We in the media like to assign pithy, sometimes goofy,
names to issues and events in the news. Thus Sheila
Copps' fanciful plan for a school of naturopathy downtown became
known as Quack U. The name of the breakaway community
formed by rebels seeking to leave the unified City of
Hamilton became Flambastardas. Thus the idea of our deserting our
ailing City Hall and moving the seat of municipal government
to the Hamilton City Centre, formerly the Eaton Centre, has
become City-Hall-in-a-mall.
The latter of these is a good example of why
we mustn't judge a book by its cover, or an
idea by its name. This one is at least worth
consideration.
Here are the bald facts. Hamilton's existing City Hall is
42 years old, falling apart, and too small. How the
situation was allowed to deteriorate to this extent, as opposed
to being dealt with incrementally for less money, is relatively
unimportant except for those who get their jollies from pointing
fingers.
What really matters now is that the status quo is
not an option. Anyone who has seen City Hall, who
has attended meetings in small, airless, crumbling offices and meeting
rooms already knows that. It's far too small -- having
been built to accommodate 400, not the 1,200 staff now
employed by the city downtown. The place is an embarrassment,
and it's not an acceptable work environment.
Source.
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