Ooo, yeah, alt text tips would be much appreciated!

So there's my comment, @andrewselman.bsky.social. I won't be turned into some object for engagement farming.

I'm not a journalist and I'm not anyone's punching bag.

I'm Chris Erl, I'm a communications advisor for Maureen Wilson, I write The Incline, and I love this city. You can quote me on it.

It would seem, then, that I'm just more clickbait for them. Maybe I'll be used as a case study for the imaginary left wing control of council. Maybe what little I make will be used as an example of waste at city hall. Maybe I'll just be another local "pinko" to pick on.

But I'm nobody's clickbait.

But what's the end goal? Do they want me fired? I'm within my rights to speak my mind. Do they want to attack Maureen by association? Her record speaks for itself and we've both been clear that we agree on many things, but not all.

But, like with so many of the tired "conspiracies" on which they fixate, it's a whole pile of nothing. I have opinions and dare to use my right to communicate them, but the fact that I also use my knowledge of Adobe Illustrator to help a councillor communicate with residents automatically = scandal!

But it seems like some councillors are mad about what I write.

Information about my advisor role has been shared from internal city hall sources and spread widely across Hamilton's network of right-wing political activists, who are now salivating at the chance to uncover some ~pinko conspiracy~.

It's a stretch to claim my newsletter includes any "hit pieces" that target sitting councillors (though it sounds like some aspiring councillors might be keen to shut me up).

I watch council meetings, write about what happens, include new research, & provide commentary, on my own limited free time.

I told her that, if she ever did something at council I disagree with, I would write about it. But we agree on more than not. That's why I still do graphic design and comms content for her, and will for as long as the Ward 1 office will keep me on as an advisor.

The Incline is one way I stay engaged as a citizen in a democracy. When I was brought on as an advisor, Maureen said explicitly that she doesn't agree with me on everything and that I should never, ever stop sharing my opinions. It was that openness that gave me the confidence to accept her offer.

I do jobs where they come up to make ends meet. This job has been amazing and puts my skills to use serving my hometown that I love so much. Anything I can do to serve Hamilton, I do. That's why I ran for school board, do work on our shared history, and write my silly little newsletter.

I'll level with you: I live paycheque-to-paycheque. It ain't easy out there for an aspiring academic these days. So my advisor role with Maureen is just one of my many, many jobs I work to pay my rent, make my student loan payments, and keep my cats fed (even if they think they could be fed more!)

Is this some ~barnburner~ of a conspiracy? lol no.

My name's on her Facebook posts because I publish her newsletter. I'm not hiding. But it isn't published everywhere. I asked it be kept off Maureen's website because I don't interact with constituents & I'm still actively looking for academic work.