Metropolis councillor Josh Matlow had been a thorn within the aspect of former mayor John Tory for a very long time. Now, the midtown Toronto politician is vying to take the large chair and exchange Tory at metropolis corridor come June 26.
Matlow was first elected to workplace as a faculty board trustee in 2003 earlier than making the bounce to metropolis council in 2010.
The 47-year-old politician has made a reputation for himself at metropolis corridor by urgent decision-makers to make selections based mostly on information and never politics whether or not it was the Sheppard subway extension, the choice on whether or not or to not tear down the japanese portion of the Gardiner Expressway, or to permit for the consumption of alcohol in metropolis parks.
Up till now, political forces larger than anybody metropolis councillor on a metropolis council and province that tilts very conservative put Matlow within the minority. This might change if he’s elected mayor.
Here’s what Josh Matlow has to say
What was your first job?
My first job as a child was delivering newspapers for the Toronto Star.
What’s the worst piece of profession recommendation you’ve ever obtained?
Early in my profession a political veteran suggested me to “maintain my head down, by no means converse up on controversial points and keep out of bother.” I clearly ignored that recommendation.
What do you like most about Toronto?
The folks.
What do you dislike essentially the most?
For a lot too lengthy, in relation to housing, structure, infrastructure, public area and even primary companies, our metropolis has reached for the peak of mediocrity. I do know we are able to achieve this a lot better.
The place is the primary place you ship guests?
There’s nobody place. There are lots of, together with Kensington Market, the Islands, the Bluffs, Rouge Park, Colonel Sam Smith Park and extra!
The place is the perfect view within the metropolis?
From the Toronto Islands.
What’s your favorite special day restaurant?
Tao Northern Chinese language Delicacies.
What’s the final present you noticed in Toronto?
Hamilton
When is the final time Josh Matlow took public transit in Toronto?
This morning.
Have you ever ever commuted by bicycle within the metropolis?
Sure.
The place is your favorite place to get away from all of it?
Our ravines
Gardiner Expressway – proceed with hybrid choice, sure or no?
We’re the one metropolis on the earth pondering of rebuilding an elevated expressway alongside our waterfront. As a result of it’s already crumbling, we should always take this chance to rebuild the japanese a part of the Gardiner at floor stage, as an alternative of placing it again up excessive. This may save hundreds of thousands of {dollars} and liberate new land for housing.
Do you assist the Ontario Place Thermé Spa undertaking?
I stand with Torontonians and oppose promoting off our public waterfront in alternate for a personal spa.
What’s your definition of reasonably priced housing?
Extra housing choices in order that it’s potential for everybody to discover a protected, wholesome dwelling of their finances.
What extra can the town do to assist these experiencing homelessness in Toronto?
As mayor, I’ll publicly declare homelessness an emergency and advocate to senior ranges of presidency to extend funding for shelter and rent-geared-to-income housing. Plus, I’ll get the town again within the enterprise of constructing its personal reasonably priced housing with Public Construct Toronto, a brand new company that can ship reasonably priced housing on city-owned lands at value.
Does the town have a public security downside? In that case, what’s your answer?
Individuals are feeling unsafe within the metropolis lately. As an example, they really feel like they should keep alert once they’re out in public, and select not to go to sleep on the TTC within the mornings like they used to. We are able to’t arrest our manner out of violence. We now have to spend money on neighborhood applications, companies and helps to handle disadvantages like poverty, racism, psychological well being and dependancy points to offer alternative and assist stop violence within the first place.
Are Toronto residents going to must pay extra in taxes to enhance high quality of life within the metropolis? If not, what’s the reply?
Imagine it or not, Toronto has the bottom tax charge of any municipality within the province. Our taxes have been held actually low and our companies are struggling for it. I feel everybody in Toronto realizes we’ve got to make some actual selections about what sort of metropolis we wish to stay in, and that we’ve got to make small, good investments by modest property tax will increase to fund these priorities.
Is Doug Ford’s interference within the metropolis inflicting an issue, sure or no?
When Premier Ford tries to unload our public waterfront or transfer a public asset just like the Science Centre though Torontonians don’t agree with him, it is a downside. As mayor, I’ll stand as much as Premier Ford and combat for Torontonians’ priorities.
What would you say is Toronto’s most iconic meals?
Toronto doesn’t have a single iconic meals and that’s one of many issues I like about our metropolis. We are able to expertise each sort of delicacies from around the globe, proper right here. That each one being stated, I do admire the truth that, not like within the States, our sizzling canine distributors barbecue, quite than boil, their sizzling canine.
When you had been to assist a car-free zone within the metropolis the place would it not be?
In every single place street hockey is being performed.
Is the town doing sufficient to battle the local weather disaster? If not, what would you do in another way?
We now have an ideal, fact-based technique known as TransformTO which spells out how we get to zero emissions by 2040, nevertheless it doesn’t have devoted funding. I wish to put in a brand new company parking zone levy to lift cash to fund our formidable climate-action objectives.
What ought to be performed concerning public transit, the cuts and the low ridership?
Wonderful transit is nice for folks, public well being and the planet. We now have to reverse the TTC cuts to verify everybody who depends on this service can get to the place they should go in a protected, dependable and reasonably priced manner. One of the best ways to spice up ridership is to enhance service.
What’s your highest quality?
I method issues with compassion and empathy.
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