Josh Colle ward 15 candidate

Ex-trustee Josh Colle challenging Howard Moscoe
Son of MPP Mike Colle looks to unseat veteran councillor
Kris Scheuer
(Written June 15 for Town Crier.)

Photo courtesy of Joshua Colle.

The son of MPP Mike Colle decided to take his own political plunge today by entering the race for Eglinton-Lawrence Ward 15.
Joshua Colle is running against veteran North Toronto councillor Howard Moscoe.
“For me personally, there’s a bit of disenchantment with the way the city is run and how business is conducted,” said Colle. “In the past five years, I’ve had three kids. I see my city, community and neighbourhood through a different lens. It’s incredibly tough for families in this city.”
One of his key issues is to have the city do more for families.
“How long will it take for the city to have schools become community hubs?” asks the former Catholic school trustee for Eglinton-Lawrence. “I have a park near us that is not well maintained so no one uses it. Effective transit is a huge issue for families.”

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Oakwood Vaughan community action plan

Local residents creation a plan to improve neighbourhood
West end Toronto vision for Toronto spurs improvements
By Kris Scheuer
(Written April 28 for Town Crier.)

Oakwood residents and council reps have found new ways to engage the community, including hosting movie nights and potluck dinners at Laughlin Park. Photo courtesy of Tamara Massey.

Oakwood Village residents Tamara Massey and Josh Colle see ways to improve the neighbourhood they love.
They’ve put their passion for the community into a plan that could see the once-troubled neighbourhood become a thriving arts district.
Massey and Colle are members of the 5 Points Community Action residential association that’s produced an Envisioning 2010 document with the help of neighbours, local business, police, politicians, charities and service agencies.
Don’t expect this report to sit on the shelf collecting dust – it’s already producing results.
“It’s become a second job on nights and weekends,” said Massey of the action
plan. “When I started this in January 2009 with (councillor) Howard Moscoe
it was an envisioning exercise with maybe 12 people at the meeting.”
Massey and Colle, co-authors of the document, spent a year planning, and
this January 70 people showed up to participate in brainstorming session on
how to improve the neighbourhood.

Free lifetime TTC pass

Did you get yours?
You might if you’re a councillor on transit commission
By Kris Scheuer

Every year thousands of Metropasses are handed out in Toronto — including free one-year passes for city councillors and lifetime passes for former councillors who have sat on the commission overseeing the TTC.
However, at least one local councillor thinks the TTC needs all the paying customers it can get and says the free-ride policy should be changed.
Don Valley West Councillor Jane Pitfield is eligible for a free yearly TTC pass, but she declined the offer this year and plans to do so next year. She said she finds it’s easier to drive when she has a half dozen (or more) meetings each day. 
“We receive an $84,000 salary a year. We are in the position to pay (to ride) TTC and we should support the TTC,” said Pitfield. “The TTC needs more operating money.”
She said every time someone with a free pass uses transit, that is $2.50 less in the fare box.