Cancelling SoBi Bike Share

Cancelling SoBi Bike Share The SoBi Bike Share began in Hamilton in 2015 and has since grown to have over 26,000 members using almost 900 bicycles spread throughout the lower city as far east as Ottawa Street. There were plans to expand the reach of the program, but when Uber, the new owner of SoBi,…

Increasing Their Own Pensions

Increasing Their Own Pensions In a move that received little coverage at the time, City Council voted to modify the way they were paid. They approved a move that would see the one-third tax free component incorporated into their base salaries, thereby increasing their salaries from around $72,000 to over $90,000. This change added nearly…

Area Rating Avoidance

Area Rating Avoidance When the City of Hamilton was amalgamated, it was decided by Council to find a way to even out tax rates across the evolving post-amalgamation city. Suburban wards started paying more taxes for some services, but Wards 1 through 8 were not given a corresponding tax cut. Instead, the extra taxpayer cash…

Affordable Housing Crisis

Affordable Housing Crisis Too many people in Hamilton find themselves in unaffordable housing situations. Rents are increasing, as are waiting lists for subsidized housing through City Housing Hamilton. As areas of the city continue to gentrify, the challenge becomes worse. New, affordable units are not being added nearly fast enough. It has become a crisis…

LRT Dithering

LRT Dithering LRT has been a topic in Hamilton for over a decade. Council has voted to support LRT dozens of times over the years, although some have done so half-heartedly, saying their support for LRT was based on their view that the City of Hamilton should not have to put up any money for…

Alleged White Supremacist Working In IT

Alleged White Supremacist Working In IT It was reported in 2019 that a suspected white supremacist had been working in the City of Hamilton’s IT department as an analyst. Some people reported that his name had been left off the department’s organization chart. Allegedly, some believed this was done intentionally so as not to draw…

StatsCan Hate Crimes Report

StatsCan Hate Crimes Report Stats Canada released a report in 2019 stating that, according to national statistics, Hamilton had a higher number of reported hate crimes-per-capita than any other city in Canada. Hamilton has the highest rate of hate crimes in Canada: report Mayor Fred Eisenberger was not available for comment on the report Meagan…

Pride Day Violence & Police & Council Reaction

Pride Day Violence & Police & Council Reaction At the Pride Day Festival in 2019, white supremacists attended the event and proceeded to harass attendees. Violence broke out between the agitators and peaceful attendees of the celebration. Police were called, but were not prompt in their arrival. The violence and subsequent controversy over police reaction…