Well, not really.
In any event with a little less than two weeks to go, I certainly hope you have been studying the issues and the candidates. If not, here's a rundown:
First the issues.
There aren't any.
Seriously - Crime, Transit and Garbage are the major issues. Yes, I said garbage. Beats out Taxes and Poverty according to this Poll. The fact of the matter is, crime is down after the Summer of the Gun, and we haven't seen a garbage strike since Mayor Mel. Transit seems to be rising to the top of the heap of issues.
Now the Candidates.
There are three that matter to the media, and another 35 or so on the ballot.
David Miller: Running for second term. Miller isn't carrying a broom this election, but continues his Clean City Beautiful City theme, promising $100k per ward for beautification. On crime, he speaks of what he's done the first term. More cops on the street and so on. Miller has a comprehensive transit plan, that is heavy on Busways and Streetcar right-of-ways. Plus the Spadina subway extension. Miller seems to understand transit priorities, but unfortunately has shown little movement on the issue his last term. He is going to win, by the way. Thirty percent are committed voters according to a recent poll.
Jane Pitfield: Poor Jane. An early candidate, Jane spent most of her early days saying how bad Miller is. It's hard to understand what her platform is. For example, she currently supports growth at the Island Airport. She voted against the fixed link to it however. Jane is currently against the St Clair Streetcar right-of-way. Her voting record was in support of it during last term. Jane says Miller spends tax dollars recklessly, but was on the budget committee for two budgets, and supported both. She is opposed to the recent purchase of the landfill near London, which she voted to buy - presumably due to "human error." She wants to outlaw panhandlers. And she wants to build 2 km of subway every year, and enter into 'private/public' partnerships for transit
Stephen LeDrew: A late-comer to the campaign, LeDrew started as simply anti-Miller. He said he will throw his support behind Pitfield near election day if he's still in third. (More recently, he said he will throw his support behind Miller). Not much going on with him. Miller has done nothing his last term, but everything he's done LeDrew is opposed to. On Transit, LeDrew will kill the St Clair ROW, and will build subways. By the way - one minor thing you should know. LeDrew declared bankruptcy leaving behind a over $350k of tax debt. (The courts have ordered him to pay 74% of it). No one in the poll is planning on voting for him.
This obviously is a very high-level summary of where we stand. Since most Torontonians simply aren't paying attention, this is likely all you'll need if you do decide to get off your ass and vote.
Perhaps whoever does win (and it will be Miller) will make such a mess of things the 2010 election will actually be interesting.
Categories: Politics
4 comments:
I wanna vote for that crazy homeless black man who jumped up and yelled at everyone about how he wasn't invited to take part in the debate. Heehee!
Although I agree 100% with pitfield about cameras in public places, the woman is as delusional as they come. Seeming to deflect the responsibility for the homeless from the government to the homeless people themselves...her attitude of "Physician heal thy self" is appallingly misguided.
Harper is the least offensive of all the candidates...much like every other municipal election in Toronto over the last 10 years.
Um, Harper? Did you say Harper?
Miller, Harper it's all the same bullshit if you ask me.
Hmm, you're right, this *is* all I need to know to make my election-day decision.
And you and I need to have a little chat about erroneous attributions - for someone with such good memory, you seriously misquoted me. Although you *did* make me sound pretty darn eloquent.
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