Raise the Hammer

The question to ask is who are Mr Clarke's backers? If we do not know who, how can we honestly know his agenda? It is my opinion that he is the public face for others who have a specific agenda. Mr Clarke was part of the Harris regime. Should not we all be asking hard questions?

I've always figured his business is the Ontario PC party. When Bratina was blatantly helping the Liberals weasel out of their 100% funding commitment 2ish years ago, Clark took them all to task because he was trying to embarrass the provincial Liberals.

I mean, remember this guy: https://raisethehammer.org/blog/2291/cou...

This was a man who seemed positively angry that the Liberals were spending $10 billion no-strings-attached LRT construction around the GTA and Hamilton was getting passed over. Where did that guy go?

Now? Now LRT is a foul word for the PC party, so he's joined Bratina in sandbagging it.
That and the usual agglomeration of sprawl developers who have the run city hall, but they seem to own all the councilors.

Comment edited by Pxtl on 2014-04-17 00:36:19

I have a feeling Effort Trust, all those cash money owners, and maybe even Tim Hortons are Clarks backers. These are all leech-like, that is, blood sucking parasitic organizations.

How is Effort Trust a leech-like, blood sucking parasitic organization?

We should have a public vote!
LRT (if your not from downtown)
Is a completely useless waste of my tax
Dollars. I live nowhere near downtown I
I will never use the LRT ever and am not
Convinced it will make Hamilton better?
Every major business that comes to
Hamilton does not locate downtown so how
Is LRT going to do this ???
I'm just so sick of hearing about LRT. Hamilton
Can do so much more instead of wasting money
So people can get to Eastgate faster ????

I don't live downtown, and I want LRT.

I live downtown, and don't want LRT.

And there ya go.

Someone should alert the Spec. You see, it's not an urban/suburban divide, it's a reality-based/non-reality-based divide.

Which side are you on? I'm on the reality side.

If you were, you'd support LRT.

You won't use it so let's not build it? Why don't we say the same thing about the road to your house?

Mr Hopian, I believe it is more then just getting people across town faster, as we must change how we do things. My personal thoughts are that this is a little too late given the destruction of the natural world, which according to many others, much more knowledgeable then me, is worse then what you think. While, we as Hamiltonians, sit here, seemingly comfortable and protected, who is to say what the near future will bring. Given all we know, we should of change things a long time ago, however, those in power, profits before people, is the mantra that has been pounded into the minds of so many. You seem to fall into the catagory, no critical thinking skills.

It breaks my heart that people that "don't live anywhere near downtown and won't ever use the LRT" speak against it, completely oblivious to the large numbers of people that will use it, as though the world revolves around them, and just because they personally won't use it automatically makes it a bad idea.

Very sad for Hamilton and a waste of potential. No matter how logical it is to put LRT where the highest density is, and redeploy buses, these arguments are lost on people who aren't even listening nor have a horse in the race.

The vast majority of Hamiltonians will never use LRT. Those that will are already being serviced by the HSR. That's why all those voices appose it. Transit in any way shape or form is a huge money loser in not only Hamilton but hundreds of other cities in North America. Amsterdam, Manchester, Paris, Frankfurt, Dublin and the like are completely different in their structure and transit can and does pay for itself. Even in NYC and Toronto transit and even LRT and/or subways are a necessity but not so in the small city of Hamilton.

That is your opinion and only your opinion, right at the moment. I laugh at people like yourself, who seem to live in a bubble, of dellusion. Hamilton is not a small city, we are over half a milllion. It is people like yourself who would rather see division then working towards a co-hesive entity. I am sure, you would keep voting for the the lame brains that work for corporate entities, those who lobby, yet we have no idea they are, as there is no registry for people to track. In your opinion you say the majority will not use the LRT, where is the evidence your view is the correct one? I could ask, how much are you padi to troll here and create dissension????

A city of half a million spread over 1,200 km2. That is a huge area which equates to a very low density. The old city of Hamilton which is probably around 300,000 or 320,000 people is probably a much better size to consider for a LRT project. I don't see cities of that size with LRT.

I don't see cities of that size with LRT.

Nottingham UK has a beautiful Tram system, which serviced beautiful pedestrian shopping areas, brimming with life, shoppers, and buskers. They have dedicated bus/cycle lanes painted red. They have closed some side streets to through-traffic to route their LRT.

Their population is ~300K, around ~700K including surrounding suburbs. Nottingham has its' "code red" issues too. It was striking what kind of similarities existed between my home town Hamilton, and this interesting ancient city I was exploring. Contrasts were evident too. They have some self respect and standards for their city, and take pride in being able to accomplish things such as higher order transit.

They must have really pissed off people like you while building it.

Comment edited by mikeonthemountain on 2014-04-28 08:34:04

OH my OH my. It never stops. Nottingham UK has a population of 300,000 in an area of 75 km2. What does that have in common with Hamilton? NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING. Why not compare Hamilton to the Mars colony or Santa's village at the north pole we have just as much in common with those.

Why would a Wookiee, an 8-foot-tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor, with a bunch of 2-foot-tall Ewoks? That does not make sense! But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense! Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major record company, and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca! Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense! None of this makes sense! And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests.

Metrolinx document from 2012 says downtown Hamilton has a density of 84.6 residents per hectare.

Nottingham census data from 2011 says Nottingham City has a density of 41 residents per hectare.

Does anyone still believe the province will pick up the whole tab for Hamilton's $800M LRT?

In Waterloo Region, all three levels of government have put money in the pot for an $800M, 19km LRT that's gotten the green light.

The province is investing $300M. The feds have promised up to $265M. And the region is ponying up $253M. That's roughly a third of capital funding from each level of government.

We've had seven years in Hamilton to bring the feds to the table.

Seven years to figure out how much Hamiltonians could afford and how to finance it (Waterloo Region citizens are looking at an average property tax hike of $11 a year).

Seven years to get out the vote for the provincial and federal parties in power that cut the infrastructure cheques. The provincial Liberals and federal Conservatives hold just two of our seven local ridings. In the last election, we voted out a Cabinet Minister who was a Hamilton advocate at Queen's Park. If you're the Premier or Prime Minister, what's the political uplift from investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Hamilton's LRT?

And we've had seven years to come up with messaging and messengers that could win over Joe and Jane Hamilton who live in the 'burbs, don't take transit and rarely, if ever, venture downtown.

If we're serious about an LRT for Hamilton, there's just seven months left to do what could and should have gotten done in the past seven years.

Does anyone still believe the province will pick up the whole tab for Hamilton's $800M LRT

Well, they won't if we keep letting them off the hook for it.

I mean, does this sound like good negotiating to you?

"Yeah, I know you promised us $800 million of construction and you're spending way more than that on Mississauga and Toronto, but we totally knew you weren't really good for it. It's cool, we don't mind."

In what world does that attitude produce a positive outcome for Hamiltonians?

What, is it not enough for Clark and his fellow suburban councillors that he screwed the pooch on the Stadium, now they have to find another ball of provincial money coming to Hamilton that they want to flush down the toilet with their waffling?

Comment edited by Pxtl on 2014-04-17 10:27:25

If Joe and Jane burb do not get it what can we do ?

We can stay in our rut, of undervalued, unwanted lower city neighbourhoods, and watch other cities all around us move forward with LRT and its associated development - Mississauga, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa. Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver already have theirs and are expanding them, BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT!

Are you for real? Seriously... it's because of the existence of too many people like this that I think the world is on a one-way street to doomsday.

It's time to grow up, Hamilton. Not out.

it's too bad he won't champion for a fair deal this time around but Clark made a damn good point when saying Hamilton deserves fair treatment from the province. utter bs.

He only said that to make the Liberals look bad. If the conservatives win the next election, he'll be towing the party line, talking about how we can't afford 'frills' like public transit when there are important zomghighwaygridlock! problems to solve by adding lanes and building the mid-pen.

Good observations about Brad's misrepresentation of views. Sounds almost Bratina-esque. However, he is running for mayor. With my favourite candidate, McHattie flaming out in spectacular style, I am going to vote for Fred, just to stop Brad. And I encourage others to do the same.

EXACTLY

NO money for LRT in Hamilton.

Perfect.

So LOL, there is no money for LRT, there is no money for the poor, there is no money for anything which we could assign to the public good. Maybe if people were more honest about who or what has sucked the money out, then change could happen. Unfortunately, it is my opinion that you are not one of those who is ready for civil change or even discourse.

Time to start taxing the value of land, instead of the value of the buildings upon it. More than corporate taxation, which'll never fly in these days, the taxation of the value of land will eat away at those profits and invest them in public goods.

I don't like Clark or what he stands for. I will not be voting for him, and neither will my family or friends, and there are many :)

What's with the kkk appending Clark's name?

.@Glen4ONT awards $260M contract for #YorkRegion @vivaNext expansion along Yonge in Richmond Hill & Newmarket

twitter.com/Patrick4ONT/status/458579278716620801/photo/1

Retirement announced:

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees (PC, age 63)

Potentially retiring:

York-Simcoe MPP Julia Munro (PC, age 72)
York West MPP Mario Sergio (Liberal, age 74)
York Centre MPP Monte Kwinter (Liberal, age 83)


Tweeted:

Great to listen to @LoraleaC a strong advocate for rapid transit & highways. Impressed with her knowledge of infrastructure in econ dev.

twitter.com/Glen4ONT/status/458603100711165952

FWIW, @LoraleaC is the Liberal candidate for York-Simcoe

I have lived in the "burbs" for the past 20 years and will probably continue for the next 20 years. I believe LRT is an absolute must for Hamilton if the city is to prepare for what the future holds. I will probably never use it but I am absolutely prepared to help pay for it! LRT is too big and too comlex and in my opnion is the primary reason most people choose to not want to understand. I firmly believe the biggest obstacle we have to LRT in Hamilton is the vast majority of individuals who currently sit as councillors. The collective vision of these individuals doesn't appear to extend past the end of their nose or at least until the next election!

100% funded and running right past a downtown cas!no.

All we need are wacky views espoused by the likes of Desnoyers to bash the decision makers and keep us from having LRT. "I will never use it, but will pay for it" Now theres an endorsement!! It's ok if you are a wealthy suburbanite, but we need people to step up and agree that it's needed and are willing to give it a try! And stop bashing the politicos. They are going to make the decision. So get with it!

@Gullibel - are you kidding me!

Your comments are typical us vs them mentality. Not everyone who lives outside the city boundary is a) wealthy or b) ignorant of the needs for a healthy and prosperous urban environment and how the lack of same impacts us ALL!

My response was in direct opposition to those "suburbanites" as you put it who say they won't use it so won't pay for it. At least I acknowledge that given where I live and where I work I likely will never use it but I recognize the transformative possibilities of LRT and what it will mean for the City of Hamilton.

It is so hard to stay civil when moron's like you spew crap!