Statement by Lauren Webster

Dearest everyone,

I am a Hammer-girl born and raised. I love this city even though careers have led me elsewhere here and there. Everywhere I go, I brag that I'm from Hamilton - I joke that in infects your very being and you just can't help but love it.

This all being said, I'm becoming less and less hopeful for Hamilton's future. There is so much potential in this city. There's so much pride. But the narrow-minded view to keep sprawling outwards and not protecting our core "because it's already dead" is really getting to me. This past weekend, I went to a garlic festival in Toronto. This was held in a restored Brick Factory. They used the old warehouse as a covered outdoor market, the quarry they have turned into paths, ponds and gardens, and they have built a green conference centre that can house weddings, corporate events, etc. All I kept thinking was "Man I wish Hamilton would get its act in gear". I actually took pictures of all the steps they had posted of how they turned an abandoned and contaminated factory to such a beautiful city site.

All this rambling does have a point. Hamilton needs to get its act in gear. Let's start with a trusted method of transportation and then let's move towards reclaiming our downtown (I'll keep my fingers crossed for micro-breweries and patios).

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we

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