Volume 47 No. 15
BEACHMETRO.COM
October 16, 2018
TDSB trustee candidates talk platform By Nina Rafeek
ON OCTOBER 22, voters of Beaches—East York will be marking an “X” beside the name of who they hope to be their new school board trustees. With election day around the corner, trustee
candidates will be making the final push to convince voters why they should be chosen to represent the needs of parents and children in Ward 16 of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Continued on Page 2
PHOTO: KENN LEITCH
Diver chased by giant octopus Photographer Kenn Leitch snapped some cool kites at Ashbridges Bay on a recent sunny Saturday afternoon in the Beach. “Actually happened,” he told the Beach Metro News.
Ward 14 candidates debate transit, housing and term limits
PHOTOS: DOHA HANNO
A seat at the table The Toronto—Danforth (New Ward 14) Council Candidates’ Debate included (from left to right): Lanrick Bennett Jr., Chris Budo, Dixon Chan, Marisol D’Andrea, incumbents Paula Fletcher and Mary Fragedakis, Ryan Lindsay and Chris Marinakis. Not shown, candidate Alexander Peña, who was escorted out after storming in. By Doha Hanno
ALEXANDER PEÑA surprised everyone when he stormed in demanding a chair at the Toronto–Danforth Council Candidates’ (New Ward 14) Debate on October 3 at the Centennial College Story Arts Centre during Chris Marinakis’ opening statement. Security quickly escorted him out. He returned in time for the closing statements and was given a chair but decided to stand while expressing his concerns in a fiery two-minute speech. “Sorry I couldn’t be here because I wasn’t invited,” candi-
date Peña said. “My main focus is to regulate rental apartments. It is not possible for anything built before 1980 to cost more than $950!” “I’d also like people to get more involved in their communities. Walking around, you see that people don’t even talk to their neighbours so much. I think there’s less of a chance of crime when we have a strong community,” Peña told Beach Metro News after the debate. Community Activities Coordinator and Professor of Journalism at Centennial College, Mary Vallis, organized the event.
She said she tried reaching Peña but couldn’t find any of his contact information. With the attendance of nine of the Ward 14 candidates, the debate was a significant milestone in the development of the Toronto–Danforth community. Informative, controversial and heated at times, the event included a debate between city council candidates and general inquiries, comments and questions from the public. “I want to reflect on what this is really about. This is about local democracy. We’re down to 25 wards. For the City of Toronto,
this is really our time to find out what the candidates want, what they have to offer and it is your turn to hear that,” said Nate Horowitz, Dean of the Story Arts Centre. People sent in questions prior to the debate. Crime, gun violence, transportation, cycling, community involvement and affordable housing were the main topics covered.
Continued on Page 4
BRAD BRADFORD MAKING THE CITY WORK FOR YOU! Beaches–East York | Candidate
Campaign Office: 155 Main St. (at Gerrard)
bradbradford.ca
*Authorized by the CFO for the Brad Bradford Campaign