Andrew Selman

We're under a year out from our municipal election. I’m running for Hamilton City Council because our city can, and should, work better. Hamilton’s full of good people doing their part every day. It’s City Hall that isn’t. Basic things aren’t getting done. Neighbourhoods feel less safe. Costs keep climbing while accountability keeps slipping. We deserve leadership that listens, spends wisely, and gets results. This campaign isn’t about left or right, it’s about fixing what’s broken and bringing some common sense back to City Hall. Hamilton’s got the talent, the grit, and the heart to turn things around. Let’s get to work, #HamOnt

Let's talk about solutions as we Spotlight Blight in Ward 3 Getting this building addressed has been an uphill battle. I’ve been pushing for action here for the last two years, while neighbours have fought this blight for twenty years here We’re going to keep after it #HamOnt

@HammerStrClean @knightnurse1 It is, but I like big problems. They make the wins even more meaningful.

@AndrewCSelman @knightnurse1 This is a big challenge.

After sustained effort on this file, we’re finally starting to see government movement. Watch closely over the coming days, I expect a proposal will come forward to begin addressing the current state of the escarpment and the Bruce Trail. #HamOnt

I have no idea if this type of content and information is of interest to anyone outside data-dweebs like myself. Let me know if this would be useful for you!

#HamOnt ranks among the least transparent municipalities in Canada, which undermines public trust. One fix is proactive transparency ; publishing real-time, decision-useful data through interactive dashboards on finances, bylaw, planning. Here's one approach to that problem👇

I really like the idea of community engagement and gameification. Here's a few challenges I'm working through : 1) Land ownership - much of this debris is directly beside the rail line. I'm working to establish ownership so we can organize a clean up effort. I don't want to see well-meaning people get charged with trespassing or anything of that nature. 2) Determining how to deal with the dangerous materials. We have hundreds of rusty propane tanks, needles, chemicals, rusted jagged metal, large goods, etc. The only way to remove these items is a rail garbage car, or dragging it up the hillside to the gravel trail for pickup with a truck. 3) Sponsorship is something I'm persueing. We had a local Roma sponsor a previous neighbourhood cleanup we did. Once we're past the hurdles, I'm hoping to bring another on-board . Appreciate the thoughts, and any solutions you might have!

@AndrewCSelman Find other big-name and environmentally focused sponsors to provide winning prizes for the top 3. Run supporter for the Brow racers, along the main path and an area near the tracks.

If you haven’t seen it, take a moment to watch yesterday’s delegation from @NorthEndStrong on the warming centre. Kelly, a nurse, shared a firsthand account; picking up strangers on a freezing night to get them to safety, navigating interactions with shelter staff, and witnessing the broader impact of using a community centre in this way. One thing stood out clearly: the City’s ongoing reluctance to take ownership. Too often, responsibility is deflected to other orders of government or past councils, rather than confronting the consequences of its own decisions. #HamOnt thespec.com/news/hamilton-…

You work hard for your money, and every dollar in Hamilton's budget should work just as hard. We can't keep asking taxpayers for more until we've directed every single city agency to cut waste and run efficiently. Here is where I'd start to find those savings #HamOnt

@jordan26steele The other candidates mentioned on the call, who haven't declared their intentions publicly, were Vito Sgro and Chad Collins.

@AndrewCSelman Any left-leaning names that stand out that’ve come forward (or plan to) to challenge Horwath? I’ve been in Ottawa so have been out of the loop. She may be on an island on her own up against Cooper-Loomis. Not complaining, but curious as I’d expect there’d be at least one. #HamOnt

I received a robo-polling call from ERG Research surveying my views across federal, provincial, and municipal politics, including candidates already declared for #HamOnt mayor, and a couple expected to enter the race. I didn’t participate, but it’s clear election season is already underway

@__Average_Joe__ Thanks Rheo, I appreciate that, and thanks again for showing up previously!

@AndrewCSelman I'm available to assist when the time comes

Thousands of pounds of dangerous garbage, including hundreds of propane tanks, are sitting along the Bruce Trail near the CPKC shunting yard on Lawrence. ​Before we can safely launch a massive community cleanup, we need to some details. I’ve contacted the City, CPKC, BTC, and Hamilton Fire to establish exactly who owns and maintains this strip of land between Ottawa and Wentworth. ​We are going to get this area cleaned up. #HamOnt

@MikeAlex81 There are significant encampments, with built up shanty structures, all along this route - including behind the park. Hopefully CPKC will get back to me next week, and we can address the fence as well. I know the exact location you're referring to.

@AndrewCSelman Anyone in the area by Lifesavers Park? I think there’s an encampment behind the factory. I’ve contacted the city and CPKC about repairing the broken fence in the dead end on Sanford S but nothing is being done. Any help Andrew?

@UrbanNative_Guy Yes, there are still encampments up in this area. Large shanty town type buildings are built in the woods. Here's the steps leading to a shanty village just adjacent to Gage Park

@AndrewCSelman Question: Have you seen any homeless encampments in your area? If elected you'll have your hands full dealing with the source of the trash and debris problem.

My Dad would have been 75 today. No one told a better story, and more importantly, no one told the same story more often, with greater conviction. Since it's his birthday here's one of the classics. Early ’90s, Toronto, at the SkyDome. The Toronto Blue Jays were on a heater, the crowd was pouring in, and suddenly a rogue hot dog cart breaks free and starts barreling down a ramp like it had somewhere better to be. Most people froze. Not my Dad. Seeing the danger, he took off after it. And like the offensive lineman he once was, it became the perfect collision... an immovable object meets unstoppable force. He stopped it cold. No casualties. Possibly saved dozens from an untimely mustard-related fate. The day was saved. And naturally, he saved the story too, retelling it at every dinner party for the next decade, with just enough embellishment to keep it fresh. Cheers Dad

As I mentioned in the video, this is a significant challenge. Cleanup requires either hauling thousands of pounds of material up a hillside to reach a pickup point, or coordinating collection along the rail line. You can't just pick up the quantity of material we're talking about without dozens of trucks to haul the trash. I’m working to organize an approach that can handle large volumes of waste, spread over thousands of meters, in a difficult environment. I’m not looking for a ribbon cutting. I’m looking to build a real plan.

@AndrewCSelman Just start picking it up and avoid bureaucracy. That is exactly why the city of Hamilton is the way it is. Don’t wait for a committee and a report. Just do it. That’s what I do every spring. I pick it up. If you are waiting for a ribbon then you are nothing different.

Fantastic news for downtown Hamilton. TD Coliseum is already proving its worth, bringing people back into the core and giving local businesses the foot traffic they need. Welcome to Hamilton, Islanders. #HamOnt

@UrbanNative_Guy LOL Combination of coffee and trying to get a somewhat dry message about finances across to an audience who can swipe just as fast as I can talk. 🤣

@AndrewCSelman Andrew has a talent he's a fast talker that would be excellent as an auctioneer. *that's a compliment my friend.*😉 #HamOnt

Accountability matters. The City of Hamilton has not produced basic financial documents since 2022, resulting in a downgraded credit score that will ultimately cost taxpayers. We must demand fully audited financial statements prior to the October election. #HamOnt

Thanks for all those details, Larry. That really helps. If you don't mind and if you can recall, I'm wondering if you could answer a couple of questions? Did you work directly along the rail line, i. e. the lower trail that cuts through the woods? How did you get the garbage out? Did you put it into a rail car, or haul it up to the gravel trail for pickup? Thanks again

The last time I remember cleaning that area up I think it was a city garbage cleanup day during the 2014 Municipal Election (separate from Beautiful Alley's). Maybe organized by the Waterfall guy (Chris? Name escapes me at the moment). That specific location was sponsored by Team (Matthew) Green at the time.

To establish the ownership and chain of responsibility for this land parcel, I have engaged with the Ward 3 Councillor's Office, CPKC authorities, municipal by-law and fire officials, as well as provincial and federal rail safety regulators. Once we establish clear ownership we can work towards a clean up effort. #HamOnt