This is what I'd intended to submit to The Hamiltonian for publication, until I realized that my initial impulse...being interviewed...was best.
Town Halls or Bust?
One of my favourite expressions goes something like this: 'Life sends so many things our way that we have no control over that it behooves us to do something about those things we do have some control over.'
Allow me to present the current (and longstanding) default for the average resident regarding their role in local governance: every four years, they vote.
Well, currently about 40% of eligible voters vote. And roughly 60% of these apparently do so by 'name recognition'. The truth is that the average Hamiltonian casting a ballot puts less time and effort into choosing their candidate than they put into choosing their next entertainment system or vacation destination...if they bother to vote at all.
Once the ballot is cast...often done with a shaking head and something muttered under the breath...that’s it for the average citizen. Until the next election, that's the extent of their 'involvement' in their local governance. Oh, during the term some might call up their Councillor to complain about this issue, some might email a question about that development, some might even get on the phone to say 'Thanks!' for a kind gesture made or an appearance at a function. But by and large, for the average Hamiltonian, that's their civic responsibility executed.
(As for the Councillors and engagement with their constituents? Well, as this side of the equation isn't the thrust of my endeavours, I'll leave an examination of this to those who have a passion for 'politics', but I'm willing to bet that even the most engaging of elected officials still cling to a construct that was founded in the last century; they have a job to do, and quite frankly, they'd prefer to be left alone, thankyouverymuch. Even though engaging with whom they represent at City Hall is part of their official mandate.)
Now, given the analogy where the resident is the 'employer' (after all, we 'hire' our elected officials to do a set job) and the Councillor or Mayor is the employee (where the election campaign is the 'job interview'), does it make any sense whatsoever...especially in a modern world...that we essentially hand them keys to the business and say 'See you in four years!'?
I can already hear two of the standard responses: "That's what we PAY them for! To look after everything!" and “I don’t have the time to be bothered!”
And you know what? If those reactions fit, if a hands-off approach floats yer boat, if you're happy surrendering your input to that extent, then be my guest. If you don’t think that contributing to the processes that affect the well-being of you and yours, your overall quality of Life, if that’s not worth spending X-number of minutes per month on, then have at it. That notion makes me sad, but there ya go.
But let me say this: if we want our city to be a better place to raise our children, if we want Hamilton to become the 21st century version of the great place it’s been in the past, then we have to stop hoping for some magical deliverance of superlative Councillor-candidates to deliver us unto this new reality while we sit back and passively spectate. Because not only is it bound not to happen...the circumstances within which it’s bound not to happen are guaranteed to get worse.
Which brings me back to this article’s initial point: we can change how things are done, we can deliver ourselves unto this new reality, it actually behooves us to do what’s possible because we are in control of these variables...and the means by which it can all be accomplished is right there staring back at us from the proverbial mirror.
Our world has changed, hasn’t it? Over the past forty years, and especially over the past fifteen. Information is so much more readily available now; open data from governments, 24/7 news, on-the-spot reporting, online streaming of Council meetings, social networking and media impacting how we live our lives, connecting us instantly, whereas before there were always prolonged lag-times...
Even putting aside our current system’s inherent shortcomings, all of the above lead me to I believe that governance (specifically the local variety) simply has to change. Because it makes no sense to have something in place that's the equivalent of amazingly modern thoroughfares –for space-aged LRT, let’s say– and yet still be using rustic wagons drawn by horses to travel on it, does it? And yet that's what we're doing.
Each time I look at things with fresh eyes, I'm gobsmacked that this is what we've settled for. A cynical populace that has little sustained trust in those who are charged with managing the present while safe-guarding the future, and elected officials who see ‘engagement’ and ‘consultation’ as The Two-headed Beast Best Avoided. The funny thing is, I don't think anyone is actually happy with the status quo. Especially in Hamilton. Particularly with our ‘legacy malaise’ holding us down.
So I've begun the 'Town Halls Hamilton' initiative. To help usher in a new era in local governance. To bring about better opportunities for residents who are inclined to participate. To allow them the chance be far more involved than in the past in the decision-making processes affecting their communities. To allow them to engage with their Councillors.
I've approached a pretty extensive list of neighbourhood associations, of civic groups, of media elements (such as The Hamiltonian), and of course, the politicians themselves. Because the idea is to have a broad, integrated program within the whole of Hamilton, one in which wards could share experiences and tips and advice, making the best of the format. It might also be possible to have a set production mechanism in place for consistency.
The goal would be to have regular town hall meetings in each ward. In most instances, these would feature and be hosted by the Councillor. As well, the Mayor would be hosting meetings across the city. Eventually, I'd love to see the events streamed live online, and then uploaded for viewing at peoples' convenience.
These meetings would allow for actual contact, actual exchanges, promote actual dialogue between residents and their elected officials. The structure and makeup of each town hall would of course be up to those organizing it, hopefully with input from the ward’s residents.
I should say here that town hall meetings aren't the 'be-all and end-all' in creating more dialogue, distributing more information, opening up channels between all parties. There are a handful of complementary notions that need to be in place as well. But town halls may well be the most important element, the one that might act as catalyst and multiplier for the rest. As someone said to me of the idea recently:
"This is visionary. If it's possible, this has the potential to transform Hamilton like no other idea I've heard."
As I mentioned in a recent comment here on The Hamiltonian, while nations elsewhere have been marching in the streets, with their revolutions involving blood, injuries and death, our revolution awaits us. It might not be as dramatic, but it’s just as powerful: to gather as neighbours and communities in various 'town halls' and put into action a vital element of democracy: engagement with each other, and with those whom we elected to serve us.
Even now, you can do your part: contact your Councillor, your local neighbourhood association, your local newspaper, the radio station you listen to, CHCH, contact Teresa here at The Hamiltonian and whatever other civic activism blogs you frequent, and tell them you want town halls in your ward. Tell them you want to help make Hamilton into the city it should be. Tell them you’re interested in engagement.
Addendum: This has been received from Editor-in-Chief Paul Berton at The Spec:
“It seems a worthwhile pursuit. Getting some interest or momentum will be a challenge, but I think The Spec would be happy to sponsor one and help promote the effort.”
