Given all this moping and whining about our current candidate's platforms, I think I would be interesting to see people's ideal platforms for this particular election. I'll split it into several sections.
Preface: I'm going to self-censor down to a few ideas, and not discuss in detail projects which require actions by other levels of government, as to be fair to any Mayor/Council they may be unable to deliver such change.
Social
How will you improve or change the city's social programs?
Most social programs are funded and regulated by the province. I would focus on those the City has a high degree of control over, homeless shelters and public housing.
I would seek to reduce shelter beds (over time), by redesigning shelters and focusing resources on getting those who need mental health or addiction services into proper treatment, and those who don't, put directly into public or private housing, in accordance with their situation/age etc.
Second, I would continue and accelerate the program of major renewal in TCHC (public) housing, with a focus on creating mixed income neighbourhoods that are well integrated by streets, housing types, retail and jobs with surrounding areas, so as to provide not only safer and better neighbourhoods, but also make sure that people have easy access to jobs, and benefit as most of us do from having family/friends/neighbours who work and can help us get jobs.
I would try to 2 communities per year though this process (the current trend has been 1) . With Flemingdon Park, Jamestown, Teesdale, Cataraqui Cres., and Moss Park topping my list.
As with current redevelopments, the majority of the financing would come from new private sector partners, though some money would be found in the public purse as well.
Crime
How will you keep Toronto safe?
Toronto is fairly safe. Indeed it has one of the 2 or 3 lowest crime rates for all major cities in North America.
This would not be a priority area for scarce dollars. Though, we do know most crime is caused by young men aged 15-24, and always has been. Keeping them out of mischief is always the best way to fight crime. I would look at modest, targeted priorities, such as a limited number of recreation centres open till 2am on weekends, and restoring Toronto's outdoor pool hours to a standard close of 9pm (from the current 8) and extended hours on heat-alert days to 3am (instead of midnight).
The other key investment is keeping kids in school. This matter is overwhelmingly provincial. By I would lobby for more active anti-truancy measures and if needs be, have the police be directed to assist. You can't really force kids to learn, and every positive option should be exhausted, before we get heavy-handed. But dropping out needs to be a non-option.
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Plans?
While I support raising general funding further to the arts, I don't think that would be easy given competing priorities and scarce dollars.
I think I would target ways to bring more people to the arts programming/facilities we have in the short-run.
On heritage, I would like to invest in 1 'great' restoration, and 1 great reconstruction that would symbolically engage the community in the value of historical preservation. I would (if possible) let people vote. And in the end we might (as an example rebuild the great postal building that was on Adelaide (at the head of Toronto street) or perhaps the University Armoury. I would also like to bring back at least one movie 'palace'......we would need a private operator, but I'm inclined to fund that work for the Eglinton as its in good shape, and just needs its seats and risers back.
Economic
How will you improve the business climate in Toronto? How can we stop businesses from moving away, and attract new ones?
I think many Toronto businesses are doing well and the City's economy is outperforming the regional one, so we don't want to over-do the problems.
That said, we can and should, always do better.
To that end, I would accelerate the existing plan to shift business tax to residential and 'bite the bullet', the current program is full phase in by 2020, I would set the target as 2014.
I would also seek to reduce development costs, by axing all 'parking minimums' and let developers decide what they need, up to the maximum.
I would also make it much easier for restaurants to get a patio license. Simplifying the criteria, making a 1-page, online application, and cutting the fee to a bare minimum.
Other than that, as per transportation section below, I would seek to reduce gridlock!
Finance
How will you address Toronto's budget shortfalls?
1) I would not seek to cut hourly wages for existing City staff, even where I think pay is excessive, because I know its a losing battle. Instead, I would fight hard on employee pension plans which are a brutal cost, and have unfunded liabilities. The target is to move the effective retirement age to 67 (by adding 2 years to the age + years of service requirement that qualifies most City staff for pension. In the few jobs where hourly rates are grossly out of whack (TTC collectors) I would offer several alternatives to Unions, including buy-outs, early retirements etc. to accept a more reasonable wage scale, were that not possible, I would resort to contracting out as a last measure.
2) I would axe the following programs
a) Live Green Toronto (I believe in what it does, but it duplicates other work)
b) A la Carte (replaced by permissive regulations for all existing cart licensees)
c) I would reduce 'planning' staff in most departments and prohibit even one new consulting report on anything, when we have a stack of 100 reports un-acted on cause all the money was spent on the reports!
d)I would cut lawn mowing in parks, not frequency where mowing would continue, but instead naturalizing almost all valley land except for picnic areas, and naturalizing un-used sections of table-top (flat) parks, where there is nothing gained by the mowing (ie. not a sportsfield or a playground etc.)
e) I would reorganize recreation program funding, the 'welcome policy', mixed with some totally free rec. centres, and exorbitant fees at most other sites, is a cumbersome, overly expensive and bureaucratic way to deliver affordable access.
Instead, no welcome policy, no free centres, BUT, free self-serve programs (ie. fitness centres, weights/cardio, and lane-swimming and any kind of drop-in sports for youth, stuff that doesn't require instructors/staff except for lifeguards.
3) I would raise non-tax revenue. Primarily Parking.
a) on-street rates are well below those in Calgary, Vancouver and Chicago, I would order the TPA (parking authority) to raise peak-rates to $6.00 per hour over 4 years from the current $3.50. This would still be cheaper than Chicago!!!
b) raise parking permit costs, these are a give-away now at $15-45 per month they are .50c to $1.50 per day for parking!!! Market-value should come. For those with no parking space on their property, rates would double to $30 per month, for the first permit. Second permits would cost $60 per month While those who have parking on their property would pay $60 for the 1st permit and $90 for the second.
c) EVERY city parking lot (libraries, rec. centres, parks, city offices etc. would be a PAID lot) That includes charging police, fire fighters, and TTC workers for any parking, as well as City Councillors.
d) I would also lease City spaces, on-street and in lots to carsharing companies.
Infrastructure
How will you address the infrastructure maintenance shortfall?
Road tolls on the Gardiner and DVP would generate all the needed revenue for the transportation-side shortfall.
For backlogs in Parks, I would can most 'expansion' projects for services, until everything existing is caught-up. I would also look to change some life-cycle requirements, as I believe the backlog is exaggerated in some respects.
The TTC/GO Transit
What's your vision?
Short-term: Implement the Transit City Bus/Streetcar Plan: ie. guaranteed base-level service of every 20min, on all routes, 6am-1am, 7 days a week; and the transit grid of every 10min-service on select routes, same guarantee.
Deliver essential rush-hour service improvements to alleviate crowding, and start Sunday service 1 hour earlier (8am).
Finance this by eliminating all age-based fares, except for a 3 and under rides free policy.
Reduce the fare (vs. adult fares now as part of this). New fare structure, $2.50 cash, $20.00 for 10 tokens $100.00 for a monthly pass. No discount fares, no MVP programs, simple, lean, easy to understand. Single-fare medium means all TTC entrances can go automatic.
Medium Term:
Fix Streetcar bunching by making Queen a transit-only road, from Bay to Victoria, and putting in passing tracks and transit signals that even-out headway and allow empty vehicles to skip ahead of full ones. Signal regulation and passing tracks should also be in place at all terminals and short-turns where feasible.
Expand and modernize Y-B station, initiate immediate talks w/Great Gulf (1 Bloor site) as that site's lower levels could allow a massive expansion of the southbound mezzanine providing room for both passengers and retail.
Work on the bus bunching issue as well, possibly starting with terminal regulation (signals) for even-spacing, and a mid-route system, on long routes (ie. Dufferin Station for Dufferin)
Big expansions are solely the purview of the province, as is go. So no promises there...
But priority for lobbying would be given to the DRL, GO Lakeshore off-peak, more GO Stations in the 416, and proper connections between GO/TTC beginning with Dundas West/Bloor and Leslie/Oriole.
City Hall
What would you change at city hall? How can you make it more efficient? How can you make the electorate feel that they're listened to?
People are never happy with government, regardless of stripe! That said, focus on 311 expansion, automation of City bill payments and service requests etc.
Civil Service/Unions
How would you deal/interact with unions? How will you improve service?
AS described separately above, reasonable cost-reduction, balanced with fairness, and the big stick (contracting out) is a last resort, not a first, if all else fails.
Service is improved by finally being able to afford to hire more non-unionized staff, people that actually want to work!
