• connect to chml
    Search
    News
    Hamilton Weather
    More

Local News
Local | National | World | Business | Entertainment | Sports

Economic message central to State of the City
Ken Mann
1/29/2013

Hamilton's Mayor has touched on a range of hot button issues during his annual State of the City address.

Bob Bratina discussed a casino, light rail transit, downtown development, the police budget and the firing of 29 city workers within his lunch hour speech to the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

On the casino issue, Bratina insists that he hasn't decided where he stands.

He notes that proposals are still coming in and the horse racing situation is still evolving, adding that ultimately it will come down to weighing the benefits against the risks.

Bratina stressed that he'll continue to support the controversial 140 million dollar police budget, noting that residents called policing their #1 priority within a recent survey. 

On the issue of downtown development, he voiced confidence that the city core is on its way to becoming a "tax generator" rather than a place to avoid.   He cited developments such as the 16 storey Hilton Hotel and McMaster's Downtown Health Centre.

 «  Return to previous page
 »  Send to a friend
Subscribe to channel

Leave a comment:

showing all comments · Subscribe to comments
  1. Alex Pineda posted on 01/29/2013 05:38 PM
    So lovely to be considered as tax generators...
  2. MariaR_6861 posted on 01/29/2013 07:30 PM
    I know there are many expensive condominiums planed for the downtown of our city and also for the bay area and on the old Rhem factory area. I would like to state that the apartment that is for not to be sold but for any one just simple to rent it are in serious trouble. They are in short supply and in terrible conditions. Most are now days full of crawling pest, and it is a danger for any one who would inhale the pest control and could bring about a disability or even death. These places needs to be rehabilitated and there is a need to build such new ones for a reasonable rent. These apartment building are now considered in slums conditions. Are there any plans to build such apartments. Those who come into the city and finding work can not right away go and get into the debt with mortgage and by a place of their own. If we have slum apartments, workers will not come to our city, also if they are in short supply will turn away work force from out city. The new condos, are going for a terrible price. The taxes on them on Murray st., is 3,840. per an. on a unit, of 2 bedrooms. The condo sells for
    369. thousand dollars. One must make at least 50 thousand a year to be able to afford it. Our city might be growing but not with wages earned like this. So, even there be jobs, but they are service sector jobs, or retail, lower end of paying jobs,
    the workers will not be able to by those expensive condos. By having no place to rent that is habitable and close to all things these job will go unfilled. I know no one want to commit to build apartment because of the rent control. The government think that they are doing a right thing by chopping the rents, that is rightfully should be more because they are the ones who create the inflation's by
    the utilities, and services, and then the taxes, and then jump on the wagon the insurance companies. It is unbelievable all the new requirements is placed on the ones who keep others of the street, and provide them with shelter. New regulations, that is all cost and licenses, and renovations, it is still build into the old ways of the annual rent control. It is impossible to keep the building in the right way. A plumper to clean out one sewer hole charge 189. doll. with the HST.
    I put in a kitchen tap. I wanted to by something that hopefully lasts for 7 yr.
    I t was 79. doll. at Canadian tire, and the plumber came and give me a bill for
    a 172. doll. with HST. We need some housing supply that is not so expensive.
    Most of us can not even think of the 369.00 condo.
showing all comments