Social worker, Weston resident, founder of
@YSWtenants
& former city councillor candidate for York South-Weston. Working for a better & fairer Toronto.
#TOpoli
I just found out that Councillor Frances Nunziata’s campaign cheated in the last election - the one I lost by 94 votes.
Here’s a my editorialized summary of the Integrity Commissioner’s report and some of my thoughts…1/2
#TOpoli
On Monday evening I was hit by a motorist in a pickup truck while riding my bicycle at Weston and Lawrence. I’m in a lot of pain with some broken bones. I will likely need surgery on my left ankle and months of rehab to walk again. That said, I feel very lucky to be alive. 🧵
How does spending $15M in private security to recoup an estimated $6M in fares even make fiscal sense?
Honestly what is going on in our city???
#TOpoli
#TTC
I work at a food bank. The number of grocery store workers that come through our doors because they can’t afford the food they sell on their wage is shameful.
While Metro ranks in record profits.
But
@UniforTheUnion
workers at Metro are taking a stand & I stand with them! 💪✊
3,700 Metro workers are on strike for their fair share of Metro's record profits.
This is history in the making.
Grocery store workers are bravely taking a stand again corporate greed.
PS: On Monday, don’t vote for a mayor who wants to remove cycling infrastructure and de-prioritize the safety of vulnerable road users. Vote for a mayor who’s going to bring road safety to YSW and the rest of the city because we deserve it - we always have.
I'd like to thank absolutely everyone who came out for change in
#YSW
- what an incredible campaign!
Given how close last night's results are, my team and I will make a decision on further steps once the City Clerk has announced the official results as per the Municipal Act.
Currently listening to
@lizzo
’s “about damn time” on repeat as we clean up our signs in
#YSW
…
🎵I gotta feeling I’m gonna be okay 🎵
Thank you for asking 💚💜
Thank you to everyone for all the love and well wishes I’ve received over the last couple of weeks after the collision. Here’s an update on my recovery 🧵…
I’d like to thank my neighbours Nancy & Laura, who were first on the scene after the collision & cared for me until EMS arrived. I’d like to thank my paramedics, Kyle & his partner & the other first responders from fire & ambulance who arrived quickly & treated my injuries & pain
The Integrity Commissioner’s report goes to Council this Wednesday.
What do you think should happen?
I encourage you to read the report and come to your own conclusion. Let me know what you think in the comments.
Here is the full report:
#TOpoli
on the way to the hospital. Thank you to my emergency nurse Christina, my emergency doctor Erak & the entire emergency medical team at Humber River Hospital for their relentless work to care for me that night along w/ 100s of other patients in a system that is clearly underfunded
Finally, thank you to my partner Bruno & my family & friends for all their love and support while I try to heal.
The collision happened on my way to coach soccer for the
@YorkJetsSC
. Coaching soccer has always been my favourite part of summer.
There are countless grocery store workers who can’t afford to buy the food they sell us. I know this because I meet them at the food bank. These frontline heroes needed a living wage before
#COVID19
& they’ll need one after.
#15andFairness
Rents at 33 King have gone up 3x more than rent control, while the landlord Dream boasts about how 50% of the rent they collect from tenants is profit.
This rent strike isn’t about free rent. It’s about fairness.
@yswtenants
&
@tparktenants
are saying enough is enough.
Proud to roll with
@YSWtenants
at 33 King & 22 John on rent strike in our march fair rent for all.
This rent strike is about everyday, hardworking people standing up to corporate greed.
A defining moment for the tenant movement.
I know exactly whose side I’m on & here’s why…
but obviously I won’t be able to coach the rest of the season, which means the club is down a coach. If you’re interested in volunteering as a coach for the York Jets, please contact the club at 416-652-6904 or info
@yorkjetssoccerclub
.com.
I’m looking forward to riding the
#TTC
for free to celebrate a
#happynewyear2020
, but it makes me wonder:
If we can make transit free so we can drink alcohol, can we also make transit free on Election Day to make it a little easier to exercise our right to vote? 🤔
If there’s one thing this whole scandal taught me, it’s that regular people like you & me— not the integrity commissioner, not even city council— are gonna make things change in this city.
Don’t wait for the next election to be a part of it:
➡️
#TOpoli
Believe in democracy?
@FrancesNunziata
does not.
So much that she refused to even allow discussion on
#Bill39
today - the bill that
@JohnTory
asked
@fordnation
to pass so he can have minority rule.
And the councillors in green don’t believe in talking about a
#Bill39
either ⬇️
There will be a byelection in
#SSW
& I CAN’T wait for
@KevinRupasinghe
to become the new councillor!
Kevin has been a road safety champion for Scarborough & all over this city. He was the first person to visit me after my collision.
He’s the real deal. We need him at City Hall.
*Final campaign update*
I’ll run again, but we can’t wait till 2026 for the change we need & deserve
That’s why we’ve turned our campaign office into a community hub for
#YSW
, & we need YOU to be a part of it!
Donate:
Volunteer:
Rain or shine my team and I (including my dad!💚) have been out cleaning up our election signs. Please contact us with your address if we missed you and we’ll be sure to come by today.
Thank you to everyone who put up a sign for change in YSW.💜
In other words, Presto’s “2hr transfer” actually makes riding the TTC more expensive for folks in the inner suburbs whose trips take longer than 2hrs-a huge step backward for transit equity in this city. One we could have avoided if any suburban councillors took the
#TTC
.
#TOpoli
📢A clarification: last night some incorrect information was shared from us in error regarding the 2-hour transfer window. If your transfer expires while you are on a vehicle you do NOT have to tap until you transfer again - at that point you would be charged another fare. 1/ ^KJ
They’ll spend millions of dollars to try and stop and divide us, “but one thing they can’t calculate is the power of love and solidarity” 💜✊🏼
Feeling so pumped after listening to
@Shut_downAmazon
at
@broadbent
’s Progress Summit!
#Broadbent2023
Just got lost looking for Union Station subway. Don’t know which feeling is stronger: my embarrassment as a Torontonian for getting lost looking for the largest subway station in the city or my deep urge to go back and tape arrows on the wall for downtown visitors like me 🤷🏻♀️
#TTC
I've called York South-Weston home for my whole life. I'm proud to be from this area, and that's why I want to make sure we're not left behind.
💜
On October 24th, let's vote for change.
#topoli
#YSW
#ItsTimeForChange
It’s official:
@maritstiles
is gonna be the next premier of Ontario!
In the meantime as official opposition she &
@OntarioNDP
are fighting for:
➡️real rent control
➡️saving the greenbelt
➡️protecting public healthcare
➡️childcare & smaller class sizes
I’m with
#TeamMarit
💯!!!
I'm running for City Councillor because
#ItsTimeForChange
in York South-Weston.
It's time for us to have a voice at the table at City Hall. It's time for us to get the resources and attention that we deserve.
Join our movement: .
#YSW
#TOpoli
If both Councillors Nunziata and Di Giorigio don’t think that having the honour to represent over 60,000 people here in
#YSW
is a full-time job, then they are not doing their jobs properly.
#ItsTimeForChange
#YSW
#TOpoli
1/2: Faith Goldy is a white supremacist. She has endorsed the Nunziata Family. I’m proud to come from an immigrant family, and believe
#YSW
is an amazing place exactly because of our diverse community.
#TOpoli
Honoured to accompany
@KevinRupasinghe
as he registered to run for SSW City Councillor this morning!
Kevin is a champion for road safety & having him on City Council will no doubt prevent collisions like mine & save lives in our city.
Volunteer & donate:
It’s official! I’ve handed in my papers and am registered to be your candidate for Toronto City Council in
#Ward11
. Thank you to the many nominators who are supporting my candidacy.
#ItsTime
#Ward11
#YSW
Councillor Nunziata just voted to hide receipts for about $3M of public money pertaining to 2022 municipal campaigns, including the receipts of her own campaign.
This is the first time council is hiding campaign receipts. What’s so special about the 2022 election? 👀
This is a HUGE deal! Tenants have already won the repairs they need before the hearing is even over.
I’ve never seen anything like it before, and it speaks to the amazing organizing that our neighbours are doing at 1440-1442 Lawrence Ave W with
@YSWtenants
!
#StrongerTogether
@cjc_TO
TENANTS WIN INTERIM ORDER FOR RELIEF!
LTB orders Barney River to fix ALL issues in people’s homes!
This is a massive win for tenants whose homes have been in a state of disrepair for YEARS.
This order came from the LTB, but it’s because 300+ tenants organized together✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼
1/2 For all the tenants tuning into this debate (even though no tenant groups were invited) here are some red flags to watch out for:
🚩 “supply is the problem”
🚩 “incentives for developers”
🚩 “cut red tape”
🚩 “average market rent”
🚩 “ask the feds/province to do it”
#TOpoli
Today at 12pm is the "Toronto Mayoralty Housing Debate" hosted by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario and other partners - who are mainly involved with building or being landlords. No tenant organizations are involved which is dismaying to see.
🎉✊🏻 We won the vote,
#YSW
!
Spurred by organizing by
@YSWtenants
at 22 John, we pressured
@FrancesNunziata
and other formerly-opposed Councillors to bring in
#RentControl
in publicly funded developmnents!
We’ll keep organizing for the next vote in January. Join us!
#topoli
Hey
@ttcriders
, I’ve finally gotten myself out of
#Weston
to visit
#Scarborough
and I ABSOLUTELY love the Eglinton East bus lane! 🥰
Taking the bus has never felt so good! Why don’t we have more of these in the in suburbs?? 🤨
#TOpoli
On my way to City Hall with
@progresstoronto
and getting some serious dejavú from four years ago, but this time it’s even worse and Mayor John Tory is just as responsible as the Premier for one of the greatest attacks to our local democracy: minority rule.
#Bill39
#ONpoli
#TOpoli
We deserve to live in a city that we are proud of; however many parts of YSW are feeling neglected. I will fight to fix our city - to clean our city, fix our roads, and maintain our parks. It’s basic stuff but it’s what a great community and a great city are built on.
Full thread on how the
@cityoftoronto
’s “affordable housing program” is failing tenants all over the city
Yesterday it led to the forceful eviction of Alex & his one-year-old daughter
It’s high time we demand better from
@FrancesNunziata
No more public land for private profit
⚡️PHONE ZAP TODAY⚡️
@FrancesNunziata
played a key role in the development of 22 John St, where Dream Unlimited & private security under contract to the City of Toronto just forcefully evicted evicted Alex & his family by tearing down their door with a sledgehammer…🧵
PS: Congratulations to our new mayor,
@oliviachow
, who cycled to City Hall today for her first day on the job (and always wears a helmet)! I’m looking forward to the progressive change she’ll bring to the city we love 💜
My household stands in solidarity with our postal workers. Let your neighbourhood postie know with a post-it on your mailbox. Then let your MP know too.
#CUPW
#cndpoli
1/2
@FrancesNunziata
,
@MichaelFordTO
&
@HonAhmedHussen
why did you gave away PUBLIC land & $10M to a “luxury building” that doesnt even have rent control, the most basic tenant protection?
Just last month Dream Unlimited raised rents 17%
Is this your “affordable housing” plan?
Thank you to
@MayorOliviaChow
for stepping in & attempting to bring Dream Unlimited to the table, something
@YSWtenants
have been trying to do while on rent strike for 4 months.
Dream would rather pursue 100s of evictions than negotiate, but
@YSWtenants
aren’t going anywhere.
Last night
@MayorOliviaChow
met with a packed room of tenants on rent strike at 33 King St and 22 John St, after Dream Unlimited refused her invitation to come to the table, opting instead to pursue hundreds of evictions.
I just voted for the
@OntarioNDP
!
REMEMBER, you DONT need to be registered to vote or have a voter card to vote (I didn’t get mine!)
You can just show up at your polling station on THURSDAY JUNE 2 with ID & proof of address!
Questions about voting in
#YSW
? My DMs are open!
My campaign kickoff to be your next
#YSW
city councillor starts right now!
It's time for change in York South-Weston. And we are hitting the ground running.
#TOpoli
Election day is tomorrow.
I know what you’re thinking. Politicians only come around when they want our vote. I’ve felt that way too. But this is my home. It always has been, and I’m here to fight for it.
It’s time for change in York South-Weston.
💜
🚨Urgent Action🚨
On Wed Council will decide if all units built on public land, with public money should be rent controlled.
Staff report recommends allowing increases 2-3X HIGHER than rent control.
➡️Tell your City Councillor that just doesn’t cut it:
🎶If you want change, you gotta make change🎶
Kicking off the weekend w/ this incredible song and video inspired by our vision for
#YSW
, and the change we deserve! It is a fantastic celebration of so many wonderful moments in this campaign & the amazing people part of it.
💜
I’m recovering from a concussion which had me back in emergency 2 weeks ago. These days I’m slower than usual & sensitive to light, so I’m really limiting my time on screens & wearing these🕶️that make me feel like my fav emoji😎
Please always wear your helmets-mine saved my life
It’s been great chatting with voters today about how their vote can bring change to York South-Weston! Along the way I’ve been with friends including
@maritstiles
,
@lannyf
, and
@Paul_TO
!
After today’s shocking & undemocratic news, I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support for my campaign for
#Ward11
Councillor. I will continue my Campaign to bring our voices to City Hall & you can count on me to stand up for local democracy.
#ItsTimeForChange
#ToPoli
I just got off the phone with the City. Councillor Nunziata has the authority to open the Weston Pool for residents to use the facility showers. Will you do this
@FrancesNunziata
? It’s been over 24 hours and residents need to access running water.
#YSW
#TOpoli
We’re here at 5 Bellevue Crescent where residents haven’t had running water for over 24 hours.
I’m working on finding a location where residents can use showers.
If you’d like to help, email chiara
@chiarapadovani
.ca.
#ItsTimeForChange
#YSW
#TOpoli
Victory! These tenants are enjoying cheques from their landlord this month thanks to fighting back against an unfair rent increase and finally applying their 2018 automatic rent reduction!
Organizing pays. Join a tenant union
#StrongerTogether
#YSW
#TOPoli
Our city runs on transit thanks to public transit workers, who are represented by
@ATUlocal113
.
That’s why it means so much to me that Marvin Alfred, ATU Local 113’s president, joined our canvass this afternoon.
Thank you Marvin and thank you transit workers! 💜
This windy Saturday 💨, I have exciting news & a important request!
🎉 we’ve reached our fundraising goal!
💪 the best way to support our campaign is by donating your time! We need people at the doors 🚪 & on the phones 📞 every day leading up to & including Election Day!
“Fair taxation on the richest Canadians could:
✅fund national child care
✅reduce tuition fees
✅eliminate child poverty
Would that be painful for the wealthy? Hardly.
Would it be transformative of the lives of most Canadians? Absolutely”
👏👏👏
#CDNpoli
“We’ve had a lot of conversations about the need for more rental units to address the housing crisis, what do you think is missing from that conversation?”
“Tenants.”
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Listen to Metro morning’s interview with
@YSWtenants
I'm running for City Councillor in York South-Weston but I'm doing things differently.
#ItsTimeForChange
#TOpoli
#YSW
Since I'm not accepting donations from corporate interests or developers, every $25 donation counts that much more. Join our movement: .
As long as I can remember, my local councillor has never had a consistency office in
#YSW
. It’s why I’m so excited to have an office of our own.
The sign is up, but there’s still lots of work to do! Join our team:
#ItsTimeForChange
#TOpoli
It’s official! I’ve just registered as a candidate for York South-Weston City Councillor in this year’s municipal election on October 24, and I want YOU on my team!
#ItsTimeforChange
#YSW
#TOpoli
I’m the only candidate in York South-Weston that has turned away donations from big property developers and corporate interests.
The only interests that I want to be accountable to, are the interests of the people of
#YSW
.
#ItsTimeForChange
#TOpoli
Join me and
@YSWtenants
this Saturday in Weston to demand fair rent for all! Rain or shine. BBQ, live music and kids’ activities after the march.
More info:
Every day when I walk in the office, I am reminded of how incredible all of our volunteers and supporters are.
This is about us. This is about our community. This is about being proud of York South-Weston. And we’re doing it together. Thank you 💜
The results are in!
“Chiara Padovani leads by a large margin in the race for councillor, trouncing incumbent Frances Nunziata by more than 2.5 votes to 1.“
Thanks
@WestonWebdotCa
for this fun poll!
#ItsTimeForChange
#YSW
#TOpoli
.
An incredible Friday evening canvass with MPP Marit Stiles and MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam and an amazing crew of volunteers, including a bunch of new volunteers, who went until sundown talking about how change happens at the ballot box!
💜
Huge shout out to Aleeza’s Pizza in
#Weston
. When they noticed a community meal organized across the street, they donated a dozen pizzas without even being asked. Another example why local businesses are so important to our community! Try their pizza! 🍕
#supportsmallbusiness
#YSW
So happy to be at
@torontolabour
’s political action conference co-organized with
@progresstoronto
!
Nothing gets me more excited about the
#TOelxn
than spending time with people who not only believe change is possible, but are taking action to make it happen!
#YSW
#October24
I’m so proud of my team and the campaign we ran. 1 week after E-day, 3 new buildings are organizing tenants associations, more workers have joined
#15andFairness
and thousands of
#YSW
residents know their rights. Successful campaign? Definitely.
If I was City Councillor I'd make Yorkdale pay for the stormwater that runs off their parking lot and ends up in our basements because of overflowing pipes.
And I'd spend the money collected on updating our 100-year-old sewage system.
#YSW
#topoli
#TransformTO
If you needed another reason to doubt whether Public-Private Partnerships really are “more efficient”,
@CrosstownTO
is on track to being millions over budget and 2 years late. 🤦🏻♀️
#TOpoli
Ford cancelled $15 min wage after he was elected in 2018.
If he hadn’t, it would be almost $16 now. COVID showed how ESSENTIAL minimum wage workers are & I’ll never forget that cut.
Get involved with
@fairwagesnow
& keep fighting for
#justice4workers
!
FACT: half of renters in Canada have less than a month’s savings.
FACT: rent is due in 1 week.
URGENT ACTION: sign
@TorontoTenants
’ petition to enact legislation stopping the payment of rent on April 1st. This is no joke.
➡️
#COVID19
#ONpoli
#CDNpoli
'24% of working tenant households don’t have a week’s worth of savings, and 42% can’t weather more than two weeks."
@ricardo_tranjan
looks at the looming crisis for Canada's working renters in his latest report
@CCPA_Ont
#COVID19