The Hannon Spectator

Vincent J. Curtis

3 Jan 21

RE: Letter to Readers. Hamilton Spectator of 2 Jan 21.  It was written by the three new proprietors of Torstar Corp, Liberals all, one of whom is former Ontario Premier David Peterson.  You would not believe the sickeningly sweet letter penned by the trio, speaking of trust, their being humbled, etc.  But they still made a bad business decision by moving the Spectator offices from the downtown to a remote industrial/commercial area on the south east mountain, just south of the juncture of the Linc and the RHVP.

Actions speak louder than words.  The words of the new Spectator proprietors struck me as slobbering twaddle.  The action shows that they know nothing about running a newspaper.

After giving up 44 Frid Street, the logical place for new Spectator offices was Jackson Square.  Never mind that’s geographically where it all began, it’s still where it’s at in Hamilton.  Downtown is where the action is.  Downtown is still the city’s central business district, with the hockey arena, city hall, the courts, the farmer’s market, and much else all within walking distance.  It’s where you feel the city.

The new premises, 211 Pritchard, is a soulless industrial-type mall in the midst of other soulless industrial malls.  No foot traffic.  No sidewalks.  No people, only cars.  Instead of proximity to the farmer’s market, the new offices are closer to Farmer Al’s Market.  Instead of being on top of AHL hockey, the new offices are closer to the Elfrida tractor-pull grounds.  But if Spec employees want to moonlight as contractors or landscapers, the office puts them next to their suppliers.  It’s not the Hamilton Spectator anymore, it’s the Hannon Spectator.

The beating heart of the city is downtown, not in the collection of industrial malls on the south east Mountain that go dark and empty at night.  The city’s daily newspaper needs to be downtown.  Hopefully, it will open a bureau in Jackson Square.

The cheap rent on Prichard is going to cost the paper its soul.

-30-.