YOU THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR OUR CAMPAIGNS

CRAZY COSTS OF CAMPAIGNING

Did You Know:

The maximum expense limit (*) for EACH of the TWELVE candidates for City Councillor in Ward 18 Davenport is $28,747.30 or $344,968 total, of which about 75% is rebated to campaign donors out of the city coffers = about $259,000.

(*) The expense limit is determined by so many cents per elgible voter in any ward.

That's a quarter of a million dollars - just for this ward.
Multiply that by 44 wards that exist across the city and that amounts to about $11 MILLION dollars. (yes I know not all wards have 12 candidates, but they could - and we are amongst the smaller of the wards)

Add in the $1.3 million that Mayoral candidates can each spend on their campaigns (there are FIVE so called frontrunners that are/were probably doing so: Ford, Smitherman, Pantalone, Rossi and Thomson who has dropped out, forgetting Mammoliti) and we can add $6.5 million to that, modifying to reflect that 75% gets rebated to donors: or roughly $4.9 million... be fair and round that down to $4 million taxpayer support for mayors... and forget the relatively small amounts that are donated to school trustees and still:

We could see in an election that the taxpayer essentially pays about $15 MILLION for people who run for election in the city.

I really wonder how many people realize that?

Is this perhaps the reason we see so many names registered for city elections? Why people who don't even live in our ward, and perhaps have no realistic prospect of winning essentially buy name recognition on the taxpayers' dime, so to speak?

Is this right and fair?

Perhaps it is simply the true cost of paying for the democratic process at the city level (this is my view).

The election process was changed for this election to prohibit obvious donations from corporations or trade unions. However, as I have noted before, it still allows the loophole of 'free' support by paid political party machine volunteers (who don't figure into the equal playing field of elections which is a great advantage), who are sent to help out their respective party favourite... in this ward? Ana Bailao - the Liberal Kevin Beaulieu - the NDP

(is it any wonder that the media jump to the conclusion that they are the only two front-runners worth reporting on, and why some people desperately want to label others as 'the fringe' to be ignored ?)

Just thought people should know.... because ...

DAVENPORT DESERVES BETTER

THE ROGERS LIVE WARD 18 TV DEBATE

SOME REVELATIONS, PROMISES AND FIREWORKS

Of the 12 registered candidates, the following 9 showed up for the 8PM Wed Sept 29 debate:

Bailao, Ana
Beaulieu, Kevin
Carroll, Doug
de Jong, Frank
Le, Nha
MacDonald, Joe
Russell, Kirk
Vyas, Hema
Wood, Ken

Elmi, Abdirazak and Muhit, Mohammed and Teliatnik, Joanna did not attend.

Being given only 90 seconds for an introduction and 30 seconds for a close makes it pretty hard for a candidate to get all their platform in - but most did an admirable job.

Dale Goldhawk, the moderator, was his usual affable self - yet kept everyone on point.

Call in questions were about:

• Lack of consultation in the ward by 'soon-to-be-former' incumbent Adam Giambrone, who was criticized for poor judgement and his related effect on his former campaign manager, executive assistant and current candidate Kevin Beaulieu. Some real fireworks here - and a coincidence? *


• Ana Bailao's ties to the developers and support from outside the ward plus a demand for her to reveal donor list one week before the election was extended by Mr Goldhawk to everyone who promised a big unanimous YES.


• What will candidates do about development in the ward, Dundas West parking mentioned


• Who do each of the candidates support for Mayor. 4 answered Joe Pantalone, many avoided answering and I (Ken Wood) promised to post it on my ward18.ca website one week before the election. As Dale noted, it was a fair question for voters to ask.

In responding to questions, Joe MacDonald managed to do a bit of a pitbull attack on at least three competitors: Ana Bailao, Kevin Beaulieu and Hema Vyas for their ties to parties and the mistakes of the past, and for shopping around for a ward to run in (Hema lives in ward14 he pointed out).

I hope a lot of ward 18 voters tuned in because it was a great (if too short) one stop shopping for city councillor. Weblink for the show: http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=12&rid=16&sid=3614&dat=9/29/2010 If you are a Rogers subscriber you can see it online.

I may post more as I remember it and hope someone has live-streamed it or taped it)

* Coincidentally (Adam) Giambrone criticized for $15,000 TTC Promo Video as waste of taxpayers' money for self-aggrandizing: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc/article/868219--giambrone-criticized-for-15-000-ttc-promo-video Video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1emO_zZTHAk This is the Toronto Sun article:

This raise two important questions:

1. "The $15,000 for the report and video - which was written with TTC staff input but generated by the chairman's office (Giambrone) - will come out of "various councillors' budgets" ? ... Which councillors? - the left wing Millerites? Why should it be out of councillors' local ward budgets? And why DOES this out of the ordinary report prominently figure Mr. Giambrone? - building name recognition for what?

2. "The councillor ... brushed off suggestions he was fact-checking the current mayoral candidates"... What give Mr Giambrone the right to in my view so blatantly campaign for Mr Pantalone's view of the TTC using city taxpayers' money?

WARD 18 DEBATES SCHEDULE

WHERE VOTERS CAN QUIZ THE 12 CANDIDATES for City Councillor

Already there have been SIX opportunites for voters to meet the candidates running for election locally: May 18 (Casa Da Madeira, 1621 Dupont); June 23 (St. Anne's Parish Hall, 615 Dufferin); August 9 ("Meet and Greet" 55 Rankin Crescent); August 26 (drinks with the candidates at Boo Radley's, 1482 Dupont); September 13 (Active18 Theatre Centre, Queen/Dovercourt - only select candidates welcomed); September 27 (Concerned Parents of Ward 18, St. Anthony's School, ) - no audience showed up, event folded, see story: http://tinyurl.com/243b7t9

Mayoral candidates also made a pit stop for a debate on September 13 at 90 Croatia.

Future debates:

• Wednesday, September 29: Rogers Cable 10 live television debate 8:00pm-9:00pm moderated by Dale Goldhawk. Call in number (I think) is: 416 446 7090
• Wednesday, October 6: Salvation Army basement hall, 789 Dovercourt Road 7:30pm-9:30pm Contact is gilleen@gmail.com
• Thursday, October 14 6:30pm at 72 Perth Avenue just south of Bloor, Church of the Firstborn. Coordinator contact: TOWARD18@yahoo.ca South Perth and Sterling Road Residents' Association
• Thursday, October 14: 9:00 am CHIN Radio interviews 100.7FM Organizer: Fatima Martins 647 203 3165
• Saturday, October 16: Not a debate, but the annual YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) gathering at the Gladstone Hotel 11am-4pm Lots of community gathers here. http://www.gladstonehotel.com/events/exhibitions/yimby

Not in our ward - but makes sense to know what's happening near us:

September 30 MAYOR DEBATE Toronto Community News 730-930 at 1095 Leslie (community bus provided see: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/880435--tcn-s-mayoral-forum-tonight )

October 5 Ward 19 The Garrison 1197 Dundas St W ?all day event? Brian Sharwood organizer contact brian@ossingtonvillage.com

October 6 Ward17 1900 Davenport community dinner at 5pm, debate at 6pm with Jonah Schein, Tony Letra, Caesar Palacio Davenport Perth

If anyone wants to contact all 12 registered Ward 18 candidates directly:

• Wood, Ken kenwood@bell.net
• Vyas, Hema hema@hemavyas.ca
• Teliatnik, Joanna teliatnikward18@gmail.com
• Russell, Kirk info@voteforkirk.ca
• Muhit, Mohammed muhit69@yahoo.ca
• MacDonald, Joe info@joemacw18.ca
• Nha, Le ltn58@hotmail.com
• Elmi, Abdirazak abdirazakelmi@gmail.com
• de Jong, Frank fdejong@sympatico.ca
• Carroll, Doug ward18@dougcarroll.ca
• Beaulieu, Kevin info@kevinbeaulieu.ca
• Bailao, Ana ana.bailao@anabailao.ca

As you can see by the manner of posting on this site, I really do believe in INCLUSIVENESS and when there is an opportunity for candidates to be seen by all voters - all candidates should be invited. It is a matter of basic respect for voters, because...

DAVENPORT DESERVES BETTER !

EVERYBODY WANTS ENDORSEMENTS

SURVEYS SAY.... VOTE FOR .... ?

At this point in the running for election for City Councillor for Ward 18 Davenport, I have been contacted by the following lobby groups or news groups seeking to rate my worthiness for election for their specific causes:

1. Friends of Dufferin Grove Park, Jutta Mason (Actually on the CELOS website: http://www.celos.ca/wiki/wiki.php?n=MunicipalElection2010.FrontPage )
2. Toronto Community News/InsideToronto asking who I support for mayor, amongst other things: http://www.insidetorontovotes.ca/wards/bloor-west-parkdale/ward-18-davenport/
3. ArtsVote Toronto http://artsvotetoronto.ca/report-card/#18
4. Social Planning Toronto http://socialplanningtoronto.org/ - The Poverty Pledge: http://davenportdemocracy.blogspot.com/2010/09/poverty-election-issue-priority.html
5. McMaster University Political Science Department survey http://socserv.socsci.mcmaster.ca/limesurvey/index.php?lang=en&sid=55267&token=t4h375fmxrkdwtj
6. Toronto Environmental Alliance: http://www.torontoenvironment.org/voteto/candidatesurvey
7. OpenFile: Josh OKane http://www.openfile.ca/toronto-votes (about Brockton Village)
8. CP24 telephone poll person asking who I support for mayor (undecided)
9. Dundas West BIA http://wp.dundaswestbia.ca/ (about parking)
10. Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations: http://www.torontotenants.org/
11. Toronto Open Budget Inititiative: http://sites.google.com/site/torontoopenbudget/
12. Public Transit Coalition: My Response is at: http://davenportdemocracy.blogspot.com/2010/10/transit-ttc-survey-results.html
13. Toronnto Womens Alliance http://www.twca.ca/

There maybe more, but these are the ones I recall. I wonder if this is typical and like elections in the past - or are groups just getting more organized?

I really wonder whether the intent is decide and promote amongst their group who to vote for - or, who to go after once he/she gets elected and they don't follow up.

An interesting exercise in accountability at the very least.

... * Update: saw a tweet Sept 29 saying only Kevin, Hema and Joe completed a Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation survey (TCAT) http://torontocat.ca/main/platform_election_surveys

...* Update: I have now completed that survey I didn't initially receive it and wonder if all 12 candidates in the ward got it?

...* PROBLEM: Most of these groups seem to pick arbitrary times to send out surveys, ignoring the fact that we don't know all the names that will be on the ballots before September 10, 2pm when nominations closed. Thus a lot of candidates get forgotten or left out.

FOUR OLD WHITE GUYS FOR MAYOR ?

WHERE's THE DIVERSITY IN THE MAYORAL RACE ?

Today Sarah Thomson who was polling badly (7% ) behind Rob Ford, George Smitherman, Joe Pantalone and Rocco Rossi threw in the towel and urged people to vote for George Smitherman. (Ms. Thomson will still show up on the ballot but a vote for her would be wasted now - unless you want to show sympathy)

Now it seems the two media proclaimed FOUR frontrunners are Rob Ford with George Smitherman close behind. In other news, respected former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent has endorsed Joe Pantalone. Rocco Rossi is still - Rocco Rossi.

How did our "Diversity is Our Strength" Toronto end up with two old white (and rich) guys looking to be our mayor in 2010 (kind of like it was in the 50's)?

Image from the Better Ballots website: http://www.betterballots.to/index.htm

There are still going to be 41 names on the ballot for Mayor come October 25th voting day. Despite numerous debates (50 now, 30 to go?), we never hear from any of the others in any key debates. City TV/CP24/CityPulse is certainly NOT what it used to be! It no longer represents the whole city and can no longer be proud of its stance on equity and equality. Other mainstream media has also been unhelpful in letting voters know about all the choice.

At least tomorrow night's Arts Debate will include one of the media-missed people: James di Fiore. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 at Baillie Court The Art Gallery of Ontario debate from 6:00pm to 7:30pm (doors open at 5pm). http://torontoist.com/2010/09/we_support_the_arts_we_vote.php "Toronto invests $18 per person per year in this sector" behind the $25 they seems to be asking for.

For me, I guess I am still uniformed. In 2001 a city study says the arts contribute $8-9 billion to our economy. I find that hard to believe but would like to know more about this study. I shall continue to educate myself. I am not with the extreme of those who call city support of artists "sugar coated welfare", but nor am I with the other extreme of let's give them everything they want.

The city's financial picture is unclear. I think it important to find out what money is in the kitty before committing it.

* Update: Still learning from the ever-knowledgeable HiMY SYeD, a candidate for Mayor who attended the first 10 person mayoral debate in Swansea tonight! William Peyton Hubbard? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Peyton_Hubbard There IS hope for Toronto!

DEVELOPMENT in Ward 18

DEVELOPMENT - What does it really mean for residents?

Sitting in a Tim's coffee shop the other day, I got into a discussion of what the often mentioned topic of "Development" at debates really means, and how do we put it in words that really mean something to both voters who want to know what the real results will be and candidates who try to communicate platforms in a few punchy words that grab attention.

I realized many of us do not have the same understanding and it is one of those topics that sounds important and is a 'good' thing, but can be really messed up in practice.

So, being an internet type, I googled it:

Development: noun, 1. A significant event, occurence or change; 2. A fact, event or happening, especially one that changes a situation; 3. Act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining; 4. A process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage, especially to a more mature or advanced stage.

SUSTAINABLE Development: meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (In other words, don't screw up the future for our children)

While searching, I also came across this little tidbit from the last City Councillor election campaign from November 4, 2006 by Matthew Blackett of Spacing: http://spacing.ca/votes/2006/11/04/giambrone-attacked-in-poster-campaign/ It talks about Adam Giambrone's then campaign manager, Kevin Beaulieu responding to this poster from an irate business owner and shows how angry businesses can get at city interference...
Another candidate for councillor in this year's election, Ana Bailao, is the subject of some controversy as in the 2003 election, only 7 of her campaign donors lived in the ward and most of them from outside were in the construction and development industry( http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/08/drinks_with_the_candidates_for_ward_18/ )

All of this begs the question:

Just what do candidates mean when they talk of development ?

Since I can only speak for myself, here is what I mean:

* Development WILL happen. It is a given. Change is what we do in our lives and in city building.

* Whether it is GOOD development or BAD development can only be decided upon by the people who have to live with that change. No expert planner, bureaucrat, politician or self-styled visionary can accurately decide what is good for others. People with lived experience outside our neighbourhoods cannot possibly know what is needed or wanted, and often can do more damage than good. This is why it is essential that early consultation happen - residents and business owners are told what is possibly going to happen, and then are given an opportunity to have significant input.

* This means the process must always include people in the area affected by the change.

In my view the kinds of development needed in ward 18 includes:

1. Maximizing the use of dormant lands and properties, like this one:

1006 College at Havelock
Abandoned since before 2003 -Yet we still have affordable housing issues and homelessness?
There are many more examples. Empty lots, land being slowwwwwly reclaimed from toxic conditions.

2. Small Business Renewal: There are sections within the ward that have been neglected for far too long. Some areas have BIA's that represent members well and are heard, others have sometimes been ignored (eg. Dundas BIA and parking). Some areas like right along College from the Dundas crossoverto Dufferin are in shoddy shape (no BIA there). We still see too many emty storefronts and they can't all be art galleries. People live in the area and need restaurants, support services and supply stores. That there are a lot of thrift stores and pawn shops speaks to the degree of low incomers and poverty in the area. Yet I worry about poor planning around GENTRIFICATION... another set of definitions:

to GENTRIFY - means making a neighbourhood conform to middle class aspirations; usually increases income for developers while decreasing family, culture and evicting low income groups; it raises the status of some at the expense of others; often starts with artists, ends with speculating developers.

3. We need to CONTROL development: This is the job of city and neighbourhood builders, which includes key roles of elected City Councillors and the Mayor. But these roles must only be the facilitators. Decisions on development directions must come from residents and business owners in the area. City bureaucrats whould contribute to the process, but not in any way direct or lead it.

These are my thoughts on DEVELOPMENT... something we should all be involved in because...

DAVENPORT DESERVES BETTER !

Concerned Parents Debate a Washout

A Lesson On the Importance of Informing Constituents ?

On September 17th all 12 candidates for city councillor received an email from the Concerned Parents of Ward 18 to attend a debate on Monday, September 27 at 130 Shanly Avenue, St. Anthony's Catholic School.

My understanding is that flyers were posted prominently in the area and notices were sent home with students to give to their parents. As more than a few people commented, relying on students to remember to pull the note out of their backpack and pass on to parents in a timely manner is rather 'iffy' at best. To my knowledge no notices were in the local community newspapers, which, again, not everyone gets or looks at that closely.

The result?

Only 8 of the 12 candidates showed up. Missing were Ana Bailao, Doug Carroll, Joanna Telitniak and Mohammed Muhit. Some of the candidates who did come had significant signage and literature, as well as campaign supporters.

Sadly - only perhaps 3 people not already connected with a campaign showed up: I asked for a show of hands. (even that might be stretching it, as when asked if they had questions, no one spoke up).

After a little 'what should we do?', some candidates started leaving and the exodus increased, with the 3 people leaving, likely in frustration, as well. I was the last to leave after chatting with the OpenFile reporter and went for coffee with my competitor, Kirk Russell, and a few others. We had a good discussion about the mayoral race and what's wrong with city hall :)

The OpenFile reporter, Josh OKane, did a story on this non-event. http://www.openfile.ca/toronto/file/2010/09/candidates-show-residents-don%E2%80%99t

What this all highlights is just how difficult it can be to communicate TO our residents and keepp everyone aware and involved in what is happening in the community. Not everyone is on the internet/twitter/facebook/etc. Not everyone will see (technically illegal) flyers on hydro poles and bus stops. Add to that that not everyone in our ward is fluent in English and we can see just what a big divide we must cross to ensure improved civic engagement.

* Side Note: There are those few people in our community who strive to distribute information flyers by translating them and delivering them and trying to get the 'word of mouth' grapevines going who we should all thank. (Jack and Virginia for example)

But still, this all highlights how we must build bridges across the communication gaps in our ward to fully inform, include and engage everyone - something close to my heart, because...

DAVENPORT DESERVES BETTER !