Thread by @Julie_Politics

Community is the way forward. A ridiculously long 🧵

Commercial properties on Hamilton Road in #LdnOnt pay $500 extra per year in property taxes to support the Hamilton Road BIA, this generates about 70K per year. We paid $4000 for this hamroad.com website /1

that seems to be entirely dedicated to the tree trunk tour. Member directory? No. Anything at all about the businesses they represent? No. Anything on there to support businesses? One working relevant link on the "Member's Corner" page. /2

The only link on the main page that isn't related to the tree tour? "Safety & Extreme Weather" no it's about the tree tour too. Completely unacceptable to have a taxpayer funded website making jokes under SAFETY headings. AODA compliant? No. /3

Up to date? Still advertising a job position that's been filled.
Let's move on to their activities. They've created the tree trunk tour and added BIA flags to street poles. When I reached out to the chairperson regarding expanding the boundary of the BIA we discussed funding /4

more than supports. I asked if anyone had visited the 3 businesses currently for sale on Hamilton to see what supports they needed or roadblocks they faced, I received no answer. Have they pressured the city over the derelict KFC property bringing down our community? /5

Don't know. Are they visiting businesses to see how they can help? Don't know. Have they promoted any businesses online? No. Do they have a social media presence? Barely, and it's mostly reposts from other BIAs that don't relate to our area. /6

Is someone paid a full time salary to run it daily? Yes.
Now to be fair, the way my brain works makes it focus on problems and solutions so I tend to sound negative even about things I sincerely appreciate. I think everyone involved with the BIA is genuinely interested in /7

helping and have the right intentions. I understand how funding can become a focus, and how small groups of successful business people might lack the diversity of ideas required to assist such a varied business tapestry. They have a new Executive Director and they may already /8

have fresh plans to turn things around.
Some of my solutions. Create a public member listing of consenting businesses. Create questionnaires, and request promotional images, for each business to create online bios. Highlight one business per week on social media. /9

ED spends 2 hours per work day visiting businesses on the strip determining needs and creating connections. Review odd holiday calendars for things like national pizza day to promote specific businesses (or ask on the questionnaire if they know of any holidays related to /10

their business). Minimum of 3 social media posts per week (not the same day), cross-posted to all platforms, to stay alive in the algorithms. Social media profiles should join all relevant community groups throughout the city to attract other people to our businesses. /11

Stay on top of our representatives, maintenance crews, and by-law enforcement regarding the condition of our main road AND connecting streets. Update the website and make it more relevant to the BIA's goals.
Initially I wanted to expand the BIA as businesses less than a /12

block away were not included. Now I'd rather work to build a business and community alliance that won't cost our struggling businesses more of their hard earned money, but can provide professional support, exposure, and real community support. Our businesses are a major part /13

of our neighbourhoods, for good or bad, and we need to support them accordingly.
In the ward one area, if you have, or run, a business and are in need of advice/support send me a message. If you have experience in management or business services and would like to /14

give support message me. Alternatively, if you're a community member in the area and are interested in improving our neighbourhoods with activities like yard sales, cleanups, and social gatherings I'd love to hear from you too! Let's build up our community End/15
#LdnOnt #Ward1