2006 Municipal Elections: Group Targets Councillor Rae, Moscoe

[AlvinofDiaspar]

From the Star:

Group targets Moscoe, Rae
Taxpayer coalition soliciting candidates to unseat veterans
Councillors unfazed by challenge, one calls group a `Tory front'
Jul. 19, 2006. 01:00 AM
DONOVAN VINCENT
CITY HALL BUREAU

A citizens' group that played a key role in unseating a longtime incumbent in Toronto's last municipal election is now taking aim at two political veterans: Howard Moscoe and Kyle Rae.

The Coalition for Municipal Change, an umbrella group of ratepayers' associations with about 400 to 500 members, is actively seeking candidates to unseat the two experienced politicians in the November municipal election.

The group has bought two ads in a local monthly newspaper, hoping to recruit new candidates. It's not the first time the group has resorted to such a tactic.

In 2003, the coalition bought newspaper ad seeking a candidate to defeat then-city councillor Anne Johnston, running in her 13th municipal election campaign.

Johnston was later beaten by rookie Karen Stintz in the Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence race. The Coalition for Municipal Change had helped Stintz with fundraising and canvassing. Johnston supported a controversial Minto condo project at Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. E. over objections from local residents — an issue the coalition used to help defeat her.

But it remains to be seen whether this time the coalition can tap into a similar pool of voter anger. Coalition co-chair Michael Visser suggests frustration with both politicians is there.

Rae (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) has "never met a development he didn't like,'' Visser claims."It's not so much specific projects, as a kind of mentality that says any highrise building is a good thing. Mr. Rae seems to believe in the Manhattan model, where (piling) on enormous amounts of density is appropriate and the only way to go,'' Visser added.

Moscoe (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence) "should be a concern to anyone in Toronto,'' Visser claims.

As TTC chair, Moscoe has come under attack over the transit agency's untendered plan to purchase more than $700 million worth of subway cars from Bombardier. Recently departed TTC chief general manager Rick Ducharme also accused Moscoe of interfering in labour relations tied to May's wildcat TTC strike.

The coalition's ads have for run for the past week, with no candidates picked yet. Visser says that, though his group has right-wing members, it's "politically neutral'' and focused on bringing "democracy, transparency and fiscal accountability,'' to council.

Yesterday, both Moscoe and Rae seemed unfazed by the coalition's campaign against them.

"That's democracy. Bring them on,'' Moscoe said. He called the organization a "Tory front group who are basically trying to destroy the balance of council. But hey, I'm used to having people run against me. I've done it for 29 years.''

Rae, a councillor since 1991, denied he's always high on highrises.

"There are many developments in the ward I've opposed over the last few years, in fact,'' he said pointing to several projects including a tower targeted for St. Thomas St. that's now before the Ontario Municipal Board.

He called the group quintessential "NIMBYs'' who live in North Toronto single-family detached houses and only want to see similar homes or townhouses built.

AoD

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

And the Post:

Community group works to unseat councillors
The Targets: Places ads for aspiring politicians to battle Moscoe and Rae

James Cowan, National Post
Published: Wednesday, July 19, 2006

The community group that unseated one of Toronto council's best-known veterans in the 2003 election will try to do it again.

The Coalition for Municipal Change is looking for aspiring politicians to battle high-profile councillors Howard Moscoe and Kyle Rae in the November vote.

The group is advertising in local newspapers, a tactic that in 2003 led it to select neophyte Karen Stintz to battle 30-year veteran Anne Johnston in North Toronto's Ward 16. Ms. Stintz won by more than 2,300 votes.

According to the half-page ad currently running in two community newspapers, the group wants a candidate "who truly understands budget issues and planning."

"We cannot afford to have a councillor who accepts uncontrolled spending, rising taxes, reduced services and bad development," the ad states.

Individuals interested in running or nominating someone else are encouraged to e-mail or phone the group.

Coalition member Michael Visser said his group will offer its official endorsement to a suitable candidate, along with possible help canvassing and raising money.

He said the group decided to advertise after reviewing the candidates already registered to challenge the two long-serving incumbents.

"I think there are some good candidates in Councillor Rae's ward, I don't think there are any really great candidates in Councillor Moscoe's ward," Mr. Visser said.

Mr. Visser said the group is targeting Mr. Moscoe in North York's Ward 15 because of his actions as TTC chairman.

Rick Ducharme, the TTC's former chief general manager, cited Mr. Moscoe as his reason for quitting in May and the councillor has also faced criticism for supporting a controversial contract with Bombardier for new subway cars.

Today, Mr. Moscoe will face a non-confidence motion at the monthly meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission, although he is likely to survive.

"Councillor Moscoe has been lurching from one disaster to another," Mr. Visser said.

As for Mr. Rae, the councillor has raised the coalition's ire by backing numerous development projects.

"He seems to think there should be masses of giant condominium towers everywhere," Mr. Visser said. "We're not particularly impressed with Councillor Moscoe or Councillor Rae and think it would be to the benefit of Toronto if someone else took their job."

The coalition targeted Ms. Johnston because of her support for the controversial Minto condo development near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue that is now under construction.

But despite the organization's past success, Mr. Rae said the advertisements did not worry him.

"Perhaps they'll find someone willing to be a lap dog," he said.

Mr. Rae noted he is already facing five opponents in his downtown Ward 27.

"Perhaps [the coalition] has decided they don't like any of them either," he said.

For his part, Mr. Moscoe dismissed the group as "a right-wing coalition" who are "attempting to take over council."

"I always face two or three or four opponents during an election," he said. "Bring them on."

jcowan@nationalpost.com

THE TARGETS

KYLE RAE

The former director of the 519 Church Street community centre, Mr. Rae was first elected to city council in 1991. The councillor led the development of Toronto's first comprehensive drug policy, which included controversial proposals to study safe injection sites for addicts. Mr. Rae is also a leading proponent for intensified development in the downtown core as well as heritage preservation issues. Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2003, the councillor married Mark Reid, his long-time partner.

HOWARD MOSCOE

First elected to North York city council in 1978, the 66-year-old councillor was a high school art teacher before entering public life. During his 28-year-career, Mr. Moscoe has served as a city controller in North York and member of Metropolitan Toronto's council. Currently the TTC chairman and a close ally of Mayor David Miller, the councillor has been criticized for supporting signing a $750-million untendered contract with Bombardier to manufacture subway cars.

© National Post 2006
_________________________________________________

Good grief, expect great things from the group that brought us the Desperate Housewife.

AoD

 

[mpolo2]

You lose credibility when you dont include Rob Ford in that list.

 

[blixa442]

Good luck unseating Rae on an anti-condo platform.

 

[building babel]

At the rate we're going, within a few years the rapidly increasing number of condo owners will be able to cancel out the lowrise NIMBY vote, if they haven't already. Certainly they - and their issues - are a force to be reckoned with, playing their part in blocking Olivia Chow in her first run at a federal seat for instance.

What will be interesting is to see whether high rise condo owners will, themselves, become NIMBY's once they feel that a satisfactory critical mass of condo towers exists. Not so much not-in-my-back-yard as not-blocking-my-view-of-the-horizon. Rather like immigrants who become strongly anti-immigration after a few years.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

babel:

What will be interesting is to see whether high rise condo owners will, themselves, become NIMBY's once they feel that a satisfactory critical mass of condo towers exists. Not so much not-in-my-back-yard as not-blocking-my-view-of-the-horizon. Rather like immigrants who become strongly anti-immigration after a few years.

I am thinking of the same thing - in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the downtown wards become increasingly "right wing" as the demographic changes to include empty-nesters, the 50+, etc.

AoD