Raise the Hammer

"Businesses are not avoiding Hamilton because city council might build a bus lane or might change a one way to a two way"

No, but they won't move here because the mill rate is too high and if we waste a lot of money on LRT's and roadway experiments that do not enhance there business experience, they will not come here.

"If we want more businesses to open here, we need more people living here"

Chicken and egg. If business does not come here. People do not come here.

"You are working under an outdated assumption that businesses require employees to be able to drive long distances to work"

No. But if I am Toyota and want to build in the brown-fields, I expect the people coming to my plant will live in Stoney creek, or Ancaster, or Burlington. The question is one of vision. Maybe the industrial vision of Hamilton dead. If so maybe you are correct and then Hamilton can become a bedroom community for Toronto.

The tax rate in this City is at the breaking point. My taxes have quintupled since 1995. I am just saying that I am at the end of my rope. I expect and in fact know there are others like me. I employ a lot of people. If I move, they move. This is just my thinking process. At some point, allegiance to a City is outweighed by economics and taking 20 minutes way from me every day does not help in making me stay.

You an say I am selfish all you want. At the end of the day everyone is selfish. People who live in downtown Toronto and work in the big towers don't give a hoot about the people who drive on the Gardner.

From my perspective its all about plumbing. You plug up the pipes, the water doesn't run.

I think there is a reason that Stelco Tower sits empty. Answer that question and you might find a solution.