Thread by @ra1nydayzzz

Just got a surprise call from @terrywhitehead re: some research I'm doing (w/ a grant from my scholarship organization, part of the requirements of my award) on municipal elections in Hamilton.

It was as chaotic as you might expect: a thread 🧵

#hamont #yhmelxn

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I've been reaching out to current/former candidates as I'm researching the experiences of BIPOC candidates in HamOnt municipal elections. @HCCI1 is overseeing this, and my contract began as of Tuesday last week to begin research.

My list of candidates is around 45 long.

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In my email I say all of the above ^ and include my cell number in case ppl wanna get in touch.
Cllr. Whitehead calls me, and without responding to my hello launches into explaining that he thought that McMaster was pulling it's funding from HCCI. This isn't a Mac project.

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I explain that this is independent research, he goes on to say "actually, HCCI is losing all its funding." Which is just... not true. Then says that they're activists, that he won't work with ppl that undermine the police, not when the police are doing such good work 🙄

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Also said that the ED, Kojo (@EasyThePianoMan), was arrested breaking a police line, which is also just... blatantly untrue. When I said as much, he said "oh you know Kojo?" and laughed, then said "well he sent tweets to tell people to do that."

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He said that he was around when @HCCI1 was started, and the Police Board was involved (???) and that HCCI has strayed from their original goal. Also said HCCI is supposed to "serve people of all colours and all immigrants, but only serves one race."

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I was flustered the whole time, but kept repeating that this is independent research, not connected to Mac, that HCCI is just overseeing the project, that I'm not sure where he's getting his info from, that he DOES NOT have to participate, etc. and he kept cutting me off.

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Eventually, my point got across & he said "it's a poor choice to work w/ @HCCI1. Any research done w/ them is tainted. Thank you, bye." And hung up on me. LOL.

Anyway, if you are a current/former candidate, or you've thought of running plz get in touch (or check ur email)!

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