Urbanist – mackaycartoons

Friday, October 24 2014

October 23, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 24 2014

Naheed Nenshi Comes to Hamilton to Bedazzle Progressives & Pluck Brains

Plainspoken and outspoken Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi will be the keynote speaker for the second Ambitious City event Oct. 23, hosted by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

“He is, as far as I’m concerned, the second-most popular politician in Canada, right up there with Justin Trudeau,” said chamber president Keanin Loomis, who worked for a year to bring Nenshi, a charismatic, yet self-described nerdy leader, to town. “He will bring a positive, progressive, urbanist message to Hamilton. He knows that quality of life contributes to economic development.”

City of Toronto chief planner and Hamilton native Jennifer Keesmat will moderate a Q&A with Nenshi at the event. She was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Ambitious City. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

In addition, he hopes to take some of McMaster’s best and brightest home with him.

Nenshi will be making a pit stop at the university on Thursday to speak with students about job opportunities out west. Calgary Economic Development staff will set up a pop-up career fair with more than 60 organizations represented. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

OTHER MEDIA

This cartoon was reposted on Yahoo News Canada, and was printed in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

Thursday August 22, 2014

August 28, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 22, 2014

McHattie finally drives the Red Hill

(By Andrew Dreschel) Mayoral hopeful Brian McHattie has reversed his controversial stance on not driving on the Red Hill Valley Parkway.

The west-end councillor, who opposed the $225-million project for environmental and financial reasons, has refused to drive on the eight-kilometre highway since it opened more than six years ago.

But in the face of community blowback, the would-be mayor says he realizes he needs to be open to other viewpoints.

McHattie, 54, quietly ended his personal boycott last month. As part of his 100 day neighbourhood tour of the city he drove south on the Red Hill to the Valley Park neighbourhood on the Mountain.

Asked if he intends to drive the road again, McHattie said, “I think so. For sure.”

Since launching his mayoral campaign he’s heard loud and clear most Hamiltonians firmly embrace the expressway.

“It became clear to me that as mayor of the city, it’s a whole different ball game. You’re no longer the ward councillor, you’re representing the whole city and you have to understand all those different perspectives, which are the majority based on the feedback I was getting.”

According to McHattie, his refusal to drive the Red Hill, revealed by The Spectator in January, came up frequently while canvassing. Residents pointed out the road’s benefits, including economic development at business parks, better local traffic flow in the east-end, and simple convenience.

He says some accused him of being stubborn, which stung because that’s not how he sees himself. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator)