From: HM VOELKER Sent: December 19, 2020 2:07 PM To: H.-Michael Voelker Subject: To all the Candidates
Questions to all the Candidates
Thank you to you all for standing as a candidate for Ward 22 in this special by-election.
As a 30+ year resident of this ward I am sending this e-mail to all who have kindly provided contact information, in the hopes that you can provide youdr postion to these issues that are important to me. I realise that your time is valuable, so I hope that you will be able to find some time to respond to these questions:
1. How long have you lived in the riding and what is your one most important qualification to represent the residents of this ward?
I have not lived in the riding.
I can voice your concerns and the concerns of all residents at City Council.
My goal will be to bring those concerns and issues to City Council and to bring back solutions to the residents of Scarborough-Agincourt.
2. Apart from serving the residents of this Ward, what is your one overall goal to making Scarborough and Toronto better places to live?
There are many issues that affect the residents of the city of Toronto and also the residents of Scarborough-Agincourt:
gun violence;
Transit is needed to reach all corners of the ward;
Homelessness is another big issue affecting the downtown core, MIDTOWN TORONTO and the residents of Scarborough-Agincourt with the Delta Hotel sheltering homeless people .
3. What is your single, most pressing issue that you want to see addressed in Ward 22?
I think there are multiple issues that need to be addressed simultaneously :
Transit: the extension of the Young Shepperd subway line;
homeless people: being lodged at the Delta Hotel;
Businesses (gov jobs in view of pandemic)having to established themselves in the ward.
4. How would you assure fair treatment and equal access to all city resources to all citizens of the City?
By Law.
5. Do you support extending the Sheppard Subway – Why, and what transit improvements in the ward and North Scarborough would you push for?
Yes .
The price of the subway extension has apparently ballooned. This leaves us with the LRT . Either way, this extension needs to start a.s.a.p.
TRANSIT needs to reach ALL FOUR CORNERS of the ward.
6. Do you support the legalisation of Rooming Houses and separate apartments in currently one-family dwellings in the ward/ Scarborough? – How else would you deal with the affordable housing / homelessness crisis in the City and in Scarborough in particular?
I am concern for the safety of residents with the legalisation of rooming houses ; ref.: MIDTOWN -TORONTO shelters
If that is what the residents want, then I will support it.
A for separate apartments in a one-family dwelling: if that is what the residents want, I will support it.
Concerning affordable housing, I would ask the landlords to reduce their rents by e.g. 25% which have been increasing every year regardless of the salary of tenants which
1- does not increase every year, and
2- does not get adjusted to the cost of living every year.
I would ask landlords to take 10% of their units to be rented at 30% of Gross income which is the ongoing rate of Toronto Community Housing Corp (T.C.H.C.).
7. Where do you see waste in the city budget? How would you combat it?
That would be an interesting issue.
It will pop up and be recognizable.
I would surely raise my concern against this.
8. What is your understanding of “Project Creep” and how would you prevent it?
???
9. Do you support a comprehensive review of the role and budget of the Toronto Police Service – Why? What role do you see policing take in this city?
Defunding the police is NOT a good idea.
Police presence is a deterrent to crime.
10. The provincial government has in recent years stepped in to override the City’s proposed election reforms, transit plans and zoning plans. Do you agree with the province’s actions? Why? If you are opposed to these actions, what steps would you take to prevent these types of actions?
It is all for Better government and for Better management and for A Better Quality of Life for Torontonians.
If no one else sees the need for Better planning in all these areas then it is good that the Ontario provincial government intervenes to do so.
We must learn to work with this level of Government.
Regards,
Michael JULIHEN
1814-57 Mabelle Ave. Etobicoke ON M9A 4Y5 Tel.: 416-524-2504
To be clear, I represent only myself, looking to help make Scarborough a better place to live for all residents.
Again, I would like to thank you all for running in this bi-election, and thank you in advance for your time in responding to these questions.
May all your celebrations at this festive time be joyous, and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
Stay safe!
With kind regards,
H.-M. Voelker
Bridlewood/Agincourt
Scarborough, Ward 22