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Saturday October 1, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday October 1, 2016 Eisenberger takes on 'foolish' LRT critics Mayor Fred Eisenberger has come out swinging against surging opposition to LRT among city councillors, which now includes a referendum pledge and "informal discussions" about approaching the province for a new transit deal. "I think it's unfortunate and foolish to go down this road," said Eisenberger, vowing to do everything "humanly possible" to get council to stay the course on the $1-billion provincially-funded project. Eisenberger warns that if council votes for a referendum it will stop the LRT implementation process dead in its tracks and possibly kill the project. Additionally, he says it's "foolhardy" for councillors to believe there's an alternative deal to be had with the province to redirect money earmarked for transit into infrastructure repairs. "I think the province will take a pretty dim view of coming back with some alternate plans to what we've supported, nurtured and asked for.Ó The mayor was responding to Coun. Chad Collins' promise to bring forward a motion next spring to include the contentious LRT issue as a referendum question on the October 2018 municipal election ballot. Eisenberger says if councillors oppose LRT they shouldn't be "hiding behind" a plebiscite. "If they really want to kill LRT then they should own it and they should put a motion forward to do exactly that and stand up and be counted.Ó Eisenberger was also taking issue with backroom talks about exploring alternatives to the project, which will run from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle, with a spur line on James North. Coun. Donna Skelly told The Spectator she hopes that "informal discussions" currently taking place will result in the city approaching the province for a new deal. The outspoken LRT critic says a number of councillors are looking at options of how to secure the provincial funding for some other form of rapid

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 1, 2016

Eisenberger takes on ‘foolish’ LRT critics

Mayor Fred Eisenberger has come out swinging against surging opposition to LRT among city councillors, which now includes a referendum pledge and “informal discussions” about approaching the province for a new transit deal.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday July 27, 2016 LRT report not about Ôus-and-themÕ says Whitehead A Mountain councillor says a report his office authored to challenge Hamilton's plan for a $1-billion light rail line in the lower city is meant to offer "sober second thought" as the project moves forward. "What is the best net benefit to the community at large?" Coun. Terry Whitehead told The Spectator's editorial board Monday. But just hours after Whitehead released his report, Christopher Higgins, one of its key sources, released viaÊTwitterÊscathing feedback of the Ward 8 councillor's 58-page effort. Higgins publicized an annotated version of Whitehead's report early Monday, discrediting it for using study material "cherry-picked for maximum effect rather than to present a balanced analysis." That, Whitehead said, was "unprofessional." "Who does a peer review on Twitter for all to see?" Whitehead said he and assistant Howard Rabb, who co-authored the report, had asked for Higgins' feedback before publication, but that the researcher said he was pressed for time and heading to China. Higgins, a post-doctoral researcher at McMaster University's Institute for Transportation and Logistics, said a "role for MITL as peer reviewer was mentioned, but never acted upon." Whitehead rejected the report lacks context, saying links to PDFs of full studies it cites are just a click away on its host microsite.Ê The work isn't meant to be scientific, but an attempt to find answers, he added: "I'm not doing a scientific study, let's be clear." During the editorial board meeting, Whitehead said the report isn't about ward politics, either. "This is not an us-and-them thing, as much as people want to pigeonhole me on that." Rather, theÊreportÊÑ which questions projections for ridership, land values, development spinoff and system efficiency Ñ is meant to foster a more "fulsome" take on the project. Whitehead argues staff has presente

 July 27, 2016

“I think it’s unfortunate and foolish to go down this road,” said Eisenberger, vowing to do everything “humanly possible” to get council to stay the course on the $1-billion provincially-funded project.

Eisenberger warns that if council votes for a referendum it will stop the LRT implementation process dead in its tracks and possibly kill the project.

Additionally, he says it’s “foolhardy” for councillors to believe there’s an alternative deal to be had with the province to redirect money earmarked for transit into infrastructure repairs.

“I think the province will take a pretty dim view of coming back with some alternate plans to what we’ve supported, nurtured and asked for.”

Wednesday May 27, 2015

May 27, 2015

The mayor was responding to Coun. Chad Collins’ promise to bring forward a motion next spring to include the contentious LRT issue as a referendum question on the October 2018 municipal election ballot.

Eisenberger says if councillors oppose LRT they shouldn’t be “hiding behind” a plebiscite.

“If they really want to kill LRT then they should own it and they should put a motion forward to do exactly that and stand up and be counted.”

October 28, 2014

October 28, 2014

Eisenberger was also taking issue with backroom talks about exploring alternatives to the project, which will run from McMaster University to Queenston traffic circle, with a spur line on James North.

Coun. Donna Skelly told The Spectator she hopes that “informal discussions” currently taking place will result in the city approaching the province for a new deal.

The outspoken LRT critic says a number of councillors are looking at options of how to secure the provincial funding for some other form of rapid transit but also put money toward the city’s $3.5 billion infrastructure deficit.  (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Hamilton LRT Cartoon Gallery

…It has been a loooong conversation on making LRT and enhanced GO Transit a Billion dollar reality in this city.  Here’s a gallery of transit cartoons from the past 12 years or so. 

March 30, 2019
October 23, 2018
October 13, 2018
October 4, 2018
August 14, 2018
April 7, 2018
November 4, 2017
November 29, 2017
April 19, 2017
January 14, 2017
December 6, 2016
October 1, 2016
October 27, 2016
July 27, 2016
May 27, 2016
May 17, 2016
August 7, 2015
May 27, 2015
May 15, 2015
January 27, 2015
April 24 2015
March 7, 2015
February 7, 2015
February 3, 2015
January 23, 2015
December 13, 2014
2014 Mayoral Race
October 28, 2014
July 26, 2014
June 10, 2014
April 21, 2014
March 10, 2014
February 28, 2014
November 5, 2013
October 25, 2013
May 29, 2013
April 28 2013
April 20, 2013
October 24, 2012
September 27, 2011
July 22, 2011
July 20, 2011
September 25, 2008

Not to mention these from 2010 and before:

              

 

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Wednesday October 24, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 24, 2012

Mac report illuminates issue of LRT for city

Senior Hamilton bureaucrats are carefully studying a report produced by McMaster University researchers that suggests that light rail transit has the potential to succeed in Hamilton but will be a “long, challenging and costly process.”

The study looked at successful and failing LRT systems across North America in terms of their ability to attract riders and new development.

It will be a big part of a staff report coming to councillors that will definitively recommend whether the city should forge ahead with building an LRT line for Hamilton, said city manager Chris Murray.

“It will speak to all the things we need to do to take advantage of the growth opportunity Hamilton is enjoying.”

The university report, produced by the McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics and commissioned by the city, is “good advice to staff and council on how to move ahead with LRT,” said Murray.

Though he stopped short of saying LRT is now a city target, he said Hamilton has “already invested heavily” in LRT.

“I don’t think the feeling is out there that LRT isn’t worth pursuing.”

But Mayor Bob Bratina has repeatedly shot arrows into the hearts of those pining for B-line LRT stretching 13 kilometres between McMaster and Eastgate. It’s projected to cost between $875 million and $1 billion to build. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Wednesday July 25, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Wednesday July 25, 2012

WMD fear heightens as Assad regime’s authority deteriorates

The spectre is looming larger of a desperate Syrian regime resorting to chemical weapons in order to survive the growing armed assault against it.

In a statement read out Monday on Syrian state television, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi attempted to reassure people that “no chemical or biological weapons will ever be used … during the crisis in Syria no matter what the developments inside Syria.”

However, addressing Syrian journalists, Mr. Makdissi added: “All of these types of weapons are in storage and under security and the direct supervision of the Syrian armed forces and will never be used unless Syria is exposed to external aggression.”

Not only was this the first time Syria ever had publicly acknowledged it possesses such weapons of mass destruction, but the statement also made clear the regime of Bashar al-Assad is willing to use them if “exposed to external aggression.”

Such a threat wouldn’t necessarily come from another country invading Syria, says Barry Rubin, director of the Global Research in International Affairs Center in Israel. Rather, “external aggression is exactly how the regime describes the current uprising” being carried out by “terrorists” and “foreign interests.”

“The good news,” says Mr. Rubin, author of The Truth About Syria, “is that the regime still is in control of the stockpiles and has been doing a good job of securing them.”

The chemical weapons, such as Sarin, a nerve gas developed in Nazi Germany and used in the 1995 terrorist attack on the Tokyo subway, and VX, an even more deadly nerve agent, as well as mustard gas of the sort employed in the First World War, are believed to be secured in two or three well-guarded compounds in the centre of the country. (Source: CBC News)

 

Thursday September 25, 2008

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday September 25, 2008

Metrolinx’s Big Move will change city for the better

History will record that Hamilton came of age yesterday with a transit announcement made in a non- descript Toronto hotel ballroom. 

The $50-billion “Big Move” unveiled by Metrolinx chair Rob MacIsaac will forever change the form, functioning and economic prospects of our city. 

Marvellous Maps

In MacIsaac’s words, the plan will “cement Hamilton’s place as an integral hub of the GTA transit network and spur significant economic activity throughout the region.” 

It also threatens to shift our centre of political gravity from Hamilton City Hall to Metrolinx’s headquarters in Toronto. 

The specific commitments include all-day express electrified GO service between downtown Hamilton and Union Station and a much anticipated light-rapid transit line connecting McMaster University and Eastgate Square. 

It also contemplates a future north-south rapid transit connection between downtown and Hamilton’s airport. 

Even hard-bitten Hamilton cynics will have trouble disliking all of the positive elements of these announcements. 

LRT is a modern, efficient and reliable way to move large numbers of people quickly. It will also inevitably attract investment, create jobs and increase property values throughout the city.  (Source: Hamilton Spectator)