I see th usual suspects are attempting to thwart more development that would be beneficial to Hamiilton. The same mentality that those who opposed the Red Hill Expressway, manifested, is happening again. I mean it's not like major industries are beating a path to Hamilton's door to put new industries on this industrial land now zoned commercial is it? The city is "blessed " it seems, with an over abundance of econazi type Luddites, who bemoan along with the rest of us, high taxes, urban decay, the ghetto look of big areas of the city, & the ghost town appearance of a once vibrant city that used to be known as the "Ambitious City" . But we lost our ambitiousness it seems and dropped the motto, and we just keep on living day to day bemoaning what has happened to our city, electing the same useless politicos, or the same useless type of politicos, who don't seem to have the know-how to turn this city around. We don't have any effective voice in any higher level of gov't because Hamiltonians insist on electing those who end up being on the sidelines and back benches. I haven't voted Liberal, but I came to a grudging admiration for John Munro as a guy who fought for his city and had moxy or spunk- never backed down from a fight.I voted for him when he ran for mayor because of his gov't experience on several fronts, his aforementioned qualities, and because I felt if elected we might finally have someone who would "get things done". I know lots of friends who have moved to Brantford and other surrounding cities because they are more progressive, taxes are quite a bit lower, and they don't have the aura of a city in decline t he way Hamilton does. It's those like these complainants that are anti "moving forward", anti development, and anti investment that I hold responsible - why don't they come up with not only job creation but INVESTMENT DOLLARS to make it happen?
I linked in to read Paul's comment since he stated it would be controversial, but it's more rambling and confusing. To keep it simple, point form response
- I'm not sure how Paul linked the RHVE to HfPD - Paul can feel free to dempnstrate how the RHVE is (or ever will be) generating more income that it cost the city. - How will building a power centre result in a net gain of employment or taxes? Employees are typically paid less and the money spent by consumers is already being spent elsewhere, possibly at the three other walmarts. - Why does a city with three walmarts need three more? - How does building power centres restore Hamilton to the Ambitious City? - The taxes in Brantford are less because the properties are worth less. The rates are 1.56 & 1.59 (or less in districts other than Hamilton proper).
Paul: Our community struggles with poverty, so how do you equate Walmart, with moving forward when it denies workers the right to organize to fight for better wages, benefits or even benefits? Never mind the many workers across the globe this corporation affects, as they live in dire poverty. This corporation wields more power then countries.
Also food security is another issue that plagues our community, it does not make sense to me to be covering up farmland, that should be used to grow food to feed our own community members. Many of our fellow community members in the rural areas of our city, struggle to earn a living to provide food. These people work hard and their stories are not in the main stream news.
Also in rebuttal in your comment about who is elected, well, the voter turnout for the city was under 40%, so if you ask me it is the whole system that needs to be looked at. The way forward is to get citizens involved, pro-active about what their individuals concerns are. You are stuck in a mind set that fails to look at the whole and only focus in on your very narrow views of thngs.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 9:50AM
Reader Comments (3)
I see th usual suspects are attempting to thwart more development that would be beneficial to Hamiilton. The same mentality that those who opposed the Red Hill Expressway, manifested, is happening again. I mean it's not like major industries are beating a path to Hamilton's door to put new industries on this industrial land now zoned commercial is it? The city is "blessed " it seems, with an over abundance of econazi type Luddites, who bemoan along with the rest of us, high taxes, urban decay, the ghetto look of big areas of the city, & the ghost town appearance of a once vibrant city that used to be known as the "Ambitious City" . But we lost our ambitiousness it seems and dropped the motto, and we just keep on living day to day bemoaning what has happened to our city, electing the same useless politicos, or the same useless type of politicos, who don't seem to have the know-how to turn this city around.
We don't have any effective voice in any higher level of gov't because Hamiltonians insist on electing those who end up being on the sidelines and back benches.
I haven't voted Liberal, but I came to a grudging admiration for John Munro as a guy who fought for his city and had moxy or spunk- never backed down from a fight.I voted for him when he ran for mayor because of his gov't experience on several fronts, his aforementioned qualities, and because I felt if elected we might finally have someone who would "get things done".
I know lots of friends who have moved to Brantford and other surrounding cities because they are more progressive, taxes are quite a bit lower, and they don't have the aura of a city in decline t he way Hamilton does. It's those like these complainants that are anti "moving forward", anti development, and anti investment that I hold responsible - why don't they come up with not only job creation but INVESTMENT DOLLARS to make it happen?
I linked in to read Paul's comment since he stated it would be controversial, but it's more rambling and confusing. To keep it simple, point form response
- I'm not sure how Paul linked the RHVE to HfPD
- Paul can feel free to dempnstrate how the RHVE is (or ever will be) generating more income that it cost the city.
- How will building a power centre result in a net gain of employment or taxes? Employees are typically paid less and the money spent by consumers is already being spent elsewhere, possibly at the three other walmarts.
- Why does a city with three walmarts need three more?
- How does building power centres restore Hamilton to the Ambitious City?
- The taxes in Brantford are less because the properties are worth less. The rates are 1.56 & 1.59 (or less in districts other than Hamilton proper).
Paul: Our community struggles with poverty, so how do you equate Walmart, with moving forward when it denies workers the right to organize to fight for better wages, benefits or even benefits? Never mind the many workers across the globe this corporation affects, as they live in dire poverty. This corporation wields more power then countries.
Also food security is another issue that plagues our community, it does not make sense to me to be covering up farmland, that should be used to grow food to feed our own community members. Many of our fellow community members in the rural areas of our city, struggle to earn a living to provide food. These people work hard and their stories are not in the main stream news.
Also in rebuttal in your comment about who is elected, well, the voter turnout for the city was under 40%, so if you ask me it is the whole system that needs to be looked at. The way forward is to get citizens involved, pro-active about what their individuals concerns are. You are stuck in a mind set that fails to look at the whole and only focus in on your very narrow views of thngs.
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