Four pillars

I'd like to introduce the four pillars of my platform:

1. A breath of fresh air
2. A wisdom buffet
3. A city that shares
4. In a new-mind way

Over the next few posts I'll be discussing each of these, and I'll start, now, with "a breath of fresh air."

There's nothing more important than the next breath you take. A sane city that takes care of its citizens ensures that the air quality, to the best of its ability, is good. That's about as basic as we can get. I want to live in a city that guarantees me the right to breathe fresh air.

1. All carbon vehicles (oil, gas, diesel, etc) should be replaced with environmentally friendly, benign, hopefully locally built vehicles.

2. We could be green, literally, everywhere. Urban foresting, agriculture, reducing our waste, these are all no-brainers. The means by which we do this: an enlightened and empowered citizenry. Why not have access to natural growing things, the ballet, and the hockey game? Urban agriculture, square foot gardening, these are not new ideas, they have been around since cities have existed. All we need to do is apply them.

3. Energy generation. The sooner we get rid of fossil burning and atomic energy, the happier the whole planet's going to be. Our part in that, is as quickly as we can, to harness the wind, the sun, the water, and the thermal energy. Huge amounts of this technology already exist, and more technology is being developed every day. Toronto has an educated population and I see no reason why we couldn't be a world centre for the development of new technologies that are going to help us all.

4. As a senior citizen, I value my mobility. I find that with the most comfortable shoes, I still have to deal with concrete, asphalt, etc. There are alternatives for soft underfooting that already exist. Does it make sense to make sidewalks as hard as roads built for cars? Every child knows it's more fun to walk on something soft; let's encourage walking in a way that's good for our knees and our health.

I'm inspired by the new Dongtan development in Shanghai, with its community recycling and combined heat and power, and by initiatives in already built cities, such as Copenhagen's world's largest offshore windmill park, and Vancouver's 100-year plan for green living. If Toronto is our home, let's treat it like that. We should take pride in our home.

When I leave office in 2020, I want to be able to look back and say "here's what we accomplished." There are no carbon-burning vehicles in the city of Toronto! Green cabs, electric buses, world-class subways, carbon-neutral transportation of goods. I'm standing in line for the theatre and there's a peach tree overhead, local food is being produced everywhere, vertical gardens, integrated with urban spaces. We generate 90% of our energy and have also cut our waste by 90%. The sidewalks are being steadily replaced by softwalks and we are seeing more and more pedestrians, more street life, and safer neighbourhoods for that reason.

Sooner or later

If you continue to do what you've always done
You'll continue to get what you've got before
You can't expect any more
If you're driving down the road in the same direction
You're liable to get where you're heading to
You know it's true!
What else can you do?

Sooner or later, everyone knows we’re going to have to make some changes. However, at my age, I don't have much later left. I want my later sooner! I want my later now!

And here’s the least I want from my later, before I’m the late Howard:

I want to breathe clean, fresh air. If Toronto is to be a world-class, green city, then we have got to get rid of all diesel and fossil-fuel burning cars and trucks on the road.

I want to cool my hot feet in the clean waters of Lake Ontario.

I want to walk on soft surfaces. Is concrete our only choice? If my hips, knees and ankles could vote, they’d have something to say.

I want to be inspired. When was that last time you believed in something so passionately you were willing to take a risk? When was the last time you were so excited about some political idea you were willing to call your friends or throw a party?

I wish I were forty years younger, thinner and black, but I’ve been yearning for dynamic social change most of my life. While I still have energy in my body I will give back as much as I can.

If you're happy and you know it, then vote the way you've been voting. If you haven’t been voting and you’re happy with those results, then don’t vote. If you'd like to be involved in dynamic social change, then come out and join me. Together we'll dream the new Toronto.

My personal sex scandal

In light of recent developments in the mayoralty race, I think it is important for me to make a clean breast of it. I categorically deny that there is anything improper in my association with Madonna. We are casual acquaintances and that's all there is to it. Yes, we have both been seen in New York, California, and Israel, but it's just coincidental. We both value our privacy, so please don't ask her about me.

O, and that thing with Angelina? One time only. However, Brad and I are confused.

If you are still interested in my sex life, I really pity you.

And Mr. Smitherman, shall we talk about your sex life? I think we should get a grip on this. Why should any of us care who does what to whom, as long as there's no coersion and he's not doing anything to me, I can live with it. Meanwhile, let's talk about policy. Let's talk about vision. Let's talk about what it's going to take to inspire the next generation of Torontonians and to imagine a Toronto that works.

Your assignment this week

The city has drifted off course. The minds who have lead us this far are incapable of changing the direction. If they could have, they would have. We need a new way of thinking, a new way of being. We need a new vision for our city.

Let's co-create the vision for the new Toronto. As part of this quest, we need to work on ourselves, to become the change we wish to see in the world, as Gandhi recommended.

In order to get control over our judgemental natures I propose the following prescription:

Pray for the schmucks.
Heal the greedy.
Forgive the arrogant.

If you can do these things, let me know how you accomplished them!

It's About The Budget

I went to the Toronto Budget meeting last night, and I learned how budgets are created. All I can say is "God help us all."

It's about nine billion dollars, and almost all of the money is allocated to the essential services of the City. There's very little consultation with communities, and zero community decision making. We're better than that!

The constraints on city revenue-raising by federal and provincial law has got to be creatively overcome. It's not a matter of lower taxes or lower services. The real issue is new revenue, and that's what I think we can create together: a compelling story of an emerging Toronto that we can share with the world. That is one of the treasures that Toronto has to offer: the fact that the whole world lives here, bringing their wisdoms, food, art and culture. Did I mention the food?

I will be calling on the creativity of the world to step up and inspire us. You know who you are!

Meanwhile, Married White Mayoral Candidate seeks somebody who's respectful with other people's money.

Why I'm Running (Slowly)

People want to know why I'm running for Mayor. I've never run for anything. In my experience, things haven't changed very much, they drift a little bit in one direction or another, so I didn't bother myself with politics. But now I have to bother, for a number of reasons.

One: I feel compelled to give back to the city that has given me so much.

Two: I believe we have drifted off course. Toronto was once frequently rated as one of the best cities in the world. I want to see that again, and be proud of the city I live in.

Three: I know only a little about politics, but I know something about people, about dreams and hopes, betrayals and despair, and laughter along the way.

My belief is that people are greater than the sum of their parts. My challenge to my readers: let's prove that together.

The reason that I'm running slowly is that I'm taking my time, listening to people, and looking at other candidates. If someone else in the race truly inspires me, I'll happily step off the platform, and save myself some money for an inauguration suit.

If anyone has any experience with campaigning, I could use your help.