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I love this style. It's funny and would be even more funny, if it wasn't sadly real. I think the Dreschel article fell flat as well and it came across as desperate.
ReplyDeleteSev
LOL True
ReplyDeleteMore and more I wish "The Hamiltonian" was the major daily newspaper in Hamilton rather than "The Speculator". How refreshing reading factual reporting with logic thrown in. Thanks Theresa
ReplyDeleteThank-you for your post. If we can make a small request; we prefer that organizations and people be referred to by their proper names. Thank-you.
DeleteHamiltonian Admin
Bang on
DeleteSorce
I don't understand the drama of having to cancel a vacation to stay close to home,as mentioned by the Mayor. For what reason would Ms Chapman need to cancel a vacation and take money in lieu of? I understand that the Mayor and his wife went on a vacation after Christmas. It seems that they didn't feel the need to stay close to home, and it was the Mayor who wore the pay raise, not peg. Most everything is closed or on minimal staff. Did peg need to be at work to sit and wait for a phone call?
ReplyDeleteI have attended city meetings and watched the live stream of meetings, and see her continuously using her two blackberries. What would she miss by being away? The situation had pretty well died down. I have also taken vacation and not gone anywhere? Didn't she feel the need to take a break from all the hoopla? It makes me a bit suspicious that she has to physically be in the building over a holiday.
Secondly, the Mayor is asking for signed affidavits. Would anyone feel that it would be prudent for Ms Chapman to sign one also? It appears that she is standing in muddy waters.
Lastly, it must have been a "no news" day when Dreschel felt the need to write a column on the Mayor.
Bratina is playing into their hands. He needs a better advisor methinks
ReplyDeleteThe heck with The Spec. The CBC should scoop you guys up.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sarc
You are so right. I believe that at the moment he has NO adviser.
ReplyDeleteThe Hamiltonian is increasingly sounding like an apologist for the mayor.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so: As we are dealing with millions of taxpayer dollars, Hamiltonians would like to know what consequences will occur, if any, and how those who caused this error will be held accountable. Also, what measures will be put in place to guard against a similar or repeated occurrence? Please note: We are asking for a clear and meaningful response, as we believe that Hamiltonians are entitled to assurances and outcomes.
DeleteThe mayor is still blaming staff for a controversial decision he made. He lied then, apologized, now repeats the same lie, in print for to see. Beyond everything else, in my view, it is beyond the pale for an elected official to throw staff under the bridge when controversy erupts over that politician's own decision which becomes controversial when discovered.
ReplyDeleteYesterday's news. Get over it.
DeleteIf anything the Mayor's character revealed in email excerpts printed in the Spec article (casually dismissed by the Hamiltonian) adds to the revelation that the man has gone nuts. Brown nose, suck up to him all you want, but he is the master of his own destruction because of a lot of stupid things he's done and said in just the past 3 1/2 months. There was promise when he was elected Mayor, but all that has evaporated. Two and a half more years until this nightmare ends, and it'll be interesting to see how many of his dwindling suck-ups stick around for his fond farewell.
ReplyDeleteWow, you must really have it in for the mayor
DeleteI'm afraid that I have to agree with those that suggest the mayor is proving himself to be a wingnut. The Spec is muck-raking -- that sells papers. The mayor, by his consistently odd behavior and inability to communicate plausible truths, feeds them the muck to rake. Who's the heck's advising him on this? They should be fired.
ReplyDeleteCan we get down to business now?
If the comment sounds over the top it's only to counter the very obvious apologist nature of this blog toward the Mayor and the choir it preaches to.
ReplyDeleteRead the comment below "The increase crosses an arbitrary threshold. This also occurs in business, academe, levels of govt. In Police, Health Care, Fire Services etc."
DeleteI wonder where you write ...errrr...work. Look up Yellow journalism
Mayor has a Chief of Staff. Such a position will entail working many, many hours. I'd guess as a professional she is not paid overtime. Stuff comes up and vacation is deferred.
ReplyDeleteChief of Staff is compensated. She is valued by boss and gets raise. Unused vacation is paid out, either at employee's choice or because rules make it automatic. Total money paid to her is increased.
The increase crosses an arbitrary threshold. This also occurs in business, academe, levels of govt. In Police, Health Care, Fire Services etc.
What on earth is the big deal. The Spec article was unfair.
That's the point. It just added up and crossed that line. So, why is it in the paper?
DeleteSevern
Nothing to see here, move along. Ying and Yang. All is well. I've lived here my entire life and have seen worse scandals under the bridge. Difference is, social media. You can run, but you can never hide from it. Some grasp the power of it, some don't. Council is one huge story leak for the local tree-ware edition of the news. Witch-hunts occur on a regular basis, we just never hear about it as every councilor admits they take issues off-line with staff, so we have no record of what any of them discussed. That's Hamilton, get used to it.
ReplyDeleteSo, council is back on this bandwagon. Forget issues such as losing 10 million, forget the previous 5, let's focus on Peggy's salary and sunshine issue. Shallow and amateur. Don't they know Earl Basse is investigating? Get back to the real work folks.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Bratina, he fell for the bait. That's his fault. He also needs to get a better advisor.
Sorce
C'mon Hamiltonian. I know you desperately want to be the Mayor's next Bill Kelly (a safe harbour in stormy waters), but to simply dismiss this whole scandal is to reconfirm what others have intimated: you are apologists for the mayor, not critical journalists.
ReplyDeleteMayor Bratina, without Ms Chapman's presence, will prove to be the Mayor that we were excited about at the election. Ms Chapman appears to have no conscience about her major role in the situation that is taking place. It's unfortunate that her loyalty isn't as strong as the Mayor's. This is the "Year of Peggy" So much for "protecting the Mayor and the city!"
ReplyDeleteI think Bob should seriously consider the damage being done directly to him. He needs to let go of this crazy loyalty to Peggy. She is hurting him and our city.
DeleteMayor B opened his mouth, lost it and gave The Spec what it needed to create a new ruckus. Last I checked we had the integtity commish, who we are paying to handle this. The sunshine list is not worth yappin about so good on TH for calling it out. Peggy needs to resign and Bratina needs an advisor who is smart and who he respects and trusts.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sarc
I believe that the Hamiltonian is doing a fantastic job trying to find the BALANCE amongst this 'scandal'...It is refreshing to read an article which relays the importance of asking the questions respectfully and without prejudice...Unlike other forms of media that seem to go for the throat and let the blood land where it may.
ReplyDeleteI am exhausted from this Peggygate drama and find it very difficult to comprehend why many more ~ much more important issues such as our failed $10,000,000.00 lawsuit is not getting the same amount of coverage, finger pointing and demands for heads to roll.
Can we please move forward and get to the issues that are truly on the crux of ruining our City?
Accountability needs to be shared and from what I am reading it is becoming a Circus of how to avoid any responsibility and at all costs...That imho is a character flaw, and runs into the emotion side of an equation...I want our investigative reporting to be focused on the bigger pictures and the news that is going to haunt Hamilton as a whole, long after any Mayor is out of the picture...
I for one voted for Bob and do not regret my decision, he has made minor faux pas compared to our City Staff that is hired...costing us a hell of a lot more in shame, embarassment and MONEY...maybe the media likes them more than Bob?
Hopefully lessons have been learned and we can move forward onto what really matters!
Have an amazing day everyone!
Danya
ReplyDeleteIf you employ common sense when it comes to Bob, you are automatically the enemy. How cheap is that mentality?Dont change a thing Teresa.
I totally agree with Danya. I always admire and respect the balanced and logical reporting on the Hamiltonian. It's where I go for the REAL story.
ReplyDeleteMarc
I agree Anonymous 07:59 ~ Teresa and the Hamiltonian are eloquently, and diplomatically deploying common sense in all of their topics. And from the responses thus far from Mayor Bob, Teresa is not an 'enemy'...She and her Team have the right approach and 'mentality'...
ReplyDeleteWhen people have a difference of opinion the way to resolve the issue is through respectful, ,truthful, dialogue without regurgitation, half truths, out of context, negative words.
Humans are 'funny' when it comes to defending themselves, they either find a way to engage without falling into the trap or they come out fighting. The latter does not bode well when you are under the public’s scrutiny...
Bravo Teresa! Now if only others could learn from your writings we could get some where really great !
"I agree Anonymous 07:59 ~ Teresa and the Hamiltonian are eloquently, and diplomatically deploying common sense in all of their topics. And from the responses thus far from Mayor Bob, Teresa is not an 'enemy'...She and her Team have the right approach and 'mentality'..."
DeleteA B S O L U T E L Y right. Keep going!
Danya. I did not mean Teresa was the enemy of Bob. I meant that if you say something about Bob that is balanced, people who don't like him, auutomatically make you the enemy. I think The Hamiltonian is doing a fine job of being completely fair. I trust them.
DeleteAgreed, this sequel is flat “and lands with a dull thud.” If episode 5 is around the corner, no doubt it will too. Unfortunately, we have The Spectator, Sam Merulla, Chad Collins and Terry Whitehead who will keep it very much alive I’m afraid. Sad and anti-productive, isn’t it? Perhaps the real scandal, and tragedy, is how this is all being done to embarass the Mayor of Our City, and by extension, the citizenry. Self-censuring would be a good idea for all involved at this point.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness, there are voices, like the Hamiltonian, that inform and remind us what is truly important. One such voice was a Spec Letter this morning, an ethical flip side to all this nonsense. A gentleman from Detroit, Daniel Opperwall, has lived in Hamilton for several years now and wrote a beautiful, excellent piece , “Cities are built, destroyed by their citizens.” http://www.thespec.com/opinion/letters/article/690863--cities-are-built-destroyed-by-their-citizens
“Detroit is the most honest city in North America…Detroit wears everything on its sleeve. And what Detroit wears on its sleeve is the importance of citizens. From the 1960s, millions abandoned Detroit for the suburbs. With a collapsing population, Detroit fell apart.
Today, those who know Detroit know that green shoots are popping up everywhere.
These are the results of diehard Detroiters committing to the city, whether it’s Dan Gilbert moving the headquarters of America’s largest home-loan company downtown, or simply volunteer lawn-mower crews cutting grass in city parks.
The generation that left Detroit likes to blame city leaders for everything. Yet, Detroit today is endowed with leadership which, I think, is better than that in Hamilton.
What Hamilton, and every city, should learn from Detroit is that great cities are built or destroyed by citizens first, and leaders a distant second. What is wrong with Detroit was caused by a generation of Detroiters abandoning their city just to have a bigger yard. What is right with Detroit is the work of those who understand a simple truth: We are our city, and our city is us.”
Mr. Dreschel, Merulla, Collins, Whitehead, et al.,.please remember that Hamiltonians are trying to do their part to make Hamilton a beautiful place to live, but your words and actions continue to drain the life out of citizen voices and the grassroots happenings that would surely benefit our city. If y’all get out of the way, and out of print?, you may be very surprised at what the citizens can and will do for Hamilton, their home. But, you have to stop this boorish, unprofessional, and city-sabotaging behaviour so we, the mighty citizenry, can get down to work and get it done.
Perfect opinion!!!!!!
Delete* The main highway entrance points to Hamilton
ReplyDeleteused to have signs posted "Welcome to the
Hamilton the AMBITIOUS CITY". Ever since
those signs were taken down, Hamilton has
become "The Bitching City"!