A poster is worth a thousand words

Hi folks - I'm back from my blog-cation with an interesting topic for you today. I first noticed these posters at art crawl Friday night and immediately knew I wanted to do a story about them. Graham Crawford, the founder of History and Heritage Gallery, has created a series of posters criticizing the city hall renovations. They all feature the tagline "Lloyd Ferguson - the plastic pink flamingo on the front lawn of heritage."

City Hall renovations chair Lloyd Ferguson said he understands that public figures have to face criticism from time to time, but to him, the posters border on libel. Read the full story here.

So, what do you think? Are the posters fair game? Or are they a little too personal?

Comments

[Mike Russell]

I say Lloyd suck it up and grow a thicker skin. You are a public official and as such from time to time you will be the target of what you might consider unfair criticism.

As for the creator of the posters, I have no problem with him expressing his frustrations. However, in this case I think his anger may be a little misguided. Councillor Ferguson did not make these decisions himself. He is just one vote on council. A more appropriate poster should also include other members of council who voted for these changes as well. By centering out councillor Ferguson the artist has made the protest about one man rather than the changes themselves. It sounds to me like this artist has some other agenda besides the city hall issue.

[CityNeedsNewLeaders]

Wow, I think Ferguson should grow a pair...

Having said that I think the blame should be shared by ALL councillors.

Perhaps they should have considered foregoing new furniture and computers for a year or two - that would have certainly paid for the added expense of maintaining the heritage of the building....

[kevv]

(cement capital of canada)

all the members of council who voted for
this heritage renovation should be criticized and kicked out of office .
i worked on the job.
spoke to the cement slab installers ,they expressed concerns about the chosen exterior , they have installed hundreds of different cement textures in toronto ,and know what looks good or bad. this was one of the worst.
they showed more appropiate finishes,(there were plenty) but the higher ups dismissed them all.

the only heritage left inside the building are the wall murals, and ceramic tiles on each floor including the bathrooms .
these of course are the ugliest looking things they salvaged.
ya this is hamilton

[Brian Henley]

Libel ? Defamation of character ? NO !
Fair Comment ? Freedom of Expression ? YES !
To even suggest libel or defamation of character says a lot about the councillor in question.
I have many thoughts on the City Hall project which I will post later on but to start...
It is no big deal that the City Hall project is "On Time On Budget" - actually if Councillor Ferguson is to believed, which might be a stretch for some people, the project is ahead of time and under budget.
Why I say that is not a big deal is that I am absolutely positive that the budget set and time goals projected were padded so heavily anyone could had achieved and/or beat them.
I would also say the budget and time projections were disingenuously established which actually is indicative about the quality of the overall management of the project.
I passed by the City Hall site this morning - to these eyes, I would say that there are already problems with the cladding - sections where the tone of white varies noticeably from one section to another...from a basic white to a light brownish tinge to the white.

[kathy Hagan]

I think these posters are well deserved although all the councillors involved in this fiasco should have been included.
Perhaps the artist is worried that Ferguson will run for mayor.
The cladding is horrible and as a previous poster stated builders concerns and advice was dismissed.

[Rene Gauthier]

Just one word: WOW!

It's not libelous, but poor Lloyd's gotta learn that when you're the guy in charge, you're always responsible no matter how it ended up the way it did.

Nonetheless, it is damaging and could hurt his mayoral ambitions.

[Roland Grit]

Not just a vote on Council, but Lloyd Ferguson was also chair of the committee overseeing this project. Fair game, I reckon.

[Michelle Hruschka]

I would say this is free expression of a citizen in our community.

Though I think maybe the flamingo should of been larger.

This is not libel.

[grandmamoses]

Graeme Crawford is a disgrace to Hamilton. He has erected a cheesy, clumsy, amateurish display of faux art on James street, dresses his foppish criticism to attract attention to himself and goes after the wrong target to draw attention to his poorly attended gallery (or shall I say gallows-ry). Wake up Graeme. Your attack on Fergie is a bit limp-wristed, I'd say!

[Tom Robertson]

These posters should just be considered like an editorial cartoon that point out the foolishness of politicians. If Ferguson can't handle this should the voters be thinking he can't handle the heat of being in an elected position. I think he has shot himself in the foot once again at this attempt to get attention.

[Markalanwhittle]

It may be Interesting to note that the $150,000.00 a month spent on renting space at the Civic Centre was added ($5,400,000.00)to the budget for the new city Hall Renovations in 2008.
--
THE FOLLOWING WAS REPORTED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR CONSIDERATION:

1. City of Hamilton Agreement with ABE (A Joint Venture) for the Reconstruction of Hamilton City Hall (Item 6) (Whitehead/Pearson)

(a) That the City Hall Project Budget (3540441442) be increased by $5,400,000, from $68,500,000 to $73,900,000; City Hall Renovations - 2 - October 20, 2008 Steering Committee Minutes

(b) That the City of Hamilton enter into an ITA Agreement (Integrated Team Approach) with ABE (A Joint Venture) consortium for the reconstruction of Hamilton City Hall in the gross amount of $59,920,000, and the net amount of $55,505,000, consisting of:

(i) $4,520,000 ($2,805,000 net) in design and launch fees;

(ii) $55,400,000 ($52,700,000 net) in construction fees;

(c) That the City Solicitor and General Manager of Public Works be authorized and directed to issue a Letter of Intent to the ABE (A Joint Venture) consortium authorizing the reconstruction of City Hall commencing on October 31, 2008;

(d) That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the ITA Agreement, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. CARRIED

[Tom Robertson]

Grandmamoses...A limp wristed attack is one that is made by someone without the courage to stand by their attack with their name.

[Dan Jelly]

Go down to city hall and look at the concrete and you'll soon see that "under budget" means "cutting corners". It looks awful now and it's not going to improve with age. This is as good as it's ever going to look unless somebody springs for the proper materials. In the mean time anyone celebrating this restoration looks like a fool, as does Lloyd Ferguson. That savings, exaggerated or not, is nothing to brag about.

I think Mr. Crawford is spot-on with his criticism. I enjoy his gallery and his creative ways of telling our history. I also hope he keeps printing his posters. I'm glad somebody's shining a light on these issues.

[Cal DiFalco]

I'm very much in favour of freedom of expression/speech.

If Clr. Ferguson believes he's been wronged, there are courts of law to test those assertions in.

Cal DiFalco
thehamiltonian.net

[Durb]

The following quote is in honour of Mr Tom Robertson:
Albrecht's Law - Intelligent people, when assembled into an organization, will tend toward collective stupidity.

[Darrren Reid]

Amazing! How can anyone be happy with the "new" City Hall. We now have the same ugly building, which is still too small to fit everyone into. Is anyone as baffled by this waste of money as I am. At least these brainiacs are "under" budget! Maybe they will use the extra money to buy a tarp to cover that disgracefully ugly waste of money during the Pan Am Games!

[Keith Stinson]

lol

I want that poster.

[Nick]

Lloyd somehow managed to get Facebook to remove the "Lloyd Ferguson - the plastic pink flamingo on the front lawn of heritage" fan page.

There's a nice story if any reporters at the Spectator are interested.

[Tom Robertson]

I guess that means Lloyd is pro censorship and against free speach

[Mary Louise]

So much for treating citizens like 'customers'. He put out a defective product and now he's shutting down the complaints department. PR fail.

[Kim Jimson]

Yes im sure a 60 year old councilors top priority is moderating facebook groups made by some angry internet nerd with 15 members. Oooooohhh 15 members, that was some major publicity!

[Pink Lloyd]

Lloyd is that you?