Town blogger Sarah Gibb is calling for more blood on the floor.

“It’s a toxic environment,” said Miceli. “This town is divided. It really is.”

This issue has cost Amherstburg not only two investigations and more than $16,400. It has torn the town apart for 10 months. The election was ugly. The meetings on the issue were hostile. And social media has been vicious.

The above three paragraphs were just some of what Anne Jarvis, Windsor Star, wrote in a June 2019 article, Amherstburg’s charm, history and vicious politics, amid a scandal involving allegations of leaked confidential information.

Have things changed?

Sarah Gibb is spouse to current Deputy Mayor/mayoral candidate Chris Gibb. Will she still want more blood on the floor?

Is it still a toxic environment? Is there still a high turnover of staff? Absent staff? Are staff involved in council debates/discussions? Are staff introducing new business items during meetings? Are administration civil to residents? Responsive to inquiries?

Is the town still divided?

Judging by social media comments, it is.

When I pointed out Linden Crain’s lack of responsiveness to me, his supporters countered with how responsive he is.

That’s my point. There’s a noticeable divisiveness. Otherwise the consensus would be that he’s responsive.

Similarly, if the concessions felt more focus was on the downtown core, the core couldn’t relate and wouldn’t have any complaints.

For as long as favouritism, preferential treatment and indifference or combativeness to opposing views prevail anywhere, there will be division.

That’s a reality that people don’t always want to acknowledge but it’s a reality nevertheless.

Jarvis also wrote, people in Amherstburg are engaged, to say the least. Council meetings are often packed. People comment aloud and applaud. There are several local bloggers. But the vicious politics — “it does seem to be endless,” admitted DiCarlo.

That was seven years ago. Has social media made things worse? Probably. Online algorithms love conflict.

And it’s too easy to emotionally respond to and personally attack commenters who express opposing views.

It gets visceral and vicious. I know. I’ve experienced it by some candidates because of my blog, by strangers for my strong disability advocacy, and by some for what appears to be my unwillingness to accept the status quo or engage in toxic positivity.

Could things get any worse? Maybe.

Another election could get ugly.

If there’s a continued division on the new council that fuel the divide but claim it doesn’t exist, things will get worse.