Politics

Latest YouTube Video from Mayor Fred

By Ryan McGreal
Published February 12, 2007

Normally I don't get sucked in by slick corporate communications, but Hamilton as been such a bureaucratic fuddy-duddy about information technology (the city website is a findability nightmare) that I'm naively, even cheesily, impressed by the latest dispatch from the Mayor's office.

Mayor Fred may not be personally interested in communications technology, but he's savvy enough to surround himself with smart people who understand its potential and aren't simply limping along to catch up on the "buzz" surrounding teh intarweb.

Here's a surprisingly slick video, posted to YouTube, exhorting citizens to participate in the mayor's Your Future survey.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By just wondering (anonymous) | Posted February 16, 2007 at 13:26:16

You're right! At last an administration that shows a hint of understanding communications suggests some hope of actually revitalizing this city. The short video is slick and stiff at the same time, but compare it to the forbidding blue booklet of city events that the city puts out every month it's quite exciting. I may actually want to participate in some of the activities it briefly touches upon.

Now imagine a city web-site that made use of links to a number such videos posted at UTube. Imagine the number of local writers, videographers, musicians etc. employed by such a project (compared to the few employed by an expensive Spec ad, the profits from which bleed down the QEW to Torstar.) Imagine the creative ideas such a program might inspire. Imagine the number of people from outside Hamilton that might see them and be inspired to visit. Imagine those same videos playing at local tourist information centres. Imagine them on local cable. The mind reels.

Literally.

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