Dear Paul Fromm,
Thank you for participating in the self-calibration process for Vote Compass in advance of the 2022 Hamilton municipal election.
Your submission has been reviewed by our team of moderators. Your submission is approved to be included in the Vote Compass application. Approved submissions are presented as written, and we have only made minor edits for spelling and grammar. All information provided will be made publicly available via the Vote Compass application.
Your approved submission summary:
Profile
Profile pic:
Bio:
Paul Fromm is a writer, radio broadcaster, former educator and director of the Canadian Association for Free Expression. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Toronto in English language, literature and linguistics, a B.Ed., and advanced studies at the University of Waterloo and several U.S. universities. He is a former school trustee.
Construction of the Hamilton light-rail transit (LRT) line should go ahead as planned.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
This is a vanity project for certain downtown politicians. The route is irrational. It will virtually take out of commission one of the City’s main arteries. It will cost a fortune. It will drive many downtown small businesses out of business.
Property values in any given neighbourhood should never be allowed to rise so much that current residents can no longer afford to live there.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
How would the city stop a rise in property values? How could the rise in values prevent a current owner from continuing to own?
Hamilton has a responsibility to combat climate change, even if it leads to higher costs for residents.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Climate change is bogus. The earth’s temperature rises or falls depending in the number of sun sports (explosions). There’s nothing we can do about it, except adapt if the change seems to be a pattern over a number of years.
Hamilton should allow a casino as part of the downtown entertainment district.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
We could use the revenue
Hamilton should install more automated speed enforcement cameras in residential neighbourhoods.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
I’m the Motorists’ Friend. Hamilton’s streets already often have unrealistically low speed limits. They are further obstructed by unnecessary concrete barriers (Main & Locke) or cones where no work is being done and there is no hole in the road.
There should be a limit on how tall buildings can be in Hamilton’s downtown core.
Your response:
Somewhat agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should keep historic street names and statues, even if they commemorate people who would be considered racist by today’s standards.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
We have a proud history and should not trash it. As time goes on, new heroes and heroines arise and can be duly honoured with statues or street names or by having their names on schools or other buildings.
Private contractors are more efficient than city workers at delivering municipal services.
Your response:
Neutral
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
There should be a dedicated bus lane along Main Street while the LRT is being built, even if it means there is only one lane for cars.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should cover the cost of programs for low-income residents, even if doing so comes at the expense of the city’s other residents.
Your response:
Neutral
Statement:
The question is too vague and unspecific to answer.
Hamilton should seek approval from local Indigenous groups before proceeding with its plan to clean up the sewage spill in Chedoke Creek.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should try to keep property taxes low, even if it means fewer services for residents.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
New housing developments in Hamilton should stay within current urban boundaries, even if it means more people live in condos and townhouses rather than single-family homes.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
There should be a limit as to how much landlords can increase the rent they charge tenants.
Your response:
Neutral
Statement:
I don’t think this is within the City’s jurisdiction
Traffic congestion is best addressed by improving public transit rather than accommodating more cars on city roads.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Police should remove homeless encampments from Hamilton’s public parks.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should build more bike lanes, even if it results in fewer lanes for cars.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should have more traffic enforcement officers, even if this means an increase to the city’s policing budget.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
City councillors should be fined for missing council meetings.
Your response:
Somewhat agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
The City of Hamilton should clear snow from all city sidewalks, even if it costs residents more in property taxes.
Your response:
Strongly agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
There should be employment opportunities within the City of Hamilton that prioritize people from minority groups.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
This is anti-White discrimination, racism, pure and simple. NO WAY!
New condo developments in Hamilton should have to reserve a certain number of units for low-income tenants, even if doing so increases condo fees for the other tenants.
Your response:
Somewhat agree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should allow high-density residences (e.g., condominiums, town houses) in neighbourhoods that are currently made up of single-family homes.
Your response:
Neutral
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
How much should Hamilton spend on its police services?
Your response:
About the same as now
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
There should be more homeless shelters all across Hamilton, even if local residents don’t want them in their neighbourhood.
Your response:
Somewhat disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton should increase funding for its DARTS accessible transit service.
Your response:
Neutral
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton’s speed limit should be lowered to 30 km/h on residential streets.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
It’s already too low. The City’s goal should be to enable traffic to move speedily and efficiently. Speed bumps should be abolished and demolished.
In general, Hamilton’s city workers are paid too much.
Your response:
Somewhat disagree
Statement:
Candidate declined to provide a statement.
Hamilton’s crime prevention strategy should focus on improving social services rather than increased policing.
Your response:
Strongly disagree
Statement:
Politicians should loudly denounce our lax courts, the inordinate delays of trials, and bail granted to repeat violent offenders.
How much should City Council do to address systemic racism in Hamilton?
Your response:
Much less
Statement:
What systemic racism? This is an unfounded charge against the European founding/settler people of this country. I support treating everybody fairly. No special privileges.