I'm not a psychologist, but, like all of us, I'm affected psychologically by things I experience. For me, and I believe for many other Hamiltonians, 2019 has been a very challenging year.

From scandals caused by hidden reports (RHVP, Cootes, LRT), to secret votes, to incompetence, to the IT staff scandal, to violence against the LGBTQ+ community and its treatment by the police and the mayor, to damage to our fragile environment despite warnings about a sewage leak years before it was addressed, to data breaches, to the loss of LRT after years of dithering and dodging by councillors. To borrow a line once used by top 40 radio stations, and the hits just keep on coming.

This year, I've been feeling a mix of emotions including anger, frustration, even outrage. Then, disappointment. Admitting you're disappointed means acknowledging things haven't turned out as you'd hoped they would. When there's a string of disappointments, big ones, one after another, after another, they really start to affect your outlook.

I fear we're experiencing a civic sadness — a collective sadness that challenges our current and future optimism for the city I know we want to love.

Some of the people I've been talking to lately about what's going on in Hamilton are moved to tears as they describe how they're feeling about their city right now. That's deeply troubling. I'm worried about the impact 2019's disappointments are having on us.

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I think most engaged residents look for civic meaning in what we do. Who are we? What do we stand for? Are we making progress? This year, the answers have been a little grim.

Our elected officials have let us down. Again. Last week. And the week and the month before that. What's worse, they knew what they were doing. They discussed it. Behind closed doors. In secret. Perhaps they thought we'd never find out. But, we did. In several of those cases, thanks to this very newspaper, The Hamilton Spectator.

Our elected officials have provided inexcusable excuses not worthy of people who call themselves civic leaders. I think there's a real risk of normalizing scandal and incompetence so voters end up tolerating it — now and all the way to the next election.

Not for me. Not this time. This time I'm done with the mayor and almost all of council. From veterans of 25 years-plus like Tom Jackson, Chad Collins, Maria Pearson and Sam Merulla. To those who have 10 to 15 years like Judi Partridge, Lloyd Ferguson, Brenda Johnson, Terry Whitehead. To others who have five-plus years like Jason Farr and Arlene Vanderbeek. Brad Clark is now back on council after sitting out the last term. Finally, there are a few others who've just joined council, like Maureen Wilson, Nrinder Nann, Esther Pauls, John-Paul Danko, three of whom are demonstrating bringing a new level of intelligence to council, in my opinion.

In my view, we need to make room for some new faces. A lot of them. Not only are the current faces tired, so too is their thinking. It's hurting Hamilton. I don't care how many potholes you got filled or blue boxes you delivered or funerals you attended. This city needs progressive thinking and action based on a knowledgeable, principle-based worldview, and not simply a view based on name recognition, baby-kissing or pandering to seniors. Enough of the bad decisions. Enough of the secrecy. Enough of the coverups. Of the dithering. Of the deflecting. Of the myopia.

I need to shake this sadness I'm feeling for my city. It's not good for me. And it's not good for my city. If you're feeling the same way, may I encourage you to join me in being even more involved in what happens at City Hall now and right through till the next election? To commit to being involved in selecting the best people to represent us on council. I'm OK with thanking the veteran councillors for their service. You've had your chance. But it's time for you to get out of the way and let some other people try to move our city forward. We've had enough of your coverups and excuses.

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I don't know how else to shake this sadness. I hope you'll join me.