...but then, they're not supposed to be the same animal...

Tonight I spent an hour at Ward 4 Councillor Sam Merulla's community meeting at Pat Quinn Arena. The room was packed; I'd guess there were about twenty-five people, not including a trio of City Hall staff (Landscape Architect Cynthia Graham was especially effective during her Cown Point East Neighbourhood Plan presentation. Well done, Ms Graham!) and three (?) law enforcement officers of various genres, as well as at least a couple of other people there to provide input and information.

A 'community meeting' isn't a 'town hall', but then as the title of this post insists, they're not supposed to be. The structure of tonight's get-together was an item-by-item presentation with questions allowed at appropriate times. (The itinerary can be found here.)

It was nicely choreographed by Councillor Merulla, allowing for just enough discussion, moving things along when it was clear there was a likelihood that things might get mired, suggesting how an issue might be expedited, providing appropriate context and perspective...

As I said, I was only able to stay for an hour, but my reaction was simple: it was heartening to see democracy in action, to see involvement and participation by the residents, to have people in the same room talking things through. (Well, for the most part 'talking things through'...)

Hats off to Councillor Merulla for this effective community meeting. Here's to hoping he'll consider working with us in the new year. 

The first in a series...

Over at Raise the Hammer, we have an ongoing series of neighbourhood profiles leading up to next week's 'An Evening With Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr' in Council Chambers at City Hall.

First up is the Beasley Neighbourhood Association. 

Check out the article here.

If you're from Ward 2...

...and even if you're not...

The agenda for the November 10th event at City Hall Council Chambers 'An Evening With Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr' will be almost exclusively determined by questions and issues submitted by residents of the six neighbourhood associations and/or attendees that night.

Additionally, if there's something you'd like to see addressed, a contentious issue, or even one that's benign, please consider sending it to townhallshamilton@gmail.com

Two non-Town Hall Offerings

This site is about town halls in Hamilton. However, seeing as the underlying theme is 'engagement', it's occasionally going to make sense for there to be links and features that might not specifically connect to the notion of town halls...but are certainly important factors and influences and notions to consider. 

On this occasion, I have two things to offer, and both feature Toronto 'community choreographer' Dave Meslin, co-editor of the book 'Local Motion: The Art of Civic Engagement in Toronto'. 


The first is from the launch event for '3 Things for Calgary', the kind of initiative that's indicative of genuine visionary leadership. (I'll have more to say about this anon, this idea that not all the emphasis for authentic forward movement should come from City Hall, that inspiration must be a two-way street, with each portion of the previously-mentioned 'great governance formula' –residents and Councillors– possessed of both transmitters and receivers, an endless –and endlessly-empowering– loop)

The second is a TED talk given by Mr. Meslin. The title of his presentation? 'The Antidote to Apathy'.

M Adrian Brassington

Observations En Route

"Most people arrive at tortured conclusions via blind and painful routes. They don't like it when someone shows up in a balloon. You can't expect anyone to trust revelation if they haven't experienced it themselves. Those who haven't, only know reason. And since revelation is a thing apart, and cannot be accounted for reasonably, they will never believe you. This is the great division of the world, and always has been. Now, when reason and revelation run together, why, then you have something, a great age. But in this city, now, reason is predominant. To argue from any other point of view or by any other means, is subversive."

Great News!

Our November 10th event, 'An Evening With Ward 2 Councillor Jason Farr' will be streamed live online...with the chat feature. 

I guess that now means we have a potential audience...

...of billions. 

The Great Governance Formula

Click image to enlarge

Previously, I've referred to the idea of a 'formula' involving residents and their elected officials. I'd been thinking about it recently and realized that I hadn't really nailed the concept very well. Because I'm not a mathematics-type person, I'd unconsciously had the two elements on either side of the '=' sign. But that's not the case at all. They're both on one side, with 'Governance' on the other. 

What's all the more important, and I threw this out for consideration at last night's Hamilton Civic League meeting, is this:

At any given time, the 'Councillors' portion is delivering an average of about 75% of potential. There are always some stinky incidents and there are sometimes some interludes of excellence. 

But where the citizenry are concerned...

Wearing my 'Chapeau de Cynisme', I'd say that Hamilton's down on the low end of the 'Potential' scale. Maybe around 20, 25%? (I know that Those Who Are Active will undoubtedly rail at me for this suggestion. But I calls 'em as I sees 'em.)

Do I find this depressing? 

Nope. 

I take enormous solace in considering how much potential we have at our fingertips. 




M Adrian Brassington