Today on The Incline → The first part of a series on what to expect during the 2026 #HamOnt municipal election: the left-wing spectre and how some political actors are trying to label their opponents in ways that don't align with reality. #YHMvotes2026 theincline.email/p/on-the-rad...

It's 2029. Potholes on Barton swallow three more cars today as kids & racoons fight in the crumbled ruins of rec centres. From the ghost town of #HamOnt City Hall, Councillor Whitehead's mic is cut when he calls Mayor Cooper's 2.5% tax increase "basically communism". www.thespec.com/news/council...

Keanin Loomis is running for mayor of Hamilton #HamOnt #YHMvotes2026

Today on The Incline → How to challenge the narrative that #HamOnt is "in decline", especially as some candidates prepare to make that their central argument in this fall's municipal election. #YHMvotes2026 theincline.email/p/in-decline

Today on The Incline → Council rebels against Andrea Horwath's 2026 #HamOnt budget. Will that make her re-election bid this October *far* more complicated? #YHMvotes2026 theincline.email/p/the-great-...

Today on The Incline → It may be freezing in #HamOnt, but the 2026 municipal election campaign is starting to heat up. #YHMvotes2026 theincline.email/p/heating-up...

Today on The Incline → David Lewis's early political campaigns in #HamOnt, Avi Lewis's run for the leadership of the #NDP, and politics in this messy moment. theincline.email/p/a-sea-of-c...

Today on The Incline → When it comes to crime in #HamOnt, it's a case of feelings vs. facts. And with #YHMvotes2026 on the horizon, some on the city's political right are going all-in on feelings. theincline.email/p/crime-story

Today on The Incline → An end-of-year check-in and a reflection on the loss of a dedicated community champion in #HamOnt. theincline.email/p/the-public...

Doug Ford's government uses a lot of "D" words to justify their actions. But they're undermining the most important “D” word of them all - democracy. #onpoli #ontpoli (Totally forgot to post this yesterday when it was published, but here's a gift link to my latest in The Spec: tinyurl.com/533jm9rm)

Of the 620 comments on the #HamOnt Jamesville MZO that were deemed acceptable to publish, the breakdown is: Pro MZO → 88.9% Anti-MZO → 5.5% Mixed* → 5.6% * mixed, meaning generally supportive, but with requests to adjust what is approved or focus more on affordable/supportive housing

Today on The Incline → After a wall goes up in front of the #HamOnt Salvation Army, many in the community wonder if its days are numbered. A long look at the past, present, and future of the York Boulevard shelter. theincline.email/p/the-perks-...

Today on The Incline → A mayoral poll drops one year out from the #HamOnt municipal election that signals the mood of the city's electorate. PLUS poll-by-poll results from the federal election and what they might mean. theincline.email/p/poll-by-poll

Today on The Incline → The Incline returneth. theincline.email/p/scandal-at...

Today on The Incline → A long look at the #HamOnt Ward 8 council by-election. theincline.email/p/but-first-...

Today on The Incline → Over the past few days, a #HamOnt political controversy in Ward 4 has had people buzzing. A look at how this non-scandal is similar to ones in the past and who is behind this campaign-like attack on a sitting councillor. theincline.email/p/home-on-th...

Today on The Incline → An Incline 107th Edition Spectacular! A few thoughts on a couple of provincial things people should be paying attention to and a few links to some of my favourite Incline articles from the past year. theincline.email/p/the-inclin...

Today on The Incline → It's hot in #HamOnt! A look at heat warnings and some of Hamilton's hottest days over the years. theincline.email/p/the-heat

Today on The Incline → oops! The newsletter *is* the story. On the #HamOnt non-scandal that is me. theincline.email/p/scandal-at...

Today on The Incline → A long weekend addition that looks at hate in #HamOnt, the Ford government's drive to privatize provincial parks, and how the opposition can take the fight to the stubbornly popular premier. theincline.email/p/fourteen-f...

Today on The Incline → We're 459 days out from the 2026 #HamOnt municipal election, but the mayoral rumours are already flying. I take a look at one possible candidate, the forum on which he's been sharing his views, and what his platform might be next year. theincline.email/p/observing-...

Today on The Incline → As #HamOnt council meets today, a look at last week's committee meeting where the debate over online voting took centre stage. theincline.email/p/together-i...

he's running #SD4Ward8 theincline.email/p/round-hami...

Today on The Incline → Is the Ford Government's takeover of 5 school boards a sign of things to come? Is this the beginning of the end for elected school trustees in Ontario? theincline.email/p/the-magica...

The plume returneth! theincline.email/p/children-o...

Today on The Incline → The Strathcona Quinquennium. Moving after five years in #HamOnt's Strathcona neighbourhood, I reflect on the history that was around me. theincline.email/p/the-strath...

Today on The Incline → 'Round Hamilton. It's a mishmash of #HamOnt political stories, from my article on local bullies and an internet fight over softball to the Ward 8 by-election and the proposed council hiring freeze. theincline.email/p/round-hami...

My latest in The Hamilton Spectator: we need to have a conversation about bullies, strongmen, and the politics of division in #HamOnt. Link to a gift article ↓ for all you cool Bluesky folks. www.thespec.com/opinion/cont...

Today on The Incline → The Relocation. How an entire neighbourhood was willingly wiped off Hamilton's map. And a quick recap from The Incline: LIVE this past Thursday! theincline.email/p/the-reloca...

Today on The Incline → The right-wing populists of #HamOnt are mad as hell and aren't going to offer any solutions! On the rage campaign and the coming Ward 8 by-election. theincline.email/p/hamilton-i...

Today on The Incline → This Victoria Day weekend, we look at the iconic statue in #HamOnt's Gore Park. PLUS, get ready for The Incline: Live! theincline.email/p/victoria-q...

Today on The Incline → The #HamOnt 2026 Municipal Election is fast approaching. With under a year until nominations officially open, let's look at the issues, contenders, and recent history of municipal elections in our city. theincline.email/p/sage-council

Today on The Incline → A personal political history and questions on how the political left moves forward from here. theincline.email/p/a-differen...

Today on The Incline → There are some spooky people running for office, even here in #HamOnt. A look at ghost candidates, by way of a story about Dundurn Castle. 👻👻👻 theincline.email/p/boo-at-the...

Today on The Incline → A blip at a council meeting shows the limits (and goals) of the right-wing populists in #HamOnt. theincline.email/p/the-implic...

Today on The Incline → A history of #HamOnt's federal ridings. All 25 of them, from 1867 to today. Featuring campaigns to legalize fornication, unnecessary by-elections, and the slow expansion of voting rights. A little history before we vote on April 28! theincline.email/p/riding-off...

Today on The Incline → Incivility, outrage, and the federal election in #HamOnt. Well, one candidate in one riding, but the point still stands. And, since it's the topic of this edition, here's a hug in an effort to increase online civility 🤗 theincline.email/p/trolling-f...

Today on The Incline → There's been some business news in #HamOnt. With local faves closing and moving, it seemed like a good time to examine the history of BIAs, our city's business changes over time, and the local retail scene. theincline.email/p/takin-care...

Today on The Incline → Carney cleans up in #HamOnt. The question is: what does that mean for the coming election? theincline.email/p/false-spri...

Today on The Incline → Mapping (and reflecting on) the poll-by-poll results in #HamOnt from the 2025 Ontario election. theincline.email/p/doug-day-a...

Today on The Incline → Lessons from a labour schism in 1934 for whatever happens after tomorrow's #onelxn in #HamOnt Centre (hint: it didn't go well). theincline.email/p/what-force...

Today on The Incline → How the rebrand from The Sewer Socialists to The Incline is going (by way of a deep dive into #HamOnt retail history). theincline.email/p/brand-loya...

Today on The Incline → Whither Canada? Thoughts on Canadian sovereignty and how lessons from the past can help make us more resilient in the future. theincline.email/p/whither-ca...