Josh Matlow announcing his candidacy for Mayor of Toronto

Dear Toronto,

Josh Matlow

I am running to be our next Mayor. Toronto is a diverse, vibrant, and beautiful city, filled with inspirational people I have been honoured to work with. I know and believe in the promise Toronto holds for so many. But for far too long, our political leadership at City Hall has held this city back from reaching its full potential.

We have all seen the decline. The snow is not cleared on time, public washrooms are dirty, if they’re even open, and garbage bins are broken and overflowing. Last summer, 923 of Toronto’s 10,340 public waste bins were missing or out of service.

Our subways and buses are often late and overcrowded and not everyone can afford the steep fares. It’s practically an Olympic event to get your kids a spot in a city recreation program at the local community centre. Rents are skyrocketing and house prices are through the roof, forcing young people and newcomers out of Toronto.

The deterioration of our city was not inevitable. It was a choice. The past decade of leadership has kept taxes artificially low by starving the services that made Toronto the incredible city I grew up in.

This is why I’m opening my campaign to be your Mayor with a real plan to fix our city. My first act as Mayor will be to launch the City Works Fund – a dedicated property tax that will cost the average homeowner $67 a year and raise over $390 million dollars over five years to improve the services our communities rely on.

The City Works Fund will ensure that buses and streetcars run on time. Libraries are open when your family needs them. Warm places are available for unhoused people to go when it’s cold outside. Streets and sidewalks are cleared so parents with strollers or people with mobility issues can get around safely. Roads aren’t cracked and covered in potholes. Parks and recreation programs are accessible and available.

A better Toronto is possible. I am deeply grateful for the kind and supportive messages I’ve already received. With your help over the next few months, we can start building a City That Works on June 26th.

Sincerely,

Josh Matlow