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Saturday October 15, 2022

October 15, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 15, 2022

New Hamilton council must grow political will to tackle complex and polarizing issues

Of the myriad issues and challenges facing Hamilton’s new city council, few are as complex and polarizing as homelessness and the drug epidemic that continues to take a horrific toll.

Glorious architecture gallery

Mental health, poverty, addictions, safe and secure housing — all are at play in one big tangled Gordian knot. But if the new council just begins with a sense of urgency and addresses some of the pieces, it will already have achieved what the current council has not.

To begin, we need a broad and official acknowledgment that what is happening now isn’t working. While no one wants to see tent encampments in the lower city or elsewhere, the solution cannot simply be to tear them down and displace the residents. All that does is move the problem from one place to another, making it more difficult to serve this challenged population.

We have empathy for residents who feel less safe and inconvenienced by the presence of encampments, but there is no sweeping this under the rug.

What we need is more stable and secure housing options. The current council hasn’t done nearly enough. A part of the solution could be the HATS initiative which would see homeless people accommodated in purpose-built small shelters, clustered together for optimal service delivery. Tiny shelter communities are working in many other places in Canada and the U.S., including as close as Kitchener.

Some Hamilton councillors have expressed support for HATS, but that support is typically accompanied by a list of locations where they don’t want the settlement to be. Everyone can agree the idea should help, but no one wants to see in their ward. That’s not real support. In other cases local government has actually become actively involved in the project, but here council has been hands off. The private group driving the pilot project is seeking a site, and if they find one on private property, HATS could come to life. But it will be in spite of city council, not because of it.

Similarly, consider the opioid epidemic. Three years ago, city hall recognized the need for more supervised consumption and treatment services sites (CTS) that are proven to save lives by having resources on hand to help overdose victims. The limited services running now are literally saving lives, but the supply of CTS sites is far from adequate.

October 1, 2022

We know the city needs more. Community groups are actively working on plans for more, but they are facing opposition from residents, in particular in the lower city. Their argument goes something like: Inner city wards already house an above average number of services and shelters, so the needed CTS capacity should be in some other part of the city. The problem with that is that the population that needs the service isn’t someplace else, and it doesn’t make much sense to open a CTS site where drug users won’t use it.

It is worth noting here that city staff are not the issue. They are already working with others on the ground with community partners. What’s missing is political will. It is our fervent hope that a new council and mayor will change that. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro …

https://mackaycartoons.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1015-LOC.mp4

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: 2022-34, architecture, city hall, council, councillor, election, Hamilton, integrity, politician

Saturday September 15, 2012

September 15, 2012 by Graeme MacKay
By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday September 15, 2012 AuchmarÕs beautiful future hangs in the balance One thing that everyone agrees about when it comes to the historic Auchmar estate is the manorÕs heart-stopping beauty. With its sweeping gables, pointed arch windows, and vaulted ceilings, itÕs hard not to be entranced by the gothic-style mansion. But itÕs no secret that Auchmar is crumbling. ItÕs going to take $4 million to repair both its interior and exterior Ñ and thatÕs not includingÊcosts needed to operate the building. The question remains: should the city be the one to pick up the tab? ÒWe have a lot of demands in front of us right now,Ó said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. ÒThereÕs no question itÕs a jewel in the community.ÊIdeally, youÕd find someone from the private sector who would fix it up and get it into shape. But we should not get into the bankrollÊbusiness.Ó Ferguson was one of several councillors, senior staffers, and members of the public who attended a special general issues committeeÊmeeting at the estate on Thursday. As only eight councillors initially showed up Ñ Ferguson came late due to a medical appointment ÑÊthe meeting never reached quorum. Councillors who did attend the meeting were given a tour of the estate, from the basement Ñ parts of it were once used as billiard roomsÊand a workshop when it was a burn hospital for members of the Royal Canadian Air Force Ñ to the upper-floor bedrooms. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)Êhttp://www.thespec.com/news-story/2255531-auchmar-s-beautiful-future-hangs-in-the-balance/ Hamilton, ghosts, past, future, Auchmar, estate, Isaac Buchanan, Agnes Buchanan, restoration, councillor, Maria Pearson, Terry Whitehead, Lloyd Ferguson

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday September 15, 2012

Auchmar’s beautiful future hangs in the balance

One thing that everyone agrees about when it comes to the historic Auchmar estate is the manor’s heart-stopping beauty.

With its sweeping gables, pointed arch windows, and vaulted ceilings, it’s hard not to be entranced by the gothic-style mansion.

But it’s no secret that Auchmar is crumbling. It’s going to take $4 million to repair both its interior and exterior — and that’s not including costs needed to operate the building.

The question remains: should the city be the one to pick up the tab?

“We have a lot of demands in front of us right now,” said Councillor Lloyd Ferguson. “There’s no question it’s a jewel in the community. Ideally, you’d find someone from the private sector who would fix it up and get it into shape. But we should not get into the bankroll business.”

Ferguson was one of several councillors, senior staffers, and members of the public who attended a special general issues committee meeting at the estate on Thursday. As only eight councillors initially showed up — Ferguson came late due to a medical appointment — the meeting never reached quorum.

Councillors who did attend the meeting were given a tour of the estate, from the basement — parts of it were once used as billiard rooms and a workshop when it was a burn hospital for members of the Royal Canadian Air Force — to the upper-floor bedrooms. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: Agnes Buchanan, Auchmar, councillor, estate, future, ghosts, Hamilton, Isaac Buchanan, Lloyd Ferguson, Maria Pearson, past, restoration, Terry Whitehead

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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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