#shovegate

Tuesday March 3, 2015

Tuesday March 3, 2015Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday March 3, 2015

Shovegate commemoration as a possible city beautification plan

Sanctions or no sanctions, Sam Merulla wants city council to rescind fellow councillor Lloyd Ferguson’s appointment to the Hamilton Police Services Board.

Merulla issued a notice of motion Sunday, seeking a second opinion on a report released last week by the city’s integrity commissioner, Earl Basse, into a pushing incident involving Ferguson at City Hall last year.

In the report, Basse determined Ferguson had violated council’s code of conduct when he pushed independent journalist Joey Coleman.

Merulla calls it “outrageous” that the integrity commissioner didn’t recommend sanctions against Ferguson.

He’d also like a “third party police service such as the Ontario Provincial Police” to investigate the matter.

In the meantime, he’d like to see Ferguson — who is chair of the police board — step down as chair of the board.

“Anyone that admits assault I don’t think is deserving of being on the police board,” Merulla said Sunday, referring to Ferguson’s apology the day after the incident.

But Ferguson — who represents Ancaster — says it was not assault and he did not admit to any assault. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Meanwhile, the plaza at the entrance to Jackson Square was reimagined by a group of digital designers participating in the first Embrace UX conference in Hamilton on the weekend.

UX stands for user experience and the sold-out conference drew more than 110 participants from near and wide to talk about how to better connect products and services with those using them.

Groups of designers spent hours at the Pearl Company on Sunday pondering the important piece of real estate at the corner of King and James. They were told they had to incorporate the large concrete pillar that once held the Birk’s Clock but now stands forlornly at the base of the stairs to the underused rooftop patio on top of the mall.

Jackson Square leasing manager Jocelyne Mainville talked to the groups about the existing use of the plaza and aspirations for the entrance to the mall.

“They all zeroed in on the same problem, which is that this is a high-profile intersection but the mall entrance is so understated as to be invisible,” said workshop leader Ryan McGreal, editor of Raise the Hammer.

“Then there is a staircase that goes to a place you can’t see, which is intimidating.”

Suggestions included adding a canopy or archway that would define the entry. One group suggested the concrete pillar could become a water feature. Another suggested it should be an interactive way-finding tool that could provide maps or restaurant information.

Another group recommended the pole be programmable so would activate lights and music as pedestrians travelled the staircase. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)