EDITOR’S NOTE: Spacing Votes — our dedicated 2010 election blog — will feature regular posts form our contributors that examine campaign promises and platforms that focus on Toronto’s urban landscape. Here’s our first round-up of posts from the last seven days.
• As somewhat of a lackluster race as far as debate and platforms are concerned, Nabeel Ahmed takes a closer look at the media’s role. As some of the candidates continue to coast as the elections are still three months out, Ahmed looks to the media to continue in critiquing the platforms (or lack thereof) and track records of the mayoral hopefuls.
• As the new Jarvis bike lane construction gets underway today, cycling is going to be a key point of discussion in the looming election. With more than half of Torontonians identifying themselves as cyclists, bike lanes and bike parking issues need to be addressed, argues Mike Radoslav.
• And like biking, other forms of transit need to be addressed in the election. As the TTC has come under much fire in the past year with its customer service and the intentions of Transit City, Sandy Wu is looking at each candidate’s platform on public transit. First up is Rob Ford and his ideas of privatizing the TTC and supporting subway extension over light rail transit.
• After Obama led a historic social media campaign for the U.S. presidency, local campaigning is also turning, well, somewhat viral. Spacing Votes shines a light on each of the leading candidate’s use of social media. Concentrating mainly on their websites, Twitter and Facebook followers, the candidates are given a report card (school did just end) for their social media campaigns. With his online “army,” Rocco Rossi walks away with top marks as Joe Pantalone struggles at the bottom of the pack with some 700 Twitter followers.
photo by 416CycleStyle
