Raise the Hammer

Hey Bob:

Love your boosterism, seriously, but we're not going back to when Burlington and Oakville were towns and Hamilton had industrial and financial ambitions. Now that we're all part of the Toronto-centered-city-state we need to find different ways to satisfy our community ambitions. Much as I think the Pan Am Games and Ti-Cats can have a role to play in that, your exchange of e-mails with Merulla was nothing more than a wasteful political exchange between two wannabe "leaders."

Read between the lines of the e-mails here, and even your own exchange with Merulla. Most of us want to see these things happen but we're worried that they will be done in a way that will not realize their promised benefits. Remember that the Red Hill Creek expressway was supposed to deliver all sorts of manufacturing jobs to the east mountain and taxpayer relief to the city. Instead it has nearly bankrupted us.

If facilities are not built in the right place, maximizing access by highway, regional and public transit, supporting nearby businesses without unduly irritating area residents, then it will not be a long-term success for anybody, not the Ti-Cats, not non-existent nearby businesses, not many young, potential athletes who can't get there by car and are discouraged by long-multi-transfer, bus rides.

An attractive, functional facility in the right place with the right infrastructure support could be of long-term benefit, open more than 9 dates a year and those profitably.

Legacies that don't return their financial, social, creative and community investments are known as white elephants. They cost, big time. The devil is in the details. In this case details have been in short supply, and the few we've heard haven't inspired confidence.

Neither does your exchange with Merulla. You're better than that.