Raise the Hammer
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Don McLean is chair of Friends of Red Hill Valley and coordinator of Citizens at City Hall, a volunteer group that has monitored city affairs for nearly eight years and distributes free news articles via email. The group can be contacted at info@hamiltoncatch.org.
Email: don.mclean@cogeco.ca
Exposing the Hidden Subsidies for Sprawl - In her book and upcoming lecture, Toronto-based urban planner Pamela Blais argues that hidden subsidies promote sprawl and penalize the inner city. Published October 25, 2011 in Events
Details Missing from Development Charge Debate - Residential and industrial development charges are going up, but they are still a long way from paying the real cost of growth. That means higher water/sewer rates and higher taxes for Hamiltonians. Published June 28, 2011 in Commentary
Where Are the Jobs? - The number one objective of corporations is to make money, and today their number one method of doing so is to eliminate jobs. Published November 26, 2010 in Commentary
Paying Lip Service to Provincial Growth Plans - A developer hopes to get council approval to convert highway accessible employment lands to a new big box complex on a technicality. Published May 26, 2009 in Commentary
Aerotropolis Secrecy Leaves Citizens and Councillors in the Dark - If our governments don't tell us what the debate is about, how can we reasonably be expected even to know what questions to ask? Published July 07, 2008 in Special Report: Aerotropolis
The Green Standard on User Fees - A look at three recent major environmental issues dealt with by council sheds some light on whether user pay is a principle or just a convenient debating tool. Published March 24, 2008 in Commentary
Upper James Rapid Transit a Dumb Idea - It is disturbing that our transit officials are now being told to put the aerotropolis scheme ahead of providing service to those who want and need it. Published December 20, 2007 in Commentary
Terry Cooke, Red Hill, and the Politics of Division - Far from 'redundant', the environmental assessment Terry Cooke helped squash would have revealed major problems with the planned expressway and given opponents a fair hearing. Published November 08, 2007 in Commentary
Fuel Efficiency is Not the Answer - Increasing fuel efficiency in vehicles by itself simply lowers the cost of driving and encourages more sprawl development. Published March 19, 2007 in Commentary
Eisenberger Must Stand Firm on Ending Red Hill Lawsuit - Mayor Eisenberger needs strong backing from the community to fend off those who want him to shake down Canadian taxpayers for cash. Published January 24, 2007 in Commentary
Compromise Works Both Ways - It takes two to compromise or negotiate, but expressway supporters refused even to consider the many alternatives proposed by Friends of Red Hill and others. Published October 07, 2005 in Opinion
HSR Needs Funding, Not Belt-Tightening, Published November 13, 2008 in Transportation
Time to End Area Rating for Transit, Published September 12, 2007 in Transportation