Raise the Hammer

In case anyone is interested...here is my letter (and I apologize for the long-windedness..I was pissed off) to Mr. Lloyd Ferguson:

Lloyd,

Just wondering if council has completely jumped off the deep end. The more I keep myself informed about the municipal politics of this could-be-great city, the more I'm regretting my decision to do so.

I honestly can't, for the life of me, understand how our city council would turn their nose up at an initiative that would serve as a major step in making our downtown a more liveable, more invest-able city. Even looking at the potential to retain the thousands, upon thousands, of McMaster students that leave our city after graduation seems like a pretty good reason to keep the ball on this one rolling.

(I also find it somewhat telling that, when discussing this issue with 4 neighbours in Ancaster, only 1 worked in Hamilton. One Burlington, one Toronto and one Kitchener.)

Mr. Bratina seems be of the opinion - despite being a cheerleader for LRT prior to election -- that no one seems interested in this initiative. Yet, every time I turn around, or talk to anyone with a Greater Hamilton address, support seems nearly unanimous. The case studies out of Portland, Oregon and your own anecdotes that I've read about Charlotte, North Carolina all show very positive growth and intended intensification not long after the implementation of LRT.

Yet, we...errrr, well, our city leaders, seem to think what happens in the rest of the world doesn't happen in Hamilton. It sure would be nice if we could drop this moronic inferiority complex -- as it's clearly a detriment to anything related to progress. The fact of the matter is our downtown, and some segments of our lower city, are experience an incredible rebound. The rebound is happening because of the efforts of the ordinary citizens...unfortunately in-spite of the continuing efforts by our city council to thwart such improvements.

Alas, the city could use something bigger than Art Crawls, organic festivals, closed streets and farmer's markets. It's clear people see potential in this city - the problem is those at the helm don't appear to see what we do.

So, a question to you and your fellow council members; do you see this as a city with the potential to be great? A city where creative investment (...such as the Ad Agency I'm currently working at that's located in a horrible, side-of-highway location in Burlington...which, formerly, was an iconic Canadian agency from Hamilton) sees downtown Hamilton as a progressive, inspiring and a sustainable location?

Or, does council believe that we should simply consider our city a rust-belt relic that is going to champion 1970s American-style urban sprawl?

In my opinion, this city has an awful lot of potential. Much more potential than council seems interested in realizing.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

(Slodrive) Ancaster, ON