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Originally Posted by fastcarsfreedom
I have my own taxes to pay down here--perhaps that should exclude me from the discussion as has been suggested before? I don't pay my taxes to the City of Windsor--but if I did I could engage you in a conversation about deals they've made that have resulted in them being responsible for leasing space in the new downtown Chrysler HQ that they have no need for or selling the existing Convention Center to St. Clair College for $1--does that mean St. Clair is a money hungry leach like McMaster? Do the jobs and bodies these projects brought downtown justify the cost? The City was fixing to donate a huge chunk of land to the U of W to establish itself downtown--is that corporate welfare? Firstly, the investment of public dollars into private and para-public projects to stimulate development in urban areas is not unique to Hamilton. Secondly, LIUNA, whether you care to admit it or not, is not the lone recipient of municipal goodwill. You tax dollars have funded everything from massive projects to the residential development loan program. Those are private projects living off your dime. I understand your frustration at the lack of progress at Lister--it's been WAY too long. How do you honestly feel about the current proposal that would have the city buy and renovate the building? Is that somehow better given that the building would transfer to public hands?
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I've made it quite clear before that I'm a HUGE fan of properly invested public money to help spur revitalization. I'd love to take 75% of the money used to fund sprawl and redirect it to urban cities in Ontario.
The downtown loan program here is an absolute no-brainer. it's a loan that gets repaid. The city has leveraded close to $1 billion in downtown construction by loaning something in the area of $50 million dollars.
I'm a huge fan of well-planned, well-thought out investments. Thats why I push LRT so hard. The highway folks have had their day with Red Hill, Linc and others. I'd love to balance the system by building LRT and new streetcars.
What LIUNA has done is plain wrong...aided by DiIanni of course. The downtown loan program is up front and everyone knows what the projects are and the plan of action. These backroom deals among buddies is disgusting.
The only reason I can stomach the newest idea is because I'd rather have the city own this building than LIUNA. At least in the future we could spend public money on it properly and not always be held hostage by LIUNA trying to steal millions of extra dollars for their own pockets everytime something needs to be repaired in the building.
Hope that helps clarify my position.