99 days to go!

99 days to go until the election! 

Since January 3rd we have been campaigning on a platform of real change and optimism and on ideas like free transit, municipal minimum wages, landlord licensing & more! 

Together we can build and work towards these real alternatives and changes, despite what the do-nothing politicians say...and we know this because it is happening elsewhere!

You can read my opening campaign statement here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/2014/01/michael-laxer-for-city-councillor-ward.html

To find out about my free transit policy and how it is achievable you can visit my transit page here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/transit.html 

To read about my $15 an hour municipal minimum wage and how other cities are doing it, check out this page: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/economic-justice.html

Want to know about my housing policy and landlord licensing?: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/housing.html

Or about my income pledge and my plans to work for a more democratic city hall?:  http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/a-more-democratic-city-hall.html

All of my other platform ideas can be found at the top of this webpage, and if you have any ideas or questions you can contact me at any time or come out to one of my monthly events.

99 days to go! Let's use them to fight together for a Toronto built on economic justice and comprehensive public services!

In the Fight Against High TTC Fares We Need a Universal Fare Reduction Strategy!

Yesterday, Toronto City Council voted to "study" the idea of a separate "low-income" "fare equity" plan for the TTC.

But I believe that this is the wrong way to go and wrote an article saying why and outlining why means test based programs like Toronto's "Welcome Policy" are not an alternative to actually working to lower fees and fares for all, even for those they are supposed to help. From "Toronto's transit woes: Are 'fare equity' policies a real alternative to universal fare reduction strategies?"

"Given the depressing context of our empty political discourse and the self-imposed "limitations" placed on our options by our "mainstream" politicians, one can understand why many on the left and many liberals in Toronto are embracing this idea as a real step forward....

The problem with rising TTC fares is not simply or only that some are being left behind by their increase, it is that they keep rising! The political will to fight fare increases simply does not yet exist and politicians act as if the increases are inevitable and need to be mitigated when they are not inevitable and only need to be mitigated because they have risen for a generation and have assumed an absurdly large role in financing the system.  

The fares are not affordable because they are too high. Exempting some portions of the Precariat, those living in poverty and those who fall under some arbitrary line drawn up by city officials will not change the fact that the fares are too high! 

While one has to be sympathetic to those fighting for this idea, one also has to ask, would not the money, time and political effort simply be better spent on an across the board fare reduction strategy that does not require any administration, means tests or fare policing and that would then fit into a broader strategy of working towards the goal, already achieved in cities like Tallinn, Estonia, of free and affordable transit for everyone?"

You can read the full article here: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/07/torontos-transit-woes-are-fare-equity-policies-real-alternative 

You can read an article about why Free transit is an idea whose time has come here: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/04/free-transit-three-reasons-it-idea-whose-time-has-come

You can check out Michael's transit page here: http://electmichaellaxer2014.blogspot.ca/p/transit.html

A $15 an hour Minimum Wage...Can Toronto Do It?

From: Three reasons a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage is possible in Toronto

"Is a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage possible in Toronto as City Councillors in American cities like Chicago, New York and Seattle have been fighting for, or is it true, as John Tory says, that it is a provincial issue?

It is possible. The reality is that almost all municipal politicians simply want to pass the buck.

How can a municipal minimum wage be achieved? There are at least three ways"

Find out how by reading the rest of the article here!: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/06/three-reasons-15-hour-municipal-minimum-wage-possible-toronto

Free Transit, Municipal Minimum Wages, Affordable Housing...Can Toronto Do It? Meet Ward 6 Candidate Michael Laxer & Discuss the Issues!

Join the Fight! For Free Transit & Higher Wages!

 

Where: Community Roots Bookstore - 2858 Lake Shore Blvd. W. (at 5th St.) Etobicoke

When: Saturday, July 5th, 2014, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

 

Politicians tell us that initiatives that would change our city and people's lives like Free Transit, a $15 an hour municipal minimum wage, a comprehensive affordable housing strategy and a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity are not possible.

Is it true...or are they saying this because in reality they don't want to do it?

On Saturday, July 5th, come out anytime between 1-4 p.m. for an informal drop-in for coffee, refreshments and discussion and to meet Ward 6 City Council candidate Michael Laxer and find out where he stands on these (and other ) issues and how he thinks we can do it!

Find out about his income pledge to, if elected, make no more than what the average Torontonian does and his ideas for a more democratic City Hall and police accountability.

Get answers to any questions you have about, Michael's campaign, and the fight for higher wages, public services & a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity.

See you there!

 

For further details call 416-251-5576 or email us.

Couldn't Find What You Were Looking for in the Provincial Election? Join the Fight in Ward 6!

Join the fight! And get the button too!

Now that the Ontario election is over, are you looking for a campaign that you can really get behind; one that is directly and openly fighting for the polices you were looking for in the platforms of the parties but couldn't find?

Policies that would impact people's lives in direct and actually meaningful ways?

Policies like:

- A $15 an hour municipal minimum wage

- FREE transit & fighting for the expansion of LRT, bus & subway routes

- Landlord licensing & an affordable housing strategy

- Police accountability

- Democratic reform at City Hall

There is one! The Michael Laxer Ward 6 Campaign for City Councillor!

Between now and October 27th we will be fighting for a real agenda that is a real alternative to cutbacks and austerity and we need your help!

Volunteer, donate (and you can donate if you live anywhere in Ontario), take a lawn sign (for after October 2nd)....anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated!

Join the fight!

The fight for full LGBTQ rights is one of the central human rights struggles of our time.

My partner Natalie, my kids and I were proud to to be able to take part in the Lakeshore LGBTQ solidarity initiative #LS4Love recently.

To me the fight for equality rights and against intolerance in our own communities, as well as expressing solidarity with the LGBTQ community in countries like Russia and Uganda is one of the central human rights struggles of our time.

Initiatives like Lakeshore LGBTQ and Social Action for Equality make our community a better and stronger place through their actions for LGBTQ rights and for human rights locally and around the world.


Links about LGBTQ issues in our community:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/16/residents_rally_in_restaurant_dispute.html

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2013/09/love-time-homophobia-right-lgbt-couples-to-be-couples-public

http://dailyxtra.com/toronto/life/food-and-drink/day-at-the-lakeshore

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/4502772-lakeshore-lgbt-community-launches-ls4love-media-campaign-to-combat-homophobia-in-russia-uganda/

Rob Ford: The misogyny, bigotry & conduct have to end.

From: Breaking very bad: Rob Ford's season four finale.
 

Ford has now taken a "leave of absence" from being mayor in name only and from his campaign. Presumably this is a last ditch effort to try to stay in  the race at all.  Presumably it seeks to distract, at an early stage, from  the appalling behaviour, misconduct and criminal activity.

We must ensure that it does not. Quite apart from civic policy, where Rob Ford's agenda is profoundly reactionary, his personal misconduct is a political issue of tremendous import.

If a wealthy white male with many political connections is never held to account for misogyny, homophobia, racism, intimidation of opponents, self-admitted criminal activity and obviously outrageous and unacceptable behaviour "on the job" that would get any other worker doing any other job fired, then one has to think that the political and judicial system that we live in now is just as corrupted and compromised as it ever was. Maybe it is.

Stepping "aside" to supposedly get "help" is not enough. Ford's conduct is not wrong because he has "problems." It is wrong because of who he is and what he represents. Rehab will not change the fact that he is an abusive bigot. 

That was what he always was and is intrinsic to not only his politics, but also the politics of those who support and supported him.

Read the full article here:  http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2014/05/breaking-very-bad-rob-fords-season-four-finale