Why I’m Running for Mayor of Toronto

The Bloor Viaduct (or the Prince Edward Viaduct, if you want to be official about it) was once a magic portal for me. It was the way that I would get from the sleepy suburban feeling of my teenage time in Scarborough – where I lived until I was in my early 20s – to the energizing atmosphere of the downtown core.

Downtown – with all its novel neighbourhoods, unique retailers and restaurants, music venues and more – was a world beyond my own, and a place that pulsed with possibility. More and more, areas like Scarborough are now the incubators for talent as people are pushed out of the city’s centre; and I find that very exciting!

It’s that feeling of possibility, of potential, that’s kept me living in Toronto all these years. And it’s why I’m running for Mayor of Toronto right now.

MY WHY

There are three reasons why I’m running for Mayor of Toronto:

I believe that the next four years in Toronto’s history will be its most important, and there’s no time to waste on maintaining the status quo. In the last twenty years, I have watched the municipal government underfund and neglect key city necessities and amenities; now, as the province’s overreach continues to broaden, the urgency around affordable and public housing, harm reduction, safety and food security is even more pressing. It’s time for new leadership, helmed by people who have existed outside the political arena and bring new insights and ideas to the table. If there’s one thing I have learned from being a cultural journalist, it’s that the most interesting and successful creatives I’ve met are those who have pivoted towards their passion, even if they had no background or are self-taught in their practice. Not having the traditional perimeters forced them to forge a new path based on gut instinct, knowledge gathering and sharing, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

And, I believe that Toronto can become a leader in everything from small business support to the visual arts, sports and science but it lacks the infrastructural and social management to maintain quality of life for the current cost of living. It also falls short of meaningful public engagement and consultation and inserts needless bureaucracy into processes that hinder action. Toronto’s elected officials must prioritize decision-making that’s inclusive, transparent and opens avenues of accountability.

My unique mix of experience, education, expertise and earnestness has brought me to this decision – one that I don’t take lightly, and one that I’ve undertaken with deliberateness and curiosity. My career is based on asking questions and entreating people to be excited by, interested in or sceptical of things that are happening in the world, and I want to campaign under the idea that City Hall must improve its communication, transparency and accountability in all its activities. I look forward to bringing my news-focused mind to this task!

Where’s your favourite skyline spot?

I recently traveled to The Danforth, not too far from The Bloor Viaduct, and took a few moments to myself at Riverdale Park East; it was the middle of a weekday so the hillside was essentially empty. A streetcar ride past the same spot a few days later on a sunny Friday evening revealed a vista of revellers taking in Toronto’s fast-changing skyline.

FOR NOW…

I’m considering June the “soft launch” portion of my campaign, which will afford me the ability to decide on which issues to focus on within my platform. I’m looking for campaign volunteers, and I’m mapping out a content schedule that will speak to my background, my ideas, my ambitions, and how Toronto can get involved. That also means simply encouraging people to learn about the issues all the candidates are highlighting in the upcoming municipal election on October 26th. Democracy is in danger, but that doesn’t have to mean that’s the case in our beautiful, unique city.

Meetings and fact-finding are taking up most of my time lately – in the last few weeks I’ve spoken to business owners, finance consultants, lawyers, artists, parents and advocates; if you’d like to book a chat with me, please use this Calendly link to schedule a call.

SOON…

I’ll be launching the fundraising phase of my campaign, as well as an events calendar in early July. Subscribe to my mailing list to receive updates on how to donate and how to help out with upcoming campaign appearances.

This Summer and Fall I will encourage the citizens of Toronto to empower themselves and make an informed and optimistic choice for Mayor this October 26th. Thank you for reading, and please drop me a line if you’d like to talk about my platform at odessa@odessaformayor.ca.