Tuesday 3 October 2006
Ward 29 news
Municipal elections are on 13 November. I suppose it goes without saying who I’m voting for mayor - he ain’t perfect, but I trust him to do right, a hell of a lot more than Jane Pitfield… But what about locally?
A couple more candidates added to the register in our ward (29: Toronto-Danforth, North), according to the big candidates list at Who Runs This Town?
Case Ootes, of course, is the incumbent - an able enough deputy during Mel’s tenure as mayor, but among other things, he’s Mister No Bike Lanes In My Ward (he’s continuing to press for the removal of the new lanes on Cosburn). “People won’t get out of their cars,” he told the Town Crier. “It doesn’t happen. This isn’t that kind of city.”
Tammy Thorne of Spacing Votes asks: “What kind of city is it then? Perhaps the better question is: What kind of city will it become if we continue to let people who think this way run it?”
At the other end of the spectrum, stalwart cycling advocate Hamish Wilson is now on the ballot as well. But the challenger with the best chance would seem to be Diane Alexopoulos - at least, she’s got the nod from Jack Layton and Peter Tabuns (MP and MPP respectively), and is positioning herself as a supporter of David Miller’s. This is one to watch, as they say.
Which leaves us with a dilemma. As new arrivals on our street, do we dare get a sign and risk alienating our possibly Ootes-lovin’ neighbours? Hmmm…
Comments
I mainly take transit, but I plan to do a lot more cycling once I replace my (stolen) bike. I want to see this council make a commitment to complete the cycling network, and to find some ways to address the bike theft problem. (Just about everyone I know in town has had a bike ripped off at some point, and it goes without saying that it’s hard to get more people on bikes if they’re paranoid about getting theirs stolen.)
And yes - we’ve gone and ordered a sign. Here’s hoping.
Good to hear from you!
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Do it! Put the sign up. Put multiple signs up. Alienate those Case-lovin’ motorheads… they are obviously heavily medicated anyway.
Seriously though - I’m trying to find out more about the contending candidates and write something about them and their views on cycling in the city.
Sooo I am also looking for (somewhat?) regular citizens in the ward to comment on the candidates for the post.
- What do you know/think about the candidates? (I can kind of see above)
- What is you #1 bike wish for your ward and for the city?
Those are my questions - drop me a line if you like. Or perhaps you know of other ‘regular’ ward residents who would like to comment?
Thanks for the link.
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