Londoners are gearing up to go to the polls on Oct. 24 for the upcoming municipal election as residents of the Forest City will elect their next desired mayor, city councillors and college board trustees.
Sixty-one candidates are running in 14 wards across the town, including nine in Ward 1.
The incumbent Michael van Holst is looking for a third-straight term on council, but eight challengers are on the ballot.
With a whole lot of recent faces coming to the table, Global News has reached out to all those within the running and emailed an inventory of 5 questions on a number of the key issues in the town from combating homelessness, addiction and mental health issues to reasonably priced housing.
The responses for each candidate who replies shall be shared below. You will discover the entire published ward candidate responses on this page.
Listed below are the answers received from through running for councillor in Ward 1:
Michael van Holst (incumbent)
Q1. Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
Homelessness just isn’t just an issue for the people experiencing it but for everybody who feels the impacts. We must recognize that the housing first model won’t work if we’ve got no housing available.
Two years ago, I pushed for a pilot of temporary mobile shelters like those which now sit vacant behind Ark Aid Mission. These must be allowed so we are able to contain the issue within the short term. Mental health and addiction supports are a key to assisting those that will otherwise proceed to search out themselves on the streets.
I propose that we redirect the long-term financial commitment of 50-year reasonably priced housing units at 20 per cent discount from traditional developers toward short term projects built by organizations that provide supportive housing. The town is constructing and selling a very important development at 18 Elm St. We should always use the cash to construct one other and repeat the method in all parts of the town.
Previously I proposed we construct projects on the town’s agricultural land so participants would have the chance to garden and work in greenhouses. Harm reduction shouldn’t be our only approach to addiction.
Q2. London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
My priority just isn’t downtown however the struggling business corridors in Ward 1 which include Hamilton Road plus sections of Adelaide, Commissioners and Wellington Streets. That said, downtown businesses thrive when persons are there to spend money. Approving high-rises makes sure there are local residents to frequent local businesses.
Unfortunately, few people I discuss with who live outside the downtown need to go there. One reason is simply too much construction happening without delay (combined with blocking off Dundas Street for cars). The larger reason is their discomfort with the high degree of drug use and homelessness which could be addressed with the solutions I suggested above.
Q3. Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
Higher taxes increase the fee of living so, obviously, more fiscal responsibility on the a part of council will help. As an illustration, I opposed us sending $100,000 off to Quebec, spending an additional $2.3 million on a ‘fancy’ bridge at Ridout Street, and actions that were prone to have us find yourself in court. Council overspends since it fails to balance multiple priorities.
The largest impact we are able to make on housing is to extend the availability. It could be done if we:
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- Speed up the approvals process for builders by expanding, automating, and refining the constructing department.
- Exploit all land opportunities including closed schools, underused LMCH holdings (like Allen Rush Gardens), surplus lands and properties left over after widening Wellington Road.
- Allow maximum height and intensity when design elements compensate adequately.
- Redirect the long run funds for 50-year reasonably priced housing projects into the current for the supportive housing projects needed now.
- Have the HDC constantly construct great projects like 18 Elm St. and sell them to fund the subsequent project.
- Recognize the necessity for more co-ops and geared to income housing.
- Respond quickly to complaints, like bedbugs, that make housing undesirable.
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Q4. London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
Average Londoners were all the time clear on their must-haves for transit and access to the economic areas, greater frequency, improved reliability and more shelters. These must be prioritized as the subsequent phase.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is more of a nice-to-have but the important thing to receiving a whole lot of money to repair the infrastructure under the roads.
The north route was considered a flawed alternative and could be revisited after we see the present projects in motion. We’d like to remain open to recent ideas because big, often empty, busses is probably not the long run of public transit. Electric buses won’t make up for poor service and the true greenhouse gas profit comes from getting people out of their cars which only happens if the service is effective.
Q5. What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
I need us to view London as a clean, beautiful place with abundant opportunity for profession and recreation. It is best to feel secure all over the place, get around easily, and appreciate your fellow residents enough to be involved as a volunteer. You need to be confident local government is doing their job well, and be at liberty to create an incredible life for yourself and your loved ones.
To get there we’d like to:
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- Use common sense and prioritize our spending on actions that create tangible gains,
- Create transit access to the economic areas,
- Take motion to scale back crime,
- Have a more focused full-time council like every other city our size.
- Make London the most effective place to be a volunteer because city hall can’t do it on their lonesome,
- Increase the housing supply relative to the demand to make life more cost-effective,
- Create supportive housing for those with mental health problems so our downtown and green spaces don’t change into a psychiatric ward,
- Use a greater approach to addiction than simply harm reduction.
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Julie Reynolds
Q1. Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
I feel in a pathway of support that starts with climate controlled shelters with access to rest room and washing facilities. It ends with people in everlasting housing and dealing, or receiving, the suitable advantages. In between is where the true work happens and would depend upon each case.
Addictions go down the deterrence and rehab path, that permits them to fail and keep trying without losing their bed. Mental illnesses receive the suitable therapies and medications. Low to no income individuals receive retraining if needed and are supplied with reasonably priced units.
Q2. London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
With all due respect to each a part of London, I’ll say this; Ward 1 has gone without consideration for much too long. Our businesses are struggling, our spaces are falling apart, and nobody has looked our way. I’ll support any actionable plans that I feel will profit the core which might be brought before the council, but Ward 1, or the town as a complete, shall be my primary concerns by way of items I’ll be bringing forward.
Q3. Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
I’d wish to mandate a non-negotiable minimum percentage of reasonably priced units, each residential and industrial, in all future developments. Affordability could be based on ODSP/OW rates or average local startup financing, and unit sizes and kinds could be varied.
We’d like to strictly implement absentee landlord laws, tax empty and undeveloped properties, and take a look at allowing backyard dwellings for those related to the residents of the important house. London housing also has a plan, and funding, to alleviate a few of this burden, we just need a council that forces it forward.
Q4. London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
These plans appear to be in a continuing flux, and without knowing what kind of a council we’ll have for the subsequent 4 years, it’s hard to create an in depth plan.
What I hope to see is a system that is definitely rapid with multiple buses, of whatever size, running more regularly than half an hour. I need to see all industrial areas properly serviced so those without vehicles can fill those decent paying plant vacancies, and reduce our unemployment rate. I need to see kids on school buses as a substitute of city buses no matter what block they survive.
I don’t want anyone on this city having to go away an hour and a half before they begin work with the intention to get there in time.
Q5. What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
I would really like to see each community, or Ward, change into a thriving, walkable community with all resources inside a brief distance. I need to see every area, and its businesses, thriving. I need to see policing be community based where the officers are accountable to the communities they serve, and work to achieve their trust and confidence. I need our green spaces kept green, I need our farms to maintain producing, and I need our cover goal to be the most effective within the country.
I need a council that understands what an incredible city we could be if we just concentrate on your entire city, as a substitute of our personal goals. I need council members that realize it’s a position of service, not a pay cheque or a profession stepping stone. I feel among the finest ways to perform that is to concentrate on getting people civically engaged and taking control of our council the best way democracy was intended. People have the facility and I’ll make it a part of my job to show them find out how to use it.
Ryan Cadden
Q.1: Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
I see the National Housing Plan as an incredible start within the battle against homelessness. I feel the municipal government could help by utilizing municipal owned land to construct emergency facilities and supportive housing or take a look at selling that land to non-profit organizations at a reduction that may use the land for those purposes, or for creating low-cost housing.
In the course of the pandemic, the temporary use of facilities equivalent to community centres and arenas were used to assist support the homeless, but I believe we’d like a long-term strategy. We also need to have a look at creating fair labour market conditions, and municipal tax breaks for young renters and homeowners to make sure they will not be forced into homelessness in the long run.
Q.2: London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
I believe we’d like a tax on abandoned buildings to force landlords to either construct on their property, or sell to someone who will. Also, I feel a review of the lively transportation and transit systems is required to be sure that London is secure and accessible for all.
Q.3: Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
I might push for city hall to not allow developers to carry us hostage. Also, I feel the municipal government could help by utilizing municipal owned land to construct emergency facilities and supportive housing or take a look at selling that land to non-profit organizations at a reduction that may use the land for those purposes, or for creating low-cost housing.
Q.4: London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
The town needs a full revamp of the transit system. I fear for ladies, elderly and youth who must take transit at night with buses which might be often late or too full to simply accept them. We’d like a full review of our system to make sure it’s efficient and accessible for all.
Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
My vision for the subsequent 10 years in London is to create a safer and more accessible place to live. For too long we’ve got had individuals with mental health issues who’ve nowhere to receive support. Too often have we heard stories of individuals’s cars, garages and even houses being broken into with nowhere to go for guidance or peace of mind.
We deserve safer and more accessible lively transportation and transit systems to be sure that when our residents do determine to make green selections for transportation that they’re secure to traverse our city.
Hadleigh McAlister
Q.1: Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
I believe that the City of London needs to acknowledge that it just isn’t operating a small Southern Ontario town anymore. We’re major city of nearly half 1,000,000 people and our priorities must shift accordingly.
Like many other major cities in Canada, London is within the midst of a housing crisis, and we’d like a council that may fight for more cost-effective options for all its residents, including providing shelter for people currently experiencing homelessness. The town cannot do that alone, we’d like to work with all levels of presidency to place more funds into healthcare and housing.
To actually assist people experiencing homelessness we’d like to adopt a more compassionate and holistic model. This may require an infusion of funds to bolster our social services, construct and staff supportive housing, and offer addiction and mental health supports.
Q.2: London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
I assisted my family in running the shop that they had in downtown London, on Talbot Street, for a few years, so I understand the challenges that companies are facing downtown. Unfortunately, the problems facing the core have gotten worse not higher over time. Thefts, vandalism, and empty storefronts have change into common features and we’d like to vary that. We’d like to bolster our police presence, increase our by-law enforcement, and supply business incentives to encourage development.
Q.3: Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
Housing is considered one of my top priorities and we’d like to take decisive motion on it. We’d like policies that end exclusionary zoning, support infill projects, stabilize rent prices, license landlords, and adopt speculation and emptiness taxes.
Q.4: London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
London is considered one of the fastest growing municipalities and transit projects must accommodate that growth. I need to see an integrated bus network brought online, that’s efficient and sustainable, for all Londoners. We should be what Kitchen-Waterloo and Ottawa have been in a position to put in place for public transit.
Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
I would really like to see more equality in the best way that London is governed.
I’m running for council because I need to see more attention paid to a component of city that is usually forgotten and neglected. Time and time again I hear from Ward 1 residents that they don’t feel like anyone cares about them. This must stop and I shall be that strong advocate for Ward 1 to be sure that we’re on equal footing with the opposite wards.
All of us need to see our city prosper and we must always be working together as a unified council to offer equal attention to all wards.
Oberon Godden
Q.1: Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
My idea to assist homelessness is to have a social work outreach program that may hit the streets and help the homeless find shelter, food and navigate out existing social services.
Q.2: London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
I feel the downtown could possibly be revitalized by having reasonably priced apartments for rent as a substitute of just expensive condos where people live and shop and work elsewhere. I might first put a tax on vacant buildings and encourage construction to revitalize old apartments into attractive rentals.
Q.3: Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
Inexpensive housing is a very important concern for a lot of residents. I’m in favour of subsidized tract housing available to households making under $100,000.
Q.4: London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
I feel transit would run more efficiently if it ran 24-hours.
Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
My vision for London in the subsequent 10 years is to be a more inclusive, reasonably priced city with a booming economy.
Shirley Walton
Q.1: Over the summer, the group The Forgotten 519 put out a call to motion to provide you with urgent solutions to handle London’s homelessness crisis. If elected, how would you tackle homelessness, addiction and mental health issues in London?
Inexpensive housing is at a critical level where homelessness is at an all tone high.
Municipally, we’d like to offer subsidies to homeowners in order that they can rent out units to diminish the numbers of individuals on the streets.
Constructing reasonably priced housing is crucial however the red tape is what holds back developments and taxes must be reduced so housing could be reasonably priced. If mortgage rates are high then developers should receive a break in order that they can reduce the fee of housing passed right down to the tenants. The reasonably priced housing act stipulates government subsidies can be found but should be implemented quicker to scale back the wait tones.
City hall must revamp old buildings for temporary to everlasting placement for families.
Q.2: London business owners have recently highlighted a number of the economic challenges they’re facing particularly within the downtown core. What strategies do you plan to revitalize London’s downtown core to assist businesses thrive?
Businesses within the downtown core need a break on taxes to thrive and give you the chance to renovate their businesses in order that they can thrive within the downtown core and sure expand.
Q.3: Affordability within the housing and rental markets is essentially the most pressing issue for a lot of Londoners. If elected, what changes would you push for to ease the burden on Londoners relating to the fee of living?
Cost of living has impacted Londoners. Raised prices of hydro, gas, and taxes must be removed and decreased costs for low income earners mustn’t be cut off and receive reduced rates on services.
Q.4: London is within the strategy of constructing three legs of bus rapid transit, but challenges remain for the north and west end of the town. What’s your vision for the subsequent phase of public transit in the town?
Transit is an enormous issue and electric trains would help the outer regions of London to achieve the inner parts of the town. We’d like to expand reasonably priced transit so people can get out of London and revel in other municipalities and make it reasonably priced.
Q.5: What’s your vision for London in the subsequent 10 years and the way will we get there?
The following 10 years for London will undoubtedly see greener initiatives changing how we live.
We’d like to extend housing and reduce the carbon foot print (by) introducing solar. Our transit must be increased but with electric transportation to scale back emissions. Sustainable electric vehicles would require updates on our energy sectors.
London has all the time been known for its trees and we’d like to plant more and increase recreation so people can enjoy time with family. Cleansing up parks, the Thames River, and pollution is very important as our wildlife is determined by it.
Londoners are all the time trying to find outside help but we’d like to ban together to bring about change. We cannot do it alone, outreach programs must thrive so people can enjoy this amazing city we call London.
— Questions by Global News’ Jaclyn Carbone and Maya Reid.
