2014 Municipal Election: Toronto Mayoral Race

[jusbokeh]

The issue with Doug donating his council salary is that it makes him less accountable to taxpayers, because he's not technically being paid by them. In this case, Chow would be keeping her mayoral salary which defuses that problem.

What exactly could Chow do in this situation to satisfy your criticism?

If you go back to my original point. I don't care about what Olivia chow does or if she takes a double income while.being mayor.

Its not wrong or illegal and rob ford should be held to the same account if he gets money from deco for being part owner.

 

[jml]

If you go back to my original point. I don't care about what Olivia chow does or if she takes a double income while.being mayor.

Its not wrong or illegal and rob ford should be held to the same account if he gets money from deco for being part owner.

Ah, sorry, misunderstood where you were coming from.

 

[jje1000]

The strength of Ford's 905 fundraiser and 416 campaign party will tell us whether or not he's a force to be reckoned with. We still can't count Ford as out. I have little doubt that the 905 party may be a hit, as people in those areas are far more conservative than the 416 area.

Rob Ford’s first big fundraiser is set for … Vaughan?
The mayor is looking outside Toronto for election support, and not for the first time, as he plans an event in the Concord neighbourhood.
ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

Rob Ford has yet to officially launch his re-election campaign. Soon after that comes a fundraiser slated for a banquet hall in Vaughan, north of the city.

By: Betsy Powell City Hall Bureau, Published on Thu Apr 03 2014
Rob Ford will hold what appears to be his first major re-election fundraiser outside Toronto — in Concord, a suburban and industrial neighbourhood of Vaughan.

Details of the event, to be held May 8 at the Riviera Parque Banquet & Convention Centre, were included in a letter soliciting campaign donations and mailed to people who gave money to candidates in the 2010 municipal election.

“Help Rob Ford STOP the GRAVY TRAIN from returning to Toronto City Hall,†reads the letter, signed by Ford’s brother and campaign manager, Doug Ford.

Social geographer Trevor McKenzie-Smith’s work can shed some light on why the Fords might hold a fundraiser outside city boundaries.
McKenzie-Smith analyzed donations to Ford’s 2010 campaign and found many contributors weren’t eligible to vote for him because they lived in neighboring municipalities.

“Over $623,000 flowed in from the GTA, accounting for 33.5% of money raised. Turns out that one out of every three dollars donated to the Ford campaign in 2010 came from outside Toronto,†the PressProgress website, a project of the non-profit Ottawa-based Broadbent Institute, reported last November.

In the past, the Fords have also blitzed households in the 905 area code with robocalls inviting residents to their annual Ford Fests, free community barbecues.

The Concord fundraiser costs $300 a ticket. “You will receive (a) $225 rebate from the city of Toronto dinner and drinks included,†reads the Fords’ letter. It includes a box of “sample rebate calculations,†noting donations are eligible for “generous tax rebates from the city of Toronto†after the Oct. 27 municipal election.

Ford will officially launch his re-election campaign on April 17 at the Toronto Congress Centre at 650 Dixon Rd., which is within the city’s borders.

“Bobbleheads along with other Ford memorabilia will be sold to fundraise for the campaign. First 1000 will receive a free Ford Nation T-shirt and flag,†according to the Ford for Mayor website.

Ontario residents can donate up to $2,500 to mayoralty candidates. An individual’s collective contribution to all candidates is capped at $5,000. Candidates in Toronto’s elections are forbidden to accept corporate or union contributions.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/04/03/rob_fords_first_big_fundraiser_is_set_for_vaughan.html

 

[Filip]

GO improvements have been and continute to be opening. The Eglinton Crosstown is opening in six years. The Relief Line still doesn't have an opening date (planning is ongoing), but it looks like it will be ready before 2025.






That was an increase of 10 minutes for some drivers. The impact on drivers overall will be far less than 10 minutes.



I'm not sure what you're getting at. Downtown Toronto is already very pedestrian friendly.

Wrong wrong and wrong. What does Eglinton Crosstown have to do with the Gardiner? It's like 15 km north! Drastic GO improvements (and I mean drastic, not 30 min service on Lake Shore, but more like 15 min all day two way service on most if not all lines will make a discernible impact on commute times.

Toronto may be pedestrian friendly in North America, but go abroad and it quickly becomes evident this city was and is built for the car. People drive around Toronto because transit sucks. Basically sucks so badly that people would rather spend the money on gas, car maintenance and insurance than do without it. That's the reason I have a car and that's the reason most people in the GTA have one as well. People will continue driving until transit is a reliable and relatively high speed alternative. That's why we should focus on improving car flow downtown and building our transit from the ground up. In a few decades we can focus on some cute European pedestrian improvements.

The reality is people won't stop driving, no matter how much you want them to. Hello congestion!

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Wrong wrong and wrong. What does Eglinton Crosstown have to do with the Gardiner? It's like 15 km north! Drastic GO improvements (and I mean drastic, not 30 min service on Lake Shore, but more like 15 min all day two way service on most if not all lines will make a discernible impact on commute times.

Toronto may be pedestrian friendly in North America, but go abroad and it quickly becomes evident this city was and is built for the car. People drive around Toronto because transit sucks. Basically sucks so badly that people would rather spend the money on gas, car maintenance and insurance than do without it. That's the reason I have a car and that's the reason most people in the GTA have one as well. People will continue driving until transit is a reliable and relatively high speed alternative. That's why we should focus on improving car flow downtown and building our transit from the ground up. In a few decades we can focus on some cute European pedestrian improvements.

The reality is people won't stop driving, no matter how much you want them to. Hello congestion!

really?


Cars are expensive. Toronto is more trapped in the middle then a care or transit city. I agree about the transit, Eglinton should be built in one fell swoop as should Finch West and Sheppard* I think that, and now we know that Toronto has the worst traffic in the developed world, that its decision time on what this city wants to be. Everyone needs to get serious and make a decision, otherwise we will start losing as a city when we have been winning recently.

 

[ehlow]

Wrong wrong and wrong. What does Eglinton Crosstown have to do with the Gardiner? It's like 15 km north! Drastic GO improvements (and I mean drastic, not 30 min service on Lake Shore, but more like 15 min all day two way service on most if not all lines will make a discernible impact on commute times.

Toronto may be pedestrian friendly in North America, but go abroad and it quickly becomes evident this city was and is built for the car. People drive around Toronto because transit sucks. Basically sucks so badly that people would rather spend the money on gas, car maintenance and insurance than do without it. That's the reason I have a car and that's the reason most people in the GTA have one as well. People will continue driving until transit is a reliable and relatively high speed alternative. That's why we should focus on improving car flow downtown and building our transit from the ground up. In a few decades we can focus on some cute European pedestrian improvements.

Fact of the matter is, people won't stop driving, no matter how much you want them to. Hello congestion!

Sorry Filip but that is not historically accurate. Cities were designed for cars after WW2, that's when highways and suburban areas were built. Most of Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York was built after WW2 so those places are mainly designed for the car.

However, most of the old city of Toronto was designed for pedestrians, streetcars, and horse carriages. If you take a look at the 1947 map here http://peoplemaps.esri.com/toronto/, you'll see that none of the highways are built yet, and most of the suburbs aren't built yet. The areas developed by that year were built generally for streetcars & pedestrians.

Of course some people drive, but there are also many in Toronto who take transit: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/01/11/ttc_carried_record_514_million_rides_last_year.html. Toronto has a very high transit ridership actually.

What a strange thing to say, you're saying we shouldn't do pedestrian improvements until every single person stops driving (which will never happen)?

Another strange statement. Some areas of Toronto already have < 55% of people not having driver's licenses, mainly because they can't afford it, many are immigrants:
http://globalnews.ca/news/996589/map-carless-in-the-burbs/


Edit: Just wanted to add that instead of making blanket statements about whether Toronto is pedestrian friendly or car friendly, a much more accurate evaluation is that old Toronto & downtown Toronto is pretty pedestrian and transit friendly, whereas suburban Toronto is obviously much more car friendly. You can see that in the pedestrian traffic and pedestrian level data:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/06/the_busiest_intersections_for_pedestrians_in_toronto/

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Sorry Filip but that is not historically accurate. Cities were designed for cars after WW2, that's when highways and suburban areas were built. Most of Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York was built after WW2 so those places are mainly designed for the car.

However, most of the old city of Toronto was designed for pedestrians, streetcars, and horse carriages. If you take a look at the 1947 map here http://peoplemaps.esri.com/toronto/, you'll see that none of the highways are built yet, and most of the suburbs aren't built yet. The areas developed by that year were built generally for streetcars & pedestrians.

Of course some people drive, but there are also many in Toronto who take transit: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/01/11/ttc_carried_record_514_million_rides_last_year.html. Toronto has a very high transit ridership actually.

What a strange thing to say, you're saying we shouldn't do pedestrian improvements until every single person stops driving (which will never happen)?

Another strange statement. Some areas of Toronto already have < 55% of people not having driver's licenses, mainly because they can't afford it, many are immigrants:
http://globalnews.ca/news/996589/map-carless-in-the-burbs/


Edit: Just wanted to add that instead of making blanket statements about whether Toronto is pedestrian friendly or car friendly, a much more accurate evaluation is that old Toronto & downtown Toronto is pretty pedestrian and transit friendly, whereas suburban Toronto is obviously much more car friendly. You can see that in the pedestrian traffic and pedestrian level data:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/06/the_busiest_intersections_for_pedestrians_in_toronto/

This is intresting. I think the city should take a serious look and plan for these areas.

 

[W. K. Lis]

The strength of Ford's 905 fundraiser and 416 campaign party will tell us whether or not he's a force to be reckoned with. We still can't count Ford as out. I have little doubt that the 905 party may be a hit, as people in those areas are far more conservative than the 416 area.


http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/04/03/rob_fords_first_big_fundraiser_is_set_for_vaughan.html

During the 2010 campaign, Rob Ford and his wife went to a church picnic (that I attended) and gave a campaign speech. The picnic was also in Vaughan (a 905 city).

 

[blixtex]

Sorry Filip but that is not historically accurate. Cities were designed for cars after WW2, that's when highways and suburban areas were built. Most of Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York was built after WW2 so those places are mainly designed for the car.

However, most of the old city of Toronto was designed for pedestrians, streetcars, and horse carriages. If you take a look at the 1947 map here http://peoplemaps.esri.com/toronto/, you'll see that none of the highways are built yet, and most of the suburbs aren't built yet. The areas developed by that year were built generally for streetcars & pedestrians.

Of course some people drive, but there are also many in Toronto who take transit: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/01/11/ttc_carried_record_514_million_rides_last_year.html. Toronto has a very high transit ridership actually.

What a strange thing to say, you're saying we shouldn't do pedestrian improvements until every single person stops driving (which will never happen)?

Another strange statement. Some areas of Toronto already have < 55% of people not having driver's licenses, mainly because they can't afford it, many are immigrants:
http://globalnews.ca/news/996589/map-carless-in-the-burbs/


Edit: Just wanted to add that instead of making blanket statements about whether Toronto is pedestrian friendly or car friendly, a much more accurate evaluation is that old Toronto & downtown Toronto is pretty pedestrian and transit friendly, whereas suburban Toronto is obviously much more car friendly. You can see that in the pedestrian traffic and pedestrian level data:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/06/the_busiest_intersections_for_pedestrians_in_toronto/

Thanks. Good info to actually back-up a 'claim'. Too many shot gun statements around here from people who just react to what they see right around them.

 

[WislaHD]

Sorry Filip but that is not historically accurate. Cities were designed for cars after WW2, that's when highways and suburban areas were built. Most of Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York was built after WW2 so those places are mainly designed for the car.

However, most of the old city of Toronto was designed for pedestrians, streetcars, and horse carriages. If you take a look at the 1947 map here http://peoplemaps.esri.com/toronto/, you'll see that none of the highways are built yet, and most of the suburbs aren't built yet. The areas developed by that year were built generally for streetcars & pedestrians.

Of course some people drive, but there are also many in Toronto who take transit: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/01/11/ttc_carried_record_514_million_rides_last_year.html. Toronto has a very high transit ridership actually.

What a strange thing to say, you're saying we shouldn't do pedestrian improvements until every single person stops driving (which will never happen)?

Another strange statement. Some areas of Toronto already have < 55% of people not having driver's licenses, mainly because they can't afford it, many are immigrants:
http://globalnews.ca/news/996589/map-carless-in-the-burbs/


Edit: Just wanted to add that instead of making blanket statements about whether Toronto is pedestrian friendly or car friendly, a much more accurate evaluation is that old Toronto & downtown Toronto is pretty pedestrian and transit friendly, whereas suburban Toronto is obviously much more car friendly. You can see that in the pedestrian traffic and pedestrian level data:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/06/the_busiest_intersections_for_pedestrians_in_toronto/

To erm.. tie this post back to the topic of this thread....

This is why David Soknacki is advocating for the 4 post-amalgamation Community Council districts (page 6) to have more control on the service levels to better fit each region, as opposed to having a one-size-fits-all approach towards the entire city.

 

[salsa]

Yet another transportation idea from Karen Stintz. Although she probably changed her mind by the time I posted this.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha...te_one_transportation_agency_for_toronto.html

 

[Long Island Mike]

Yet another transportation idea from Karen Stintz. Although she probably changed her mind by the time I posted this.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha...te_one_transportation_agency_for_toronto.html

Salsa and Everyone: I read this article and because of where KS was giving her interview this video was tough to listen to...

Perhaps Toronto needs a "Transportation for London" type agency but maybe it should be more like NYC's DOT to keep from
creating what could become a huge bureaucracy...See: www.nyc.gov/dot and www.tfl.gov.uk

LI MIKE

 

[Rufus8]

Who are these people who crowd with Ford to have their pictures taken? Are they voters (please God no)? Is Ford our answer to "_______" (a famous media-whore on television courtesy of her mother and a sex tape - I will not utter the name)?
I despair of this city unless we have quality leadership and public accountability.

 

[Johnny Au]

I vote someone to be mayor of Toronto.

If there were an election for Official Comedian of Toronto, I would vote for Rob Ford.

Since the upcoming election is the Toronto mayoral election, Olivia Chow gets my vote.

 

[freshcutgrass]

Until we have transit that can be shoulder to shoulder with cities like Munich, Berlin, Paris, London, etc then we have to make sure that the cars that go downtown can get in and out smoothly.

Making cars the priority is exactly what got us into this mess, and will keep us in the mess until we come to our senses. And in Toronto, it seems it will be quite a while before that happens. So enjoy the mess.

The reality is people won't stop driving, no matter how much you want them to. Hello congestion!

Wrong. People are simply willing to pay with their time. What they are a lot less likely to want to pay with is...their wallets.

The answer is not just in building a better transit network (although it certainly is a critical part of the pie), but in reversing our absolute ridiculous amount of subsidy towards car culture.

Dial in the appropriate cost, and watch how quickly people change their minds about driving in the city. We also might want to think about whether we want the roadways to move people around...or as parking lots for cars. Road tolls, congestion fees, market value parking fees on public property (or no parking at all on arteries). Why charge $17 a month for street parking permits, when it should be that much per day!!