Jon, Melinda & Kiemia talk about the Windsor’s digital modernization consultation, the Capital Power gas plant issue, and a school naming policy report for the public school board. Rose City Politics is brought to you with the kind support of LiUNA Local 625: Building Better Communities. Support the show on Patreon.com/RoseCityPolitics. Find us…
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RCP SHOW: The Marvelous Ms. Munro
New regular panelist Melinda Munro joins Kiemia, Jon, Don, and Doug this week. Kiemia walks us through the upcoming Council agenda and the panel discusses the process, substance and politics of the 2023 City Budget based on initial reports. Add a couple of For Your Consideration items and you’ve got a show.
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RCP SHOW: Reeve of the Wasteland
Rose City Politics discuss the auto industry and Windsor’s economy, Project Arrow, Invest Windsor-Essex’s agenda for 2023 and a scuffle between APMA and the Mayor’s office over the 2022 Ambassador Bridge blockade.
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RCP SHOW: 2022 TOP 10
Doug and Jon did a rundown of the TOP 10 listened to episodes of ROSE CITY POLITICS for 2022 (from lowest to highest). Rose City Politics is brought to you with the kind support of LiUNA Local 625: Building Better Communities. Support the show on Patreon.com/RoseCityPolitics. Find us in print in Biz X Magazine, online…
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RCP SHOW: Fill em’ Up with Coney Dogs
Jon, Don, and Doug are joined by Raheem Younes, owner and founder of RaheemCo, to talk about his participation in the new Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepeneurship Network. Later, we talk about the Mayor’s trip to South Korea and riff on auto industry matters.
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RCP SHOW: Carry On, Kiemia
Kiemia Rezagian joins for a new segment, Carry on Kiemia, about upcoming city council agendas, & the panel discusses a GECDSB policy proposal to require new books be publicized before circulation, and Windsor ranked BEST of the WORST cities for commuting to work via sustainable transportation.
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RCP SHOW: Don’t Burn the Place Down with Your Candles
Jon and Doug are joined by Gabriel Ciavaglia of Activate Transit Windsor Essex and newly-elected Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino to talk about: Rose City Politics is brought to you with the kind support of LiUNA Local 625: Building Better Communities. Support the show on Patreon.com/RoseCityPolitics. Find us in print in Biz X Magazine, online…
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RCP SHOW: Shit Sucks, But It’s Not Your Fault
Jon and Doug chat about the megahospital construction timeline, a photograph of Mayor Dilkens that has surfaced and raised eyebrows online, the new County Warden, and more.
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BIZ X Magazine: Ta-da! Windsor’s New City Council Has Been Decided
Rose City Politics outlines what the priorities of the next city council should be.
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RCP SHOW: Stay in your lane, Sartori
Don, Jon and Doug talk about municipal governance reform in Ontario and the inauguration of a new council.
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RCP SHOW: Schlub’s Rights
Jon and Doug are joined by Councillor-Elect Angelo Marignani to talk about: Rose City Politics is brought to you with the kind support of LiUNA Local 625: Building Better Communities. Support the show on Patreon.com/RoseCityPolitics. Find us in print in Biz X Magazine, online at BizXMagazine.com and RoseCityPolitics.ca.
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Nu Q Lear
Doug and Jon are joined by Ward 9 Councillor Kieran McKenzie to discuss his election campaign and the landscape on Council moving forward.
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Tune out the Pundits
Don, Jon and Doug dive deep into the 2022 Windsor election results & POST MORTEM; 3 New Councillors; Councillors that got more than 50%; Data analysis + accessibility issues; How Holt won most weeks yet lost the election; Mayor Dilkens says to tune out the…pundits?
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