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  #181  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2014, 7:11 PM
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Wasn't he planning to launch a study after the last election? Did that even get brought up in council early in the term??

How about figuring out better ways to work together, save costs, and expend effort/energy more efficiently instead.
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  #182  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2014, 8:32 PM
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It's called the divide and rule strategy.
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  #183  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2014, 8:50 PM
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The It Got Me Elected Last Time strategy
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  #184  
Old Posted Jan 9, 2014, 4:17 PM
thistleclub thistleclub is offline
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Will the real Bob Bratina please stand up?
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Jan 9 2014)

If Bob Bratina could take his Wednesday state of the city address with him on the 2014 campaign trail, he'd probably be a shoo-in for a second term as mayor.

On the other hand, if he hit the road with his performance from later that same day at a news conference on amalgamation, he'd run the risk of either being laughed or ridden out of town on a rail.

It was as if we were witnessing two Bratinas in action.

Morning Bob's presentation to the Chamber of Commerce was a focused display rooted in city achievements, optimism and some pretty effective sound bites that would make great election slogans. Convincingly portraying the city as being in the middle of "one of the most dynamic urban transformations" in Canada, Bratina said the go-to word for this new Hamilton is "confidence."

Afternoon Bob was a different creature altogether, full of confusions, evasions and mixed messages about where he stood on the hoary old topic of deamalgamation. In one breath he stated "nothing is a dead issue," and in the next he said he's not out to break Hamilton up, that he's mayor to "heal the rifts that divide us."

Does that mean he doesn't want to see deamalgamation occur?

"Well, I wouldn't say that. I think Hamilton is a great city and the amalgamated city has great potential. But I can tell you there are a lot of people who are not happy."

It was hard not to laugh out loud over the inconsistency of it all. How can the same mayor praise the city and then some six hours later be open to seeing it dismantled?


Read it in full here.
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  #185  
Old Posted Jan 9, 2014, 11:24 PM
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That is the real Bratina, isn't it?
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  #186  
Old Posted Jan 15, 2014, 5:02 PM
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Bratina’s big-bucks presentation could prove costly
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Jan 15 2014)

Mayor Bob Bratina's dog-and-pony show on amalgamation could cost taxpayers as much as $15,000.

That's the upset limit Bratina's office expects to spend for hiring a Western University professor to present his research findings on the impacts of amalgamation, a move many view as little more than a re-election stunt.

The mayor hasn't been invoiced by professor Tim Cobban yet, but believes the bill will fall within the set amount.

"We checked with finance and procurement staff," Bratina said in an email. "We had the budget, and the 15K is within the amount we are able to spend under the policy. We adhered to the policy."

The money is coming out of the mayor's office budget. But under the city's procurement policy he needed approval to sole-source the work. Acting general manager of finance Mike Zegarac signed off on his request.

Bratina ostensibly organized the presentation at the Sheraton Hotel last week to alert the public and province to Cobban's research showing soaring staffing levels in amalgamated Ontario cities.

But it was roundly criticized by some councillors as a divisive electioneering.

Bratina was seen to be using his office budget to take care of an unfulfilled 2010 election promise to review amalgamation, widely regarded as a ploy to appeal to diehard deamalgamationists. While acknowledging it's not likely, Bratina has refused to rule out deamalgamation himself.

Bratina hasn't registered as a candidate for this year's election but he's strongly suggested on more than one occasion he intends to seek a second term as mayor.



Read it in full here.
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  #187  
Old Posted Feb 8, 2014, 7:04 PM
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Mayor accused of ‘political opportunism' on closures
(Hamilton Spectator, Teviah Moro, Feb 8 2014)

Mayor Bob Bratina is picking "winners and losers" during an election year by riding on the coattails of a campaign to keep an inner-city high school open and ignoring others across Hamilton, says Councillor Terry Whitehead.

While Bratina refuses to comment on Whitehead's charges, he is questioning the motive of the Ward 8 representative raising his concerns with the media.

"He's a politician, who's possibly running for re-election, I don't know," the mayor said Friday, adding his own political future is not yet settled.

"Who's electioneering? ... The only conversation that should be had is that the councillor walk a few feet from his office to my office, or phone and speak to me directly. If he hasn't got the courage to do that directly, he shouldn't be phoning up the media."

Bratina's late-hour advocacy against the closure of Parkview Secondary, a special-needs vocational school on Balsam Avenue North, is "political opportunism," said Whitehead.


Read it in full here.



Also: At the urging of members of the public, City Hall will be flying the rainbow flag in support of LGBT rights. For around two weeks, every two years or so. On, you know, principle.
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  #188  
Old Posted Feb 9, 2014, 12:49 AM
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Dr Awesomesauce Dr Awesomesauce is offline
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^That and the rainbow flag. Well-timed.

It's true what people say, though, that politicians need only get their act together six months to a year before an election. If they do and say all the right things during that period, many of their missteps will be forgotten.
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  #189  
Old Posted Feb 19, 2014, 4:38 PM
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17-minute jaw session.

Agenda Plus: Is Hamilton Ontario’s City to Watch?
(theagenda.tvo.org, Mark Brosens, Feb 18 2014)

Next Tuesday, The Agenda will examine urban issues in Ontario. One segment will discuss Hamilton's rising fortunes.

Although it seems counterintuitive, as North America’s steel production has slumped, "Steeltown" has much to boast about right now. The city’s unemployment rate is low, a new sports stadium is under construction, there is a thriving arts scene and large parts of downtown Hamilton are being redeveloped.

I would like to have a conversation about this leading into next week’s program. Do you think Hamilton is a city to watch? Are there lessons that other Ontario cities could learn from Hamilton? Are there other cities in Ontario that you think we should all pay attention to?

I couldn’t resist starting this online conversation by having Hamilton native Steve Paikin talk to Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina about the happenings in The Hammer.
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  #190  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2014, 12:23 AM
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Can't they talk to someone else???? Total debacle.
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  #191  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2014, 1:42 AM
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Can they ask some tough questions and dig beyond his stock answers?
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  #192  
Old Posted Feb 20, 2014, 3:35 AM
CaptainKirk CaptainKirk is offline
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Oy, that was a little embarrassing.

How many times could Paikin lob him a softball in regards to what could accelerate renewal, and he never even considered mentioning LRT or 2 way conversion despite all the evidence that's out there.
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  #193  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 6:53 AM
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And he's at it again... starts off strong talking about brownfields, but then adds mis-information on the LRT file

Bratina wants good ideas for brownfield development
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/43...d-development/

Bob Bratina is looking for some smart people to tell the city what to do with hundreds of acres of abandoned factory sites.

The mayor told the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce Thursday that, as soon as city council agrees, he wants to appoint a blue ribbon committee of experts to look at ways of turning those sites from eyesores back into productive land.

"We need some smart people who can tell us what to do," he told the business audience in his annual state of the city address.

"This is a huge potential area of growth," he added in an interview. "There are so many unusable brownfields now, are we just going to let them sit there and rot or are we going to find a way to address the problem? We need to put it in the hands of some knowledgeable people."

...

On other issues, Bratina said he doesn't think there's strong support for a light rapid transit (LRT) plan for the city without heavy financial contributions from the provincial government.

"I'm not aware of any public perception that is overwhelmingly in favour of construction of an LRT. There certainly were many interested folks and the stimulation of the original 100 per cent funding encouraged a lot of people to say 'what's this about?'" but that has changed with a recent provincial statement it would not fund the entire cost of the project.

"We just think there are better ways to spend $1 billion in Hamilton," Bratina said.

...
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  #194  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 7:02 AM
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Bob, where have you been hiding for the past 4 years? Oh yeah. Brokering deals with the Ti-Cats and undermining LRT. Smells like election time.
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  #195  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 10:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScreamingViking View Post
And he's at it again... starts off strong talking about brownfields, but then adds DISinformation on the LRT file
^Fixed it for you.
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  #196  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 3:20 PM
thistleclub thistleclub is offline
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Bratina could ride LRT issue to re-election
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Feb 21 2014)

By now it should be obvious that the best chance for Bob Bratina to be re-elected mayor in October is to make LRT a wedge issue.

By coming out firmly against the $811-million light rail system as either unnecessary or premature, Bratina would corner key opponents such as Brian McHattie and Fred Eisenberger, both LRT advocates, and pull into his camp the rooted opposition and blooming doubters who are uneasy with the proposed project.

The move would hardly be a stretch for Bratina, who has repeatedly undermined LRT directly or through innuendo, even going so far as to incorrectly suggest Hamilton has a choice between light rail and extending all-day GO service.

By turning the issue into a virtual referendum, Bratina could finally come out of the bushes and speak plainly instead of sniping from cover and dragging his tootsies.

Make no mistake, LRT is an issue just waiting to be exploited on the campaign trail. Support for it is waning not just among city councillors but in the hearts and minds of the electorate.

At my last check, this week's online Spectator survey showed 49 per cent of more than 2,100 respondents are against LRT completely, 29 per cent support it if the province pays the full freight, and 22 per cent support it regardless....

Though city council officially still backs a light rail line from McMaster to Eastgate, its support is predicated on the unlikely scenario of full provincial funding exclusive of any impact on the tax base or special taxes, fees or levies.

Council's not-on-our-weary-backs stance is based on two convictions.

It argues the city's pinched finances and reduced ability to pay sets it apart from other GTHA municipalities. And it expects the province to live up to the 100 per cent funding commitment it made in 2008, a commitment which saw Queen's Park pick up the tab for some $16 billion in first wave Big Move projects, mostly in Toronto.

According to the Liberal government, that free carnival ride closed during the economic downturn, leaving the province bobbing for new dollars to pay for the next wave of projects worth $34 billion, including Hamilton's LRT. Metrolinx estimates it will cost the average householder about $477 annually to pay for those projects over the next 20 years.

By bundling the high cost of LRT with a call for improved HSR routes on the Mountain and in the suburbs, and the much cheaper Bus Rapid Transit system, Bratina could seize the initiative and draw thousands of uncommitted voters away from his opponents.



Read it in full here.
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  #197  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 8:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce View Post
^Fixed it for you.
Will anyone on council call him out on this? Or do they have Bob Bratigue.
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  #198  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 9:46 PM
CaptainKirk CaptainKirk is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScreamingViking View Post
Bratina said he doesn't think there's strong support for a light rapid transit (LRT) plan for the city without heavy financial contributions from the provincial government.

"I'm not aware of any public perception that is overwhelmingly in favour of construction of an LRT. There certainly were many interested folks and the stimulation of the original 100 per cent funding encouraged a lot of people to say 'what's this about?'" but that has changed with a recent provincial statement it would not fund the entire cost of the project.
Is he lying outright now?

What "recent provincial statement" is he talking about?

AFAIK, nohing's changed. Queen's Park as reaffirmed 100% funding from new revenue streams, and we cannot opt out
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  #199  
Old Posted Feb 21, 2014, 11:36 PM
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While Metrolinx has stated that funding will come from whatever revenue-generating tool is decided upon, the province hasn't made a decision on what that revenue tool will be. In addition, Metrolinx has committed to higher order rapid transit in Hamilton, but has not identified that to be LRT specifically.
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Last edited by markbarbera; Feb 23, 2014 at 9:15 AM.
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  #200  
Old Posted Feb 22, 2014, 5:03 PM
bigguy1231 bigguy1231 is offline
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This is going to be an election issue in both the provincial and municipal elections over the next year and you can be sure that any party provincially that says they are going to raise taxes to pay for these improvements will be soundly defeated. As it is we are probably going to end up with another minority government and given that the NDP and PC's are both opposed to increased taxes for public transit the plan of the current government will not come to fruition unless they find the monies needed from within the current revenue sources.

Less than 20% of the population uses public transit, even in the GTA and I am willing to bet that most of the other 80% don't care about them and have no desire to pay for that 20% to have improved transit.

At the municipal level despite the screaming of a relative few there is very little desire for LRT and it will be a tough sell for council. Most councilors see that and are backing off rather than risk losing their jobs over a single issue.
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