Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park Votes 2010

PARKDALE VOTES 2010

Ward: 14, Parkdale-High Park

Issues: Roncesvalles Village reconstruction project, Parkdale Renewal, Crime in Parkdale, Spadina Expressway Tunnel dig to Parkdale, Accountability at City Hall, Poverty and Substance Abuse

Demographics: 71% renters
Household Income: Below the city's average

Population: 50,640 (7.7% decline)

Voter Turnout: 43%

Number of Candidates: 10

The Candidates

Bill Vrebosch Jr.

Bill Vrebosch (The front runner and not indebted to a political party or union), son of a long serving Northern Ontario Mayor and with family roots in Parkdale.  Bill Vrebosch's goal is to Represent the people to City Hall, not a political party to City Hall.

Leading front runner from Parkdale.  The IT professional seeks to represent the interests of people not a political machine.  Pledged to help Istvan Tar's family issues that are primarily a provincial concern  he feels the current Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty has left him voiceless.

First and only candidate to speak out against Rocco Rossi's plan to build a Spadina Expressway Tunnel to the Gardiner at Jameson/Dunn Avenue.

Gaining growing acceptance from the Queer West community, Bill Vrebosch was invited to speak at a recent event with fellow candidate Michael Erickson.  The group sees George Smitherman not for his support of Pride Toronto but for his waste and mismanagement at eHealth Ontario.  The self described left wing community group has put their support behind Bill Vrebosch and Councillor Rob Ford.

Fed up with the increasing gun violence faced by the community, Bill Vrebosch was one of two candidates that was with the community at the Parkdale Vigil Against Gun Violence on Saturday night.  Registered early with a real plan to govern. 

Gus Koutoumanos

A long time business owner in The Junction/West End Attended the Bill Vrebosch Meet and Greet, extends an olive branch of support to the front runner. 

Cullen Simpson 

Also from Parkdale, with roots in nearby Mimico Cullen Simpson is also fed up with the increasing gun violence faced by the community.  Simpson marched with Bill Vrebosch extending an olive branch of support to him and the greater community at the Parkdale Vigil Against Gun Violence on Saturday night.  Although the event wasn't well publicized, it was a good start for the community.

Ryan Hobson's Liberals soft on crime, community safety

Ryan Hobson 

A senior bank manager for Scotia Bank, former Calgary resident Ryan Hobson is supported mostly by Liberal insiders.  Hobson registered in May 2010 smelling vittles and Roncesvalles' frustration with the three year reconstruction project, well after Bill Vrebosch and incumbent Councillor Gord Perks.

Ryan Hobson's platform lacks any mention of crime prevention or community safety.  Transit plans are vague, broad ideas with no mention of David Miller's "Transit City" or Councillor Ford's plan to build more subways.  

Ryan Hobson puts his and the Liberal Party agenda before the interests of the ward, building a resume for his political career on the backs of the poor.  Sits on Michael Ignatieff's riding executive as Membership Secretary in Etobicoke-Lakeshore and is running with mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi.  

RYAN HOBSON was not in attendance at the Parkdale Soap Box 
and the Parkdale Vigil Against Gun Violence.

Ryan Hobson mislead voters into believing he was an independent, and subsequently denounced Rossi's plan to bulldoze a Spadina Expressway Tunnel to Parkdale days before dropping out of the race.  Rossi conceded defeat and acknowledged most of his supporters would likely move over to Rob Ford.  

Ryan Hobson seen with eHealth George Smitherman

Ryan Hobson has an expensive multimillion dollar plan to fight bed bugs and proposes self empowerment of tenant rights.  Hobson's provincial Liberal counterparts at Queen's Park (McGuinty-Smitherman) should have cracked down on bad landlords to help all Ontarians.  Bed bug infestations don't stop at the Etobicoke Creek.  Public policy should be uniform across Ontario and Ryan Hobson gets an F for bad public policy.

Ryan Hobson has one foot in Etobicoke as Michael Ignatieff's Membership Secretary and the other in Parkdale. 
Where do Ryan Hobson's loyalties really lie?  

Jules-José Kerlinger 

Not ready for prime time, running a youth campaign out a past federal Conservative candidate's basement.  Ran in a model Youth Parliament in York South-Eglinton-Lawrence. Putting out an election campaign that he's not ready for, admits discrepancies on printed vs online material.  Running a less polished version of Hobson's campaign without the sleaze.

Jimmy Talpa

Jimmy Talpa 

As a working class day labourer who lives in the thick of Parkdale and has ran for council for 30 years here in Parkdale, doesn’t understand Ryan Hobson’s bed bug bureaucracy plan. Has been on top of the bed bug issue for several years and thinks it's too expensive. When it comes to tenant self empowerment, Talpa says you have to play hardball on landlords.  Giving out more tickets to slum lords isn't the answer. 

Istvan Tar

Hungarian born Poet Dissident, Istvan Tar agrees with Jimmy Talpa that you can never completely eradicate a bug.  Good landlords are hard to find, and will be harder to find with a Rocco Rossi tunnel to Parkdale. 

Gord Perks 

Roncesvalles construction frustrated residents, BIA

Eco-terrorist on the David Miller NDP ticket.  Not welcomed or trusted by local business owners.

Blocks condominium development over narrow special interests.  Turned down taxation revenue and subway improvements at Dundas West Station.  Only moved to the ward when he won his seat four years ago as David Miller's running mate. Perks publicly stated he wasn't paid enough to read up on a new zoning by-law council passed in August 2010.  Endorsing Joe Pantalone for mayor, refuses to acknowledge budget spending  problems with in Toronto.  

Oddly enough, Perks seemed more concerned by Parkdale's emerging "club land" and took sides with residents over would be restauranteurs turned club owners where Ryan Hobson took sides with Wrong Bar and Parts and Labour for photo ops. 

Michael Erickson 

Although not admitting to be a card carrying NDPer, definitely has an affinity to them.  Works as a school teacher in downtown Toronto.  Has a campaign for more spending and no belt tightening.  Erickson's entrepreneurial advice is academic.  Running all over the place. 

Barry Hubick

Owns a web cafe on Queen Street West, didn't go to the Cable 10 Debate; wasn't aware he was in the race.

On October 25th 2010 Ask Yourself

Will you vote for a candidate that will represent you or a candidate that represents a political party’s narrow self serving interests?


Will you vote for a candidate that won’t build a Spadina Expressway to Parkdale 40 years later?


Or will you vote for a candidate that supports a plan by default, a party that flip flops?  40 years after their same party stopped New York style “progress”? 

Rocco Rossi's Liberals Flip-Flopped on Spadina Expressway 2010.

Spadina Expressway, Parkdale-High Park, Bill Vrebosch, George Smitherman, Gord Perks, Joe Pantalone, Michael Erickson, Rob Ford, Rocco Rossi, Ryan Hobson, Gerard Kennedy, 2010