As we approach the 2022 municipal election, Global Kingston caught up with each of the 39 candidates in search of a seat on Kingston city council. Here we asked them about why they’re running and what issues matter most to them. Below is the query and answer for the candidates in Trillium who responded to our e-mail.
Jimmy Hassan
Why are you running?
I’m running for my fellow Kingstonians. All my life, I even have believed that I should give greater than I get and for me, I’ve at all times dreamed of with the ability to make a difference in a fair greater way than the last. Running on this election is my opportunity to try this and if given the honour, I’ll do every thing in my power to be a voice for my fellow Kingstonians who speaks the message they wish to share with the council.
What needs improvement in your district?
While out canvassing, one of the crucial common things I’ve heard is “Infrastructure! Infrastructure! Infrastructure!” The roads in lots of neighbourhoods aren’t as much as the usual residents expect from the town, and on top of that many individuals drive very unsafe in these areas. Speeding, running signs, and never giving right of way. Even when the unlucky happens and someone gets hurt, nobody takes accountability. This will not be okay behaviour, especially in areas where children, individuals with disabilities or challenges, and seniors live.
Why do you are feeling you must represent that district?
I even have lived in Trillium from day one since I got here to Kingston or about 20 years! Not only that, I’m passionate and energetic. I even have served the district through my business, donated and raised money or other resources like food for various charities and initiatives in Kingston, and I’ve even run many projects of my very own primarily through my non-profit. I’m also at all times blissful to talk with constituents about their concerns in any way they feel comfortable. Nose to nose, by phone, and by email, I even have and can at all times be open and available to listen. I even have proven time and time again that I’m dedicated and focused, and that my eagerness to represent and the trouble I put in will remain for all 4 years if I’m elected.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
For me, I feel it’s Kingston’s long-term sustainability. How can the town not only fix but maintain our roads or parks, what could be done to satisfy the promise of being a pacesetter in environmental sustainability, ways by which we are able to address the housing problem in the town, growth and development so Kingston can safely generate secure revenue and jobs, and methods to keep our youngsters and students in the town to offer back and contribute to the economy in order that our tax dollars aren’t being invested in people who will leave after their studies. All these are various issues, but all of them cope with the overarching concern of sustainability for the long run. That’s what I feel is most vital.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
I hope that, as a councillor, I can achieve transparency and communication. I need to give you the option to take heed to my constituents and share their concerns or ideas with the town. As a councillor, it’s my aim to give you the option to carry the town accountable for his or her guarantees and duties, but additionally allow my fellow Kingstonians to carry me accountable for my very own claims. Most significantly, I need to be a councillor that may get together with my fellow councillors, in order that we are able to create an environment that listens to one another in addition to our constituents as a substitute of fighting, and find real solutions for the town.
Rob Matheson
Why are you running?
All levels of presidency proceed to move within the fallacious direction on quite a lot of issues. I’m fortunate that in driving a taxi for the last ten years, I even have spoken with countless people who represent the variety in Kingston, from fellow residents, tourists, students, business owners and other organizations. Residents from all walks of life have told me their foremost concerns are: the dearth of geared-to-income housing, the conditions of roads built only just a few years ago, the collapsing health care system, including the dearth of family physicians and psychiatrists and the overwhelmed hospitals. Also they are very concerned with climate change, and despite having declared a climate emergency we proceed to clearcut our forests, and construct recent housing developments that only the wealthy can afford and that contribute to the issues, not the solutions.
What needs improvement in your district?
The foremost concerns for Trillium are roads, traffic calming on residential streets and on-street parking in our smaller subdivisions, in addition to problems in a few of our parks. Our parks must be enhanced and upgraded to have more adult and teenage infrastructure in addition to off-leash dog areas for our fur buddies.
Our roads must be built with innovation to last. It’s a travesty that we proceed to waste our tax dollars on repairing potholes or rebuilding recently made roads. They need to have been built right the primary time. After I was on city council from 2006-2010, in collaboration with Simon Hesp, professor of Road Chemistry from Queen’s University and Kingston’s Public Works Department, I worked on a road tendering system as a pilot project in front of the Frontenac Mall. The Contractor was forced to redo the work freed from charge for the City because they’d not followed the agreed-upon conditions. It has been our greatest road ever since. Once we reduce the necessity to repair roads, we’ll then use the cash saved on geared-to-income housing, or a more enhanced Physician Recruitment Program, public-owned retirement homes, or on simply mitigating property tax increases, so residents even have more disposable income to spend locally.
We’re having issues with parks being vandalized, tearing out flowers in Lions Civic Gardens, dumping grocery carts and other items in our ponds, partying, fighting, and abandoning a large number. Quite a few residents do their best to re-plant and clean up the park, nevertheless, the issue persists. One resident, unfortunately, needed to take his dog to the vet with a deep cut as a consequence of broken glass left behind. The truth is, the violence has now escalated to the Isabel Turner Library itself with a racially motivated assault by an 18-year-old youth having just occurred. This disrespect for one another, the residents and nature throughout the park have to stop. “It takes a village to lift a toddler”. We want to do higher.
Why do you are feeling you must represent that district?
I’ve lived on this neighbourhood for over 20 years, and I raised my children here. I’ve seen how Kingston has grown and adjusted over time. I used to be fortunate to grow up overseas in Tanzania, Turkey, France, Belgium and Greece, and prior to moving to Kingston, I lived in Gatineau for 12 years. These experiences have given me a worldview and open mind of what is feasible, to not accept the established order.
After leaving Bell Canada after they closed the Kingston Call Centre, I ran for City council and served from 2006-2010. Since then, as a self-employed working-class guy, I even have gained an intimate knowledge of not only the west end but every a part of our fair city and the region we’re blessed to call home. I do know firsthand the struggles all of us face to pay our bills, put food on the table, and keep our heads above water. I know the way hard we work for our money.
I’m running this campaign as I’d run our city, with frugality and little to no waste. I even have fewer lawn signs and am only printing one piece of literature. The truth is, I attempted to avoid even having lawn signs, by attempting to get an agreement from all of the candidates to not have them. Sadly one wanted them, so I needed to play the sport. I feel they’re a whole waste of resources, time and money, and most find yourself in our overflowing landfills. Thus, contributing to the climate emergency as a substitute of helping.
Fortunately, it was because of our Council from 2006-2010 that no signs are allowed on public property a minimum of.
As a previous City Councillor that completed loads during my four-year term, I even have the experience and knowledge to work with our Councillors to get things done. I commit to helping start. and meeting monthly with a West end community association, just like one which I helped start back in 2006. I feel in hearing your voice and concerns throughout my mandate should I be privileged to be your alternative on Monday, October twenty fourth.
What’s probably the most pressing issue in all of Kingston?
Constructing roads to last in order that we are able to afford the infrastructure projects we really want, resembling geared to income housing which is THE priority. We must do our part to mitigate man-made global warming and transition to a green economy. We must construct all our future infrastructure to last and prepare for the consequences of climate change by being proactive in helping our residents prepare as well.
What do you hope to perform as a city councillor?
WE CAN act locally while pondering globally. WE CAN do higher by our residents and create a community where we are able to all thrive and prosper. We are able to mitigate our contributions to human-driven global warming while preparing ourselves for the outcomes of ongoing climate change. WE CAN spend money on our small businesses and grow a green economy that advantages each ourselves and our incredible natural heritage. WE CAN proceed to change into a welcoming, just and fair society that invests in geared-to-income housing. One which learns from our collective history, in order that we are able to truly change into a beacon in an at times bleak world.
“The definition of insanity is doing the identical thing over and again, expecting a distinct result.” Albert Einstein
I’ll strive to make much saner decisions, along with you my friends and neighbours in Trillium and Kingston by helping create a west-end community association that I’ll seek the advice of monthly on big decisions Council can have before it.
