Raise the Hammer
Two-Way Streets, Not More Studies
Hamilton needs to follow the footsteps of those cities that already mustered the courage to do right by their downtown streets and are enjoying the fruits of the urban renaissance we also claim to desire.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 21, 2010 in Editorial (63 comments)
Survivorship Bias and Business Opposition to LRT
Current business owners don't understand LRT beyond its narrow role as transit. Worse, as survivors of the status quo they misrepresent the lost potential for transformation.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 17, 2010 in Editorial (40 comments)
Are We On a Slow Train to Nowhere?
After years of futzing around on a matter that has already been studied to death, the Ontario Government may end up simply running down the clock on Hamilton's best chance at a decent transportation spine.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 01, 2010 in Editorial (41 comments)
Plenty of Shame to Go Around
The trend toward "routine" annual parliamentary resets will prove hard to resist for whichever party ends up in power after the next election.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 05, 2010 in Editorial (94 comments)
All You Can Drive
Market-based highway tolls would get us out of our traffic jams and into an optimistic future of high quality regional transit, stronger job growth and better economic prospects.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 09, 2009 in Editorial (19 comments)
Council Cop-Out on Area Rating
Council is passing the buck by shifting the political heat that radiates from area rating off their own backs onto a randomly selected group of residents.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 25, 2009 in Editorial (82 comments)
OK, GTA: We Won the Games, Now Don't Screw Up the Legacy
If planners and decision makers want to get the most out of the Pan Am Games, they need to keep two core principles in mind: think long-term, and think urban.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 09, 2009 in Editorial (65 comments)
Neglected Transit: Time to Bring Hamilton's Unloved Stepchild Back into the Fold
Why does our strategic plan to double transit ridership by 2025 never, ever translate into policy decisions that move us incrementally toward that goal?
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 27, 2009 in Editorial (53 comments)
Official Launch of Hamilton Civic League
Witness the birth of a truly transformative organization in a city crying out for effective broad-based organizing.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 30, 2009 in Editorial (28 comments)
The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
A man was robbed at gunpoint on Bold St., half a block from Locke.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 28, 2009 in Editorial (8 comments)
Next Stop for Connaught Proposal: Provincial Government
Citizens concerned about the process and the selection of the Connaught should direct their energies and efforts toward the provincial government.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 21, 2009 in Editorial (53 comments)
Talk Radio Ranting No Way to Debate Policy
Uninformed rationalizing from a set of prejudices might make for entertaining rants on the long commute home from work, but it makes for lousy public policy debate.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 16, 2009 in Editorial (40 comments)
Area Rating Reform Should Not Be a Zero-Sum Game
The main purpose of equalizing tax rates should be to increase the revenue coming into the system so the city can afford to improve service.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 14, 2009 in Editorial (5 comments)
Time to Ban Corporate Donations to Municipal Campaigns
Developers generally get the candidates they want elected into municipal office - and they get the policy decisions they want as well.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 18, 2009 in Editorial (22 comments)
The Bike-Car Non-Conundrum
We don't need to guess about a cycling policy. We need only decide what our goals should be, study the available evidence and implement the policy that achieves our goals.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 07, 2009 in Editorial (26 comments)
Letter to Council: Approve Cycling Master Plan
Please make an informed choice based on the clear evidence from around the world and vote to bring Hamilton into the fold of progressive, livable cities that encourage active living and full participation for all citizens.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 19, 2009 in Editorial (14 comments)
Council Ignores Strategic Objectives
Instead of actually following their own planning policies, our council lurches from case to case, bending to whatever interest group has the most influence at a given time.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 18, 2009 in Editorial (34 comments)
Cycling Master Plan: Solid Network, Slow Implementation
City staff are asking councillors to approve a comprehensive cycling master plan that would complete a continuous bicycle network through the entire city - eventually.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2009 in Editorial (7 comments)
City Rapid Transit Update: Good Progress but Metrolinx Analysis Still Pending
The city seems to be doing all its homework and negotiating with the right departments and governmental organizations to ensure that it is prepared to go ahead once Metrolinx releases its benefits case analysis.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 10, 2009 in Editorial (17 comments)
So How's That Enforcement Working For You?
When policy goes up against human nature, policy loses every time. Successful policies work because they are designed to accommodate what people are going to do anyway.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 14, 2009 in Editorial (41 comments)
Subsidized Sprawl Servicing a False Economy
If suburban homes are no longer affordable once their prices reflect the actual cost of servicing, that suggests the logic of greenfield development is actually a false economy.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 12, 2009 in Editorial (9 comments)
I'm Kind Of With Merulla on This One
Those ideas that really can transform the city are coming not from the usual suspects but from the grassroots.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 05, 2009 in Editorial (35 comments)
Wash Your Hands Already
There's just no excuse for health care workers not to wash their hands close to 100 percent of the time, all the time.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 01, 2009 in Editorial (8 comments)
Last Chance to Comment on Cycling Master Plan
The city is accepting public input on its revised cycling master plan until April 30, 2009.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 22, 2009 in Editorial (4 comments)
Dabbling in the Cult of Done
Can a succession of ephemeral, throwaway accomplishments add up to a worthwhile, enduring project?
by Ryan McGreal
Published March 12, 2009 in Editorial (8 comments)
New Centre Mall Locks In Sprawl Development
If the city wants to shift development to the urban model, it needs to help investors and builders make the jump away from the sprawl model with which they're already familiar.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 26, 2008 in Editorial (13 comments)
Civic Advocacy: A Brief Primer
Build relationships, find common ground, and focus on campaigns that are concrete and winnable.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 04, 2008 in Editorial (28 comments)
Enough Already!
Say what you want about whether the recent Canadian election was a waste of time; at worst it was only a waste of 35 days.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 04, 2008 in Editorial (2 comments)
The Time is Right Now for Light Rail in Hamilton
The only way to guarantee first-round funding is to send Metrolinx a clear message that the city's political leadership is united behind the light rail initiative.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 02, 2008 in Editorial (7 comments)
A Little Farther Down the Line
After a busy summer, light rail is getting closer to reality for Hamilton.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 11, 2008 in Editorial (31 comments)
A Work in Progress: James North in Transition
Three new projects on James Street North showcase a neighbourhood coming back to life.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 11, 2008 in Editorial (49 comments)
Summer Vacation
This is the last RTH issue before our annual summer break.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 07, 2008 in Editorial (3 comments)
Who Owns Our Media?
The traditional media are used to being the experts who decide what people watch and read. That approach excludes people who hunger to participate.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 30, 2008 in Editorial (24 comments)
Transport Revolutions Seminar
As oil production goes into decline, we must transform the way we move people and goods.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 18, 2008 in Editorial (12 comments)
Case Studies in Dysfunctional Governance
Regardless of which decision you support, it's bad policy not to consider the alternatives before making a decision.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 20, 2007 in Editorial (7 comments)
Amid Policy Crises, Canadians Grow Weary of Politicking
The Conservatives have had two years to demonstrate that they represent all Canadians, not merely their partisan base. Instead, they have demonstrated that they just don't get it.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 20, 2007 in Editorial (0 comments)
Overcoming Domesticated Ambition
The Public Works Department claims to be undergoing a conceptual shift in what city building means, but it still has a way to go.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 27, 2007 in Editorial (4 comments)
Hamilton Light Rail Website Launch
A new organization is forming to promote modern light rail in Hamilton.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 08, 2007 in Editorial (8 comments)
Downtown Transportation Master Plan Review: Promising, But Needs Improvement
Contact the city Department of Public Works and add your comments to the plan.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 08, 2007 in Editorial (2 comments)
More Than a Feeling: A Boston Travelogue
Boston provides abundant lessons - both hopeful and cautionary - for a revitalizing city like Hamilton.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 22, 2007 in Editorial (14 comments)
Big Box Stores and Urban Development
The best way to get developers to accept urban criteria is to make the rules clear and simple.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 28, 2007 in Editorial (12 comments)
HPD Intensification Seminar
You can't change the planning policies or the economics of development until you change people's mindsets about planning and development.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 28, 2007 in Editorial (0 comments)
Building Grassroots Support for Light Rail
If Hamilton is going to get light rail, citizens need to take the lead in advocating for it.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 09, 2007 in Editorial (7 comments)
Is Bicycling Safe?
If you follow the rules of the road and ride carefully, cycling is actually much safer than driving.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 09, 2007 in Editorial (41 comments)
Wanted: Light Rail Champion for Hamilton
The Mayor really needs to get out in front of this issue and demonstrate some robust leadership.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 27, 2007 in Editorial (7 comments)
Eight Reasons Everyone Should Support Light Rail
Light rail isn't just good for riders; society as a whole benefits from fast, clean, convenient transit.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 27, 2007 in Editorial (4 comments)
The Internet is Self-Correcting
Compared to TV, the Internet makes it extremely easy to expose oneself to a humongous variety of perspectives and opinions from across the political spectrum and around the globe.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 27, 2007 in Editorial (0 comments)
Unfinished Business
After four years the Liberal Party has accomplished much, but several unresolved problems threaten to undercut its legacy.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 07, 2007 in Editorial (8 comments)
Fix the Municipal Funding System
Canadian cities cannot meet 21st century challenges with a 19th century legal framework.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 30, 2007 in Editorial (1 comment)
Support the Anti-Idling By-Law
The proposed anti-idling by-law needs your support at the May 10 public consultation.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 30, 2007 in Editorial (6 comments)
The Speed Factor
It's dangerous nonsense to suggest that speed is not a factor when a moving vehicle kills a pedestrian.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 09, 2007 in Editorial (5 comments)
Scratching the Surface
A city's downtown core can have attractive destinations worth getting to or it can have abundant parking for people who want to drive to get there. It can't have both.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 24, 2007 in Editorial (15 comments)
American Way of Life: Still Not Up for Negotiation
Bush's plan to reduce US reliance on imported petroleum through the wonders of technology is dangerous magical thinking.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 24, 2007 in Editorial (1 comment)
Raise the Hammer Turns Two
Thanks to you, Raise the Hammer is celebrating its second anniversary.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 13, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
Contact Your City Councillor
Easy contact information for the newly elected municipal representatives.
by RTH Staff
Published December 13, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
Bidness is Bad for Business
The bad money of bidness, which thrives on secrecy and cronyism, drives out the good money of innovative industries that try to addres some of our long-term problems.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 23, 2006 in Editorial (2 comments)
RTH Going to Print (We Really Mean it This Time)
A new partnership with Mayday Magazine will see a proper RTH print edition.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 23, 2006 in Editorial (6 comments)
Good Guys and Bad Guys in City Politics
Do we blame the politician who breaks the rules, or the citizen who tries to hold the politician accountable?
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 08, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
A Word in Edgewise
Regardless of what happened on Tuesday night's mayoral candidates debate, the Spectator decided early on which candidates are "high profile" enough to warrant coverage.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 20, 2006 in Editorial (0 comments)
US Democracy Under Threat
The global economy is set to start shrinking as the supply of oil goes into decline. Big business will fight ruthlessly to protect their share of the pie.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 06, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
Ersatz v. Real Urban Development
If we want to avoid more planning failures, we need to understand the nature of urban development before we lurch into the future.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 20, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
Broad Based Organizing in Hamilton
Don't despair over the results of the upcoming municipal election. With a broad based citizen movement, it may not matter who wins.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 30, 2006 in Editorial (4 comments)
Safer Streets by Design
As well as trying to change behaviours, we should also arrange our physical environment so the danger of collisions is reduced without sacrificing the pedestrian character of city streets.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 30, 2006 in Editorial (9 comments)
Summer Break
We're taking some time off during the summer.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 05, 2006 in Editorial (0 comments)
A War on Rhetorical Wars
People don't like to be dominated, and resistance to domination is a renewable resource.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 05, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
Cycle Safely
Collisions usually happen because one person does something unexpected and the other does not notice it in time to respond appropriately.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
GRIDS Goes Bust
How could such a large project, involving so many contributors, end up producing almost exactly the status quo framework that developers want?
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 26, 2006 in Editorial (0 comments)
Business as Usual
The GRIDS long-term growth strategy is not "smart growth" by any meaningful definition.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 05, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
Welcome to the Club
The Hamilton Spectator cannot get serious about supporting full public discussions until it stops functioning as a mouthpiece for those factions that want to shut the public out.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 21, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
A Fair Trade?
Just how much are we willing to sacrifice for convenience? Quite a lot, it turns out.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 09, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
Big Casket: Do Box Stores Have a Future?
Whatever else happens, the days of customers driving several kilometres to the warehouse store on the edge of town are numbered.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 09, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
Peak, er, Pique Your Interest?
Peak oil is about to go mainstream. Will that make any difference?
by Ryan McGreal
Published March 18, 2006 in Editorial (1 comment)
In the Zone
In its attempt to separate people from noisy, dirty, dangerous industry, zoning puts everyone in close proximity of noisy, dirty, dangerous cars.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 15, 2006 in Editorial (3 comments)
Hurry Up and Kuwait
The earth's oil reserves just dropped by five percent. Which other countries are cooking the books?
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 27, 2006 in Editorial (0 comments)
Economics and Ecology
Our arbitrary property divisions don't extend to nature, and pollution ignores the property line.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 09, 2006 in Editorial (0 comments)
Boulevard of Repaired Dreams
Upper James is a nightmare today, but it would make a wonderful European-style boulevard.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 09, 2006 in Editorial (2 comments)
An Amazing Ride
On the first anniversary of Raise the Hammer, editor Ryan McGreal looks back on the unlikely path that brought him here.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 14, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Deer oh Dear
There are better ways than a deer cage to bring downtown children into contact with nature.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 14, 2005 in Editorial (3 comments)
No Two Ways About It
All the myriad encounters and interactions that take place in city streets collectively add up to city life, city economy, and city culture.
by Ryan McGreal
Published November 10, 2005 in Editorial (1 comment)
On Balance
Unless we get past that jump - many cars driven slightly less frequently to very few (or no) cars - we'll never realize the full benefits of compact, mixed-use development.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 21, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Tweaking the Margins
It's easy to say that the status quo is not an option, but harder to consider real options that actually do challenge our conventions.
by Ryan McGreal
Published October 07, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
From 'Desperation Planning' to Community Vision
Between Hamiltonians for Progressive Development and energy expert Richard Gilbert, Hamilton City Council has a great opportunity to restore an open, citizen-based program for setting goals and establishing criteria.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 15, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
The Devolution of the Revolution
These five suggestions could help the Hamilton Spectator begin to reverse the dangerous trend of putting marketing and consumerism ahead of journalism.
by Ryan McGreal
Published September 15, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Hamilton Goes A-Marketing
The Farmers' Market is the fulcrum of a local, self-sustaining economy whereas the mega-grocery store is merely the adjunct of a global, unsustainable economy.
by Ryan McGreal
Published August 22, 2005 in Editorial (1 comment)
A Real Transport Hub
The city's $100 million aerotropolis investment will "lock in" a system that is inherently less efficient than available alternatives, saddling Hamilton with infrastructure that will make it less competitive in the future.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 01, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Summer Vacation
It's too stinkin' hot. We'll be back in mid-August.
by Ryan McGreal
Published July 01, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Getting Off the GRIDS
A massive urban expansion is being executed under the auspices of a strategy that is supposed to prevent such madness.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2005 in Editorial (2 comments)
Boxes Inside Boxes
The big box model destroys the possibility of any street life in its surroundings.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
(Stair)case Closed
The Staircase was never just a business, but grew into a bona fide community centre, filling an important niche as a home for independent thought and expression.
by Ryan McGreal
Published June 16, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Open Up
The lesson for King Street West is to follow the lead of architect Bruce Kuwabara, who managed to transform an ugly fortress into a warm, inviting gallery, and open the facilities to the street.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 31, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
RTH Goes Bi-Weekly
Starting this issue, Raise the Hammer will be published bi-weekly instead of monthly.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 16, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
First Principles
If we understand how healthy cities work, the citizens of Hamilton can revitalize our wonderful city.
by Ryan McGreal
Published May 16, 2005 in Editorial (6 comments)
Hitting the Wall
Building regulations should be simple, coherent, and people-friendly.
by Ryan McGreal
Published April 14, 2005 in Editorial (3 comments)
Four Proposals
Links to the four proposals for redeveloping the Tivoli (in PDF).
by RTH Staff
Published April 04, 2005 in Editorial (3 comments)
Renewal v. Revitalization
We need to make revitalization, not renewal, the basis for our downtown recovery.
by Ryan McGreal
Published March 14, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
No Jackboot Required
The trick is to remove impediments and restrictions so that real growth and development can take place at natural cross-roads and meeting places.
by Ryan McGreal
Published February 19, 2005 in Editorial (0 comments)
Braving the Tunnel
Good streets aren't created by fiat, but given fertile conditions, good streets can be 'grown' over time. If we make the necessary changes, Main Street may still bear fruit.
by Ryan McGreal
Published January 14, 2005 in Editorial (2 comments)
How could you not love this city?
At Raise the Hammer, we love Hamilton, warts and all. There's plenty to get angry about, but there's also plenty to celebrate.
by Ryan McGreal
Published December 14, 2004 in Editorial (0 comments)
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