Raise the Hammer
Candidates describe the five most important actions they would take to improve Hamilton.
By RTH Staff
Published October 20, 2006
1. I can lower your taxes. I would return City Hall to its original location (corner of King William at James St. N.). When City Hall Staff and Services move to the ample empty spaces of Jackson Square to refurbish City Hall this fall, that is just where we will keep them.
Put the heart back in the downtown. This would attract commerce and provide better police protection for less tax dollars by focusing the people in one area downtown by attracting people to the core to do business and enjoy themselves.
2. I would then turn the existing City Hall over to McMaster University Hospital to be used as a Health Care Facility and Teaching Centre. Using Federal tax dollars, we can effectively treat and help Hamilton's growing population of substance abusers, violent offenders on parole, and homeless who are now occupying the downtown core. We could create an Emergency Center the likes of which has never been seen.
3. I would Convene an all Citizen's Coalition to discuss, record and suggest alternatives to obviously existing problems such as violence, homelessness, substance abuse and prostitution in conjunction with McMaster Hospital New Downtown Treatment Facility.
4. I would not be hiring another 50 to 60 more Police Officers as Fred Eisenberger and Larry Di Ianni promise. That only indicates we are losing the battle against crime and violence and is a failure of a business plan for Hamilton.
City Police are never themselves monetarily sustaining. City Police Forces live off Municipal tax dollars. We should be treating the problems of society in the downtown core with doctors and nurses, while at the same time training new ones. This would bring Federal health dollars to us.
We should have scholarships for Doctors and Nurses and others in the Medical Field. Health Canada and OHIP must shoulder the costs of Policing Public Health Problems with the help of Medical Professionals.
5. I would see to it that the Cities of Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, and Stoney Creek now know as Hamilton keep their ancestral identities and their own Mayoral Representatives, one in each City. They would convene at City Hall to discuss their respective needs, policing, fire and fun, etc.
1. In Jesus name, I will ask God to forgive all of us, especially those in authority who have misused their authority. This is a simple act that holds power to bring blessings into our city. It is no secret Jesus Christ is my personal Saviour. For almost three years I have led prayer in council chambers at city hall with a group of people who are united for our city.
There are two scriptures we believe and stand on: "Pray for all - firstly for those in authority and in responsible positions over us, so we can live in peace and godliness." (1Tim 2:1,2); and (2 Chron. 7:14) "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2. I will instigate programs to provide skills necessary to break the poverty cycle. It's time to stop simply talking about poverty. It's time to break the poverty cycle. We don't need more task forces. We know Hamilton has a poverty issue. I am committed to establishing citywide programs within a year. Programs such as:
3. I propose changes to our municipal election guidelines. I will bring the following issues to council. We do not need permission to implement these changes, we can make this decision.
4. I aim to provide ethical, transparent, accountable, reachable government for all the citizens of Hamilton. As mayor I plan to follow an open-door policy. I also plan to meet with every city employee to hear suggestions on how we can make this city better. I believe Hamiltonians have the answers and I believe in doing what's right for Hamilton every time.
1. Try to organize the downtown landowners to fix up the core, in a manner similar to that followed in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
2. Create infrastructure adapted to draw new businesses to the City. Some politicians view their roles as public servants as getting the most for their constituents, getting the most from upper levels of government, getting the most from the business community, getting the most from the philanthropic set, getting the most from people who do business with the city, etc. Undoubtedly, I think there is a place for this kind of thinking, but I am convinced that the key to building a community lies not in getting the most for a community, but rather, comes from getting the most from a community.
We need to find better ways to leverage the resources we already have here in Hamilton, and I would make finding and implementing these better ways a focus of my term. Opportunities that I have presently identified and think are worth exploring:
2. Create a 100 year plan to make Hamilton the most forested city of its size in Canada.
3. Try to raise the War of 1812 warships, The Hamilton and Scourge, to save the honor of this city.
4. Improve public transit. Regarding transit, I would work to return the electric trolleys to the City. Grid-linked electric vehicles are highly economical to operate and non-polluting and should never have been taken out of service.
I also find it barbaric that we still ask the citizenry to wait for transit connections in the cold. With modern technology, we should cheaply be able to deploy "bus signallers" within heated areas, such as corner stores, malls and even the lobbies of private buildings. Riders should be able to signal incoming buses when to stop, and the buses in turn should be able to send signals to the waiting areas, to notify riders that the vehicle is approaching.
The five most important actions I would take are:
1. Lower the Taxes by ten percent to all Hamilton residents (residental property only). This would ease the anger of taxpayers.
2. I would cut Flamborough free, on account that it costs $24 Million to run it and there are other top Priorities in Hamilton to run.
3. Fix the Water and Sewer lines that need to be fixed, even if it takes three or four streets at a time to do it.
4. The city of Hamilton is too worried about its own self. I suggest that they give a bigger piece of the pie to the other Municipalities.
5. The City of Hamilton needs more tourisim and I have major ideas that can help.
The reason why I'm running for Mayor is simple. I'm a people person and I work with people. My dad was on Dundas council for 17 years and that's where I got it from. It's in the blood!
By peter (anonymous) | Posted November 02, 2006 at 20:41:04
what a crop of fine young candidates...they only come out during an election year. anyway, i had a good laugh at baldasaro's mention of treating substance abusers. that's good stuff.
By King James (anonymous) | Posted November 06, 2006 at 18:51:19
I see that the Hamilton Community Action Network (CAN) has endorsed Eisenberger for Mayor. I have to say, I'm a bit disapointed.
I don't know all that much about CAN or it's members, but from what I can tell, they're trying to advance a fairly progressive agenda. I realize that they've chosen to back Eisenberger because he is perceived to be DiIanni's closest competitor (if you can call it close), but in doing so, I can't help but think that they've compromised their values. I will personally never support a candidate that I don't believe in for "strategic voting" purposes. This is the mentality that keeps both our province and country from having a government that best represents the interests of the electorate.
By citizen (registered) | Posted November 11, 2006 at 00:52:39
It's amazing how lucid, informed and --when not talking about marijuana-- sensible Michael is.. Too bad he's chosen to be unelectable.
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