Statement by Matthew Allen

My wife and I have chosen to make Ward 3 our home since 2015, when we relocated from another neighbourhood in Hamilton. At the time, we put heavy consideration into many factors involving our move, not the least of which was the proximity to the proposed LRT line.
Today we lead a busy family with two young children and make use of all local amenities, both new and well-established. Every day, we work to instill environmental consciousness and community pride in our kids. They have both taken many trips on HSR buses as we explore the city.
I have worked downtown for almost twenty years. New employment opportunities in the area often present themselves to my wife. We are both employed in the public sector, paying into, and receiving significant benefits from, municipal, provincial and federal taxes. Reliable public transit makes sense to our family for a variety of reasons.
Part of the lure of the LRT to us is the vision it demonstrates by current city planners, politicians and citizens. We are proud to live in Hamilton where forward-thinking individuals and organizations work to ensure that short-term economic and infrastructure development aren’t anathema to the sustainability and environmental realities that the future generations of this city will face.
In our opinion, this project is more than a symbol. It’s proof to our children that we have their best interests at heart. It’s a commitment to work on real solutions that will lessen their burden. It’s an opportunity to teach them how to live in a modern urban area where public transit is their first choice in moving around. It’s a chance to show them that short-term inconvenience can have meaningful results that last decades. It’s a demonstration that opportunity is not to be missed. It’s a call to make this city better...for now and then.

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