Happy Lunar New Year!
Dear Neighbour,
Happy Lunar New Year, the year of Yin Metal Ox!
It is a year to build, nurture, grow - step by steady step. To our neighbours marking this special time of year, may all that you have intentionally seeded be also graced with good health. I know that this time is traditionally spent surrounded by family, honouring ancestors and preparing to welcome spring. Like so many other holidays and ceremonies over the past year, I hope you are able to be with your household safely and loved ones virtually.
During these coldest days of the year, please check in with neighbours and help each stay warm and safe. Please be diligent about shoveling your sidewalks and contact (phone and email) if you notice a hazardous stretch. And in cold weather alerts, please stay informed of the community supports that are available.
Below are short articles on Council updates, important information and engagement opportunities in our Ward 3 and our City.
A reminder that we are still under Provincial restrictions, click here for up-to-date guidelines.
Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable long weekend. Reminder that Monday, Feb 15th is Family Day Holiday and our office is closed.
Yours in Community,
Nrinder Nann
Ward 3 City Councillor
COUNCIL UPDATES
Integrating Health & Environmental Requirements to Demolition Permits
Council unanimously passed my motion to integrate health and environmental requirements into Hamilton’s demolition permits. This motion was the culmination of over a year of work by the Ward 3 team with our neighbours, city staff and Environment Hamilton in response to the industrial demolition at the former Specialty Bar that went awry on September 30th, 2019. All parties learned from the incident.
Ward 3 residents, especially those living in and around the City’s industrial sector who are already burdened with chronic exposure to airborne emissions, need every effort to be made to prevent further degradation of the air quality in the neighbourhoods we live, work and play in.
As a City, we can do better. This motion is a big step in that direction.
Reallocating Hamilton Police Service Surpluses and Investing in Community Resilience
Yesterday, during the General Issues Committee Budget meeting, I tabled a motion to reallocate surplus dollars from the police budget to fund a community-based crisis response and services.
The motion aimed to establish a policy to have annual unspent dollars returned to the city and placed into a new Community Resilience Fund expressly set aside to invest in vital work that remains under funded across our city.
It was defeated. In times of layered crises we can’t lead by doing more of the same. I remain committed to pursuing all options to develop, implement and sustainably fund intervention-based supports that are led and sought by those most impacted.
You can watch the discussion on this item by skipping ahead to 6:15:40.
2021 Budget
This week, over 50 residents delegated to Council on the 2021 Budget. They expressed the need to invest in safe roadways to help make our streets safer, to invest in aggressive climate targets, to stop sprawl, and to carefully address equity and health in our recovery efforts.
Council will meet twice more before finalizing the budget in March.
Placemaking Grant Pilot Program
The City of Hamilton has launched a new Placemaking Grant Pilot Program for temporary initiatives to animate our public spaces as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information about the grant program including funding guidelines, eligibility requirements, the application form, and a placemaking toolkit are available on the City’s website. For more information and to register for a virtual information session on Tuesday March 9th, click here.
EVENTS & ENGAGEMENT
Community Information Session on New Affordable Housing Development on Holton Ave.
Last night, my office hosted the first community information session about the New Affordable Housing Development at 86 Holton Avenue. Together with the landowner United Property Resource Corporation, we will continue to share updates on next steps. Residents can anticipate a follow-up meeting sometime in later Summer and as usual, recorded meetings will be made available in the events section of the website.
Neighbourhood Resilience - February 25th - 6:30pm
Our next Community Safety & Wellbeing Meeting will focus on Resilience. It is an opportunity to discuss how Ward 3 residents can work with my office to foster belonging and justice across the Ward. Register here.
Watch “Kramer” Grow
We know many residents have missed going into the Gage Park Tropical Greenhouse this lockdown. Here’s the scoop, “Kramer” the Corpse Flower corm (one of the world’s biggest flower plants) is growing by the minute and will bloom any day now. You can follow along on this dedicated page on the city’s website.
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY
The City’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee is seeking new members. If you are interested in serving on the committee please see the application here.
The Disability Justice Network of Ontario- Youth Action Council is accepting applications and are prioritizing Black, Indigenous and Racialized youth who wish to apply. Applications close on February 20th 2021.
For the link to application, click here.