Council thinks their settlement means maintenance of the status-quo; instead their self-dealing has created the conditions for their defeat at the OMB.

What Does A PostMedia Merger Mean for The Hamilton Spectator
, Editor |
TheSpec’s decline will worsen under Postmedia, a sad fate for the paper that launched Canada’s greatest newspaper empire (and the National Post)

COLEMAN: Cindy Kennedy, Larry Di Ianni, and Our Flawed Municipal Accountability
, Editor |
As 2022 candidates face election audits, they be wise to look back at 2003 and not repeated the same mistakes as Larry Di Ianni did.

Joey’s Notepad: Bob Wade, Hamilton’s First Amalgamated Mayor, 1933 – 2023
, Editor |
The Mayor of the Town of Ancaster before amalgamation, Wade brought together the former six municipalities of Hamilton together.

Notepad: New Report “The Municipal Role in Transportation”
, Editor |
The Who Does What Series – academic papers which explore and try to explain Canada’s dynfunctional federalism in which municipalities have no constitutional status yet are required to deliver essential services – issued its latest paper “The Municipal Role in Transportation.”
Joey’s Notepad: Court Ruling on Procedural Bylaw Breach Dismissed Due to Lack of Bad Faith
, Editor |
Municipal zoning by-laws are effectively ironclad unless a challenging party can prove bad faith and the standard for that is near impossible.

Joey’s Notepad: Today’s Cancelled Council Meeting Confusion
, Editor |
Somehow a routine meeting turned into a series of confusing and conflicting events.

Why Council Cannot Set Term Priorities in Closed Session
, Editor |
An explanation of the Municipal Act and why Hamilton City Council must make decisions in public.

Joey’s Notepad: Resident Advisory Committee Members Must Fully Recuse When in Conflict of Interest
, Editor |
The City needs to provide better training and support to advisory committees to prevent conflict of interest scandals.
Joey’s Linkblog: Regulating “Civility” and Banning Criticism of Local Government in Massachusetts
, Editor |
Massachusetts’ top court strikes down local bylaw requiring civility when speaking to local council, in a case of extremely offensive speech.

Joey’s Notepad: With Toronto Getting a New Strong Mayor This Summer, Paul Johnson’s Future Could Change
, Editor |
Former City of Hamilton staffer Paul Johnson was appointed Toronto City Manager by “Strong Mayor” John Tory. The next “Strong Mayor” can replace him with their own person.