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November
9, 2003
REJECT CHAINSAW POLITICS
The
clearcutting of the escarpment face, and Thursday’s
raid on the aboriginal longhouse and subsequent destruction
of the one-acre Greenhill site (see previous update), provide
a glimpse of Hamilton under the regime of Larry DiIanni
and other pro-expressway councillors. It is not a pretty
sight.
This
is the politics of dividing our community, crushing dissent
and waging war against your neighbours. It is also the politics
of trampling on the legitimate rights and concerns of the
aboriginal people (see statement
from the representative of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy).
Even using the Chamber of Commerce’s highly suspect
polling, there are over 100,000 people in Hamilton who oppose
the Red Hill Creek Expressway. Bob Wade won in 2000 with
only 63,000 votes — less than 18% of those eligible
to cast ballots. It is outrageous to suggest that this paltry
support justifies the bulldozer approach adopted. And it
is fanciful to think it can address the massive problems
facing Hamilton — skyrocketing debt, growing poverty,
factory shutdowns, unprecedented operating deficits, and
disappearing city staff.
We
must not allow these destructive politics to continue to
control Hamilton. It is crucial that we vote on Monday for
real change (there’s a list of pro-valley candidates
below).
This
election clearly has the ruling clique scared, exposing
their phoney claim that everyone wants the valley paved.
Why else would the developers have poured far more money
into this City election than ever before? Despite the open
and covert endorsement of the Spectator, CH-TV and some
radio stations, there is still an excellent chance that
voters will select David Christopherson as mayor on Monday,
along with numerous pro-valley councillors. You can help
make it happen.
Pro-Valley
Candidates
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