Elections
Shane Coleman, Candidate for Ward 2 in Hamilton Municipal Election 2010
Details page for this candidate.
In This Page:
Candidate Details (top)
| Name | Coleman, Shane |
|---|---|
| Election | Hamilton Municipal Election 2010 |
| Area | Ward 02 |
| Party | N/A |
| Votes | 217 |
| shanecoleman@hotmail.com | |
| Website | http://www.shanecoleman.ca/ |
| Home | |
| Business | 289-921-7388 |
| Fax | |
| Bio | My family tree like many Canadians is of a rich diverse past. My roots in Hamilton can be traced back to the 1700's when my family came up from the US as United Empire Loyalists.
One branch of the family tree settled in Stoney Creek at which is now the Battlefield Park-Gage House. Smith's KnollSmith's Knoll across the street was my grandfather's farm. My grandfather would tell me that every once in a while, when tilling the fields they would find bone remains from soldiers who fell at the War of 1812. To show respect my family would move the bones and bury them at the base of a cherry tree. A monument was later erected to commemorate the effort of these proud soldiers. I have spent 11 years traveling and working around the world and I have been to nearly 20 countries. Each country has taught me a lot about different cultures. I have learned deep down people are people with similar wants and needs. We all strive to create a desirable place to live, work and raise a family. After all my travels, that home is still Hamilton. |
Responses to Questions (top)
| Question | Brief Response | Full Response |
|---|---|---|
| Will your term change people's first impression of Hamilton, and make that first impression more attractive to visitors, students, commuters and newcomers? If so, how? | Yes | My term will bring about long needed change in Hamilton. I have prepared a downtown beautification project.
We will be supporting Urban Greening including rooftop gardening, urban gardening, promotion of wind and solar. Anti-graffiti programs, by giving these young budding artists other areas to express their talent. Hamilton has been labeled an anti-business city. I want to change that. As a business owner I understand many of the challenges and difficulties they face. If we work in tandem bringing people to live and work downtown again while supporting business we will see a downtown revitalization which will awe visitors, students, commuters and newcomers. |
| 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 am in full support of a continuous bicycle network and bike sharing program. I can't figure out why Hamilton is so far behind the times in developing bicycle lanes in the city.
Many modern developed cities around the world have them. In Amsterdam 40% of the population cycle to work. It makes for healthier and happier citizens. Cycling is also a fast and inexpensive form of transportation in the city. Hamilton needs a New Chapter. |
| The City of Hamilton has committed to doubling transit ridership by 2020. Do you support this goal? If so, how would you realize it? | Yes | I support the goal to double transit ridership. As a society we need to expand our use of alternative transportation. I know through my downtown revitalization programs we will see a great increase in the number of people living downtown.
The trends are that many baby boomers are retiring, and they would like to live downtown if we could create a good environment. We have many international immigrants and students coming and they too prefer to live downtown. It is time we clean up our image and we will see Hamilton thrive once again.I will support the LRT program. It has proven very successful in Calgary. I however do not support the current councils idea of driving parking prices up to $20 so people will take public transit. That will just keep people away from the downtown. |
| Do you support Hamilton's LRT proposal? If so, what will you do to ensure Hamilton's success in building LRT? If not, why do you oppose it? | Yes | I support the LRT. However, I want to see it built with environmental promotion in place. I am disappointed to see that so much money was spent on City Hall, the Hamilton Farmers Market, Central public library where all built with out a single 21st century green initiative.
I think the previous Councillors were sleeping. No geothermal or solar? Where are our bicycle lanes on all these newly developed roads? Hamilton needs a new Chapter. I lived in China for five years during the buildup for the Olympics and I saw first hand how areas started to boom everywhere newly developed subway stops where placed. We are moving into a new generation where people desire to live downtown again, close to amenities such as hospitals, restaurants and parks. |
| Do you believe that poverty is the most critical issue facing Hamilton today? If so, please outline your solutions. If not, please explain your reasons. | Yes | I do believe that poverty is one of the most critical issues facing Hamilton today. It is everywhere in Ward 2. The median income is less than $20000. That means more than half the population makes less than that!We have so many people on the system. I believe the system is broken.
We have seniors who worked there whole life, paid taxes and now there husbands have passed away and they receive just over $500per month. It is not enough for them to get by. We have 5000 people on a waiting list for housing. Canada signed in the United Nations that housing is a human right, no a privilege. Then why do we still have so many homeless? It is not a matter of do we have the means to provide housing but do we have the will.Furthermore when we provide housing we give our citizens homes which are infested with bedbugs. Our system of housing needs a complete overhaul. We can no longer scatter homeless shelters all over the city. It creates the perception the downtown is unsafe. We need to create centres, but these centers must try to get to the root of the problems. If a 15 year old girl is kicked out of her home from her mother, she should not be housed in the same location as sex offenders, drug addicts, mentally ill and the physically ill. I have been actively working with a research team at tackling the issue of poverty. |
| 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 | I believe in the transparency of public data and government and that citizens of this city and any city should be able to access any information, data, budgets and especially any financial information, because the citizens of the city should be able to know what their Tax dollars are being used for, and for what purpose and should be able to see the results of their tax dollars at work. |
