Community News

WARD 8 CANDIDATE SAYS HOMELESSNESS CRISIS SPURRED HER TO RUN

KEVIN WERNER kwerner@hamiltonnews.com

Sonia Brown sees the unhoused people in downtown Hamilton every day and weeps.

It is a crisis that must be solved by the city, she said, with new ideas and the ability to work collaboratively with other stakeholders.

"I have a passion for this city," said Brown, 57, during a recent interview. "I just felt I would throw my hat into the ring because we need to see change."

What prompted Brown, who owns a residential care facility in Ward 8, and has been involved in the industry for decades, to register to run for Ward 8 council is the city's ongoing homelessness crisis. Even though homelessness isn't as prevalent in Ward 8, Brown says when the scourge impacts one part of the city, it affects the rest of the community.

When the city and police started to remove the encampments from parks last year, "it really bothered me a lot."

There are people who need mental health care who are not receiving it. Some people refuse to use a shelter, she said.

"Let's get to the root of why are they homeless? What is the issue? The city needs to think outside the box," said Brown, in her first attempt at running for elected office. "Let's get on top of this."

Brown says one such bold idea is introducing tiny cabins, proposed by the local group Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters.

"I'm a team player," said Brown. "I look at the big picture."

Other issues that are impacting Ward 8 residents include high taxes and how they will affect older residents who may own their own homes but live on a fixed income.

Brown says her 86-year-old aunt lives in her own home, but she fears higher residential taxes, which could force her to move out of her house.

But if you reduce taxes, the city will have to cut spending, especially on services that residents depend upon.

"I'm mindful of spending on my own business," said Brown. "I can't spend willy nilly. I have to be prudent. It's the same way with the city. We have to be prudent."

Brown, who is hoping to unseat incumbent Coun. John-Paul Danko applauds his attempt at creating safer streets. The complete streets report, which he initiated by staff, is expected to be finalized this fall, and Danko is proposing to spend up to $1.5 million to implement the recommendations to reduce vehicle speed and establish traffic-calming measures.

Brown said even her street near Mohawk College had speed humps installed.

But she questioned the impact of spending $1 million to upgrade Upper James, north of Fennell Avenue in 2020, where traffic lights were relocated and planter boxes installed. "I have not seen that much improvement," she said.

Brown said the Red Hill Parkway is an "issue" for her as the costs for the inquiry increase to about $26 million. She did support the construction of the roadway in 2007.

"We needed the Red Hill for our growth," she said.

She has also been following the cleanup of Chedoke Creek after about 24 billion litres of sewage and stormwater poured into the waterway over a four-year period without anybody noticing.

"I'm really concerned about the future of my kids and grandkids when this happens," she said.

Brown, who settled in Hamilton when she was 13 after her family moved from England, said her best characteristic is she is a good listener.

"I talk less and want to hear from people," said Brown, who wants to hold town hall meetings and listen to what residents have to say.

Brown admired Ward 14 Coun. Terry Whitehead for holding public meetings, which she attended.

"I respected him for holding them. That is your job to meet the people."

And as a councillor, she promises to return a phone call when someone contacts her.

"You will get a call back," she said. "It is rude not to."

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

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2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281668258853897

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