Here we go again

A few months ago, Councillor Sam Merulla compared the Pan Am debate to the movie "Groundhog Day" -- the one where Bill Murray wakes up only to realize he's doomed to repeat the same day over and over.

So, here we are, almost a year after council chose the West Harbour as the site of the new stadium in February 2010, and things are feeling very Groundhog Day-ish.  Yet another Pan Am stadium site is too expensive. The Ticats still say they won't play at the west harbour. Council's having a meeting tomorrow in the hopes of working out some sort of deal.

The only difference is that this time, HostCo is running out of patience. Whereas in the past, they have been willing to grant Hamilton more time to get our act together, this time, they're holding firm to their Feb. 1 deadline. That leaves Hamilton six weeks to come up with a solution.

I know there are a lot of people out there who are questioning whether it's responsible of council to make a decision about where to spend $60 million in that short timeframe. Yes, we all want this stadium situation to be resolved one way or another, but one could argue that rushing to approve a brand new site like Confederation Park may not be wise or prudent.

One factor for all of you city hall watchers to consider is that council does not need a two-thirds majority vote to reopen Confederation Park. Since the vote to take it off the table was held during the last term, the newly elected council is not bound by that decision in any way. That means someone could introduce a motion for Confed at tomorrow's meeting and it could pass with a majority.

But regardless of whether council chooses Confederation Park tomorrow, I wonder at Hamilton's appetite to go through another chapter of this saga. The reaction I'm starting to get from colleagues, friends, and acquaintances about Pan Am is one of fatigue. Just like our friend Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, many people are sick of going through the same debates, the same drama, and the same roadblocks over and over again.

What do you think? Are you fed up? Or can we still make this happen?

Comments

[Markalanwhittle]

Confederation Park works for me. Issue Municipal bonds to cover the cost.

[Frank]

Make the final decision tomorrow(Wednesday). If they can not agree on a site say goodbye and stop wasting money. Bad after bad. This city is not going anywhere, the same people are in office just like the people want except for a couple. One I believe is another misguided tree hugger, so she is against any thing that the city wants to build. Good bye Ticats it's been a blast!

There is too much corruption in our city politics and it has not changed in 30 years!

[Yves Dubeau]

Interestingly Collins has been on the radio today stating that 2/3 majority is needed to re-open consideration of Confederation Park! I tend to believe Emma that they do not require 2/3 and last term is what it is!

[mystoneycreek]

'Over my dead body.' That's what I said months ago about a stadium at Confederation Park. Glad to hear I can remain upright for another while longer.

@ Frank:

"There is too much corruption in our city politics and it has not changed in 30 years!"

And your suggestion is...?

@Markalanwhittle:

Und zo...?

[Mark-Alan Whittle]

Hamilton, where failure goes to die.

[Hamiltonthisis]

It wasn't Merulla who used the phrase. It was Pat LaForge, President of the Oilers who said, "residents must be feeling like ground hog day.”

http://www.stoneycreeknews.com/news/article/214071

Unless you have it on tape, as I cannot locate a reference anywhere else.

[Steve Sheen]

The city can still make this happen and i will tell you how.Go with the original plan of either the East Mountain or the West Harbour site's.If the two sites were no good at all they would have never been brought up in the first place.So then go for it Hamilton,get it done.