Take a look at our enhanced Articles page to see some thinking that defies the conventional wisdom about the Plaza and economic opportunity in the County.

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	In November of 2006, MDOT announced its intention to build the expanded Plaza in the City of Port Huron. This announcement kicked off a firestorm of controversy and propaganda which affected the perceptions of many who had never considered the project. The local paper reviled the Plaza expansion plan as being nothing more than a "parking lot" that would take a "major chunk out of the north end" of Port Huron and cost the City "millions of dollars" in lost tax base. The Port Huron City Council and Administration began pressuring MDOT to either cancel the proposed expansion or to reduce its area (the "footprint"). Many people began perceiving the project in us/them, win/lose terms. Many came to think that the worst outcome would be for for the Plaza expansion to be built in Port Huron as MDOT proposed – that would be a "loss". The second-worst outcome would be expanding the Plaza with a reduced footprint – a "loss", but not a total one. The best outcome – a "win" – would be getting the expansion canceled. We strongly disagree. We contend that the worst possible outcome for the Blue Water Area would be for the Plaza to be expanded within Port Huron with the City gaining nothing from it. The second-worst outcome would be to maintain the status quo. The best outcome would be for the Plaza to be expanded with thoughtful, considered planning that capitalizes on the area's status as a major border crossing. We think that the Plaza expansion should be viewed as an opportunity for Port Huron and the Blue Water Area to rethink and retool their economic and business outlook to face the new century. We hope in these pages to explain why we think this. Regardless of what you have thought about the Plaza expansion, we encourage you to read carefully and thoughtfully, and draw your own conclusions. Look at the hard realities, examine why we think the current state of affairs is very bad for Port Huron and the area. Consider the possibility that there could be some positive alternatives in this situation – win/win outcomes that could benefit Port Huron, the entire Blue Water Area, and the State of Michigan.