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In this episode of How Hamilton Twists and Turns, dubbed as the "Cheap Shots?" episode, we find former Mayor of Hamilton and current Member of Parliament Bob Bratina publishing an opinion piece in The Hamilton Spectator that is critical of the direction LRT may potentially take, going so far as to suggest that the present focus is so wrong headed that it would occupy most of the energy of our city over the next 10 years and reverse the momentum we've been experiencing. Not being one afraid to speak his mind, Bratina added "The current direction will, if implemented, bring an important commercial corridor to a virtual standstill for several years, with a potential for new development that is speculative at best and corrosive at worst."
In a turn of dueling mayors, current Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger, took to Bratina, releasing a terse response, stating that LRT has and will continue to serve as a uniting factor, citing the support of all of Hamilton’s anchor institutions , three local chambers of commerce and the local unions. On the heels of MP Bratina characterizing this council as dysfunctional, Eisenberger threw a jab of his own stating "While Mr. Bratina seems to have grown tired of federal issues during his short tenure in Ottawa, perhaps he could re-awaken his interest by assisting the city with federal investments in our infrastructure and by helping our Stelco workers and retirees secure their pensions and benefits. Where Mr. Bratina could make a difference, he is uncharacteristically silent."
On May 12th Andrew Dreschel published a piece in The Hamilton Spectator that addressed M.P. Bratina's op ed piece. Andrew's piece (you can see it by clicking here) essentially suggested that Bratina had every right to weigh in against this version of LRT, but ended by suggesting that Bratina, while not a puppet, is a "paper tiger" for not responding to Andrew's request for answers to some follow up questions Andrew had.
The LRT squabbling didn't stop there. Ryan McGreal, editor of Raise the Hammer, published a piece criticizing the Hamilton Spectator for allegedly not fact checking properly. Paul Berton, editor of the Hamilton Spectator, responded in kind by publishing a piece that went to great pains to define what an editor for a newspaper does as opposed to an editor of a magazine, and suggested that McGreal's article would have faired poorly had a fact check been done. Berton also suggested that McGreal's criticism was really rooted in dismay over The Spec publishing pieces of those who oppose LRT.
And if that isn't enough, M.P. Bratina while taking the high road by not engaging with a tit for tat with the Mayor, released a statement to The Hamiltonian, providing clarity for his position on LRT and the history of the file.
What will the next match up be? Eisenberger vs. Whitehead round 2? Skelly vs. the pro LRT colleagues? Bratina vs. Eisenberger round 2? McGreal vs. Berton- rematch?
It's anyone's guess. Stay tuned as the contenders retire to their respective corners.
Fade to black with a picture of staff of The Hamiltonian being fitted with referee outfits and whistles. Fade ends with teaser as an unkown person is seen passing a Silence of the Lambs mask to.......?
