Raise the Hammer

Here is my letter to the Mayor/Council:

Good Evening,

It’s me again!

Whatever transpires tomorrow there will be unhappy people. It’s an election year. I don’t envy you.

During my entire lifetime I have been a die-hard Ticats/CFL fan. Over the past few years that has changed significantly, but I still recognize the importance of the organization the culture and identity of the City of Hamilton. The fans are an exceptional group of people and I applaud their perseverance, passion and enthusiasm – even during the bleakest of times. Over the years, us fans, and the City have frequently been held hostage by the financial woes of the franchise. We have been continually guilted into supporting the team under the threat of it folding up or moving. Now the threats have once again reared their ugly head over the Pan Am Stadium Controversy – we are once again in danger of losing the team.

The last time I checked the team was not community owned; so exactly how much are we collectively willing to invest in their success? The financial return on that investment is marginal, at best to the residents of this city. Now, to the best of my understanding their only chance at financial viability is to for us to build them a multi-million dollar facility, and hand them the keys or else they are walking. Haven’t we already made many concessions to them? Enough is enough.

There have got to be 450,000 people in Hamilton that are not engaged with the team on any level. Do they have a voice?

Today there was a letter to the Editor in the Hamilton Spectator written by the esteemed, Roger Yachetti. He indicated that the entire identity, recognition and branding of our City was based on the Hamilton Tiger Cats. If that is the case, isn’t that reason enough for us to begin rebuilding, restoring and rebranding Hamilton? This really signifies the true problem with our city and its image; without steel or the Ticats don’t we have anything else to offer?

We have so many more issues in Hamilton that require city building initiatives, including the restoration of the core. Hamilton is an affordable place to own a home, but when is this city going to be sufficiently rebuilt so that there are viable options for white collar employment via the private sector? So many of us have to leave Hamilton and commute elsewhere on a daily basis just to make a decent living.

Today I also received the summer issue of the Ward 3 News. Thank you, Councillor Morelli, for the update on all the positive projects that are currently in progress in our central city. It was refreshing to see so many developments regarding property standards, parks, recreation centres and infrastructure. These are the types of amenities that make a city livable. These are the initiatives we should be continuing to focus on.

My Hamilton has always included the Ticats, but if they are going to resort to negotiating through the media, bullying, blackmailing and making ultimatums then perhaps we are better off to cut our losses and invest in projects that will help make Hamilton a better place for future generations. I have to question if a legacy tenant for a new stadium is worth all this debate and division amongst our citizens.

The most important decision we have to make is how to best utilize the Future Fund.

Best wishes.

Regards,

Andrea Galante