Inside the bombshell

Yesterday was one of the craziest days to hit City Hall in months. When the day started, we knew that there was a special Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss "Pan Am land acquisition." Then, we started hearing rumours about the Oilers wanting to take over Copps. It didn't take long before we realized the two were connected - and then things started hitting the fan, so to speak. We have a ton of stories in the paper today about the Oilers' proposal - my news story, Steve Milton's NHL column, and Andrew Dreschel's column about how the TiCats fit into this.

The atmosphere yesterday at City Hall was tense, with a mix of both excitement and trepidation about what this would mean for our city. The committee of the whole meeting started at noon, with the meeting alternating between closed and open sessions (although there's been some discussion about whether they should have gone behind closed doors in the first place. There will be more on this in the coming days).  Our usually rambunctious councillors were quite quiet during the meeting as they digested what LaForge was proposing. At about 3:30 or so, the mayor, city manager Chris Murray, and Patrick LaForge held a press conference, which solidified some details but still left several questions unanswered (for example, the memorandum of understanding proposed by the Oilers' group is confidential, so we have no idea what the conversations will be like over the next few months). By about 5, we were back in the newsroom and putting together stories for today's paper.

We're going to be going at this story from so many angles over the next few days, so keep your eyes on the paper and on our blogs. But there's one more thing I wanted to point out today. Remember this story about Eisenberger's trip to NYC to meet Gary Bettman? Seems to take on a different connotation now, doesn't it?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think about all of this.

Comments

[Robbie]

If you are correct about the Mayor's trip to NYC having some involvement with this story then I'm surprised and impressed with the Mayor's take-charge approach. If Bob Young and the Ticats are only interested in controlling the process of building the stadium, then the mayor was left with no other choice. Fred is covering all bases to make certain that the stadium will be built in Hamilton and on time. Not to mention the other benefits of attracting Mr. Katz and company to invest in Hamilton.

[Ward 2]

Congrats to Mayor Fred. It is nice to see such interest in our city. Renewed opportunity for a NHL team, a soccer team (Hamilton FC perhaps), and to keep the new facility in the west harhour. The downtown and surrounding area will all benefit. Would be nice to see some added residental proposals.

[AncasterLouie]

Except negotiating with the Ticats and carrying on with another group is disingenuos at best, dishonest at worst.

Fred has some 'splainin to do.

[Monica]

What West Harbour Stadium? I thought there was a facilitation process under way. Who is paying for this stadium? Does it conform with the official plan and more important, does the community (not just downtown Hamilton) support using their tax dollars for this? Why is the City expropriating people from their homes when there is no money for this stadium and no tenant to occupy it. Another Copps Coliseum white elephant? This Council needs to remind Mayor Fred that he has one vote. When is the election? Fred needs to go!!

[mikey]

Hello Monica,
A little research before making your comments would allow them to have some more substance. There's this thing called Pan Am Games and they happen every 4 years. GTA's bid was supported by both the federal and provincial government, meaning there is money for the Games and the stadium. If not, why would we get awarded the bid? If you would like further background, I suggest you read:

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100527/stadium-impasse-hamilton/20100527/?hub=TorontoNewHome

Here's a link to the Spectator article that will show you how the vote was broken down:

http://www.thespec.com/article/518559

The next municipal election is October 25, 2010. Hope you find it helpful and informative.

[HermanS]

I hope we get an NHL franchise, but Fred can't be trusted to be the man in charge of securing the deal. He kicked balsillie under the train and now he has done it to Bob Young. Kates, you are next.

[Burke Austin]

arggg! why do we have such a blind sighted council and who is running their agenda's? Right from the get go of Stadium locations, Confederation Park was a viable option that was quipped off the table by City Rep, Chad Collins because of loss of greenspace. Meanwhile the Masterplan for the park produced by the Conservation Authority takes up as much greenspace as the stadium would. What gives???
Confed Park would be a great location, it has a majestic view of our lakefront, you can see the CN tower on a clear day. There is ample parking space and with the new pedestrian bridge over the QEW people from the mountain and east end will have safe access to the park for bikes, blades and scooters. If you are taking in an event and you are coming from St. Catherine's, wouldn't it be easier to turn off at Centennial Parkway then having to use Burlington St. and travel through our lovely industrial core? Where is the vision of decision makers, do they not want Hamilton to prosper?

[Markalanwhittle]

So this whole thing with Fenn and the Tiger-Cats was just for show, since Fred has been in bed with Katz, partners of the Borg-like corporation of the sports world, AEG.

Since the public missed out on the in-camera portion of their corporate presentation, the fact remains, this is the third deadline they (Katz/AEG) have missed coming up with a business plan, something I wrongly assumed would be produced by Hamilton city staff, who have been riding herd on this file since 2003, when we bid for the Common Wealth Games for the first, and subsequent second time it was put forth.

The history is long, but the memories are short, when it comes to holding local councilors to account for putting the cart before the horse and alienating the only tenant of record behind their backs, courting Katz and AEG secretly (in-camera).

That's something else that might draw the attention of Andre Marin (Ontario Ombudsman), who can investigate in-camera meeting if an official complaint is made. The laws and regulations that govern these meeting have a very narrow mandate, certain criteria have to be met.

As it stands the proposition has been handed to city staff to study, hopefully to death.

I'm more interested in hearing from Earl Basse, the Integrity Commissioner respecting the Whitehead affair and the final report from Michael Fenn respecting the Mexican Stand-off city hall created with Bob Young and the Tiger-Cats.

Meanwhile HostCo has already put their plan "B" into motion by lining up their ducks with another location (University) in the bossom of Toronto.

What a sad way to run the Corporation of the City of Hamilton, residents weren't even consulted in any meanigful way, but $60 million of our "Future Fund" money is at stake for the mistake by the lake.

Houston, we have a problem.

[Michelle Hruschka]

Mark Alan: We have not heard anything yet from this Mr Basse. I think of the one or two things that I know he is suppose to be investigating, yet where are the reports. How long does it take to investigate something, years. Just exactly what the heck are we paying this guy for.

You know I am really sick of all this back and forth, fighting, talking in secret, meanwhile we have people in our own city who lack proper food and shelter, there are no jobs for those who are unemployed and looking for work.

When do the all candidates debates start, we need to have engaged citizens at all these forums, hammering questions.

I heard something yesterday, that is pretty disturbing, why is it only those who are the rich in this city get special deals, that other people who may want to start businesses do not get.

[Sleepless in Stoney Creek]

FYI, the Confederation Park site, while perhaps taken off the table too quickly by a self-serving councillor, was never going to pass muster for a stadium site. The land mass is simply too thin for all that was required to be included. Not to mention all that would have had to have been taken out of CF to make it work at all. This city's collective heads would have exploded ... waterparks, campgrounds, ship memorials, etc. Why is it so hard for people to wrap their minds around West Harbour? Naysayers are CONSTANTLY screaming for the development community to get going in the lower city to re-establish some of our more challenged neighbourhoods. Now here we are with a golden opportunity to make SOMETHING happen with substantial provincial and federal funding and we're balking. This city does NOT deserve the opportunity it has been given. Frankly, I hope we LOSE this stadium to Markham or some other progressive area. And they can take the Ticats too. Go Oskee wee wee in the GTA and see how well you get along.