Study after study after study proves the value of local journalism to local democracy. They confirm the decline in coverage of local elections, caused by decreasing number of local journalists as daily newspapers close, is making local elections less competitive and voter turnout is declining more rapidly in communities that have lost daily news coverage. The result is increased corruption in local government resulting from lower accountability.
Joey’s Notepad: HPL Curbside Pickup Not As Busy As I Thought
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Considering the amount of work involved and the low take-up of curbside pickup, not returning to it makes a lot of sense.
Joey’s Notepad: Westdale and Barton Most Popular Library Branches for Outdoors WiFi Use during COVID Shutdown
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Stats provide insights such as need for better outdoor space near libraries, and broadband shortcomings in Hamilton.
Coleman’s Notes: “accidental exposure” to politics on social media increases participation
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Share good information to help improve local democracy, because those sharing bad information are harming local democracy.
Toronto Star Poll: Interesting Public Opinion Data on COVID, Education, and Policing
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The Toronto Star commissioned a province-wide public opinion poll, and released the 105-page report from the polling firm.
Joey’s Notepad: Province announces $150-mil in one time Ontario-wide homelessness / housing funding
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With Hamilton needing to modify existing emergency homeless shelters and potentially needing to create new temporary shelters, funding could be timely.
Joey’s Notepad: A LRT Proxy Debate on Upper James Transit Studies
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The picture is becoming more clear, LRT’s path to nine votes in favour needs either Ward 13’s Arlene Vanderbeek or Ward 7’s Esther Pauls, likely both.
Independent Investigation into Police Response to 2019 Attack on Hamilton Pride Reveals a Broken Police Command
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The 126-page independent investigation into the Hamilton Police response to the attack upon the 2019 Hamilton Pride festivities at Gage Park is a shocking reveal into a Police Command that was inept in preparing for Pride, inept at managing community relations, that set its front-line up for failure, and were blinded after the fact in a rabbit hole they kept digging deeper.
The report makes 38 recommendations that need to be implemented.
Joey Coleman argues Hamilton deserves better from its Police Command, and needs a new Police Chief to implement the recommendations.
Coleman’s Notes: Is Hamilton Prepared for Commercial Tax Defaults on June 30?
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City Council needs to prepare for “mom and pop” and small investor defaults, and stop the ground crumbling small commercial off a cliff they can never climb.
COLEMAN: The Mayor’s Task Force Posturing All Around
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Council does a lot of fighting over a Task Force which has already served its purpose.
Is Hamilton’s Physical Distancing By-law Ultra Vires?
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Good laws are clear, concise, and limited to serving the purpose of their enactment.
Here is how Hamilton’s proposed physical distancing by-law fails this test.