Andrew James bows out of Ward 30

Candidate James endorses competitor Liz West
They hope it’ll be easier to topple incumbent Fletcher
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 15)

 

Andrew James bows out of Ward 30 race to support candidate Liz West.

 

Ward 30 candidate Andrew James announced today he’s stepping out of the race to throw his support behind competitor Liz West.
“Ours was a campaign of ideas and change but over the past few days it became clear that I wasn’t going to be successful in my bid to unseat (incumbent) Paula Fletcher,” said James at a news conference at the Cinespace Studios. “With Liz West I saw the opportunity to have our shared ideas move forward and to bring a new voice to city hall.”

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Liz West candidate Ward 30

Journalist makes a run for politics
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Sept. 11.)

Council candidate Liz West is taking on Paula Fletcher in Ward 30. Photo courtesy of Liz West.

Broadcast reporter Liz West wants to trade in the microphone for a seat on city council.
The Toronto-Danforth candidate is running in Ward 30 against incumbent Paula Fletcher.
“I’m a working mom, a taxpayer and local resident. I’m just as disillusioned as my neighbours with city hall,” said West, who is currently a freelance journalist with a makeover show on Cosmo TV.
She’s put her broadcast career on hold while she campaigns for public office. The fact she’s been an on-air reporter for 15 years with City News, CP24 and Canada AM gives her a certain level of name recognition and visibility, she said. But so does the fact she is a local resident.
“I’m pretty visible in the community,” West said Sept. 10 in between campaigning. “I’ve been in the area for 12 years. I shop locally. I have two young kids and when you have young kids you are mixing with other families. I am out using the parks.”

Gary Walsh Ward 30 candidate

Kris Scheuer
(Written Sept. 11 for Town Crier.)

Gary Walsh is running for his third attempt to be elected as a city councillor. Photo courtesy of Gary Walsh.

Gary Walsh is not happy with the representation of Councillor Paula Fletcher in Ward 30, so he’s running against her.
“I am running against Paula Fletcher. She is part of (Mayor) David Miller and the NDP cartel. And these people have to be stopped and sent packing and sent to power detox,” Walsh said.
“There’s been a total mismanagement of the city,” said the former paramedic who drives a taxi part time. “I am particularly annoyed at the Tuggs deal in the Beaches.”
He’s referring to city council’s approval of a 20-year sole source contract to George Foulidis owner of Tuggs Inc. that runs the Boardwalk Café in the Beaches.
He repeatedly called the city government corrupt in an interview from city hall Sept. 10.

Beachfront heritage homes for sale

Kris Scheuer
(Published in the Town Crier Aug. 13.)

This Hubbard Blvd home is now listed as heritage and had been declared surplus by the owner Toronto Community Housing. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

A dozen Beach homes worth millions are now listed as heritage properties including several sites Toronto Community Housing plans to sell.
They sit on the former site of Scarboro Beach Amusement Park.
The 1920s-built homes on Wineva Avenue and Hubbard Boulevard are mix of publicly and privately owned sites facing Kew Balmy Beach.
Janice Hadfield lives in one of the properties on Wineva and says she’s pleased the home is on the heritage list.

Surplus social housing sell off

Toronto social housing sold to Wigwamen
City sells 20 properties to affordable housing provider
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier May 14.)

Toronto Community Housing is giving affordable housing agencies first dibs on properties for sale, including 5 Hubbard Blvd. across from Kew Beach. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

The city’s largest social housing landlord has begun the process of selling surplus Beach homes worth millions for a fraction of their market value.
On May 12, city council voted to sell 20 properties across the city with a combined market value of $8.6 million for $395,156 to the non-profit Aboriginal housing provider Wigwamen.
The Toronto Community Housing properties include single-family homes on Pape, Malvern and Golfview avenues, and Milverton Boulevard.
That selling price is the remaining mortgages on the homes.
The process is actually cost-effective, says a city councillor.
Normally, if the city sells or demolishes any social housing units in its stock, it is mandated to replace them within the same community. In this case, the units were sold to an agency that will maintain the properties as social housing, so the city’s not required to replace the housing.
“This is cost neutral,” explained Councillor Paula Fletcher, who sits on the TCH board.
If the city had sold the properties for $8.6 million to a developer, for instance, the city would have spent about the same to build 20 replacement units. According to a city staff report, it would have cost $6.1 million, plus the cost of land for replacement units.
It’s a good deal, said Jeffery Ferrier, spokesperson for the city’s housing agency, because a sale and replacement scenario would have been a money-losing proposition for Toronto Community Housing.  “You can’t just look at the market value. You have to consider costs to replace the units with better housing. The costs of (real estate) commissions, construction, demolition and land would cost more.”

Sandra Bussin to seek re-election

Councillor Bussin plans to run again in Beaches East York
Toronto Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher already registered
By Kris Scheuer and Karolyn Coorsh
(Written Jan. 14 for Town Crier newspaper.)

Councillor Sandra Bussin will register for re-election in ward 32.

She may be in no hurry to formally register but make no mistake: Beaches-East York councillor Sandra Bussin is seeking re-election in her ward this year.
“Yes, I will be registering sometime in the future,” the ward 32 rep said in an interview at a Danforth Avenue restaurant. “There are a number of projects I am still interested in pursuing.”
One of the issues dear to her heart is ensuring incineration was not brought back to Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant.
In December, she successfully had council remove a certificate for approval for incineration at the treatment plant. This means burning the residue from water treatment is no longer an option as part of the approved Biosolids Master Plan, said Bussin.
She would like to be back to steer the completion of the Beach Skateboard Park and the new TTC streetcar storage and repair facility at Leslie Street and Lakeshore Boulevard.
She hasn’t decided on an election strategy yet.
“Every campaign is different,” she said. “Something (always) happens where there’s a new challenge of some sort.”

Toronto councillors 2010 election

The election campaign already heating up
Who is retiring, running, playing coy in TO election
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated Oct.25- Election Day.)

 

Joe Mihevc is one of the incumbent councillors seeking re-election.

 

One thing is certain in life – that’s change. And we can count on that in this city’s election. The vote is Oct. 25.
Of the 44 incumbent city councillors so far 35 current Toronto politicians have signed up for re-election in their own ward. Of the remaining 9 incumbents: 2 are running for mayor instead and 7 aren’t running at all. Want to see for yourself?
Check the city’s election website that shows all 477 candidates running for mayor, councillor and school trustee positions.
Here’s the scope on where all the candidates stand as of Sept. 10 the final nomination day.
Mayor David Miller is not running for re-election. There are 40 candidates registered to run for mayor.
Council races – there are 279 candidates running for 44 council seats
Ron Moeser (Scarborough East Ward 44) has registered and so have three others: Diana Hall, Heath Thomas and Mohammed Mirza.
Paul Ainslie (Scarborough East Ward 43) is running again and has four challengers: John Laforet, Benjamin Mbaegbu, Bhaskar Sharma and Samuel Getachew.

Toronto election 2010

Who’s running for mayor and council
Hot races to watch for city election
By Kris Scheuer
(For update, click here.)

The Toronto election is a hot one and it’s only day two of the campaign. I will be updating the who’s who of candidates throughout the 10-month race. You can check for yourself on the city’s election site.
Candidates started registering Jan. 4 and already some fascinating decisions are being made.
Race for mayor
As of Jan. 12 sixteen mayoral candidates have registered including councillor Giorgio Mammoliti and Liberal strategist Rocco Rossi. The eight others so far are: Rocco Achampong, Douglas Campbell, Stephen Feek, Monowar Hossain, John Letonja, Colin Magee, Baquie Ghazi, Mark State and Sarah Thomson.
Ange Maniccia was registered on day one, but withdrew.

Candidates for Toronto Election 2010

First day to register and dozens sign up early
Some incumbents back again and challengers line up
By Kris Scheuer
(See update here.)

Today, Toronto’s municipal election race officially started with candidates filing nomination papers at city hall.
FAMILIAR FACES
So far, some incumbents have made it clear they want to be re-elected including: councillors Janet Davis (Ward 31), Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38), Mike Del Grande (Ward 39), Paula Fletcher (Ward 30), Adrian Heaps (Ward 35) Norm Kelly (Ward 40), Joe Mihevc (Ward 21), John Parker (Ward 26), Gord Perks (Ward 14), Bill Saundercook (Ward 13), Cesar Palacio (Ward 17) and so far none of them have any challengers.
HOT RACES

East end Toronto pools on list to close

Community, politicians, schools aim to save pools by raising revenue
Monarch Park and Earl Grey among nine pools that could close by Dec. 31
By Kris Scheuer
(Originally written Oct. 8 for Town Crier.)

The Toronto District School Board voted Sept. 16 to save another four pools on the critical list because there was sufficient permit revenue to keep them afloat. This includes the pool at Queen Alexandra Senior Public School. 
Seven pools have closed permanently including at Danforth Tech.
There are nine other facilities left on a probationary list until the end of December. If money is fundraised, permits holders are found then the unlucky nine pools will stay open past this year. 
Pools at Monarch Park CI and Earl Grey PS still in danger of closing if revenues fall short. 
In the case of Monarch, the community has to find donors or permit holders to cover incremental operating costs close to $71,726. And for Earl Grey the amount is $55,940.
Public school trustee Cathy Dandy and city councillor Paula Fletcher held open houses at both schools Oct. 13 and 15 so groups could tour these pools. To find out more contact Dandy at 416-397-3083 or Fletcher at 416-392-4060.