Sam Hersh
@samhersh01.bsky.social
is known to occasionally post something interesting. community/political organizer based in #ottcity
Pinned
Sam Hersh
@samhersh01.bsky.social
· Sep 9
Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse
OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.
ottawacitizen.com
It's fair to say Mark Sutcliffe inherited a mess of a public transit system when he was elected, but throughout his term as Mayor, despite running on a pledge to "fix transit" he's done everything he can to make that mess ten times worse.
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
Just what we need for Ottawa's mayor: another developer-backed, cut-and-slash conservative hell-bent on austerity because it's working so well right now!
Homebuilder plans to run for Ottawa mayor | CBC News
A candidate with the backing of some big political operators plans to enter this year's race to be Ottawa’s mayor.
www.cbc.ca
January 23, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Just what we need for Ottawa's mayor: another developer-backed, cut-and-slash conservative hell-bent on austerity because it's working so well right now!
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Let the historical record note that the business elites at Davos repeatedly laughed during a fascist speech that declared intent to annex another country’s land, promoted election conspiracies and railed against the free press
January 21, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Let the historical record note that the business elites at Davos repeatedly laughed during a fascist speech that declared intent to annex another country’s land, promoted election conspiracies and railed against the free press
Before the massive cuts to OC Transpo in 2011, Ottawa had around 1000 buses in its fleet - in 2025 that number's dwindled to around 760.
The problem of bad transit service didn't just happen. It is the result of over a decade of bad council decision.
Remember that in the coming election this year.
The problem of bad transit service didn't just happen. It is the result of over a decade of bad council decision.
Remember that in the coming election this year.
OC Transpo temporarily cuts 255 trips from schedule amid bus shortage | CBC News
OC Transpo needs about 520 buses to meet its weekday service requirements, but was only able to get an average of 467 on the road last week.
www.cbc.ca
January 16, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Before the massive cuts to OC Transpo in 2011, Ottawa had around 1000 buses in its fleet - in 2025 that number's dwindled to around 760.
The problem of bad transit service didn't just happen. It is the result of over a decade of bad council decision.
Remember that in the coming election this year.
The problem of bad transit service didn't just happen. It is the result of over a decade of bad council decision.
Remember that in the coming election this year.
Very disappointed in some councillors who voted for the
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget.
If there was ever a year to oppose it, it's now when police are asking for their biggest increase in 10+ years.
Glad we have ANCHOR, but this is some major backsliding on where we were in 2020/2021.
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget.
If there was ever a year to oppose it, it's now when police are asking for their biggest increase in 10+ years.
Glad we have ANCHOR, but this is some major backsliding on where we were in 2020/2021.
December 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Very disappointed in some councillors who voted for the
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget.
If there was ever a year to oppose it, it's now when police are asking for their biggest increase in 10+ years.
Glad we have ANCHOR, but this is some major backsliding on where we were in 2020/2021.
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget.
If there was ever a year to oppose it, it's now when police are asking for their biggest increase in 10+ years.
Glad we have ANCHOR, but this is some major backsliding on where we were in 2020/2021.
Smh councillors calling the biggest increase in the
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget in the last 15 years "reasonable."
There is *nothing* reasonable about giving the OPS a $30 million budget increase while we can't even provide enough emergency services for people.
It's absurd.
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget in the last 15 years "reasonable."
There is *nothing* reasonable about giving the OPS a $30 million budget increase while we can't even provide enough emergency services for people.
It's absurd.
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Smh councillors calling the biggest increase in the
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget in the last 15 years "reasonable."
There is *nothing* reasonable about giving the OPS a $30 million budget increase while we can't even provide enough emergency services for people.
It's absurd.
@ottawapolice.bsky.social budget in the last 15 years "reasonable."
There is *nothing* reasonable about giving the OPS a $30 million budget increase while we can't even provide enough emergency services for people.
It's absurd.
Guy who says he loves keeping costs low will force people to work in offices costing taxpayers more to keep office spaces open so govt workers can take Zoom meetings in downtown Ottawa instead of at home.
It makes a lot of sense.
It makes a lot of sense.
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon nationalnewswatch.com/2025/12/08/c...
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Guy who says he loves keeping costs low will force people to work in offices costing taxpayers more to keep office spaces open so govt workers can take Zoom meetings in downtown Ottawa instead of at home.
It makes a lot of sense.
It makes a lot of sense.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Terribly stupid idea that will satisfy faux-populist urges to dunk on public servants while simultaneously making the lives of public servants and the service itself so much worse.
Goofy stuff.
Goofy stuff.
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon nationalnewswatch.com/2025/12/08/c...
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Terribly stupid idea that will satisfy faux-populist urges to dunk on public servants while simultaneously making the lives of public servants and the service itself so much worse.
Goofy stuff.
Goofy stuff.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Tim Tierney "there is no time for political theatre"
Also Tim
Also Tim
December 6, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Tim Tierney "there is no time for political theatre"
Also Tim
Also Tim
In the @ottawacitizen.com today Cllr Tim Tierney scolds progressives for opposing four years of shitty budgets under Mark Sutcliffe.
Tierney's history of corruption scandals, gaffes and accepting developer money should tell you exactly whose side hes on.
Tierney's history of corruption scandals, gaffes and accepting developer money should tell you exactly whose side hes on.
Is your councillor a chronic no-voter on city budgets? | Opinion
Tim Tierney: Ottawa has traded safety and security for policing alternatives – experiments that have repeatedly failed. | Opinion
ottawacitizen.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
In the @ottawacitizen.com today Cllr Tim Tierney scolds progressives for opposing four years of shitty budgets under Mark Sutcliffe.
Tierney's history of corruption scandals, gaffes and accepting developer money should tell you exactly whose side hes on.
Tierney's history of corruption scandals, gaffes and accepting developer money should tell you exactly whose side hes on.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
A councillor who was at the centre of a corruption trial in 2019 has an op/ed in the Citizen today, suggesting that downtown councillors that are critical of ballooning police budgets are responsible for crime rates attributed to the housing and addiction crises.
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Coun. Tim Tierney apologizes, brings corrupt practice case to an end
Tim Tierney, the Ottawa city councillor representing Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward, apologized in court Wednesday and agreed to give up two months of salary to resolve …
ottawacitizen.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
A councillor who was at the centre of a corruption trial in 2019 has an op/ed in the Citizen today, suggesting that downtown councillors that are critical of ballooning police budgets are responsible for crime rates attributed to the housing and addiction crises.
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Join us on Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 at 464 Metcalfe St. for our City Budget 101 event!
We'll be diving into the details of the budget, and discussing how we can organize to demand better, together.
Learn more and RSVP today: www.horizonottawa.ca/budget_101
We'll be diving into the details of the budget, and discussing how we can organize to demand better, together.
Learn more and RSVP today: www.horizonottawa.ca/budget_101
City Budget 101
www.horizonottawa.ca
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Join us on Tuesday evening from 6:30 - 8:30 at 464 Metcalfe St. for our City Budget 101 event!
We'll be diving into the details of the budget, and discussing how we can organize to demand better, together.
Learn more and RSVP today: www.horizonottawa.ca/budget_101
We'll be diving into the details of the budget, and discussing how we can organize to demand better, together.
Learn more and RSVP today: www.horizonottawa.ca/budget_101
Reposted by Sam Hersh
it’s funny seeing canadian media present zohran as a “democratic socialist” like it’s some shocking thing and not just the left flank of the ndp
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
it’s funny seeing canadian media present zohran as a “democratic socialist” like it’s some shocking thing and not just the left flank of the ndp
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Imagine the response in any other workplace if you called your colleague names in the middle of a meeting. A public apology for such childish behaviour is warranted @timtierney.ca.
Just now - Councillor @shawnmenard.bsky.social
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
November 4, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Imagine the response in any other workplace if you called your colleague names in the middle of a meeting. A public apology for such childish behaviour is warranted @timtierney.ca.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
Just now - Councillor @shawnmenard.bsky.social
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
November 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Just now - Councillor @shawnmenard.bsky.social
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
is interrupted by Councillor @timtierney.ca while asking questions on Lansdowne.
Menard pushes back, then Tierney calls him an "asshole". This behaviour is unbefitting of a councillor, and demands an integrity complaint.
➡️ integrity@ottawa.ca
Reposted by Sam Hersh
12 days until the Transportation Summit #Guelph on October 18! Presentations from @chanface.bsky.social, @ttcriders.bsky.social, @transportaction.ca, @cyclewr.ca, @cgreysongaito.bsky.social, @bicyclemayorguelph.bsky.social, @samhersh01.bsky.social & more!
Free Event! Register @ taaguelph.com/summit
Free Event! Register @ taaguelph.com/summit
October 6, 2025 at 2:25 AM
12 days until the Transportation Summit #Guelph on October 18! Presentations from @chanface.bsky.social, @ttcriders.bsky.social, @transportaction.ca, @cyclewr.ca, @cgreysongaito.bsky.social, @bicyclemayorguelph.bsky.social, @samhersh01.bsky.social & more!
Free Event! Register @ taaguelph.com/summit
Free Event! Register @ taaguelph.com/summit
This is so shameful.
For those not watching council today, as you'll see below Mark Sutcliffe is pulling the same EXACT tactics as Jim Watson would in the last council, pulling the rug out from under councillors and trying to derail debate at the last possible moment.
For those not watching council today, as you'll see below Mark Sutcliffe is pulling the same EXACT tactics as Jim Watson would in the last council, pulling the rug out from under councillors and trying to derail debate at the last possible moment.
September 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
This is so shameful.
For those not watching council today, as you'll see below Mark Sutcliffe is pulling the same EXACT tactics as Jim Watson would in the last council, pulling the rug out from under councillors and trying to derail debate at the last possible moment.
For those not watching council today, as you'll see below Mark Sutcliffe is pulling the same EXACT tactics as Jim Watson would in the last council, pulling the rug out from under councillors and trying to derail debate at the last possible moment.
The Ottawa Business Journal founded by and formerly owned by Mark Sutcliffe has come out in defence of his city-wide RTO mandate.
The article is also written by a commercial real estate boss.
He argues that forcing workers back to the office is "city-building."
The article is also written by a commercial real estate boss.
He argues that forcing workers back to the office is "city-building."
Op-ed: Return-to-office is a city-wide imperative — Ottawa can’t afford to be left behind
Will we embrace the return-to-office as a catalyst for growth, or will we cling to a remote-first mindset that isolates us from the global conversation?
obj.ca
September 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The Ottawa Business Journal founded by and formerly owned by Mark Sutcliffe has come out in defence of his city-wide RTO mandate.
The article is also written by a commercial real estate boss.
He argues that forcing workers back to the office is "city-building."
The article is also written by a commercial real estate boss.
He argues that forcing workers back to the office is "city-building."
Reposted by Sam Hersh
At today's Council meeting, I brought a motion forward to reverse the City Manager's five-day-a-week return-to-office order. We'll debate that in two weeks. I've heard from many City staff about the diminishment in the quality of both life and work the order will create, with too little benefit.
September 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
At today's Council meeting, I brought a motion forward to reverse the City Manager's five-day-a-week return-to-office order. We'll debate that in two weeks. I've heard from many City staff about the diminishment in the quality of both life and work the order will create, with too little benefit.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
As always, @samhersh01.bsky.social is blunt. This city could be so much better, especially on issues like transit. @otttransitriders.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/opinion/hers...
Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse
OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.
ottawacitizen.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
As always, @samhersh01.bsky.social is blunt. This city could be so much better, especially on issues like transit. @otttransitriders.bsky.social ottawacitizen.com/opinion/hers...
It's fair to say Mark Sutcliffe inherited a mess of a public transit system when he was elected, but throughout his term as Mayor, despite running on a pledge to "fix transit" he's done everything he can to make that mess ten times worse.
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
Hersh: The mayor has made our public transit mess even worse
OC Transpo riders are suffering the consequences of a growing budget hole, writes Sam Hersh.
ottawacitizen.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
It's fair to say Mark Sutcliffe inherited a mess of a public transit system when he was elected, but throughout his term as Mayor, despite running on a pledge to "fix transit" he's done everything he can to make that mess ten times worse.
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
From me today in the @ottawacitizen.com:
Forcing municipal workers back to the office 5 days a week to take Zoom meetings serves absolutely no purpose.
If Sutcliffe really wanted to "revitalize" our downtown he'd stop cutting public transit and other services.
Workers dont just exist to service downtown businesses.
If Sutcliffe really wanted to "revitalize" our downtown he'd stop cutting public transit and other services.
Workers dont just exist to service downtown businesses.
Mayor Sutcliffe's decision to force all city staff back to the office will worsen congestion, burden workers, and waste taxpayer money.
Ottawa should be embracing remote work, not fighting it.
Read our full statement: www.horizonottawa.ca/returntooffi...
Ottawa should be embracing remote work, not fighting it.
Read our full statement: www.horizonottawa.ca/returntooffi...
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Condemns Mayor’s Mandatory Return-to-Office Policy
www.horizonottawa.ca
August 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Forcing municipal workers back to the office 5 days a week to take Zoom meetings serves absolutely no purpose.
If Sutcliffe really wanted to "revitalize" our downtown he'd stop cutting public transit and other services.
Workers dont just exist to service downtown businesses.
If Sutcliffe really wanted to "revitalize" our downtown he'd stop cutting public transit and other services.
Workers dont just exist to service downtown businesses.
Reposted by Sam Hersh
I want to express my profound disappointment today that the City has ordered its workers back into the office five days a week. It is a short-sighted decision that serves no one well in either the short or long term. (1/6)
August 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I want to express my profound disappointment today that the City has ordered its workers back into the office five days a week. It is a short-sighted decision that serves no one well in either the short or long term. (1/6)
Sutcliffe just announced a potential 6.5% increase for Ottawa Police in next years budget (the largest increase in 15 years) and ANOTHER potential transit fare increase.
Sutcliffe has made his priorities clear - and it's not Ottawa residents.
We have a transit budget crisis, not a policing crisis.
Sutcliffe has made his priorities clear - and it's not Ottawa residents.
We have a transit budget crisis, not a policing crisis.
Mayor asks council to limit next year's tax increase to 3.75% | CBC News
Policing and transit remain critical factors that will determine the final balance as the months-long municipal budget process gets underway.
www.cbc.ca
August 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Sutcliffe just announced a potential 6.5% increase for Ottawa Police in next years budget (the largest increase in 15 years) and ANOTHER potential transit fare increase.
Sutcliffe has made his priorities clear - and it's not Ottawa residents.
We have a transit budget crisis, not a policing crisis.
Sutcliffe has made his priorities clear - and it's not Ottawa residents.
We have a transit budget crisis, not a policing crisis.
Opposing new sidewalks? Really?
I've been to Manor Park and if you're on foot it's a pain to get around because of the lack of sidewalks.
Sidewalks don't "destroy greenspace" they encourage sustainable modes of transport and make neighbourhoods more accessible.
I've been to Manor Park and if you're on foot it's a pain to get around because of the lack of sidewalks.
Sidewalks don't "destroy greenspace" they encourage sustainable modes of transport and make neighbourhoods more accessible.
Why some Manor Park residents don’t want sidewalks
The city has undertaken a road, sewer and watermain rehabilitation project on several neighbourhood streets, including installing sidewalks.
ottawacitizen.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Opposing new sidewalks? Really?
I've been to Manor Park and if you're on foot it's a pain to get around because of the lack of sidewalks.
Sidewalks don't "destroy greenspace" they encourage sustainable modes of transport and make neighbourhoods more accessible.
I've been to Manor Park and if you're on foot it's a pain to get around because of the lack of sidewalks.
Sidewalks don't "destroy greenspace" they encourage sustainable modes of transport and make neighbourhoods more accessible.
Our feminist Prime Minister
July 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Our feminist Prime Minister