Comment 1628

By rusty (registered) - website | Posted October 21, 2006 at 10:08:10

I don't think you can underestimate how critical this issue is to Hamilton's future. I noticed the disparate nature of Hamilton's suburbs soon after I moved in. Mountainites who told me they never went, 'down there'. Dowtownies who'd lost all hope for the future of their core and reflected on the glory days of the past instead.

After the 2003 election I tried to find some partners and funding for a research project, to analyze the voting patterns in Hamilton. Pauls' article provides a great summary of what happened and what it means; however, there is still a lot more to learn, for instance:

How do new immigrants vote?
How do low income versus high income voters compare...?

My assumptions going in were that low income voters (concentrated mainly in the core) and non-white new immigrant voters were probably the least likely to vote (some of these assumptions are borne out by recent research into Toronto's 2003 municipal election). I would love to know if these assumptions are correct, and, if so - why? And what impact does this have on Hamilton's political representation?

Hamilton is 2 towns - 3, or more towns. Unless people in the Hammer can pull in a common direction - and acknowledge the priority and importance of downtown revitalization and improving those factors that impact EVERYONE'S quality of life - then it will always be a battle of what we want versus what you want.

Progressives in Hamilton are already at the end of their tethers. When Larry 'Business as Usual' DiIanni gets in for another term I can only see the town splitting further apart.

Eventually something will have to give (hey - you can always move to Toronto!)

Cheers

Ben

Ben Bull. Cap'n Bully has a new Blog! http://bullysmoviereviews.blogspot.ca/ or something like that.

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