July 12, 2019

To:  Mayor Fred Eisenberger, Chair, Hamilton Police Services Board and Hamilton Police Services Board Members

Councillors Wilson and Nann call for an independent review of Hamilton Police Services response to the events at Hamilton's Pride Celebration.

On June 26th, City Council will be voting on proposed changes to Aberdeen Avenue from Queen Street South to Longwood Road South. These modest changes, if passed, will help protect some of our most vulnerable citizens and create safer streets for everyone.

The older I get, the more time compresses. June 6, 1944, no longer seems that long ago. Seventy-five years is within the lived experience of many Canadians, including my own parents whose fathers served, survived, and came home following the conclusion of WW2. Many of their childhood friends and neighbours and thousands upon thousands of their allied soldiers remained behind on the beaches, in the fields, and in the trenches.

The Kirkendall Neighbourhood Strategy is about developing a shared vision for the neighbourhood by connecting and engaging with people who live, work, learn and play in Kirkendall. This neighbourhood plan is created by working with community members and stakeholders within Kirkendall to identify, plan and champion the changes they want to see. It's about understanding that we all have assets and strengths that can help make our community a healthier and more vibrant place to be by finding ways to support one another in building it.

The retention of young people, including young graduates, to Hamilton, is critical to our city’s long-term economic prosperity and Hamilton’s ability to finance future city infrastructure and services.

Skilled labour is now ranked as one of the most important factors in a company’s locational decision. Hamilton must identify what magnets it has to attract young people and what glue it needs to keep them in place.

Hamilton is facing an affordable housing crisis. This crisis did not happen overnight and it will not be solved overnight. But, a solution is within our grasp. It will take cooperation, determination and strategic investments.