Maria Pearson – mackaycartoons

Saturday January 20, 2018

January 19, 2018 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 20, 2018

Councillors back 5 minute speech limit

The days of long-winded repetitive council speeches may be numbered.

After a vigorous 30-minute debate, Hamilton councillors have voted to restrict their statements and questions during meetings to a five-minute time limit.

Donna Skelly, who proposed the speaking cap, said the idea is to impose some discipline on talkative councillors and to be more respectful of time constraints and tying up valuable staff hours.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger called the proposal “music to my ears.”

Eisenberger has previously groused that some councillors waste too much time by running off at the mouth with scant regard for time management.

“I think it’s a good thing to institute some discipline in this process,” said Eisenberger. “We tend on too many occasions to hear the same thing over and over and over again.”

Matthew Green agreed. “If you can’t say something in 500 words (it) probably doesn’t need to be said.”

But the proposal, approved 8-7 at this week’s general issues committee, ran into strong headwinds.

Here’s how the committee vote went. For: Aidan Johnson, Farr, Green, Skelly, Brenda Johnson, Eisenberger, Arlene VanderBeek, Lloyd Ferguson. Against: Merulla, Chad Collins, Jackson, Terry Whitehead, Judi Partridge, Maria Pearson, Conley.

Although Robert Pasuta was absent, the vote is unlikely to be overturned when it goes to council for approval next Wednesday. Pasuta, himself a man of few words, says he’ll support the cap. After all, it reflects his own philosophy: “Think about what you’re going to say and don’t blabber on because who listens?” (Source: Andrew Dreschel, Hamilton Spectator)

Wednesday May 10, 2017

May 10, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 10, 2017

The Spectator’s view: A mayoral veto is just musing, but …

March 24, 2017

You had to know that when Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger used the word veto, hackles would be raised. Not all hackles equally, mind you. Reaction on social media was more mixed, with some actually seeing merit in the mayor’s observation. But in the minds of many — see today’s letters — Eisenberger may as well have suggested doing away with council entirely and running the show himself.

http://www.mackaycartoons.net/yahoo_files/2012/huh2012-01-12.html

January 12, 2012

Let’s be clear: the mayor was musing, no more. The province would have to change the municipal act to enable something like a veto, and there is no appetite for that. Eisenberger knows that and said as much.

He was trying to make a point, and it’s one worth discussing. Hamilton city council, like many others, is a dichotomy in many ways. You have 15 councillors who are elected by citizens of the ward they represent. Then you have the mayor, who is elected by the community at large. In that respect, the mayor has a mandate from the entire city, while councillors have a mandate from their ward constituents only.

March 10, 2011

Ward councillors justifiably feel great responsibility to respect the will of the people who elected them. They zealously guard the interests of their ward. That’s parochial politics, and it’s not always a bad thing. But what happens when what’s best for the city overall butts up against the interests of ward councillors?

LRT is an example. Councillors for the wards most heavily impacted by LRT construction and disruption are solidly behind the project because they see its overall benefit to their wards and eventually the city overall. Citizens in other wards don’t agree. They don’t see any direct benefit so don’t support the project. (Though it’s hard to fathom how some don’t see assessment growth and new commercial tax revenue as overall benefits.)

May 11, 2009

Another example: ward boundaries. Looking at the big picture, it’s hard to argue against redrawing boundaries so all citizens have roughly equitable representation. But such changes are trouble for ward-heeling councillors whose wards might have to change for the greater good. And so, we spent thousands on consultants, ignored their work and ended up kicking the can down the road.

Eisenberger’s point was that there must be a better way. Councillors elected at large instead of by ward? A mix of both? A board of control, or “executive committee” as its called in Toronto? A mayoral veto with appropriate checks and balances to prevent abuse?

October 14, 2003

As noted earlier, the discussion is academic. But maybe it shouldn’t be. The current system certainly has its share of drawbacks, although it generally works. But would it be so bad to study, perhaps even pilot, an experiment in doing local government differently? And why not in Hamilton, a city where challenges are overshadowed by ever-growing potential? (Source: Hamilton Spectator Editorial)

Saturday September 15, 2012

September 15, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

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)

Tuesday May 22, 2012

May 22, 2012 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday May 22, 2012

The forever mayor: Bratina looking ahead to 2014

On the previous city council, it was Tom Jackson who stepped up to compensate for Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s ceremonial and directional deficiencies, particularly during his unsteady early days.

This time around, in the absence of strong political leadership from Mayor Bob Bratina, it looks as if Sam Merulla may be fulfilling the role of shadow mayor.

While Bratina is consistently missing in action on the council floor, Merulla is increasingly taking a leading part in setting the agenda with motions, proposals, and initiatives. Andrew Dreschel column.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bob Bratina is eyeing a second term in office.

Bratina told the crowd at a Bulldogs Foundation fundraising dinner this week that he will usurp Bob Morrow’s record as the city’s longest-serving mayor.

He added that he’ll continue to push his agenda regardless of the “unnecessary criticism” by “uninformed” people” that has been levelled against him over the past year.

“Nobody is going to stop me,” he said.

In an email to The Spectator Thursday, Bratina said he attended “a great community fund-raising event as guest of honour.”

“Hamilton’s longest serving mayor Bob Morrow paid me the honour of emceeing the evening, and included some very positive and encouraging statements about my performance in the mayor’s office,” Bratina wrote. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)