Cry Him A River

Yesterday, when all eyes were on city council, one face was missing.

Councillor Brad Clark didn't attend yesterday's vote - which was described as the most important vote of the council term - because he was at the Michael Buble concert.

He sent me this email just after 9 last night:

Emma,

For the record, I just turned 50th and Linda bought me tickets to Micheal Buble. It is a great gift. BTW I would oppose the West harbour without a team.

Gotta go buble is on again... Very cool!

God bless
Brad

He then followed it up with this comment at about 9:15:

Emma,

Here is a quote if you need one

In Toronto tonight, at the ACC they are laughiing at Hamilton. Eveyone HERE agrees the stadium will now go to York University.

This quote is for record
Brad

What do you think?

Comments

[Mando]

Hey Emma why not ask Brad if he enjoyed a drink or dinner in downtown Toronto or if parked in the ACC parking lot also he should be asked if York is to get the stadium now how different is that from the Harbour location? Also should ask him if he feels that spending an additional 100 Million dollars of taxpayers money is the right thing not mention the lost income to the city from DC and taxes for the EM.

[JBH +]

I hope the voters of Ward 9 remember this on voting day.
Is this a responsible councillor with his priorities in order?
Where is the Integrity Commissioner's report on this "councillor's" issue?

[SEE YA!]

MESSAGE FOR BRAD CLARK, I sincerely HOPE a majority of HAMILTON CITIZENS read this site and find out what Mr.Clark WAS UP TO, when the REST OF COUNCIL WAS ATTENDING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTES OF COUNCIL TERM! do you NEED someone to REMIND YOU, YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ARE THERE TO REPRESENT THE CITITZENS OF HAMILTON, HOW DARE YOU NOT BE THERE IN A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR OUR CITY - and instead decide to head to Toronto and partake of a Micheal Buble concert, while the rest of our elected officials and concerned citizens of Hamilton engaged FOR MANY HOURS IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY! YOUR SELF-SERVING ATTITUDE IS DESPICABLE AND PATHETIC AND YOU NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM CITY COUNCIL!

[Willem]

It is great to see our Councillors ridiculing our own city while they are supposed to be building it up in a very tangible way (by a vote). By all means I hope Mr. Clark had a great birthday and enjoyed his concert, but don't be making fun of your own constituency when you are supposed to represent it.

[Dan Jelly]

I'm looking forward to the West Harbour stadium, whatever the size. Maybe we can get Michael Bublé to play a concert there for Brad's 55th.

[UNBELIEVABLE!]

MAYBE, BRAD CLARK - IF YOU HAD OF BEEN IN YOUR CITY OF HAMILTON INSTEAD OF Toronto, sitting in your ELECTED SEAT VOTING WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL ON A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION CONCERNING OUR CITYS FUTURE. You would of been exposed to the POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE OF YOUR OWN CITY, INSTEAD OF SHARING IN Toronto's version of OUR BUISNESS. You said it was a birthday present (going to the Micheal Buble concert) and you just turned 50 - well looks like your gonna need the next half of your life - TO FIND A JOB! YOU DONT DESERVE YOUR SEAT IN COUNCIL! HOW DARE YOU!

[Kathy Hagan]

Brad Clark has shown complete disrespect to the citizens of Hamilton. Voters in his ward should remember this person had higher priorities than attending to council business for which he is paid.
To send an email joking or relaying the fact that patrons in the ACC were " laughing at his city' is disgusting as is he. And by the way I sat through the whole 11 hours of the meeting and I wasn't being paid!!!

[steve sheen]

Well I have to say Brad Clark left the building, the vote i mean,birthday or not there was a responsibility there.I also believe it should have been policy that all city council members be present until the vote and until the end of the meeting.

[Zorro]

Well Brad I guess you were in the Classic "No Win" position which all MARRIED men can sympathize with! Wifey has bought "YOU" tickets to see, probably her latest "Heartthrob" Mick Bobble which just coincidentally is your 50th birthday,how thoughtful are these women Eh?
So it was a "No Contest" between "Married Bliss" or spending the day with the "Brat Pack" discussing a LOST CAUSE, in which at least the majority of your ward voters have no interest, as whatever happens they are gonna be "Gouged" for more Tax Dollars,and I am sure that "HOW", Wifey "Rewarded" you for being understanding, was more pleasurable than what you get along the same lines at Council Meetings!

[Allison Gowling]

Clark is a Harrisite thug and a moron, and he is on council to just look important.

Why else would he eschew an important meeting and his vote? That shows his irresponsibility.

However, Clark is just another one of the massive egos on council, just like King David, King Sam, King Bernie, King Bob, etc.

And the Mayor and council wonder why Hamilton is the laughingstock of Canada?

Known as the "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight."

Run around, look important and full of flatulence.

Allison Gowling

[Chris]

Concert tickets are usually booked several months in advance - besides, knowing that they were going to rubber stamp the February decision anyway, where would you rather celebrate your 50th birthday - stuck at City Hall, or with your family?

[Wendy S]

I wouldn't be so hard on Clr. Clark. As someone has previously stated, the concert and tickets were probably planned well-ahead of the meeting date. Also, he probably knew Council had already made up their mind on a West Harbour location even before the meeting began and that his voice and attendance wouldn't make a difference -- I would have gone to the concert too.

And a side note, just because a councilor is at a meeting doesn't mean he is "present" and paying attention. I have been to several council meetings where councilors are on their blackberries, are chatting amongst themselves or actually leave the room for god-knows what. I've also witnessed them leave and pull the media into the hallway to talk about a completely different subject. I think those actions are worse than a councilor not attending a vote because he or she had previous plans.

[Tom Manzuk]

To quote the sagacious Bugs Bunny, "What a Maroon!"

[Yves Dubeau]

As if his vote would have made a difference. Ratification of the vote today by council has merit. This Tuesday's vote was from the committee of the whole, big difference.

[Travis]

I agree with Chris. They had been at City hall for over 12 hours. He had plans booked in advance, elected or not. I would have done the same thing if I had plans. It's a job, if your at work, and into your 4th hour of OT you have plans I highly doubt you'd be staying at work.

[Albert]

I like Brad. At least he did something useful. The others stayed and looked like idiots. Not to mention the losers who presented in favour of the West Harbour during the day...what a colossal waste of time.

Buble over morons? Brad chose correctly.