Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:05 PM
Setting the (political) table
By Jennifer Lewington Toronto City Hall Bureau Chief
With a Ph.D. in theology and social ethics, lefty Toronto councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul’s) has a penchant for big-picture ideas with grassroots appeal. (Tell that to his disgusted opponents of the St. Clair Street transit right-of-way).
His latest creation is a new website (www.settingtheagenda2010.com), set up as a brainstorming exercise to identify what should be top of mind for voters and candidates next year. Since his website went live a couple of days ago, there have been 2,000 hits for an online discussion generating topics for a public meeting next Tuesday night, Nov. 24, at the Artscape Wychwood Barns.
“All the media coverage, and therefore the coffee-time conversation, has been about the ‘who’” of the upcoming run for mayor, says Mr. Mihevc. His view is wait a minute.
“Before we figure out the ‘who,’ let’s figure out the ‘what’?” says Mr. Mihevc, who not a candidate for mayor and not ready to endorse a successor to Mayor David Miller (who is not seeking a third term). The big question, contends the councillor, is “what kind of city do we want, what are the challenges and opportunities?”
Mr. Mihevc is not the first to set out an the agenda for the election campaign in 2010, shaping up a tough fiscal year for city budget makers. As residents and businesses try climb out of the recession, they are bracing for higher property taxes next year along with extra fees for garbage, transit and other city services.
Last week, the Toronto Board of Trade launched its own discussion paper to “set the agenda” for the 2010 municipal election. Dipping its toe gingerly into the political waters, the board called for a debate about road tolls, the merits of smaller local government and how best to serve poor neighbourhoods.
Mr. Mihevc’s upcoming community chat-fest is sure to attract the usual roster of left-leaning artists, activists and community residents. But he says he is reaching out to board of trade types to gin up fresh ideas from across the political spectrum.
So is it too early to pose the ballot question for the election next Oct. 25? The mantra 'I’m not David Miller' won’t wash because he is not running again. For now, Mr. Mihevc frames the question as “what kind of city do we want?” (and parenthetically, how to pay for it).
For an avowed social media junkie (Mr. Mihevc is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), the website is just one more way to spur interest in next year’s municipal election.
He hopes the on-line conversations this week and community roundtables to come will zero in on issues that cannot be ignored by the mayoral wannabes.
“Before they put out their platforms, let Torontonians think about what their priorities are,” says Mr. Mihevc.