As we continue tracking where local candidates stand on the downtown summer street closures, today we look at a direct, firm response from mayoral candidate Bill Fryer.

Fryer, a former Amherstburg Police Chief, is running a campaign focused heavily on restructuring town governance. In his reply, he bypasses the diplomatic “middle-ground” phrasing we’ve seen from some other candidates, openly labeling the weekly layout a systemic community strain.

Fryer’s Position: A Burden on the Community

Fryer acknowledged the ongoing advocacy surrounding this issue and stated clearly that he intends to put an end to the current arrangement as part of his leadership platform.

Key takeaways from his response include:

• A “Burden” on Residents: Fryer explicitly identified Open Air as an ongoing burden for many local residents, rather than framing it as a universally positive festival.
• Demanding Whole-Community Input: He emphasized that Open Air is a major public matter where the entire community wants—and deserves—a direct say, suggesting the decision-making process has been too exclusive.
• A Promise for Direct Action: Bypassing calls for more studies, Fryer noted that these unaddressed accessibility and residential concerns “will be taken care of” under his platform. Elsewhere in his campaign, he has gone on record stating bluntly: “Open Air, as far as I’m concerned, is done.”

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The Reality: Aligning With the Demand for Structural Change

Of all the responses collected so far, Bill Fryer’s alignment is the most direct regarding the absolute removal of the weekly festival layout. By calling the recurring closure a “burden,” he reflects the real exhaustion felt by residents who have been locked out of their own downtown core for four months every summer.

For individuals who use their vehicles as vital assistive mobility devices, this stance cuts straight to the root of the problem. As Fryer has noted in his wider platform, closing a critical thoroughfare like Dalhousie Street on a weekly basis simply isn’t right—especially given the serious accessibility barriers it creates.

When politicians suggest “tweaking” the event or conducting more studies, they are often avoiding a tough decision. Fryer’s position cuts through that political static. If an emergency-era pandemic measure is actively preventing residents with mobility challenges from safely accessing businesses, parking, and public roads, the solution isn’t to look for a compromise—the solution is to dismantle the barrier entirely and open the streets back up.

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What Do You Think?

Bill Fryer is taking a decisive, zero-compromise approach by stating that the weekly closure of our main artery has run its course.

Do you agree with Fryer that Open Air has become an unnecessary burden on the community, or do you prefer the scaled-back compromises proposed by other candidates? Let me know your thoughts.