Raise the Hammer

Why is Bratina speaking at the event? He's never made a public comment in favour of the West Harbour location. Is he going to use the opportunity to rant on about demolishing Sir John A. Macdonald in order to put a stadium there instead, or has he finally realized that doing so is utterly unproductive and just makes him look foolish?

Perhaps he's finally caught on to the fact that the vast majority of his constituents support the West Harbour location, and they're all fully aware that he's been an obstacle to making that location a reality.

Bob, the problem is that we're going to remember this come election-time, just like we're going to remember your lack of support for the creative catalyst project downtown. You're finally noticing which way the breeze is blowing, but we expect more from our representatives than being blown by the breeze. We expect leadership, pragmatism, and vision. Sadly, you've provided none of that on this issue.

BBB Bob has come out in favour of the White Star proposal at the WH location.

^True Frank, but that was before the little performance by the Cats yesterday. He may have been swayed by that. Hopefully not. If he wants to run again, it would pretty much be political suicide to support the EM.

LOL by the Cats suggesting that they're throwing downtown a bone by committing $7million of our own money to the WH when the FF board has said all of it goes there? It'd take a seriously blind person (or one with their head so far up Bob's behind they have to rely on Bobby for "vision" cough cough HF :P) to not be infuriated by that proposal!

Just wondering...does anybody know how many Hamilton radio show hosts have been formerly employed by the tiger cats...as game announcers for instance?

"We've be had." "Set-up." "Hijacked," or whatever other term you might find fitting. From the moment the initial 'Bid Book' was submitted Hamilton was expected to invest $60 million from city coffers, almost twice Torontos contribution and ten-fold compared to most participating cities. In return for our large commitment we were granted the 'Premier' Track and Field events. So in return for our large investment Hamilton would be showcased in the 'Golden Horseshoe' PanAm Games. Hamiltons Waterfront Stadium built on remediated land with direct GO train access from the athletes village was without a doubt pivotal in winning the 'Toronto' PanAm Games. At this point in time with overwhelming support for the 'West Harbour' site the City of Hamilton proceeded. We purchased the properties and studied the site. Although we found challenges, nothing that couldn't be overcome, or so we thought. At some point the notion that we would need a 'Legacy Tenant' appeared, although we have since learned that a simple 'Legacy' (the facilities future use) would do. Today we find ourselves without support from our elected leadership and the President of the local football club assuming the leadership role. Not only is the process being 'Hijacked' our funds and city building plans are being dictated by an unelected individual and his private enterprise. "Not a Peep," from the Mayor or Council. Mayor Fred needs to stand-up and re-affirm our original commitment to host the PanAm Track and Field event at councils preferred stadium location in the West Harbour and put Hamilton back in control of our own destiny.

Bratina still hasn't announced if he's running for re-election or not.

Right on F. Ward Cleat.

No more pussy-footing around on this...the Mayor/councillors must show leadership and put and end to the "debate"...they need to issue as strongly and decisive a message as the Future Fund Board of Governors did >>> no money for east mountain. The decision was made and it's Pan Am Track & Field at the new West Harbour stadium. Done.

You forgot to mention that our MPP's and our Premier stood by and watched while powerful men from outside our city: Scott Mitchell, Bob Young, Michael Fenn, and Ian Troop, stole our hopes and dreams. It was they who gave Bob Young the gun that he held to our heads. There should be hell to pay. Our council should not be alone in this. Our MPP's and our Premier should be standing up for us as well.

Comment edited by highwater on 2010-07-30 12:36:29

To all u hammers who make decisions/ especially the City politicians ( sorry some of them have never made a decision or contribution to our city's growth TW !)... please get your act together... we need to move into the 21st century,, geeeez... no wonder we are stuck in the sixties... make a decision and quit with hand-wringing and what-ifs
a simple AC / furnace technician

Are Bratina and Eisenberger going to the TiCats-Carmen's-EM circle-jagaff too? They haven't made their position firm on the issue. Is there an announcement expected? Why do we have to wait until next weekend? We're sick to our stomachs of waiting. We need to know if this has been worth so much of our attention already. Grrrr!

If he wants to run again, it would pretty much be political suicide to support the EM.

Perhaps why he will vote for neither side.

LOL by the Cats suggesting that they're throwing downtown a bone by committing $7million of our own money to the WH when the FF board has said all of it goes there? It'd take a seriously blind person (or one with their head so far up Bob's behind they have to rely on Bobby for "vision" cough cough HF :P) to not be infuriated by that proposal!

One thing the Cats are doing that the City isn't, is throwing proposals out there. They like EM and are trying to sell it, while trying to find some common ground.

EM can't 'win'. It's simply not an option. The City has to think of something and fast because at this point, they can't vote for WH either. Unless the Cats are just saying they won't play at the Harbour with hopes of an EM decision, but would come around given no other option?

This hidden 'data' does need to be brought to light sooner than later though.

I can't take the White Star Group seriously. I am a neighbor of the White Star Auto Wreckers site. 2 years ago when the stadium announcement was made I watched the derelict building, which use to be the front office transform into a half assed renovation to try make some financial value out of the property. I recieved a proposal about his condominium plan in the mail many years ago. I can't believe that this man has the financial backing to pull a stadium out of his ass. If it is built with as much skill as the renovation of his office we will all be in deep trouble. The tide turned on the west harbour and the owner of the white star land has a lot to lose if the west harbour is not picked. The website and the drawings are last ditch efforts to sway opinion.

The website and the drawings are last ditch efforts to sway opinion.

Compared to the Ticats, he looks like Donald Trump.

Bratina is a disgrace. Hamilton remains a broken joke.

How about some of our elected officials wading in. Has anyone heard Andrea Horvath lobbying the government on this issue?

Our MPP's have been worse than MIA on this issue. As far as I'm concerned, they've been aiding and abetting the destruction of our hope for a better future. I guess they figure they'll save a ton by not giving us LRT. Not only am I boycotting the ticats from here on out, but if they don't intervene and stop this trainwreck, I'll be boycotting the provincial Liberals as well.

What side is Slick Larry on? Who knows. When asked for a yes or no answer he goes into verbal diatribe against Mayor Fred. Today on CHML he was asked which location he preferred.A simple yes or no. Again he skated around the question.So, Dianni and Macaluso get through on the talk show.Mercanti and Turkstra must have been tied up in strategy meetings and didn't get the memo to call in to CHML the official opposition to the west harbour.

fried onions. LOL. so true. CHML is a joke.
I'm not sure who I'll vote for mayor yet, but I'm leaning towards Fred now due to his leadership and willingness to not be bullied by a bunch of idiots on this issue. Larry has definitely lost any hope of gaining my vote by being too scared and indecisive to simply answer a simple question - "where would you like to see the stadium?" What kind of person is this? He can't even answer a simple question like that and yet expects us to trust him with overseeing our entire city??? Sorry Larry, but you've made a huge miscalculation by trying to mess around with this stadium issue and make it a political issue to your benefit.
Fred is the only one with any stones and will likely be getting my vote due to his strong stance in favour of Hamilton. While others look to play games with our future for their own personal or political gain, Fred is standing strong for my city.
Now that's leadership. It's going to come down to Mahesh and Fred IMO. I'll probably go for Fred just to avoid splitting any votes, but Mahesh has a world class campaign and a ton of ideas that should be mandatory for anyone running for mayor.

I listened to Larry's call on CHML, and after being pushed and pushed, he finally admitted that while he had supported the WH in the past, it was "no longer workable". He wouldn't actually come right out and say "I support the East Mountain", but if he thinks WH is unworkable, it's hard to draw any other conclusion.

One conclusion that is very easy to draw is that he's playing games with our future and won't make a solid stance on a major decision.
I heard the free campaigning, I mean call, too. 10 minutes of talking without actually saying anything.
Cmon Larry. You're better than that! Add some substance to the race like Butani instead of playing politics with our future.