Media Statement, June 26, 2006

Today I have registered to stand as a candidate for city council in Ward 21.

Like many other people who care about Toronto, I’ve been involved in recent years in numerous initiatives, but I’ve found that City Hall doesn’t listen to community groups. I’ve experienced the feeling of being excluded by the decision-makers at City Hall and I’ve shared the sense of frustration felt by so many others. People I talk to say things aren’t working at City Hall. Current council members seem unable or unwilling to create the kind of city I think we all deserve.

Not only have I watched city hall closely and done research for the many columns and articles I’ve written in the past decade; I’ve also been directly engaged in city issues.

I was a leader of Citizens for Local Democracy against the megacity, when 76 per cent of voters said they opposed the megacity. I’ve been a leader of the Save Union Station group, and Friends of Maple Leaf Gardens. I’ve organized public housing tenants for redevelopment, supported the fight against the St. Clair right-of way, been involved in many attempts to make development more responsive to communities, and worked on the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition pushing for a fair public complaints process, among other things.

These kinds of community initiatives have not been welcomed at City Hall. That’s been a very big disappointment. But rather than stand outside and continue to be frustrated, I’ve decided to fight back. I’m seeking to represent Ward 21, where I live, at City Hall. We must restore the voice of neighbourhoods at city Hall. We must re-establish community planning so the city can take advantage of the wealth of local knowledge and experience rather than jumping to every demand by developers. These are things we used to expect from City Hall, but no longer receive.

We must restructure the megacity to restore local democracy. Most people who have looked at the issue oppose the plan to centralize power in the mayor’s office – yet City Council appears likely to agree to it in the next few days.

Some people have asked why I’m running in Ward 21. Apart from the important fact that this is the ward I live in, I’m running here because people in this ward deserve better representation than they now have. They need someone who will standup for local communities, find consensus on important issues, and speak out for a restructured city council that gives local communities a voice;. They need someone who will restore neighbourhood planning, help create affordable housing, and make the city a leader in energy conservation and environmental protection. Ward 21 needs a representative who will put an end to the sense of frustration that so many feel with city hall.

I’m now in the race. I want a different and a better City Hall, one that encourages local voices, one that listens to them, one that is reshaped to restore local democracy. I’m willing to put myself forward as a candidate to help make these changes a reality.
I think I have the skills and the vision to make the city, and specifically Ward 21, a remarkable place to live and work.