Joe Pantalone’s economic platform

Mayoral candidate unveils plan to balance 2011 budget
Modest tax increase, no staff firings, no service cuts
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 14)

 

Toronto mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone releases his economic plan. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

 

Joe Pantalone made two big announcements this morning:
First, Pantalone said he won’t drop out of the race for the city’s top job. And second, he said he can deliver a balanced budget in 2011.
“This budget has a number of components in it,” he said. “First of all it has no service cuts. It does not call for any additional money from the provincial government for 2011 because we understand the province and feds have financial issues as well.
“It is a city building-budget which is fiscally responsible,” he claimed.
Pantalone said the city’s facing a $503 million gap to balance next year’s budget. That pressure grows to $541 due to $22 million in campaign promises plus the $16 million revenue loss of phasing out the vehicle registration tax in 2011 through 2014 plus a four-year tax freeze for seniors earning less than $50,000 living in their own home.

Advertisement

Rocco Rossi platform for mayor

Mayoral hopeful attends Town Crier editorial board
Then announcing he’s quitting race hours later
Kris Scheuer
(Written for To wn Crier Oct. 13. See UPDATE.)

Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi told the Town Crier’s editorial board today his campaign isn’t stumbling but picking up steam.
“I think the choice is clearer and clearer,” he said at the Oct. 13 session before he later announced he’d bow out of mayoral race.

Rocco Rossi at the Town Crier offices. Photo by Victor Aguilar/Town Crier.

With all the other candidates, save Joe Pantalone, having released their economic platforms, Rossi said that he’s riding high on the news that the Globe & Mail,Toronto Sun, National Post and Toronto Board of Trade have all said that so far his plan is the only one that adds up and is fiscally-responsible. His plan includes eliminating Toronto’s $3 billion in debt that costs the city $450 million in payments annually by selling off Toronto Hydro, the city’s a minority share in Enwave and some surplus land.

Toronto gay pride and mayoral candidates

How mayoral hopefuls are attracting attention during pride weekend
Joe Pantalone handing out condoms
Kris Scheuer

Mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone is handing out these condoms during Toronto's pride parade.

This  weekend marks the 30th annual Pride Parade in Toronto.
Mayoral candidates will be out in full force wooing voters and getting press.
Mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone sent out a press release today that he’ll be handing out condoms July 4. Sure, why not? Safe sex and all.
But the text was a little funny that accompanied his reasoning. Read it for yourself and tell me what you think.
“When you know you’re safe, you’re free to enjoy yourself,” Pantalone’s presser stated. “That’s the attitude of a responsible lover. And as a responsible Mayor, it will be Joe’s attitude to Toronto. It’s why he and his campaign will distribute ‘Not Your Average Joe’ condoms at this year’s Pride Parade – to remind celebrants that it’s when we take care of each other that we can most enjoy each other’s company.”
“A condom provides protection against infection; a Pantalone mayoralty will be an effective prophylactic against diseases like rampant privatization, service cuts, transit delays, and divisive politics,” he wrote.  “You already take care of your body; on election day, be sure to take care of your city, by voting Joe.”
What do you think? Brilliant, silly or outrageous?