Statement by AJ Fleming

It's time for Hamiltonians to make up for the sins of our fore-fathers. A urban core crushed in the 1950's & 60's by short sighted and narrow minded city counsellors who thought that destroying downtown vibrancy was a smart price to pay for creating the ultimate car-friendly infrastructure. And now, with a chance to start turning itself around, Greater Hamilton is suffering from road blocks that would have us go right back to those dark days of downtown decimation. That's inconceivable to those of us who have moved to Hamilton and see its potential as a city of greatness; but unfortunately that opposition is always going to come from those who cannot look forward.

We MUST open our eyes and look around us. Look to other cities, other places, other countries. Don't be afraid of doing this, embrace it. This is the only way forward. We lived in Vancouver during the endless debate and eventual construction of The Canada Line. We lived in Boston as the city embraced a decade of disruption & billions invested in The Big Dig. Small-minded opposition was a common theme in all of those places, but the world doesn't have to listen to that. In fact, it can't afford to. We need visionaries who are willing to look beyond the short term inconvenience and selfish indulgences. Suburban populations have never been known for their groundbreaking ideas in any city. Yet investment in the future of our downtown is desperately needed, like it or not, and there are enough intelligent, committed and passionate members of our city all over the place to make this groundswell a success.

Support the LRT, and help stop the fear of progress.

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