Raise the Hammer

Currently, according to the property tax information from the city at http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/C... the residential tax rate is 1.71% whereas the multi-residential tax rate is 3.49%. Perhaps reducing the multi-residential tax rate so that it's at least equal to the residential rate would help take the tax burden from Hamiltonians in apartments. On the other end of the scale, raising development charges on industrial and commercial properties, especially for sewer and water use due to all the paved parking-lots, might help regain that lost revenue. The property taxes are taxes I don't mind paying at all, as long as they're supporting civic programmes with which I can agree.

While I don't agree with the unending support for heritage properties, as that seems to me to be a wealthy person's game, I would support the revision of those properties into affordable and non-profit housing. Perhaps the Threshold School of Building or Habitat for Humanity could partner with Mohawk College and other trade-schools to help with these changes. Sean, I agree with what you said: a livable core, in the literal and metaphorical sense, is the only way to reduce taxation; sharing the burden, too, is another way and anyone who's worn a back-pack unevenly knows that one shoulder tires more than the other. The way we treat and care for the weakest in our society shows our humanity and concern for one another and makes this city the best place to raise a child.

I had no idea that Joey Coleman (I assume it's he of whom you're speaking) was Canada's only crowd-funded journalist. That's downright awesome; his coverage of local politics and, recently, the Hamilton Police Services Board meeting, pre-Bratina's step-down, is remarkable. I'd like to continue to have a serious conversation about our city's future. I was born and raised in this town and we've nowhere else to go for we carry ourselves with us.