The Hamilton Spectator: City 'dropped the ball'

Pubdate: April 30, 2008
By Erika Engel



Mayor Fred Eisenberger admitted yesterday that the city "dropped the ball" when it came to supporting downtown business owners after the Balfour Building collapsed two weeks ago.

Eisenberger and Tim McCabe, the city director of economic planning, visited with business owners along King William street yesterday afternoon. This was just six hours after the same business owners met for a press conference at Reardon's Deli to tell their stories and express their frustration with the city's lack of communication.

Eisenberger sent staff members to the morning meeting, and when he heard the concerns raised by the downtown business owners, he decided to pay a personal visit to each business.

"We're apologizing," said Eisenberger. "We want to let them know we care."

During the morning meeting, delicatessen owner Paul Reardon said he remembers seeing the mayor walk by his business earlier that week, but was disappointed the mayor didn't walk in to talk to him.

Reardon, a third-generation butcher in a business that has been in the downtown for 90 years, asked for "a little compassion."

"We work hard," he said. "They let us down."

Kevin MacKay, 35, is executive director of Sky Dragon Centre on King William Street. He was at the morning meeting and later met with the mayor.

MacKay said the mayor's afternoon visit was "damage control."

When he spoke to Eisenberger and McCabe, MacKay told them that if they were serious about economic development in Hamilton, they should realize the importance of smaller businesses.

"In situations like this, small businesses need to be protected," he said. "If we can't look to the city for that protection, then who can we look to?"

Ward 2 Councillor Bob Bratina was at the morning meeting in Reardon's, and said he would push for the city to respond to the business owners and provide answers about what they can expect.

He said there would be a meeting on May 12 where city committees will discuss the issues related to the building collapse.

Anyone wishing to raise an opinion or concern at this public meeting must submit their thoughts in writing to Mary Gallagher from the city clerk's office.

Requests may be e-mailed to mgallagher@hamilton.ca.

The meeting is at 9:30 a.m. in the Convention centre's Albion room.