City Building is not served to any great extent by stadiums and arenas.  Historically they are added on as required to accommodate community needs. 

The first football stadium in Hamilton was on the H Triple A grounds on Charlton near Queen - home of the Hamilton Tigers for almost 80 years.  It was nestled in a residential area that continues to serve as a local park to this day.  Few residents realize that 7 Grey Cup games were played there including the classic 1935 match-up that saw Winnipeg star Fritzie Hanzen run wild in the mud and snow in a Blue Bomber victory over Hamilton.  From 1872 to 1949 the H.A.A.A grounds were the home field of the Tigers - I'm not aware of any commercial development that was generated in the area beyond game day.

The same can be said for Ivor Wynne (Civic) Stadium - no meaningful new development over its 80 year history. 

Copps Coliseum has generated almost nothing in terms of animating the streets and encouraging new commercial development.  Adjacent to the area is a tavern, The Salvation Army shelter & half way house and a church.

City Building is a function of an attractive residential environment, which was the focus and intent of "Setting Sail."  The West Harbour stadium is a deviation from this plan requiring special approval.  Significant opposition comes from residents whose neighbourhood theoritically would be "improved" according to stadium proponents.

The problem we have today lies with the faulty site selection process which quickly discounted genuine "Downtown" locations that would have some positive effect to those business districts.  One was the land area east of John Street N between King William and Wilson.  Another was the Sir John A Macdonald high school site at York & Bay.  A stadium on the school site would be a Downtown Gateway feature, with both easy access and parking.  These sites were dismissed out of hand, suggesting to me that the West Harbour lands had been targetted all along, despite the fact that study after study rejected the notion of stadiums or arenas in that location.

The Barton - Tiffany lands have huge potential for residential and parkland development with revenue generation through taxation.  In truth a stadium is a large intrusive concrete grandstand that sits empty most of the year.  A residential neighbournood lives, breathes and pulses unremittingly.  The H.A.A.A. grounds augmented its neighbourhood through the years by accommodating football, cricket, soccer and track & field with staking in the winter.  138 years later it is still a recreational hub for residents.

So what's the answer?  City owned lands, with good highway and transit access, and politicians with an open mind.

Hamilton's mounted unit was introduced yesterday as part of Police Week at Bayfront Park.  Each horse's badge was unveiled during the celebration.  They are: Lincoln, Trooper, Griffin and Barron.  The horses will be used in everyday policing downtown.

Dear Mayor DeCicco-Best,

I'm writing in regard to comments that appeared in an article in the London Free Press about the closing of Lakeport Brewery in Hamilton.  I'm quite sure by your response that you did not hear directly remarks attributed to me during a CBC radio interview on "As It Happens."  It's my belief that you were victimized by an old reporters' trick  of getting you to respond to his or her version of what someone else said.  My presumption is that you were told I said something nasty about the London water supply.

I became familiar with aspects of the City of London water supply during the time when concerns were raised about lead.  So any statement I have made is limited to the simplefact that Hamilton has a very consistent water supply, drawn from far out in Lake Ontario.  Since beer is 98 per cent water this is an important factor in producing beer of consistent quality.  London's water has PH issues and requires treatment that may impact on the consistency of beer produced there.

The point I was making to Carol Off was that Hamilton has certain factors desired by brewers, namely consistent quality water supply, 150 trained workers, and buildings that have licencing  and permits in place. 

At any rate I regret see the very negative depiction of me and what I said, understanding that you did not hear this program first hand.  I will continue to visit your great City and wish you well in your endeavours.

Sincerely,

Bob Bratina.

Dear Residents,

It is my belief that there is no rational justification for either staff's recommendations or Council's approval of the West Harbour Pan Am Stadium site.  

 It is impossible to estimate the cost of construction without a thorough geotechnical survey of the lands, which our consultant admitted seems to be mostly "fill". If so, and if other things are found such as underground streams or certain hitherto unknown degrees of contamination, there would be considerable extra costs for things such as "caissons" or pilings upon which the stadium would have to be built.

The prime tenant, the Hamilton Tiger Cats had not been consulted to the extent that they were prepared to agree with the decision.  Scott Mitchell, the President of the club has made that clear in statements to the media.

The Deloitte Touche consultants' recommendation is that the stadium cannot be successful without an adjoining 150-200,000 square feet of new commercial development in what they call the "stadium entertainment precinct".  Average rental rates, plus typical operating costs and anticipated profit margins means that between $40 and $80 million dollars would have to be spent to support such development.  The City is not growing at a rate that would support such a development that calls for restaurants, bars, retail stores, hotels, and other amenities to support the "precinct" during the time there are no events on at the stadium.

The land costs including the consultants' estimated  cost of remediation appear to be around $400,000 dollars an acre.  We are buying some of the worst land in Hamilton at $400,000, and selliing some of the best land (Glanbrook Business Park land to Canada Bread) for $117,000 an acre.

The Tiger Cats learned that there would only be 600 parking spots on site, but that many thousands of spots are available within a 15 minute walk, throughout the Downtown Core.  (These are the parking lots we are trying to get rid of through new development!).  Councillor Collins stated that a 700 car parking structure would soon be built in the Waterfront area.  In answer to my question staff suggested that such structures cost between $25,000 and $40,000 dollars per spot depending on their complexity, meaning tax-payers will be paying something in excess of $20 million dollars for this structure!

A stadium on clean City-owned land near adequate highway connections can be constructed well within the budgeted funds.  Costs on this site are unknown.  How could such a decision be presented and approved?

Recently I received census statistics for Ward 2 and thought residents might be interested in what they say about us. I don't have other Wards so I can't give direct comparisons yet, but I will break down some of the categories when the information is available. (Source: 2006 Census of Canada - Statistic Canada)

The Ward 2 population is 36,335 which is a slight decrease from the previous Census in 2001, 37,035.

We have about 6300  young people 19 and under.
We have 6,325 seniors 60 plus years of age, and of those 435 are 85 years of age or older.

The Marital Status of our residents is as follows:
Single - 14,500; Married - 9,770; Separated but married - 1630; Divorced - 3,555; Widowed - 1,955; Common-law--3,430.

Language spoken by mother tongue is a revelation of our multiculturalism and diversity: 22,800 English, 550 French, and 12,390 "non-official" languages. 59 of these languages are listed, and 785 residents listed "other" languages. Chinese and Portuguese are the top two, Spanish and Arabic close behind. Language groupings are also interesting, such as Slavic--Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, etc--, South Asian, South East Asian, African, Aboriginal, etc.
The total Aboriginal population of Ward 2 is 1460.

There are 19,430 dwelling units in Ward 2, of which 2,565 are single detached houses, 620 are semi-detached, 740 are row houses and 615 apartment duplexes. The vast majority of our residents live in apartments - 10,895 in buildings of 5 or more units; 3,925 in buildings with 4 units or less.
Of the 19,430 dwelling units or homes, 5,920 were built before 1946. 11,140 units were built from 1946 to 1980, the period when we lost many great heritage buildings, replaced by the apartment towers, mostly south of Charlton.

Immigration dramatically increased to Ward 2 from 2001 to 2006 by 3,790, compared to 1,580 in the previous 5 years.

Employment numbers are troubling. There are 31,410 "employable" residents 15 and older, of whom 17,030 are employed, 1,720 unemployed, and 12,660 listed as "not in the labour force". This appears to be an unemployment rate of about 10 per cent, but some research has to be done into the 12,660 others.

I'll try to do a breakdown of occupations later, since it is quite complicated, but interesting. Sales and Service occupations are the largest single number at 4,880, including such things as chefs and cooks (285), protective services (385), retail sales persons and sales clerks (885). Art and Culture workers number 530. And we have 395 judges, lawyers, psychologists and 1025 teachers and professors.

The average income in Ward 2 is $27,130 and the median income is $19,068. However 6,010 residents make over $40 thousand dollars a year or more, with 2,495 making $60 thousand or more.

9,505 of our residents drive or ride to work in a car, truck, or van. 6,700 of us walk, cycle, ride motorcycles, take cabs, use public transit or "other method" to get to work. The 40 per cent of residents not driving cars to work must be the highest for any Ward in the City.

Residents should be aware that I am now a member of the Board of Directors of City Housing Hamilton, at my request.  My thanks to Councillor Brad Clark for stepping down to allow my participation.

Complaints from CHH residents have been steady and concerning since I became Ward 2 Councillor, and although there have been improvements thanks to new staff coming on board, we are still not delivering a quality of life to our law-abiding tenants that is acceptable. In fact  we should be setting a standard to which other housing providers should aspire, but that is not the case.  My first meeting with the board was an eye-opener in terms of the CHH priorities.  We heard a presentation from a resident whose life has been threatened by a neighour with a serious criminal record.  We heard about master keys being lost for two years, but nothing done about changing locks.  We heard of constant disturbances, and absolute freedom of entry to the buildings by any and all.  The presenter received a polite hearing, and then the meeting continued.  Later a motion was passed asking that priority be given to eliminating vacancies to cover revenue short-fall.  To me this is far from what I feel is the priority....the provision of safe, secure lodging for our residents.  This is in fact the mandate of City Housing Hamilton as stated on its Website, www.cityhousinghamilton.ca. 

The sad fate of Sonia Gaudet, murdered in one of our units, has to be considered by City Housing Hamilton in the context of an almost non-existant level of security, at least during the time of the incident.  I know that improvements have resulted from meetings we held with tenants and new and motivated staff.  At one large downtown building the front door lock was totally non-functioning, allowing anyone entry to the building at anytime simply by turning the lock with a thumbnail.  However it was several days before a new lock was installed. 

I recently received a horrendous voice-mail that included a recording of two people shrieking at the top of their lungs at each other in the early hours of a Saturday morning.  The caller lived down the hall and reported that this kind of event was a regular occurrance, and expressed his disbelief that the building managers would allow this to continue.

Something has to be done to address the safety and quality of life of tenants in City Housing Hamilton units.  Eviction is not ever desirable, but has to be considered as a possible remedy.  Just because individuals have needs should not mean that they are allowed to force their lifestyles and behaviours on others.

Mayor Eisenberger,

I feel it necessary to tell you that I disassociate myself from your position on the allegations made by AbdulKhan.  Neither you nor the  City Solicitor should be inserting yourselves into the process that will deal with the allegations.  Your first responsibility is to the residents of Hamilton, and the solicitor's to the Corporation.  We all I'm sure feel discomfort for our colleagues on staff about whom serious allegations have been made.  The fact is they were not made by an anonymous blogger, in which case I would wholly support their quick public dismissal.  In fact the allegations are made by the former director of the department in question.  It is our prime duty to determine the veracity of the allegations on behalf of residents, period.

When the unfounded allegations against the Downtown Loans program came forward, based on one flimsy piece of evidence which was easily discounted in two subsequent investigations, not a word  was said on behalf of or by the implicated staff members.  Even afterward my request to their manager for a statement of confidence in them, upon complete exoneration by the OPP investigators, went unheeded.  A message about the integrity of the program itself, not including or referring to the employees, was all that was forthcoming.  So apparently there is a double standardin view of your public statements.

We have already been warned that serious economic damage could result to the City under the water and wastewater proposals.  If they are not based on fact as alleged, residents will pay a huge price unnecessarily.  That is where your focus should be--whether the allegations made by a professional engineer who ran the department are factual or not.  If not, the staff will be exonerated and suffer no professional consequences, and the complainant's career and profession would be nullified.  Our staff deserves due process as does Mr. Khan. Our responsibility on behalf of residents is to see that due process is given and that the truth comes out.

As City Councillor I was able to convince CP Rail to bring the Holiday Train back to Hamilton.  The had come here in the past, but with a poor turn out due to location - the Aberdeen Yards near Chedoke Golf Course - there was limited public space for viewing.  I advised that the best location was the trackage along Lawrence Road by Gage Park, which simply required a brief road closure for the safety of the public.  I received Council approval for this and as a result CP tells us this is one of the best locations in North America for both American and Canadian train operations. 

"Thousands show up to feed the need in Hamilton"

I was told by the crew and entertainers on board the US Holiday Train that the Hamilton event has always drawn a huge crowd, but when we pulled up to the site, I had no idea there would be THAT many people in attendance.  The crowd of around 5,000 was enthusiastic and welcomed the train with open arms.

Before the show got underway, Rachel O'Reilly from Hamilton Food Share addressed the crowd and shared with us some staggering numbers - over 19,000 people per month turn to a food bank in the Hamilton area, 8,300 (42%) are children.  Her words reminded us all why it is we are out here.
The band rocked the stage, the crowd sang and danced and the food donation truck was filled high...a great night all around.

In the photo (L to R) Rachel O'Reilly, CP employee Tracy Glad and Councillor Bob Bratina wold up the $3,000 donation cheque for Hamilton Food Share.

From the CP Holiday Train Blog: http://holidaytrain.typepad.com/

All of us on Council have two particular areas of responsibility; our own Wards, and the City as a whole.  Unfortunately there exists a strong feeling among the amalgamated areas of the City  that they are not being treated in a fair and equitable manner.  This was most recently displayed when, with most of those Councillors absent, an attempt was made to approve up to an estimated $50 million dollars of tax-payers' money to cover  the costs of uninsured flood damage, mostly in two particular Wards.  The motion was stalled when quorum was lost by the departure of three Councillors, myself included, over the refusal of the others to have the matter reviewed by staff prior to approval.  At the ensuing meeting, all Councillors were present, and the matter was lost, as it should have been.

Blanket removal of Area Rating would bring a modest decrease in taxes in the older part of the City, but a significant double digit increase to those in the newer areas.  Nevertheless Council has set a date for implementation of a phased-in plan to deal with the problem.  The date was and continues to be January 2011.  Mayor Eisenberger understands the volatility contained in the application of these measures and put forward a process that allows for broader public understanding, and a buffering to the still-extreme emotions stirred by what has been said and done in the past.

Ward 2 residents should understand that during the process taxes here will not increase.  When the measures begin to be applied  there will be a modest decrease in taxes.  These will likely go unnoticed because of the huge costs associated with City Hall, the Lister Block, West Harbour park upgrades, and sewer and water infrastructure, totalling in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  In the case of the first three mentioned, most of this spending was unnecessary, as I have written previously. 

The "story-line" is that Councillors don't want to make a decision that might hurt their election chances. It's also stated by some that we were elected to make decisions, not lean on public "forums".  If that's true, why do we have neighbourhood associations and Community Councils?  I have personally asked a number of residents at random what they can tell me about Area Rating.  In every case the answer was basically "nothing".   A brief period of public outreach will not affect in large part the ultimate outcome, although there could well be meaningful alterations to the process.   Similarly with issues surround the Pan Am games I believe public input is vital, and hopefully will occur beyond blogs, talk shows,  and certain selected letters to editors. 

The Election of 2010 will be fought on many other issues than just area rating.  Those of us who may participate next November will have to publicly face the electorate who I'm sure will demand to know where we stand.  The harder question to many will be why they approved hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary spending, and why over the past decade has our financial position, and our City's image continued to weaken.

With the threat of H1N1 many are unsure whether "it's just a cold" or the seasonal flu.  One of my constituents sent along this helpful chart that compares various symptoms.  I thought you'd find it useful too.  Remember to wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available, cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and stay at home to avoid contaminating others.

 For the complete chart:

The glass office tower at 21 King Street West has been sold to Hamilton businessman David Blanchard and a group of investors.  The building was offered to the City of Hamilton, which showed no interest in even discussing the matter with the owners.  21 King Street West is 185 thousand square feet, the same size as City Hall, and in excellent condition.  That building cost $14 million, compared to $75 million for a renovated City Hall.  The City also had the opportunity a couple of years ago to purchase 1 King Street West, the glass tower overlooking Gore Park, for $19 million dollars.  The two buildings together would provide 92 per cent of the space required by the City at a total cost of $33 million dollars.  The renovated City Hall and the Lister Block together provide 60 per cent of our required space at a total cost of $100 million dollars.  After the recession hit I tried desperately to get Council to agree to at least consider  how we were dealing with our accomodation needs, but only 3 other Councillors supported this.  In all, the space we require, about 400,000 square feet will end up costing over the next 20 years at least 170 million dollars, including the interest on borrowed money, as opposed to $33 million, plus some interest, and other small leases.

The City has just taken out new leased space in the building we could have owned, for $9.50  dollars a square foot, with operating costs estimated at $7.50 a square foot, totalling $17 dollars per square foot.  The proposed lease for space in the Lister Block was $22.50 per square foot, plus $9.00 operating costs, totalling $31.50 per square foot, rising through the term of the lease to $35 dollars a square foot.  The lease at 21 King Street West also  calls for an escalation, by 2014, to $17.50 per square foot, all in.

It is still not too late for Council to reconsider how much money it is spending to provide ourselves with office space.  The true difference to taxpayers over the next 20 years will be somewhere between $50 and 100 million dollars more than what could have and still can be negotiated.

During the first week of school members of the North End Neighbourhood Association and concerned residents took to the streets to encourage drivers to follow the speed limit and to watch for children on their way to school. 

I was pleased to once again support the Living Rock's city wide art initiative.  Youth between the ages of 13 and 25 contributed art work on the theme Peace / Love/ Culture and Diversity.  This unique array of creative energy was showcased in a wrap up party at The Pearl Company with certificates and prizes being awarded.  In this photo I'm with long time AofA volunteer Freddie.

Kudos to the North End Neighbours and the North Hamilton Community Health Centre staff who worked together to create a very successful summer picnic for the residents of the neighbourhood.  Young and old alike enjoyed many displays, musical entertainment, games and food.  And as an added blessing it was the first summer evening without thunder or showers in a very long time! 

I had the pleasure of presenting the Northender of the Year award to Teddy Gleeson and joined Ed Stewart in presenting a copy of his special Valour poster too. 
 

Most should be aware by know of Council actions regarding the recent flooding event.  A year ago, August 2008, Councillors were asked by the Spectator how we should direct a Provincial infrastructure grant of $48 million dollars.  This was my answer at that time.

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Hi Nicole,

I'm on holidays in Easter Ontario but checking email.  A number of my residents are facing a crisis because of flooding which is directly related to infrastructure problems....either inadequate capacity or disrepair.  Many of our infrastructure issues can be worked out over time but  in these particular cases  something has to be done immediately.  Therefore I want my share addressing the heartbreaking situation of home-owners not knowing when the next flood will occur, or how many times they'll have to endure this, not to mention loss of insurance, value of their homes, etc.

I want to express my personal thanks and appreciation for all who sent messages supporting the stand I took along with Councillors Ferguson and Pearson regarding unlimited liability for repairs to homes and properties damaged by floods.  Even those who continue to suffer this misfortune have told me their priority is to have the problem fixed so they can enjoy their homes once again without worrying every time it begins to rain.  This has been my message from the beginning....that our duty is to provide services to residents, and at the very top of the list water and sewer infrastructure.  I don't believe we have used the resources presented to us in the most useful way.  When floods recurred in the North End this year I was told that sewer repairs were not in the budget.  I suggested that the priority list be reviewed and reorganized to ensure there IS money in the budget.  I have managed to secure the backwater valve program for residents suffering from recurring floods in their homes, which will become available in September.  This will be a relatively inexpensive, but hopefully effective remedy that will alleviate the anguish that flooded home-owners can't help but feel whenever rain falls.   Unfortunately there are other costs that tax-payers will have to cover because of the recent storm.  Repairs to the Red Hill Parkway and adjacent lands are estimated to be $4.5 million dollars.  I believe that had the parkway not been built, much flooding, including the situation on the QEW would not have occurred since the Valley would have done what it did in the previous 11 thousand years....absorb the waters or run them off into the lake.  We were told by the proponents of the expressway that they  could actually make a better creek, and improve on what had been there, preventing erosion, etc.  I'm sure there were many 100 year storms over the past 11 thousand years, and as kids hiking in the creek before the roadway, we saw lots of water coming down off Albion Falls, and down the creek, especially during spring run-off.  Just two years into its life, the parkway has been severely damaged, and the likelihood is we will have more such storms.  Does this mean thin addition to the repairs, sections will have to be re-engineered and rebuilt?  This is a very difficult time for all of us, which will require co-operation and common sense as we move forward. 

Many residents have seen their homes flooded, in some cases several times,  by the torrential rain storms we've experienced this  summer.  This has resulted in severe hardship due to insurance problems, destruction of property, and the distress caused by dampness, odour, and uncertainty about the future.  The City is offering a compassionate grant of up to $750 dollars for residents who have suffered flood damage.  The hotline number to call is 905 667 3157Another  measure available to affected home-owners is tax reduction or even refund.  Under Section 357 of the Municipal Act, property owners can appeal their taxes if their homes have been damaged by flood.  The application form is available on the City of Hamilton website.  On the home page, www.myhamilton.ca  look down the left column and click on "Departments", then "Finance", then "Property Information and Taxes", then "Tax Rebate Programs".  Scroll down the page to "Cancellation, reduction, refund of taxes under Section 357 or 358", and click on the link.  I brought this to the attention of Council during a  meeting in August 2008, but for some reason this was not  reported.  Tax appeal may be the most helpful tool for affected home-owners.  I have asked  our Taxation staff to review tax appeal to see if further relief can be offered to residents.

As I write this the City's emergency group is meeting to deal with the torrential rains that have caused significant problems all over the City.  Many homes have once again experienced flooded basements and properties, with all the damage and heartbreak that entails.  Although we have a plan in place that enables residents to seek relief, the fact is an invasion of the home by water and sewage is totally unacceptable and calls for extreme measures by the City to restore confidence of residents that our sewer infrastructure is up to the required standard.  Although we may be dealing with extreme and unusual weather, home floods cannot be tolerated, and whatever measures are required must be taken, regardless of cost or inconvenience, or other "priorities".

Residents have been asked to participate in a survey of attitudes toward our Downtown.  Response has been excellent, and although there is much more work to be done, as expected many people have expressed negative attitudes toward the core area of Hamilton's Downtown.  There is no question that the north side of King Street between James and Catherine is not anything to be proud of, and that many people avoid it because of perceptions about its cleanliness and safety.  A lot of work has gone into bringing back the heart of our City to the level of comfort, enjoyment and beauty that many of us knew 30 and 40 years ago.  This is why the proposed McMaster Medical educational  facility and clinic to be located on the Board of Education site was so important to our Downtown Renewal group, since it would have provided a major stimulus to the rejuvenation of Downtown Hamilton.  The reasons given for changing the location to Innovation Park are unsatisfactory and unbecoming of a major University which should be as in so many other Cities, a partner in Downtown revitalization.  Hopefully solutions will be found to what are relatively minor issues impacting on a $60 Million dollar project.  It's becoming apparent that leadership for Downtown renewal may have to come from outside, meaning Jim Balsillie of Research in Motion.  A successful bid for an NHL franchise for Hamilton could help erase the intertia sustained by those currently considered community leaders.  (Isaac Newton---Inertia----"...power of resisting, by which everybody ...endeavours to preserve in its present state....").

Our LRT plans received a serious setback as well from McMaster's insistance that the routing does not enter the campus.  Metrolinx has been examining the progress of our planning, fully expecting that an on-campus terminal would be a vital link in the system.  The ramifications are quite serious, in that such an omission could jeopardize the entire project.

The good news is that our Downtown Transit Terminal project is moving along, with the outcome next year of moving the buses off the Gore to a newly constructed terminal along MacNab between King and Main.  This will include certain bus routes moving to the GO Station on Hunter for better connections with the GO buses and trains.  The required work was funded by GO who were completely supportive of working with the City to achieve these improved connections.

You will notice at the GO station the many bicycles parked by the increasing number of commuters getting to the service using their bikes.  This is a revelation to many people who aren't aware that the bicycle is rapidly becoming an important transportation vehicle for residents beyond simple recreational use.  This of course also underlines the importance of our "Shifting Gears" Cycling Master Plan, just approved by Council.

You may also notice if you walk to the GO station, much less pigeon mess.  After a lengthy process, City staff have finally begun to install pigeon "spikes" along the overhead girders of the James and John Street railway bridges at Hunter.  The mess has been appalling, and very simply solved by making it impossible for the birds to roost by use of the spikes.  In places where the spikes are not quite covering the roosting areas, the birds insist on wedging themselves in.  However it should be very obvious how much cleaner the sidewalks have become since the work was started.  There's still some areas that need covering, but eventually significant savings in time and effort will be seen by not having to send in clean-up crews over and over again.

A constant source of complaint from residents is the situation regarding alleyways.  The issues are the dumping of garbage, right of access, ownership, etc.  There is an operational  review of alleyways currently underway, calling for public input, which hopefully will provide solutions to what can be a very divisive and unpleasant situation for affected residents.  For more information, please contact the Ward 2 office at bbratina@hamilton.ca, or 905 546 2711.

I had the pleasure of representing Mayor Eisenberger at the announcement of federal and provincial stimulus funding.  Also in attendance at Bayfront Park were MP David Sweet and MPP Sophia Aggelonitis.

This is a remarkable time to be living in Hamilton.  By the end of this year we will have a clear understanding of how our destiny as a City and a Downtown will be shaped. Of course the NHL story dominates, and one gets the sense that after so many disappointments our time has finally come through the amazing creative mind of Jim Balsillie.  I have been listening through telephone hook-up with the Phoenix bankruptcy court and I can assure you that Judge Redfield Baum is giving every indication that on June 22nd there will be an auction for the team, and that the $212 million dollars offered by Mr. Balsillie looms as the only, and therefore winning bid.  Judge Baum has emerged as one of the most interesting, down-to-earth, cut to the quick members of the judiciary I've encountered, simplifying everthing to their basics, politely deflecting aggressive or condemning statements by the NHL lawyers, and constantly reminding everyone that the reason they're all there is to ensure that creditors get the maximum return on their losses.  To the "who owns the coyotes?" question Judge Baum said he really didn't care, and told the NHL to go into a room with Jerry Moyes and a mediator and come out with a solution.  To the "location" issue he asked rhetorically whether the team was worth more to potential bidders by staying in Glendale Arizona or being allowed to move. (Obvious answer).  He also suggested that potential bidders have had plenty of time and knowledge of the plight of the hockey team, and the only solid bid that has come forward is Balsillies, and that his bid should not be jeopardized by vague possibilities put forward by the league and others.  In short, we have as much going for us as we could hope for, and now fate will really determine whether the NHL will return to Hamilton.

In the meantime progress is being made with regard to the proposal for a McMaster Faculty of Family Medicine to be located Downtown.  These discussions are confidential, but I can tell you that there is an excellent scenario that could provide the best possible outcome for all parties, the City, the Board of Education, and McMaster under discussion, with an outcome, one way or another, imminent.

I was very pleased that the Hess Village Review I requested 3 months ago has been completed on time with a thorough understanding of the issues and problems and comprehensive strategies to solve them involving licencing, by-law enforcement, security infrastructure such as cameras and lighting, and of course policing.  All that remains is the completion of the patio season in the fall to determine how well our goals will have been achieved.

We have also put the final approvals and agreements in place to see the construction of a new 6,000 square foot community centre for the Beasley Neighbourhood.  This has been done in partnership with the Board of Education and their new Dr. Davey School to be built on the Beasley Park Site.  I'm indebted to my colleagues on Council for seeing the value in directing an unspent Provincial grant toward the project.   The school and centre should open in September 2010.

Please revisit this website from time to time as I  try to keep everyone updated on the rapidly moving development of our Downtown and our City.

One of my goals as Downtown Councillor has been to bring a stronger university and college presence to the Core.  This was clearly demonstrated during the time of the unfortunate fire at McMaster's Brandon Hall Residence.  Although the Spectator has published material incorrectly stating my position (McMaster is too big,  the students are too rowdy) in fact their own reporter wrote the following:

As new fields of knowledge emerge, the nation's universities are growing to pursue the expanding missions of teaching, research, public service, and patient care. With only a fraction of the space enjoyed by our leading peers across the country, Columbia has had to face an especially critical need for space in a dense urban environment.

While Columbia is a globally respected academic center, it is also a vital local New York institution, committed to the economic, intellectual, social, and cultural vitality of our neighborhoods and city. In that spirit, together with our West Harlem neighbors, elected representatives, and civic leaders, Columbia has developed a plan for a mixed-use academic center that provides a long-term future of shared opportunity in the old Manhattanville manufacturing zone of West Harlem.

The New York City Council approved the University’s rezoning plan by a wide margin in December 2007, at the conclusion of the city’s extensive public land use review procedure. In announcing the vote, the City Council said the plan “preserves and enhances the vitality of the neighboring Harlem community, while providing new research, cultural, and other benefits to the University.”

The 17-acre site that the University will develop is just north of Columbia's historic Morningside Heights campus and consists primarily of the four large blocks from 129th to 133rd Streets between Broadway and Twelfth Avenue (see map), including the north side of 125th Street, as well as three properties on the east side of Broadway from 131st to 134th Streets.

Columbia’s comprehensive plan, limited to these blocks, moves away from past ad-hoc growth of University buildings. Gradually over the next quarter-century, this carefully considered, transparent, and predictable plan will create a new kind of urban academic environment that will be woven into the fabric of the surrounding community.

The plan includes more than 6.8 million square feet of space for teaching, research, underground parking, and support services. It features new facilities for civic, cultural, recreational, and commercial activity. And its improved, pedestrian-friendly streets and new publicly accessible open spaces will reconnect West Harlem to the new Hudson River waterfront park.

This kind of smart growth will not only generate thousands of new local jobs for a diversity of people, but also result in maintaining Upper Manhattan as a world center for knowledge, creativity, and solutions for society’s challenges.

I had mixed feelings attending the big Labour rally and March on Saturday.  It was good to be part of something so critical to the future of our City and so many of its families.  It was sad that it had to come to this....the indifference of governments present and past that allowed industries elemental to our Nation being taken over by foreign interests, with all of the unfortunate outcomes so easily predicted, and now coming true.  The 2,000 or so men, women and children who attended the rally had two dominant issues....how will they survive lay-off or even worse, and how do they get their jobs back.  Shallow declarations by politicians should anger these people.  This is about their lives, their families, their future.  Rolf Gerstenberger summed it up in his great speech to the rally.  We have been making steel for over a hundred years, we know how to do it and nobody in the world does it better.  If the shareholders and management of U.S. Steel have a problem with that, the Federal Government should bring the ownership back into Canadian hands. 

 We can't let others tell us how much steel we're going to be making.  We have the ore, the production facilities, the basic steel requirements to fill within our own Country. The government is sitting back watching this vandalism take place, such as the sale of the Stelco plate mill to an Indian company.  The mill is now operating in Raigarh India, having been set up by Hamilton workers who had to show the new owners how to run it.  This is a disgrace.  Our workers shouldn't have to hear how we're going to set up food banks for them....they should be hearing how we are going to fight to get their jobs back and their factory operating again.

I will be asking Council to write the Federal Government and demand that steps be taken to ensure that no further erosion of the Canadian Steel Industry take place.  This would include sale and removal from the property or demolition of any iron or steel-making assets and work contracted to Canadian production facilities.  I am asking that discussions take place as soon as possible with all stakeholders to determine how best to stop the diminishment of basic iron and steel-making in Canada, and the protection of its workers and pensioners.  I understand some discussions have been held or already arranged, but we need to ensure that these are held at the highest levels, with the clearly stated message that no further losses in the Canadian steel industry are acceptable. 

The following passage is taken from George Grant's "Lament for a Nation", published in 1965.  At that time I had just begun broadcasting, at CJCS Stratford during a Federal Election campaign.  My first major interview was with John Diefenbaker, visiting the riding of J. Waldo Monteith, representative of Perth County, and former Minister in Diefenbaker's cabinet.  What Grant said then speaks directly today to one of the biggest problems encountered by our City and its residents in these especially difficult times.

".....Influenced by Time Magazine, politics is served up as gossip, and the more titillating the better.  The jaded public wants to be amused; journalists have to eat well.  Reducing issues to personalities is useful to the ruling class.  The "news" now functions to legitimize power, not to conveny information.  The politics of personalities helps the legitimizers to divert attention from issues that might upset the status quo.........Canadian journalists worked this way in the election of 1963.  Their purposes were better served by writing of Diefenbaker's "indecision", of Diefenbaker's "arrogance", of Diefenbaker's "ambition", than by writing about American-Canadian relations......The man had a conception of Canada that threatened the dominant classes...."

So it is with our media.   Serious indiscretions by individuals and attempts by others to confront them are treated as "squabbles" in the "playpen" of City Council.  It is easy for the media to marginalize individuals by playing a constant drumbeat of gossipy derision, and ignoring substance and accomplishment.  George Grant wanted to show that our Country could not thrive and grow because of how Canadians were being informed by their media.  So it is with Hamilton.

A generally well-conducted Council meeting on Wednesday unfortunately descended for a brief time to an unacceptable level of behaviour.  This took place as we were discussing an item having to do with U.S. Steel's proposed water treatment project.  It somehow turned into a rancourous debate on the future of U.S. Steel in Hamilton.   One Councillor made the unfortunate statement that he had been talking to knowledgeable people and that the Hilton Works is finished and will never open again.  He went on to propose ways of assisting laid-off steelworkers that included registration of all affected individuals.  My response was that the Federal Government would likely have to step in to ensure that Canada's ability to provide iron and steel for its strategic needs was not lost because of a corporate decision made in the United States.    I further pointed out that significant investments in steel-intensive railway infrastructure were about to take place.  A second Councillor then spoke out that he knows about steel, whereas others might know about radio, with obvious intent to demean my statements.  Both of these Councillor's interventions, in my view, were improper and unnecessary, were not on the topic of discussion before Council, and in the case of Councillor Merulla, self-serving and politically motivated in terms of his relationship to a certain political party.  These kinds of situations arise all too frequently at Hamilton City Council, and since the contributors are unlikely to change their behaviour, must be dealt with by the Chair, namely the Mayor or Deputy Mayor.  There was an occasion in March of 2007 when Councillor Merulla left his seat during a debate on transit fares, and angrily approached another Councillor, loudy stating "I'm coming after you..."  He said of those voting against his position, "You're a joke".  His threatening interruption included a demand that he (Merulla) be removed from the meeting on behalf of the poor, seniors, and the disabled whom he said would be harmed by a fare increase.  The Mayor's response was to continue to ask him to take his seat, which he finally did.

You may remember that a large amount of tax-payer's money was spent on two different management consultants whose mission was to bring civility, decorum, and a business-like atmosphere to Council. It's obvious that this money was wasted.  The only real solution  is strong leadership from the Chair, and sanctions, such as dismissal from the Council Chamber, of those individuals who continue to abuse the public process.

I couldn't be prouder listening to the presentation by our Downtown Renewal Division to  Committee regarding the success of  our programs helping to rejuvenate the Core area.  How would you like to have this as a personal investment?  $1.3 million invested over the past 7 years yields annual tax revenue of $1.7 million, or $17 million over ten years, or $34 million over the next twenty.  $1.3 million paid the interest on interest-free loans to developers, who used the incentive to construct over $180 million dollars worth of new or renovated buildings Downtown.  Some examples are the new Terraces on King, next  to Denningers, the Staybridge Suites hotel on Market Street, The Chateau Royale on James South and the old Eaton's warehouse that is now the Rebecca Lofts.  I'm particularly proud of the old Foster's building at 68 King East which was described in 2001  in a Specator article as "rotting" and in "desparate shape"  Our loans program and Heritage grant saved this National Historic site, so designated because of its hand-wrought metal facade, beautifully preserved in a building that is now almost fully rented.  During our Committee meeting, one Councillor suggested that we "weren't hearing the bad news....what's the downside?"  (There is none..these are the facts.)  Another suggested, believe it or not, that all of this "would have happened anyway",  both demeaning and negative comments in the face of great news for our City, our Downtown and our tax-payers.  The headline to the story in the local paper read  "Leash Shortened on Loans", "developers will have to jump hoops after problems".    Our Downtown programs have gone through three extensive audits and examinations, always with flying colours, except for suggestions to improve certain minor paperwork issues.  In fact all the loans have been paid back on time  in full up to now.  Typically banks expect  default on loans in the 5 to 10 per cent range, so one examiner was quite surprised and suggested that perhaps we don't have enough money loaned out, if there's no default.  This can always change of course, but tax-payers have been well-served by these programs.  Not only is there a significant return on investment, the projects that wouldn't have started without the loans create jobs in the construction industry, and hotels provide a range of employment from house-keeping to management.

Council has voted to go ahead with a bid for the 2015 Pan Am games, with a priority site designated in the Barton-Tiffany area.  The second location would be the Airport.  Other locations will likely be considered.   Site selection by the Pan Am governing body will take place in November.   Should we be successful  the following scenario will take place.

A firm will be selected to evaluate several sites.  Environmental assessments will take place, and all aspects of stadium location, impacts on neighbourhoods, traffic studies, geotechnical surveys (site contamination), shadow effects, noise propogation, etc.  Two or more studies have to be carried out concurrently because of tight timelines that demand facilities be in place in time for the games to begin as scheduled in 2015.  If the priority site fails to meet certain criteria, including cost of land assembly, contamination clean-up, availability of parking, transit or traffic corridors,  the second or third choices would then take  precedence.  At this writing, no one can predict for instance how much clean up may be required in what is certainly industrial contaminated lands of high order.  Railway yards for instance are among the most difficult to remediate, and the adjacent lands have been receiving a wide range of contaminates for well over 100 years.

The consultation and design approvals would come before City Council prior to contracts being tendered and construction begun.  My guess is that final site preparation could not begin before 2011 at the earliest, and perhaps even later.

The bid sub-committee only released the materials to Council late last week, so there has not been much opportunity to review, and communicate with residents who may be affected.  There could well be other neighbourhoods that may end up hosting Games facilities, so it is premature to state with certainty anything other than Council's participation in the Bid process.

The Barton-Tiffany site named as the priority is located in the Central Neighbourhood of Ward 2.  There has not been time for consultation, but early indications are that there is some support for the bid from the Neighbourhood group, as well as opposition. Interestingly, homeowners along Bay and Barton seem to be on  opposite poles, some very enthusiastic, some others angry.

Representatives of the North End Neighbours presented, declaring their firm opposition to placing the games at Barton-Tiffany.  I am organizing a meeting of our Community Council, representing all six neighbourhood groups, to discuss this, and other controversial Ward matters early next month.

My only request is that residents refrain from extreme negative comments while the process unfolds.  Unfortunately the Spectator published photos and articles which lead many to believe that certain specific properties were identified as within stadium lands, perhaps requiring expropriation and demolition.  Absolutely nothing has been determined in this regard, nor will any activity take place other than the most cursory site visits until the bid is approved.  There are residents dead set against this, and I take their views into account.  But there are others who are eager to see the games come to Hamilton, and come to their particular neighbourhood.  I understand my responsibilities as Ward Councillor, and will undertake to support whatever is the best decision for all concerned.  Obviously it can't be perfect and not everyone will be pleased.  It may well be that the current global economic crisis will play the biggest role in the final outcome, which may that no Games take place anywhere.  I  wouldn't want that to happen, because personally I think we have more to gain than lose.  There are those who have lost some civility over this and I urge everyone to show magnanimity in this very important consideration for our Council and our City.

My response as the Ward Councillor is that the problems in Hess Village have been a priority issue, and a number of strategies brought forward, including a moratorium on street festivals.  Whether an   Interim Control By-law would provide any relief is uncertain, and needs to be reviewed by staff to provide Council with clear understanding of   all related issues and impacts.   The only new capacity now confirmed is at 15 Hess, where a  building permit was issued and construction already.  It would therefore be excluded from  any Interim Control By-law development "freeze", and thus have no impact on the upcoming 2009 patio season in Hess Village.

The Police delegation described the current situation as dangerous and almost uncontrollable, and emphasis was placed on on stopping  future capacity increases. However this would provide no relief to Local residents, faced with the prospect of a repeat of last summer's nuisances.  The Police presentation suggests that  if uniformed officers are reluctant to accept the detail because of the perceived danger, then Hess Village patrons would also be at  risk by visiting the area.  This will not be alleviated by a development freeze and must be addressed prior to the 2009 patio season.

As I stated in Committee and Council there are two separate issues. One is how to deal with future growth. The other is how to deal with the present.

--We can actually reduce capacity in Hess Village as it relates to problem behaviours by moving to Zero Tolerance for bars which over-serve, over-crowd, create disturbance such as noise, and require more Police and by-law attendance than is reasonable. We know which bars are currently and traditionally at the top of such a list and can put their owners "on notice".

--We can re-examine the capacity that is using the City's road allowance for patio capacity and could revoke this permitted use.

--We can redesign the Hess Village Entertainment District by-law to address matters related to problems in Hess Village, in addition to the current conditions that apply to the hiring and compensation of paid-duty officers.

--We can also ask for assistance from other Police services who control similar situations, such as Toronto and Halifax who could review our procedures and offer advice.

--We could establish a dedicated Hess Village unit who would as a result become familiar with the challenges of the detail, rather than the current random selection of who is available, sometimes a few hours before the assigned duty.

However it is not the purview of City Councillors to advise the Police on how to do their job. Policing is best left to the experts and it is the Police Service Board that is mandated to deal with local policing, to the exclusion particularly of local politicians, by Provincial mandate.

I do not accept the notion that if more restaurants and bars open in the district, and death or injury occurs, that Council, or the Planning Department or the actions or inactions of by-law enforcement officers would automatically be held responsible.   

It is my intention to continue to work through the Downtown Cleanliness and Security Task Force with Staff and the Police Service  to address, as mandated, issues of security in the Downtown Hamilton Community Improvement Project Area.

We have some good news and some bad as we head into the Holiday season and the New Year.  Sadly your Council voted against determining whether the deal to remain at City Centre would in fact save 10's of millions of tax dollars. Simply stated, we are spending about $170 million dollars to provide ourselves with office space.  We could purchase our current location for $55 million and probably less in view of market conditions.  Council refused, with 4 exceptions, to allow this to even be examined.  The City Hall will be renovated, in concrete, not marble or limestone, for at least $74 million dollars, an estimate that is expected to rise.  This will be paid for as follows:

$34 million dollars in new debt; $30 million dollars in Gas Tax revenue, $6.9 million on the general tax levy, and $2 million from reserves. Since the building only provides half our requirements we will have to lease 150,000 square feet over the next 20 years at a cost of about $50 million dollars.  The City Centre would provide ALL required space for $55 million or less.  Council said no.

On the positive side, we're getting another GO train leaving downtown in the morning, making 4 trips to Toronto Monday to Friday.  The new one will leave at around 7:15, arriving in Toronto at 8:25, and should be in service early in the New Year.  The Terraces on King, next to Denningers, is now being occupied, a beautiful new residential building and a real asset to the Downtown streetscape.  This building was constructed with underground parking for about $130 dollars per square foot.  The City Hall renovation is at least $375 psf as a comparison.  There's lots more which I'll try to catch up with in this space very soon.

You may have read in Saturday's Spectator (today) that lead continues to be a concern to Public Health as blood screening  tests come back.  I urge residents with young children to consider having them tested. You can call the blood lead screening  program directly at 289-808-3811.  This is a serious public health issue and all children between ages 0 and 6 who live between the Mountain and the harbour, and between highway 403 and Parkdale should have this testing done.  It's a very simple and quick test, but has significant meaning to the healthy development of your child.

There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child's mental development. The possible health problems get worse as the level of lead in the blood gets higher. Possible complications include:

• Reduced IQ
• Slowed body growth
• Hearing problems
• Behavior or attention problems
• Failure at school
• Kidney damage

The symptoms of lead poisoning may include:

• Irritability
• Aggressive behavior
• Low appetite and energy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches
• Reduced sensations
• Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
• Anemia
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison)
• Very high levels may cause vomiting, staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma

These two topics created a lot of excitement at City Council.  On a few (too many) occasions one or more of the blast furnaces at U.S. Steel and/or Arcelor Mittal had what we call in the Iron and Steel business a "slip".  Excess pressure within the furnace is released by bleeder valves on the top of the furnace, usually showering the area with oily soot.  This created unsightly mess in several neighbourhoods, depending on which way the wind was blowing, and Councillor Sam Merulla lead a determined and important protest that brought  the two steel companies and Columbian Carbon  before  City Council.  A number of postive steps were taken, with agreement by the companies to attempt to avoid future occurrences.  Some measures seemed to me somewhat onerous, such as creating an environment director for the City,  and demanding to see the Companies' capital plans for upgrades of their equipment.  I also pointed out that as regrettable as these soot incidents are, they're infrequent, and an inevitable part of living in a community that produces iron and steel.  The greatest danger to human health and the environment comes from the automobile, from coal-fired generating stations, and in our case "drag out"....all of the dust that rises in clouds  and blows across the city from unpaved industrial sites, particularly on Strathearne Avenue north.  Councillor Merulla launched into a tirade accusing me of making light of the situation, and stating that the soot was not a health problem.  This of course is not true. 

There are only about 30 working blast furnaces in North America and 4 of them are in Hamilton.  I'm proud of that.  At the moment furnaces are closing down all over the world because of the  Global Economic Crisis.  U.S. Steel and Arcelor do not have to make iron and steel in Hamilton.  They have plenty of other facilities in North America and the rest of the world.  U.S. Steel has just announced it will extend the shut-down of its Hamilton  furnace through January, with the loss of 177 jobs.  If the facility were to close we would not only lose those jobs permanently, we would suffer huge tax-loss through the reassessment that would happen on the non-productive parts of the property.  Some people feel that would be a good thing, to eliminate the heavy industry at the harbour and return the area to its pristine pre-industrial natural setting.  I would love to have seen the harbour, once called Lake Geneva,  (hence my high fountain idea) in its natural state,   but I also grew up in a family of steel-workers, and was a full-time employee of Dofasco prior to getting into broadcasting.  To me there is still something majestic about our industrial skyline, and ennobling in the knowledge that we are taking iron ore, limestone and coke, and turning into the building blocks of our society.  We lost Lake Geneva, but I point out to my colleagues that we had a beautiful valley,  relatively unchanged for 11 thousand years, since the retreat of the glaciers.   We built through it a roadway at huge expense, with relatively little return in value, and extreme and constant pollution created by its traffic.  Council is called for an environmental director based on a very few soot releases, but fought to prevent a full environmental assessment of the roadway.

On the NHL matter,  there were many negative comments made, mostly misplaced because of a complete misunderstanding of the issue.  To me, the City I love was miserably depicted by a governor of the NHL and I felt we should not let the comments go unanswered, period.  I suggested we do something, and our staff drafted the motion that came before Council.  I had not asked that a letter be written to the Globe and Mail, but felt that since someone had put some thought into the matter and included that in the motion, I would be willing to support it if the rest of Council agreed.  They did not, and that was fine with me.  Council did agree to use the opportunity to contact the league and present the story of our community in a positive way.   We decided not to proceed with a meeting of the Commissioner, Gary Bettman, based on a confidential request for reasons which may become clear in the near future.  Sadly various members of the media used the story to rant about "whining", and agreeing with the anonymous governor about the nature of our City, and suggesting the NHL wasn't interested in hearing from us about a franchise.  We didn't intend to "ask for a franchise", which is of course not our business as a municipality.  That belongs to private investors. However the media types have to fill air time and column space, so I'm glad this issue was able to prevent "dead air" and blank paper for them , although in retrospect that might have been better.

Some time ago I began raising questions about lead levels in drinking water, which in some cases were showing double or triple the maximum acceptible concentrations in older areas of the City.  The most important consideration was whether lead was getting into the bodies of pregnant women or young children. I requested that Public Health do a study to determine if this was indeed a fact, and to what extent.  I'm pleased to report that as a result of these requests, the following action is being taken.  It dovetails with my other related initiative, namely to assist families in replacing lead water service lines to their homes.

The City of Hamilton Public Health Services is conducting an important study into the health of Hamilton’s children. This month, clinics will begin to assess the level of lead in the blood of children ages 6 years and younger. The main reason for the study is to determine whether or not lead exposure is a health issue in Hamilton.

“We are excited about the opportunities that this study will provide to the City of Hamilton,” said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health. “The results will be able to inform future public health recommendations and there are benefits to a study like this beyond the collection of data. Parents will receive their child’s results, Hamilton will have a better understanding of the levels of lead exposure, and there will be an opportunity to discuss the important issue of minimizing the risk of lead exposure in our children.”

Starting this week, families in randomly selected neighbourhoods in central and downtown Hamilton will be invited to take part in the study. When selecting the study area, scientists involved in developing the study with Public Health Services considered common sources of lead exposures such as older homes that still have lead paint or plumbing, and regions closer to industry. The study focuses on young children because they are the most vulnerable portion of the population for lead exposure. The study will include testing levels of blood lead, a survey about potential risks for lead exposures, and environmental sampling at some of the study households.

“The key to making this study a success will be the participation of families,” said Dr. Richardson. “Public Health Services has put a lot of effort into planning this study and has received tremendous support from city officials, local organizations that work with children, as well as provincial and federal agencies.”

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Media Contact:
 
Dr. Elizabeth Richardson
Medical Officer of Health
Hamilton Public Health Services
905-546-2424  ext.  3502

In 2006 the City discovered that many households showed higher than acceptable levels of lead in their drinking water, especially in older areas of Hamilton.  As a result in October of last year I brought forward a one year pilot Loans Program that allowed home-owners to replace the old lead water service line that brings water into their house from the City line under the street. This enables residents to get the work done immediately, but pay for it over a ten year period on their household tax bill.  The Program has been such a success that staff now recommends it be made permanent, for which I am very grateful.  This program has great signifigance beyond replacing old pipes.  I have also brought forward a lead blood-screening program through Public Health to identify whether there is a problem with the presence of this dangerous material in developing children.  The results are expected in the Spring of 2009.  Here is what the Medical Encylopedia says about the dangers of lead in the developing child:

• Reduced IQ
• Slowed body growth
• Hearing problems
• Behavior or attention problems
• Failure at school
• Kidney damage

The symptoms of lead poisoning may include:

• Irritability
• Aggressive behavior
• Low appetite and energy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Headaches
• Reduced sensations
• Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
• Anemia
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison)
• Very high levels may cause vomiting, staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma

Obviously we need to take measures to ensure that our children are getting the best, healthiest start to life, and if lead is present in their environment we have to deal with it.     The Staff Recommendation for the Loan Program can be seen by clicking this link:

www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/B8BAF90D-26AA-413B-B559-3BA7213C202E/0/Oct14FCS07087aPW07121aLeadServiceReplacementLoanProgram.pdf

Gore Park is one of the most prominent public spaces  of any Canadian City. It's where Hamiltonians  have traditionally gathered for rallies and celebrations, such as VE Day in 1945, or sending their  beloved Tiger Cats off  to  the Grey Cup game, and honouring those citizens who had fallen in defense of Canada.  When I became Councillor in 2004 I realized at the Remembrance Day Ceremony that year that the Park and its surroundings had deteriorated.  The Cenotaph was literally falling apart, the  buildings  across  the street  were  abandoned and covered in demeaning grafitti, and the  area was full of  litter, idling buses, and loiterers.  This to me was completely disrespectful  of those who had served our Country.  Since then the following has  occurred.  I received Council approval  for the renaming of  the East branch of  the park as "Veterans Place at Gore Park".  Repairs have been made to the Cenotaph.  The vacant buildings have been cleaned up and renovatedand are now being leased to tenants.  The buses will be moved to other areas under the Downtown Transit Terminal Hybrid Plan,  some to MacNab Street, others to the GO Station on Hunter Street.  We are now in a position  to  move forward  with the rehabilitation of the Gore Park area, including the possibility of a memorial to the legacy of Peace made by the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers from Hamilton.  The staff report is  attached  below.

 Council Direction:  

Staff was directed to study, as part of the Gore Park Master Plan, the feasibility of incorporating a memorial honouring Hamilton military personnel who have died while on duty during peacekeeping missions, and report back to the Emergency and Community Services Committee.

Information: Over the past 50 years, Canada has participated in most of the peacekeeping missions mandated by the UN Security Council such as Rwanda, Bosnia and most recently Afghanistan. Hamiltonians have participated in these missions with some giving the supreme sacrifice.

The addition of a memorial dedicated to honouring Hamilton's peacekeepers that have died while on duty during peacekeeping missions is appropriate in keeping with Gore Park's function as a centre for honouring our military in Veteran's Square.

Gore Park is currently home to the Hamilton Cenotaph, erected in 1921, to commemorate over 53,000 Canadians soldiers, 2,000 of them Hamiltonians, who were killed in World War I. Although unthinkable at the time, another World War, with the loss of Hamiltonians, was added to the stone face to "never to be forgotten". The Korean War was quick to follow.

Culture Division staff met with Ward 2 Councillor Bob Bratina and representatives of Downtown Renewal and Open Space Development to discuss the potential of creating a memorial to peacekeepers in Gore Park and furthermore, to incorporate this project into the upcoming Master Plan for the park. The concept was supported which ensued a further discussion about the opportunity of developing this memorial as a public art project.

Culture Division staff will participate on the steering committee for the Gore Park Master Plan with the intent of developing a peacekeeper's memorial as part of the plan. However, it was noted that the Gore Park Master Plan, and the capital requirement, will be coordinated to ensure that the timing is the same as the Transit Terminal Project and the Transportation Master Plan. In addition, as part of this review, Gore Park will also be assessed for its potential as a pedestrian mall at the request of Mayor Eisenberger. Until the Environmental Assessment is completed, the park design configuration cannot be completed.

Emergency and Social Services Committee    March 7, 2008

Many Ward 2 residents, particularly in the North End neighbourhood, have seen their homes flooded, in some cases several times,  by the torrential rain storms we've experienced this  summer.  This has resulted in severe hardship due to insurance problems, destruction of property, and the distress caused by dampness, odour, and uncertainty about the future.  Those residents need to know that beginning this week Public Works will be inspecting the North End sewers for problems such as blockages, and devising a work plan to correct those problems.  It is not possible to get this work done within a few days, which is extremely concerning to residents who want to know when they will be able to enjoy the use of their basements again without fear of flooding. 

The City is offering a compassionate grant of up to $750 dollars for residents who have suffered flood damage.  The hotline number to call is 905 667 3157, and there is a deadline of December 11th for submitting an application.

Another  measure available to affected home-owners is tax reduction or even refund.  Under Section 357 of the Municipal Act, property owners can appeal their taxes if their homes have been damaged by flood.  The application form is available on the City of Hamilton website.  On the home page, www.myhamilton.ca  look down the left column and click on "Departments", then "Finance", then "Property Information and Taxes", then "Tax Rebate Programs".  Scroll down the page to "Cancellation, reduction, refund of taxes under Section 357 or 358", and click on the link.  I brought this to the attention of Council and the media at our August 9th meeting, but for some reason this was not  reported.  Tax appeal may be the most helpful tool for affected home-owners.

I will be updating information regarding flooding problems as often as possible, so please continue to check my website. 

Hamilton Partners in Nutrition (PIN),  an initiative of the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton,  supports and facilitates local student nutrition programs for children and youth across the city.  The goal of the program is for all young people to have access to adequate nutrition in order to support healthy growth, learning, development and lifelong healthy eating habits.  Hamilton Partners in Nutrition is asking citizens, neighbourhood groups and local businesses to get involved with nutrition programs operating in their neighbourhoods.  Visit the web site: www.partnersinnutrition.ca to find a local program that needs your help. 
Or call Marina at 905.522.1148 x 312

Hamilton photographer Larry Strung has an increbible photographic project this year. Each and every day, throughout 2008, he will photograph a different person in Hamilton and post the photo on the website www.Hamilton365.com I am thrilled to be a part of this creative initiative that celebrates the people who make this a great city!

Many of you may have read about an encounter between the mayor and myself. The issue is the mayor's improper behaviour with regard to procedure. On several occasions the mayor has ignored my request to be put on the speaker's list. When a Councillor signals his or her wish to speak the mayor, as chair of the meeting he must recognize the Councillor. If the Councillor's presentation is out of order or inappropriate the mayor can at that time make a ruling, or give direction. The mayor cannot ignore a request to speak. There have been cases when I have stated "point of order", and the mayor immediately replied "that is not a point of order" without a clue as to what was to be said. More seriously the mayor has refused recognition. At the April 23rd Council meeting I asked to speak during Changes to the Agenda at the beginning of the meeting to ask for direction on how we might discuss the collapse of the Balfour Building. The mayor at first ignored the request, then as I began to speak cut me off by saying "there's a place for motions on the agenda". In fact staff had prepared material anticipating that there would be discussion of this serious matter. It never took place because of the intransigeance of the mayor. The correct procedure would have been to listen to my submission, then make a ruling, or ask for direction from the Clerk.

Some time ago I attempted to discuss the serious problems created for residents by improper handling of building permits. I was in fact out of order since I was discussing the item during "notices of motion". Instead of providing direction, as is his duty, the mayor launched into a harangue against me personally. The last straw for me was his attempt to stage manage the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday May 12th and again refused to acknowledge my request to speak. I was about to ask for Committee's consideration to move an agenda item up since a number of people were in attendance wishing to speak to the item. The mayor refused to acknowledge me and the group was forced to wait for over 2 hours while Council discussed among themselves two items that could easily have been moved back. It was shortly after this further display of ignorance that I, during a lull, quietly approached the mayor and discretely advised him that his behaviour was improper and that I would answer him in kind if he so wished in future. No one but the mayor heard this, but he chose later in the meeting to publicly humiliate me by saying I had sworn at and threatened him.

We don't need an integrity commissioner as much as we need strong leadership and properly conducted meetings. Neither seems to be the case.

Over the past couple of weeks Ward 2 has received almost $10 million dollars in funding for improvements to our Rail passenger and commuter service.  The Provincial Government has agreed to support a new GO facility at James Street North.  This will provide service in addition to the trains currently operating in and out of the Hunter Street Station.  It will also mean the return of VIA passenger service to Hamilton after an absence of 16 years.  VIA officials are working with GO management  to work out details, but have confirmed their interest in using the facility.  This is a significant development for the prosperity and growth of our City, and notably the  rejuvenation of the Downtown core.  Following that announcement I was pleased as a member of the GO Transit Board to approve the 6 milllion dollar contract for improvements to the Hunter Street Station.  This will mean another morning train to Toronto, and better on time performance for trains in and out of Hamilton, since the facility will allow the trains to stay overnight rather than have to be shuttled in and out to the storage yard in Mimico.

Ward 2 residents will also be hearing more about rapid transit, and especially Light Rail   This is the way of the future for progressive communities as the solution to traffic problems.  Cities like Shanghai, Dallas, Charlotte, Boston and Denver are now using LRT systems, and almost every major city from New York to Washington to Miami are building them.  Canada has some notable examples such as Calgary and Vancouver, with many more being planned for Edmonton, Victoria and others.   These are exciting times in the development of our City and our Ward.

Saturday March 29 residents of the Beasley neighbourhood gathered at the Beasely Community Centre for an afternoon of ideas, discussion and brainstorming. Their goal: what makes a neighbourhood great and how do you get there. Shown here participants work through a colourful visual that highlights the positive. Bob is pictured with Isabel, the President of Beasley Neighbours 4 Neighbours. For more information visit www.ourbeasley.com

This past week Councillors were asked to come up with ideas on how to spend $8 million dollars provided on a one-time basis by the Province. $3 million of that amount is to be applied to a brownfield development project. I was very touched that a solid majority of Council including Mayor Eisenberger supported my request to apply the brownfield funds to the building of a new Community Centre and the rehabilitation and expansion of Beasley Park. The Centre would be built in conjunction with a new Dr. Davey School and would replace the current facility, which is an 11 hundred square foot windowless concrete block building.

The park rehabilitation would address the significant contamination beneath the park soil and the possibility of adding to the very limited green space. Beasley is considered one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada, and one of the most diverse, with 41 nationalities represented in its population. The project would bring together the City, the Board of Education and the Province, along with such agencies as the Hamilton Community Foundation, The Roundtable on Poverty, Wesley Urban Ministries, private contributors and local citizens to elevate the quality of life for children and families in this Downtown core neighbourhood.

A Beasley Study was brought forward in 1996 outlining problems and solutions, and since then the only tangible investment was the resurfacing of Ferguson Avenue with bricks. There is much work to be done in carrying out the proposal approved by Council, but I have to say it was a somewhat emotional moment for me when I realized that most of my colleagues did not hestitate to voice their support for a neighbourhood that may have felt forgotten until now.

This development will be an asset for the entire City, as well as our Ward and of course the Beasley Neighbourhood.

A number of people have spoken to me about "saving" the Education Centre building at Main and Bay, referencing its heritage and architectural value. I think those issues are still open to discussion, but those who wish to save this building need to give the Board a way of financing the significant costs of renovation and new construction needed for the provision of adequate administrative space. If someone could figure out how to pay for it in a way acceptable to the Board I would support retaining the Education Centre building. Thus far no one has come up with anything to replace the strategy being developed by the Board and City staff, leaving the Board with few options.

My view is that Jackson Square, the Board and the current City Hall projects contributed significantly to the steady decline we have seen in our Downtown over the past 40 or so years. We need to bring back the large massing of buildings as was in place before Urban Renewal demolished them, drove people away, shut down businesses and eliminated tax revenue from what were formerly productive commercial properties.

Reference has been made to the area's "public space" and the need to retain the large lawns, forecourts, etc. In fact the area is notoriously devoid of people except for the comings and goings of staff and visitors. These are not areas where the public gathers. A former Mayor insisted that Tiger Cat rallies, Christmas Carol singalongs and New Years celebrations be held in front of City Hall. Rarely did a decent crowd ever show up. Now that we are pretty much stuck with Main Street as a main one-way multi-lane traffic route the value of adjacent areas as public gathering space is negated. The place to create new public space is in the vicinity of Gore Park. The block from Hughson to John could be cleared for a Manhattan-style Central Park, as has been suggested by a number of prominent local people. In fact a park is planned for the area between King William and Rebecca at John Street. An even larger park should be considered.

One of Hamilton's problems is "underutilization".....the fact that so much valuable property and infrastructure is not productive, and could be providing the revenue we need to repair our damaged economy. I want to find the money to pay for a proper restoration of Auchmar, and maintenance for Dundurn and the Workers' Arts and Heritage Centre, rebuilding of the Tivoli and so on. We can't just keep adding to the tax-bill of residential property-owners. The option being considered by the Board of Education trustees will help address this, as well as bring hundreds of new employees and thousands of visits per year to clinics that would be incorporated into a Faculty of Family Medicine, and to hotels also envisioned for the site. This project is not about tearing down another old familiar building. It's about repairing the damage that was done by the unfortunate and destructive process called Urban Renewal, now generally considered a failure. This is an exciting time for Downtown Hamilton, but it entails difficult decisions. The ones we made in the 50's, 60's and 70's have not served us well.

A transitioning strategy was created so as not to pull the rug out from under very helpful programs, but to see that extra money was put into the hands of our neediest families. This year that program has returned over $2,000,000 dollars to almost 8,000 children in 4,200 families. The payment amounts to $265 dollars per child, so each family gets that amount times the number of their children. These funds are desparately needed since eligibility requires that they be on Ontario Works, or Disability. This money therefore is not set aside for savings or other use; it's over $2,000,000 dollars going right back into the Hamilton economy as families try to look after their needs.

This is only one of many stories that could be told of the work being done by City Staff to try to address problems caused by poverty, and to put meaning into the statement "Best Place to Raise A Child".

On September 12, the 2007 "Doctors of Ontario Charity (DOCS) on Ice" hockey tournament presented a cheque for $40,000 to the Mark Preece Family House. The facility provides affordable, accessible and safe accomodation for families of adult patients recovering from medical treatment in the Hamilton area.

The cheque represents the funds raised by nearly 700 Ontario physicians who participated in the April tournament which was organized by the Hamilton Academy of Medicine.

DOCS on Ice also donated $1500. to the Hamilton SeldgeHammers sledge hockey team.

The Mark Preece House is being created in the former Smart Turner Building at 191 Barton Street East. In addition to building a valuable asset for the community, the development is an example of adaptive re-use of a significant industrial heritage building.

In the photo from left: Walter Gretzky, Bob, Mark Preece Family House Board Member Lisa Tittley, Board Chair Dr. Christine Bradley and 2007 Docs on Ice Tournament Chair Dr. Walter Owsianik.

For more information: Mark Preece House

 LEAD WATER SERVICE REPLACEMENT LOAN PROGRAM

Lead Pipe Service Replacement Program please view our brochure or contact our Customer Service Representatives  at 905-546-4426 for details Health related questions and answers regarding lead in drinking water   City of Hamilton Public Health Safe Water Information www.hamilton.ca/safewater

The City of Hamilton has initiated a pilot funding assistance program that will be in effect until October 31, 2008.

 

It enables eligible property owners of residential dwellings that meet the Lead Water Service Replacement Program Guidelines to access a 10-year interest bearing loan for the replacement of lead water private services.

 

The loan is transferred to the property owner’s tax roll with annual payments due on the final tax installment due dates. The loan if approved will not exceed $2000 and will only be paid to the property owner upon receipt of the invoices for the completed work, and the inspection of the completed work by City staff under the water service permit.

Loan Eligibility

• Must be the owner(s) of the property

• All owners of the property must apply for the loan Application Form

• Have obtained a minimum of 1 quote for the work from licensed Contractors Estimate Form

• Has not commenced replacement of private service prior to October 10, 2007.

• All property taxes must be current at the time of application and at time of loan payment

• The owner(s) must complete and sign the Commitment Letter

• The owner(s) must meet all the conditions of this Program

 

For details on this Program see Loan Guidelines

For more information on the replacement program or call
905-546-CITY (2489) or Water Wastewater Customer Service at 905-546-4426

 

I want to express my deep sorrow on the passing of one of our Ward 2 neighbourhood leaders Cheryl Harvey. There are six neighbourhood associations in the Ward and Cheryl was an active leader in the Stinson Association. Despite significant health issues Cheryl continued to work hard for Stinson until circumstances forced her to step back. Her loss was a shock to all of us and I will miss her counsel and efforts on behalf of those who live in this great downtown neighbourhood. A celebration of her life took place on Sunday October 7  at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 58, 1180 Barton Street East.

Bob & Mayor Fred join the stallholders, staff and many Hamiltonians on Saturday August 18 to celebrate the 170th Anniversary of the Hamilton Farmers' Market. In 1837, Andrew and Mary Miller transferred land to the Town of Hamilton for use as a permanent market.

In 1980 the Market moved to its current location next to the Hamilton Public Library. It is one of the oldest surviving markets in Canada and remains the heart of downtown.

This past week I raised concerns at City Council regarding lead in drinking water.  To my dismay there didn't seem to be much concern about the problem by our staff.  On June 12th the Province issued a directive regarding testing by municipalities for lead in drinking water.  On July 11th I asked if any further testing had been done in Hamilton.  I was told 197 further tests were done and 44 of them were above the accepted standard, or over 20 per cent.  I then asked how many tests were done in Ward 2 with what results.  On July 19th I was told 13 tests had been done  Ward 2, with 6 of them reading high, or almost 50 per cent.  When I pressed our staff about this the answer was that of course if you do more testing in older areas you're liable to find this kind of result.   The City of London Ontario  paid for 6,000 residential tests and is creating a program to assist home-owners in replacing lead service lines.  I will therefore have to take further steps to protect our Ward residents from ingesting unacceptable levels of lead in their drinking water, even if it requires appealing directly to the Province.  Almost as troubling as the response from staff was the complete indifference to this matter by the media, except for CATCH. Here is the article as it was published.

Currently an intensive audit is being done with regard to security and policing issues in the Downtown neighbourhoods. Public focus groups have been conducted with a specialist hired to conduct the study. At lot of concern is expressed to us regarding security and safety issues and although much of the information being gathered is familiar to all of us it's important that we clearly understand the issues in order to come up with strategies to deal with them.

Among the areas requiring attention is Ferguson Avenue North. Residents and businesses have had to put up with dangerous behaviours by drug addicts, prostitutes and other troubled individuals. The City is spending literally millions of dollars to improve roads, build bridges, and connect the waterfront to the downtown with Ferguson as a main corridor, yet most Hamiltonians I think would be shocked by some of the activities that often take place openly on the street. Although much effort has gone into trying to solve these social problems that undermine quality of life in the neighbourhood, the situation continues to be unsatisfactory. We have met with the various stakeholders, social service agencies, police, business-owners and residents on many occasions and some progress has been made. However more has to be done, and will be done.

I am very concerned about the effectiveness of the City's Animal Control operation. A letter to the Spectator on Saturday August 4th told a tragic story of a dog-owner whose animal was destroyed by a nieghbour's Rottweiler. I received a letter from another Downtown resident regarding an unleashed and uncontrolled Rottweiler chasing after his wife at 6:15 a.m. while she was on her way to work. In this case the Animal Control officer advised him that the owner is already facing a fine after the dog was picked up running loose several blocks away from its home. The owner has apparently not paid the fine and charges can't be laid unless the dog actually bites someone. It has become apparent to me through these and other instances that Animal Control enforcement may not be protecting the public from irresponsible dog-owners or providing an acceptable level of public safety. I intend to bring this matter forward to Council and during our review this fall of the Animal Control By-Law.