Opinion Column: “You Can’t Fight City Hall”
[Written by Chris Famous] In 2003, Sir John Swan partnered with the Bermuda Sun and hosted the “On the Waterfront” competition & invited members of the public to submit their ideas for the development of the Hamilton waterfront. The winner for this competition? Linberg & Simmons.
Then in 2004, Sir John Swan completed one of the first residential condos in the city of Hamilton – “The Atlantis.” A luxury 8-floor condominium apartment complex of 68 apartments. Prices then were $635,000 to $850,000 per unit. They currently are for sale to “Bermudians only.”
Most recently in 2010, Sir John Swan completed Bermuda’s first 10 storey complex located at 114 Front Street; a 107,000 sq ft state-of-the-art monument. The architectural firm? Linberg & Simmons.
Extending City Limits and Tax Base
August 2012, Sir John Swan and Larry Burchall suggested the revitalization of Hamilton & extending city limits:-
- Front Street along Pitts Bay Road.
- St John’s Road to and along Langton Hill to and along the waters of North Shore.
- Up Dock Hill to Frog Lane along Montpelier Road onto Middle Road.
- Cavendish Road down Corkscrew Hill to Hamilton Harbour.
- Along East Broadway back to Front Street.
Basically, expanding the City of Hamilton boundaries to incorporate most of Pembroke and parts of Devonshire.
Possible reasons for extending the city limits are:-
- 1.To increase the number of residences subject to both City & Government taxes?
- 2.Propose residential properties and condos within this new city zone to be made available high net worth individuals and PRC holders’ purchase?
- 3.Moving the docks that are currently located in front of Sir John Swan’s building at 114 Front Street, to North Shore?
- 4.Increased paid parking?
Double taxation
Some may look at Sir John’s track record and think, “Well, he has some good ideas, so hey let him do what he wants with Hamilton.” Hold on a minute, there is more to this story than redevelopment.
Firstly, who says the people of Pembroke wish to be paying extra taxes?
We already have:
- Lighting
- Sanitation
- Road repair
- Our own water supply
Most importantly, we are already the most densely populated region in this island. So why should we be subjected to more overcrowding with high-rises? Is the plan to push us out to make room for others?
Why is Fairylands and Spanish Point excluded from this expansion?
Visions of Victory?
Gentrification and Gerry mandering, are the possible end results of what this proposal by will do.
Gentrification will see PRC holders suddenly moving into selected areas. Initially, it will help to boost land values of surrounding properties.
However this will eventually cause prices for real estate in those areas to escalate beyond the reach of ordinary working and middle-class Bermudians, locking future generations out.
Gerry mandering will occur via granting PRC holders full status with the ability to vote in both City and General elections.
“Status should be available for people who have made a significant contribution.” Sir John Swan Bermuda Sun, June 5, 2012
As we all know, most of the constituencies in Pembroke are working class voters. Any guess as to why PRC holders will be granted the right to vote in specific areas?
- Chris Famous
You have a beef with Swan, take it up with him. Your opinion is your opinion, and it it wrong.
Well said!
I enjoy reading Mr Famous although I seldom agree with his views. He’s obviously highly intelligent. But what is the purpose of his “opinion” here? OK… so you raised some questions… but no answers to our current problem with the CoH: the lack of tax income, the lack of representation by ALL tax payers, the xenophobic and homophobic rhetoric coming from the CoH, the lack of leadership.. . I could go on. Chris, I think your view would be ENTIRELY different if the lease holder was a white guy. Just sayin’.
reading a chris famous letter has turned into reading an eva hodgson letter for me; a nonstarter! this bie’s letters dont often say much, he often just rambles and rambles about nothing. what he also does a lot, is presents arguments without any solutions offered. as you said hmmm, it is an op-ed article, but sometimes this guy goes off the deep end, this letter is case in point
It’s not his intelligence that’s ever in question. It’s his honesty and integrity.
Thanks for the reply
This column is not speaking of the current admin of the COH. It speaks toward a trajectory that most likely may be followed.
As for persons agreeing with me that is subjective to where one stands on various positions in life.
If writing columns was a popularity contest then no one would write them.
There are a number of columns I wrote pre election which fairly predicted what the OBA would do in many instances.
Example in oct/ nov 2012 I wrote that the OBA would simply abolish term limits.
Many said I was untruthful then.
Most of my columns do not exceed 550 words so as to not breach certain thresholds. Hence the need for a series that focuses on different angles of a situation.
In any case I enjoy the debate driven dialouge.
Always remember politics is a chess game.
Thanks for the feedback
This is untruthful, too. History has shown, time and again, that you’re FAR more likely to avoid debate driven dialogue. At any cost.
So you are playing chess and want us all to listen….So this is YOUR platform to promote YOURSELF and has nothing to do with the god of Bermuda and Bermudians. SELFISH MOTIVES indeed.
Me myself and I , Me myself and I
good (not god)
Yup, you said it!
Perhaps you would have preferred that he use a firm for his projects, with no work history and no experience like the PLP used like…. hmmm lets see…Proactive? What was the end result there?
Looking forward to your opinion piece on the Dr. Brown years and what the short and long term effects were.
“As for persons agreeing with me that is subjective to where one stands on various positions in life.”
That statement is patently untrue, and illustrates the weakness in your “journalistic” position. It is not the ideology that is being questioned, it is the speculation and dearth of facts, and your unwillingness to take on valid points of argument. You are, as you usually do, practicing hit and run. I could accept a viewpoint different from mine if it was supported by facts and not entirely speculative.
Yet another message of “it’s ok when we do it” from Mr. Famouss
I must’ve missed the part where the Government has stated they planned to grant PRC voting status.
Please, Mr. Famous, provide your source.
Thanks.
Also, please provide the link/source which states the current Government is planning to expand the CoH boundaries.
Last time I checked Sir John Swan nor Mr. Larry Burchall were part of Government and/or the CoH administration.
Thanks once more for taking your time out to provide actual evidence of your accustations/allegations.
Shhh. Don’t cloud the propaganda with truth!
Good one, Mike!
Thanks for the feedback.
There is a tie in later in the series.
@ MH
Kindly let us know which part is untrue.
Most of your suppositions. But you know that.
So no sources whatsoever?
Surprise, surprise, surprise.
Why make us wait until ‘later in the series’?
Why not write the rest of the article right now, so that we can see why it isn’t nonsense? Because based on what is in this article so far, that’s what it is.
1-0!
A ‘series’? Great!
The opinion piece was called , “you can’t beat city hall’..wasn’t it? However, it focused on what seems to be a personal beef with Linberg and Simmons and John Swan?
Chris I’m disappointed in you and this article. While I seldom agree with you I have always respected your opinion and on occasion I do se your point. However, this is a new low and I am scratching my head trying to find any relevant point to this story today. Strange that you choose to focus on John Swan and what he built in Hamilton and his ideas 5, 10, 20 years ago? However, no mention of the current COH members comments, clamping of cars, raising of taxes, higher parking costs, more “no parking zones”, payment for board member meetings, the Whites Island 25 year “gift”lease, COH pay raises or the 200 year “gift lease” to McLean?! Have you taken a minute to compare the McLean proposal that was “awarded” and the one suggested by Sir John?! I doubt it!
Really, you overlooked all of these things and many others to talk about JS and L&S? What is your real agenda?!
20 years and 364 day lease but yea I get you and agree. With everything going on the personal agenda shines through.
So, some of you want sources to be cited hey? Why didn’t you ask Minister Bob Richards to cite his sources when trying to justify the Premier’s 7000 figure? Good article Famous! From the inception of the OBA, they have never followed the rules. Look how they use their party constitution to suit their desires. Can we expect them to follow the rule of law? Nope! Retroactivity on contracts!!? Yet silence from some folk? Smh!
Or, we could stay on topic and not be distracted by other issues…
Regarding the issue of retroactivity on contracts signed by the COH, it is a real tragedy but the horse has already bolted. The COH has always had strict limits on how much it can borrow (just check the law) without Parliamentary approval, and on passing any ordnance involving finances. But no-one in their wildest dreams, neither the PLP Government nor the OBA Government, ever imagined that the present administration would sell off our birthright for over 250 years by giving sole development rights to one company IN SECRET and without fill consultation with either the City voters or the public at large.
The OBA Government is seeking to reign in the present COH administration so they don’t give away the rest of the City, but it’s probably all in vain because whether the law is changed or not, the developer will make a fortune at the expense of City tax payers who had their voting rights deliberately stolen. This whole mess is a nightmare.
Let us know which of you doubt the OBA will attempt to offer status to PRC holders. Thanks
Let us know when you have proof of your claims and are willing to back them up…
You willing to deny the OBA will do so?
What did most say last year when we said they will cut jobs and abolish term limits.
So… No, then? You WON’T be backing up your claims?
Got it. I figured as much.
Like I said. Honesty and integrity.
I am occasionally right myself, Chris. That doesn’t mean I am always right. That doesn’t mean I will be right next time. You can’t expect to argue based on unsupported speculation and not expect a backlash. You seem to think you are the victim of a pro-OBA bias because of what you have written. I have no problem with your position, I have a problem with the fact that it is bad journalism.
This was written over a year ago. I predicted that the OBA would indeed cut government workers jobs. I was called a liar then as well.
http://bermudasun.bm/Content/OPINION/Opinion/Article/To-balance-the-budget–OBA-would-have-to-cut-jobs/4/135/61525
So I want to ask you, who on this list does the OBA think is a big additional burden?
Shall we eliminate library staff? Hey, no one reads books anymore, we all download onto Kindle.
Haven’t the OBA said government should get out of the real estate business? The BHC has been in place since 1980. So homeless Bermudians will become victims of the market under a OBA government.
Ah, Lefroy House. Granny can change herself, innit? What about PTB? Who needs buses? We can all just walk down the street and get a lift from our neighbours by car pooling.
Sixty per cent of the national budget goes towards paying the civil service. The OBA cry about an unbalanced budget. And the PLP is taking the heat for keeping Bermudians employed. They are not just random OBA numbers, they are people. These are our family; cousins, brothers, mothers, sisters.
On the flip side, we are in a contracting economy and there have been layoffs or reduced work weeks in the private sector. There are many calling for the same to happen in the public sector. I am no HR specialist so I cannot speak to how best to allocate man/woman power.
However, I will say that all workers need to value the ability to further their job skills and show their supervisors some initiative. Make time and do not abuse sick leave. Become valuable assets.
Currently, the PLP refuse to engage in massive job layoffs and they are taking the heat — but they should still stand strong.
The OBA claim they won’t let go of the workers. So how can they possibly balance the budget without cutting down the civil service? As US Vice President Joe Biden would say “Malarky!”
To our family in the civil service, we stand with you.
Chris, so what if they offer PRC certificates to those that deserve it, and even some that might be willing to pay for it. It might help pay for some of the debt your precious PLP racked up!
You remind me of a certain former co-worker of mine that complained about all the foreigners living and working here in Bermuda. Meanwhile, his own wife was from Dominican Republic and working here!
What does this response have to do with the opinion piece? You were asked to back up some of your speculation, and you replied by pursuing a different argument. These are the kinds of things that lead to people questioning your credibility.
But I will reply to your last post. It is more largely unsupported speculation. It might be time for you, and your party, to stop digging.
The last Government saddled the people with unsustainable debt. The people who will be responsible to repay that debt are “not just random OBA numbers, they are people. These are our family; cousins, brothers, mothers, sisters.”
Chris I understand the pledge of standing with the CS but how do we avoid the collapse of our entire economy ? How about some solutions my friend …..please.
Rick it was your party that took out 2 full page adverts promising not to cut the CS.
Now it is your same party and their supporters such as yourself who are saying the hell with the CS lets just give rich guys tax breaks.
How do you think this is playing out in the minds of the civil servants and their families?
Did I miss something? When did the government cut the CS?
Since you can’t come up with a single solution, Chris, let me suggest a few.
Civil servants have to enter the real world that the rest of us are in.
Where you get 10 days sick leave a year maximum, not 14 weeks with up to 100 days carried over. Or unlimited.
Where you get 15 days vacation a year, maybe up to 25 if you’re lucky, not 35 days.
Where change is a part of everyday life. Not something you get to resist and roll your eyes at. Maybe bus drivers could note that, as we wait for implementation of new timetables that were supposed to be introduced about 8 years ago.
So no sources and no solutions as well?
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Sir John Swan is in the first category. Chris Famous the third category.
QED
Image how it felt to work in the non-monopolistic private sector under 14 years of PLP terror. Almost ALL the job losses and pain and suffering in Bermuda since the recession started have been in this sector.
Red Hind
I discussed John Swans Idea to incorporate most of Pembroke as COH.I also laid out the trajectory that will follow if this is allowed to happen.
Additionally I spoke on the financial implications this will have on the residents of the affected areas. I am not sure where you come from but I can assure you the people of Pembroke and West Devonshire are not looking for Hi rises to be built in their back yard. Nor are they looking forward to paying city taxes.
I did not discuss John Swan
The first sentence of your opinion includes the words “Sir John Swan.” You are answering questions people haven’t asked and avoided questions that they have asked. It might be time to stop digging.
So, even if there is any truth in the idea that John Swan wants Pembroke to be part of Hamilton (and I’m not sure that there is), what makes you think that will happen? Has anyone in a position of leadership indicated this is their policy, or intent? Because at the moment, Chris, you appear to be making a big fuss about something that will likely never happen.
So you’re dreaming up absurd ideas that you don’t like, and then saying why you don’t like them. Lame.
Chris you come across as a pessimist living in the past trying to appear to be a great predictor of the future. Try empathizing with many non-monopolistic private sector employees and business owners who suffered massively under 14 years of PLP poor governance which created much of the mess we find ourselves in today. Suggest you try coming up with some solutions rather than putting others down. For me, for the most part the OBA is doing a good job, especially when compared to the PLP who just seemed to be lost in space when the recession hit and still don’t appear to have a clue how a 21st century economy works. The solution to all Bermuda’s problems lies with the people. They simply have to decide if they want a closed, regressive, oppressive, shrinking society or an open, progressive, growing, tolerant, creative, society.
Well let me leave it at this.
Today is October 19,2013. Lets see if it moves in this direction
A if it does not then all is well
b if it does then you can refer back to this column as your guideline for what is next.
As for dreaming up ideas . Ask Larry Burchall about. it is his idea is it not?
You may be right about this, but that is not vindication of your approach. You still have not supported your supposition. That is the part that is not getting through to you. A blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.
Let me illustrate what I think is the problem another way. The PLP faithful yelled and screamed that the OBA would boot out Craig Cannonier this fall. That did not happen. Instead of admitting that a mistake in analysis had been made, the PLP spokespeople spun the whole affair. The result – damage to credibility, which the electorate of this island don’t need. What they need is a strong, credible opposition. Act with more responsibility, and you will be more likely to be accepted. What you are engaged in now is little better than rumor-mongering. It does no one a service, not even your own constituents.
Ideas are born every day. Few become reality. Even fewer go down in history as good ideas.
Talk about facts! Talk about the present! Talk about Reality! and people might respect your opinions. However, just because you collect articles, do a bit of research, dig up some fact here and there that gives you a AH HA moment does not make what you do great, truthful, or relevant . Your BIAS comes shining thru in your articles.
Thank god the PLP are not the govt.
I’m not a supporter of either party, but I can agree with that.
Ditto
I have the distinct impression a lot of PLP cronies are feeling somewhat poorer now that various big projects are being reassessed. What speaks volumes is the inability of these cronies to bring these projects to fruition after during their fourteen years in charge – so their crying foul at this late date while they are out of power in large part because of such failures is at best disingenuous. With regard to their Hamilton scheme, we might just as well substitute Bazarian for MacLean.
Chris you sound like you are sole arbitrator of what is good for Bermuda. A journalist would not write a piece like this. A political hack probably would. May be you’d do better writing a piece about Man U’s recent form and their chances of winning the EPL and CL?
“Within the new limits, allow international companies, “key employees”, PRC Holders and employees of high net worth individuals to purchase high rise condos. Most foreigners are used to living in a city environment and this would keep the outlaying country areas available to Bermudians and their families.”
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120827/COLUMN23/708279985
This is called gentrification and or displacement
Who is being displaced?