"Being hanged in effigy is an experience you don't soon forget. My trip to the gallows as a rookie city councillor was courtesy of a west Hamilton neighbourhood unhappy with an infill apartment proposal that I supported on the site of an abandoned factory at 101 Broadway Avenue back in 1986.

When opponents of the project protested at a public meeting that the development would attract students (gasp), nurses (horrors) and other undesirables to the neighbourhood, I countered sarcastically that maybe we should just bring back the historic Westdale covenant that precluded blacks, Jews and Eastern European immigrants from owning property there. Subtlety was never my strong suit; my constituents weren't amused.

When council considered the matter, a packed gallery of angry residents became so disruptive that the mayor had to adjourn the meeting and summon security..."

By TERRY COOKE. Read more

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