Sorry, Hamilton isn’t the Land of Oz yet

Councillors disappointed that the masses don’t appreciate the great job they’re doing

I suppose everyone needs a pat on the back every now and then, including city councillors.

But to hear some of them tell it, the public at large has no idea of all the good things they’re doing to move this city forward.

In f act, according to Sam Merulla, there’s a media-fuelled “alternative reality” out there that’s based on the reporting of “petty nonsense” rather than “actual substantive issues.”

Merulla goes so far as to say it’s outsiders and newcomers to Hamilton who are now the city’s biggest “cheerleaders” because they recognize what it really has to offer.

“I think,” says Merulla, “there’s a culture in this city that needs to be moulded but it has to occur with the help of outsiders, obviously, because they’re the ones recognizing the strengths that those who have lived here for years have either forgotten about it or just take it for granted.”

Maria Pearson agrees. She says there are long-standing Hamiltonians who have no idea and really don’t feel that the city has been moving forward, “but you’ve got newcomers coming in that are totally amazed.”

“When I talk to residents, it’s garbage pickup and snow removal; that’s all they see, and I’m frustrated,” said Pearson.

The pressing question for Merulla, Pearson and others is how to get the message out to the poor benighted public about all the wonderful services the city offers and all the great things going on.

By way of context, this horn-tootin’ took place during city manager Chris Murray’s recent annual performance review, which consisted of a public presentation by Murray of his accomplishments over the last year and his short- and long-term goals for 2017.

There was also an in camera session the public and media weren’t privy to. But it’s safe to say that after nine years at the helm of the city’s administration, Murray remains as valued and respected by members of council as ever. Certainly, they seemed wowed by all the things he’s doing to support their strategic initiatives and to improve staff ’s performance.

That wow factor gained traction when Murray segued into a mid-term presentation of what council itself has achieved in the last two years:

New buses, transit shelters, bike lanes, infrastructure upgrades, trees planted, roads repaired, waste diverted, pools opened, building permits galore, downtown revitalization, LRT a comin’, west harbour a bloomin’, poverty reduction strategies, bed bug programs, tobogganing hills, and street health clinics.

You get the idea. It’s an extensive list which, no doubt, will come in handy at reelection time.

But it should also be pointed out that, first, this stuff was mostly covered by the media, and second, this is what council is elected for and staff is hired to do. It’s their job. They’re well compensated for it. And both longtime and new residents pay steep taxes and user fees for their best efforts.

It should also be pointed out that it’s not all sweet progress at city hall. Perhaps it’s “petty nonsense” to some, but the bad optics of free lunches and civic rings should be reported on. Just as political infighting over issues such as LRT should be. Or the scandal-riddled public works department. Or out-of-control consultant costs, stadium squabbles, workplace harassment, low staff morale and a disenchanted culture.

You get the idea. I suspect most Hamiltonians are happily aware of all the great things this turnaround city has to offer. But that doesn’t mean we’re prepared to pretend this is the Merry Old Land of Oz.

It should also not pass unremarked that if council is so eager to communicate all the wonderful things going on without a media filter, it already has, by my count, 13 communications managers and officers on staff, not including police, fire and library specialists. If that’s not sufficient, something is amiss.

Finally, if there is a little something to Merulla’s claim that newcomers are this city’s biggest cheerleaders, I bet it’s only because they haven’t been watching long enough to know where the skeletons are buried and where the dung piles up.