LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

Success at Hess Village?

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted May 22, 2009)

To my surprise, when we were elected to the amalgamated City Council for the 'new' political structure in 2000, Hess Village and its success proved to be a welcome change from the tales of gloom we had been hearing regarding the plight of the downtown core. Or so I thought!

It wasn't very far into the first term that the complaints began. The neighbours surrounding the Village regularly came to committee meetings to bemoan the noise, the drunkenness, the lack of quality of life, the litter and on and on the laments went. What made it tough for me is that I knew some of the complainers very well. One of them was my former Grade 13 High School English teacher for whom I held a great deal of respect. Another was a retired accountant with whom I had been on numerous volunteer committees over the years. These were both people of a 'certain age', but no less deserving of peace and tranquillity in their retirement.

On the other side of the equation was a success story very much needed downtown. In fact I recall humorously, while Mayor, being asked about Hess Village on a Saturday afternoon by an out-of-towner who had stopped me while I shopped with my wife at Limeridge Mall. This gentleman, who clearly didn't know who I was, asked if I knew the directions to Hess Village. He was towing a 9 year old daughter with him and wanted to show her "Hess Village" because he had heard so much about it. They lived in Kitchener and were in Hamilton for the day. I gave him directions but also told him what Hess Village was all about and left it up to him to decide if he wanted to take his daughter there, or the Discovery Center. Hess Village wasn't like Bracebridge's Santa's Village I told him. The point is, regardless of uncertainty about the nature of the entertainment at Hess, its name was getting known beyond our community and surely that is good. The trick for Council was to balance the needs of an entertainment district in the heart of our downtown area and the legitimate needs of residents who chose to live downtown as opposed to the suburbs.

The current controversy is about who foots the bill for the increased police patrols required by the clubs and drinking establishments at Hess. Should it be the business owners? Should it be the police? Should it be the city? Or all three in partnership?

This is not an easy problem to answer to everyone's satisfaction. It is also a problem that will require everyone to contribute to the solution. For sure, the neighbours need to understand that they are living next to an entertainment district and need to moderate their quest for the peace, quiet and tranquillity they may ideally want. After all, they have chosen to live downtown and not in an area far removed from the noisy hustle and bustle downtown living carries with it. However, they should not have to put up with sleepless nights, uncontrolled behaviour and crimes being committed right under their noses. This is where law enforcement comes in. The police need to beef up their presence. I note that they have done that and are increasing their numbers. I also am pleased that electronic surveillance is being installed. The question is should the police pick up the additional cost of policing or should the owners have to pay as the police have suggested?

The owners are paying. They are paying through their taxes and should be made to pay to a common 'security fund' as they have been doing to hire additional police. They should also be asked to supplement the ordinary policing with security firms on the very busy summer evenings. However, to ask businesses to fully pay for ALL the security is akin to, as one councillor said, "punishing success". This leaves the city to pick up the slack. The downtown councillor suggested that the extra cost of policing should be borne by the taxpayer. This makes some sense, since all of us derive benefit in increased dollars coming to our coffers because of the businesses and we, or our children being able to frequent an exciting entertainment area in the city. To me, this is the kind of compromise that might be necessary to make the situation better.

One final word: I would also charge the patrons more, not just in the price of the goods they consume, but in the fines levied if any of them break noise, decency or behavioural laws. Let the courts impose a stiff penalty paid to the Hess 'security fund' if patrons are found guilty of hooliganism. This will not only be a good source of funds, but it will deter the very behaviour that requires the beefed up security.

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