bettering the Hamilton experience
As a dedicated advocate for the Hamilton community, I am committed to addressing the issues that matter most to the residents of Ward 2. My platform is built on the belief that meaningful change requires listening to the people and turning those insights into actionable solutions. Whether focusing on improving local infrastructure, fostering economic growth for small businesses, or ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe and inclusive, my goal is to lead with transparency and accountability. I am here to bridge the gap between community needs and policy decisions, working tirelessly to ensure that every voice in Ward 2 is heard and represented. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant future for all of Hamilton.
For too long, Ward 2 has been neglected on the fundamentals; our streets, parks, and local businesses deserve consistent attention, not just during election cycles. I am running to restore trust in City Hall, to be directly accountable to residents, and to make decisions based on evidence rather than politics. Vote for me if you want a councilor who answers your calls, respects your concerns, and treats your tax dollars with the care they deserve.
key concerns
quality of life in ward 2
I live in Ward 2, and that proximity is central to my candidacy because true representation is rooted in shared daily experience. I believe that an effective councilor must be intimately familiar with the buses our residents ride, the conditions of the sidewalks they walk, and the challenges faced by the local businesses they support. Representation is about more than just a home address; it is about staying deeply connected to the pulse of every neighborhood and ensuring that every voice in our ward is heard at City Hall.
Beyond local accessibility, I am committed to restoring Hamilton’s financial credibility. It is fundamentally unacceptable that we have not had audited financial statements since 2022. My priority is to rebuild our basic financial controls by getting our audits back on track, ending the practice of borrowing from restricted reserves, and ensuring that every budget decision made by the city is transparent, evidence-based, and defensible to the taxpayers.
Key Commitments for Financial Accountability:
* Standardizing annual audits to ensure full compliance and public trust.
* Prohibiting the use of restricted reserves for operating expenses to maintain fiscal stability.
* Implementing a rigorous, transparent budget review process that prioritizes resident needs over political convenience.
* Providing clear, accessible reporting on how tax dollars are allocated and utilized throughout Ward 2.
I am committed to prioritizing the safety and vibrancy of our neighborhoods by investing in better street lighting in high-traffic areas and ensuring a consistent enforcement presence. Furthermore, I believe our public spaces should be truly accessible and welcoming; my plan includes proactive maintenance for our parks and plazas, the installation of essential public amenities like washrooms, and the introduction of programming that fosters community connection and activates our shared green spaces.
Homelessness and the housing crisis
Living in the heart of downtown, I witness the daily realities of our housing crisis firsthand. I believe we need a pragmatic, balanced approach to development—one that rejects both indiscriminate rubber-stamping and obstructionist bureaucracy. My strategy focuses on approving the right projects in the right locations, prioritizing density along transit corridors and near the downtown core, alongside gentle infill in established neighborhoods. Every proposal will be held to three clear standards: does it meet a genuine community need, does it fit the character of the neighborhood, and does it contribute to the necessary infrastructure?
To build a sustainable pipeline of affordable and available housing, I propose leveraging three specific tools: implementing inclusionary zoning to mandate affordable units in large developments, utilizing city-owned surplus land for mixed-income projects, and supporting community land trusts to ensure permanent affordability. Furthermore, we must stop wasting taxpayer millions fighting inevitable decisions at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Instead, I will advocate for proactive negotiations to secure better project outcomes upfront. By adopting proven strategies—such as the models used in Montreal to fund non-market housing through private development—we can move beyond the status quo and finally deliver meaningful, actionable solutions for Hamilton.
I am committed to a sustainable growth strategy that aligns housing development with the essential infrastructure required to support it. We need a diverse range of housing options to meet the needs of our growing population, but we cannot responsibly approve new units without first ensuring our roads, public transit, and sewer systems are equipped to handle the demand. I will champion a coordinated, evidence-based approach that mandates infrastructure investment alongside every major housing development, ensuring that as our community grows, our city services remain functional, reliable, and capable of serving all residents effectively.
**Core Principles of My Housing & Infrastructure Strategy:**
* **Integrated Development:** Aligning new residential approvals with capacity assessments for water, sewage, and transit systems to prevent the overextension of city resources.
* **Proactive Maintenance:** Prioritizing the upkeep of existing infrastructure before adding new pressures to ensure current neighborhoods are not left behind.
* **Infrastructure-First Zoning:** Advocating for policies where essential upgrades are completed in conjunction with, or ahead of, new housing projects.
* **Strategic Growth:** Focusing on developments that utilize existing transit corridors to maximize efficiency and reduce the strain on our aging road networks.
I am committed to addressing the over-concentration of social services and emergency shelters within the downtown core. My approach focuses on achieving a more equitable distribution of these services across the entire city, ensuring that all neighborhoods contribute to the collective well-being of our residents while guaranteeing that those in need receive consistent, high-quality support.
As a representative, I will demand full transparency regarding municipal contracts and project management. We must hold past leadership accountable for egregious budget overruns, such as the housing project where costs ballooned from $1 million to $7 million—a massive misuse of funds that could have instead provided years of stable housing for our most vulnerable residents. Moving forward, I will advocate for strict time limits on all municipal repair contracts to prevent unacceptable, multi-month closures like the one we saw at the Valley Park Recreation Centre pool. It is time to replace mismanagement with rigorous oversight and ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent with discipline and documented efficiency.
lrt and road management
Our infrastructure and transit systems require a proactive, common-sense approach that prioritizes durability and fiscal responsibility.
Regarding road maintenance, my goal is to shift from a reactive to a proactive strategy. Currently, we suffer from "patchwork" fixes that fail quickly. By adopting best practices from other jurisdictions—such as systematic area-wide assessments and permanent, high-quality repairs—we can reduce long-term costs and better protect residents from vehicle damage caused by neglect.
Public safety and reliability are also critical. We see systemic failures in current infrastructure, such as the possible flooding of the King Street underpass proposed near Gage, we do not have the equipment to pump out the water fast enough so the LRT can remain functional. A lack of oversight regarding the quality of materials used in new public projects, like the premature wear at the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre change room. We must demand higher standards and accountability from our contractors to ensure taxpayer money is spent on lasting value, not constant repairs.
Finally, regarding the LRT project, we must critically evaluate the long-term tax burden it will place on Hamiltonians. With rising construction costs and shifting trends in how residents work and shop, we need to consider more cost-effective, flexible alternatives like Bus Rapid Transit or independent electric rubber-tired trams. I advocate for solutions that serve the entire community while remaining economically sustainable for the long term.