Diane Chiarelli, Candidate for Ward 2 in Hamilton Municipal Election 2010 - Raise the Hammer Elections

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Candidate Details
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Candidate Details (top)

Name	Chiarelli, Diane
Election	Hamilton Municipal Election 2010
Area	Ward 02
Party	N/A
Votes	403
Email	dchiarelli@hotmail.com
Website	http://www.dianechiarelli.com/
Home
Business	905-523-9656
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Bio	My name is Diane Chiarelli. I am a partner with Chiarelli & Noble, President of We ROCK Canada, Co-Founder of United Grandparents of Canada. Currently pursuing further studies in Specialized Event Management.

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Responses to Questions (top)

Question	Brief Response	Full Response
Some cities have committed recently to publishing their public data in an open format that citizens can directly access. Should Hamilton pledge to become an "open source city"? Why or why not?	Yes	It is of great public importance that our citizens can access public data. We can not say we are accountable or transparent unless the public can directly look at the information and data that affects their community and them. Many citizens feel decisions are made without them having access to information. Hamilton should commit to becoming an "Open Source City".
For your campaign, will you be accepting donations from corporations or unions? If so, why? If not, why not?	No	For my campaign I will not be accepting union or corporation donations. When I made the decision to run l decided to run an old school grassroots campaign! It is my belief that a councillor works for all the people of their ward and is their voice at council. I would not feel comfortable if anyone felt that l was only representing the interested parties of certain corporations or unions.
Hamilton's Cycling Master Plan has Council approval. However, the implementation timeline is very long and ward councillors can block individual bike lane projects. Do you support accelerating the completion of a continuous bicycle network and other initiatives like a bike sharing program and better access up and down the Escarpment? Why or why not?	Yes	I fully support accelerating the completion of a continuous bicycle network. All great cities allow their citizens good transportation options. This plan will assist in reducing traffic congestion, reduce our carbon footprint, allow a person to get excellent exercise. There are different cities in Canada that have bike sharing programs and that increases the use of cycling in those communities. We have a wonderful escarpment; however, we do need to allow better access up and down the escarpment for cyclists. We have to make sure that this plan moves forward quickly and does not get mired down in red tape or put on the shelf.
Is Hamilton doing enough to support and encourage new investment in our older neighbourhoods? If not, what should the City be doing?	No	No, Hamilton is not doing enough to support and encourage new investment in our older neighbourhoods. For the past twenty years, the citizens have heard that the downtown core was going to be revitalized. Truly this has not happened. We can not expect new investment when our downtown looks like it has been through a tornado. People who visit here to explore new investment possibilities quickly leave and take their cash to another community. Downtown does not have an image of a place to invest money when the city does not invest time and effort it making the core's image the place to be and invest. We need to act now to encourage new investment by getting committed to overhauling the worst areas in the older neighbourhoods. People live and invest where they feel safe and at this point l would be hard pressed to see a crowd clamoring to invest and move to our downtown neighbourhoods.
Many observers argue that Council meetings could be more respectful and professional. Do you agree? If so, what will you do to change this?	Yes	I have to agree with the observers that Council meetings could be more respectful and professional. A code of conduct may be required as a solution to this problem. It is my belief that if you are a public servant, and that is precisely what a councillor is, that it is a duty to conduct yourself accordingly.
Council is poised to vote on the Airport Employment Growth District, a 3,000 acre plan to expand the urban boundary around Hamilton International Airport for employment lands. Do you support this plan? Why or why not?	Maybe	The Airport Employment Growth District has been around for some time now. While I do believe that we must support growth to provide vital jobs for residents in this city, I feel I do not have enough information to fully state that I support it 100%. Who owns the 3,000 acres at this point? We must remain sensitive to the needs of the community. We should encourage agri-business to invest in this area, a corporation that focuses on green initiatives, and seek out a new industries that can bring a different perspective to the table to utilizing the employment lands.