Why this ‘gutsy’ safe streets advocate and mother of 3 wants to take on Tory for mayor

Final fall, Sarah Climenhaga heard information each mother or father fears: her son had been hit by a automobile. The west-end mother of three was shocked when her 15-year-old, Jacob, got here dwelling from faculty and nonchalantly shared a narrative about being side-swiped within the bike lane on Davenport Highway close to the household’s Humewood dwelling. He confirmed off his dented pedal — the one harm brought on by the motive force’s careless right-hand flip — and went on along with his day, as youngsters do. However Climenhaga, each a mother and safe streets advocate, was rattled. “I used to be so lucky I did not stroll away from that being the mother of a toddler who was only a statistic on Toronto’s streets,” she stated. It was one of many moments that solidified Climenhaga’s determination to enter politics for the primary time by working for mayor of Toronto within the October municipal election. On Might 1, the beginning of the official marketing campaign season, the 46-year-old activist and full-time mother has vowed to toss her hat within the ring to take on Mayor John Tory. That makes her one of the primary public challengers for the place Tory has held for the final 4 years — a task she’s aiming for regardless of her lack of political expertise and title recognition (her final title, for these questioning, is pronounced Cly-min-hay-guh). Climenhaga and her son, Jacob, giving a deputation at a finances committee assembly in January, one thing she’s carried out at a number of completely different metropolis committees over time. (YouTube) ‘I would like them to be safe on our streets’ Sitting in the lounge of her cozy dwelling — she apologizes for a desk lined in her youngsters’s crayon drawings — Climenhaga stated her determination is rooted in additional than twenty years of advocacy work. That have ranges from her stint as a wildlife conservationist after college to her more moderen outreach work with Cycle Toronto and transit advocacy with teams like TTC Riders and the St. Clair Proper of Approach Initiative for Public Transport.  Safe streets, not surprisingly, is her largest ardour. “It is so essential to me as a result of of my youngsters,” stated Climenhaga, referring to her eldest Jacob, 12-year-old Kyra and eight-year-old Thomas, her children with husband Paul Meier, a labour lawyer who helps her run for mayor. “I need them to be safe on our streets,” she added. “Whether or not they’re strolling or biking or crossing the street to get to a streetcar.” Avid bicycle owner Sarah Climenhaga’s household of 5 throughout a 4000-kilometre bike journey by means of Europe in the summertime of 2015. (Equipped by Sarah Climenhaga) Climenhaga stated her household underpins her imaginative and prescient for the town: a place to stay that is equitable, whether or not residents drive, bike, stroll or take transit. A metropolis that is thriving in every of its neighbourhoods. A metropolis that does not go away folks behind, even because it grows. At first blush, it is a guidelines of what many candidates would possibly rattle off on the marketing campaign path. So will there be a platform behind her platitudes? Climenhaga stated sure, stressing that she’s a non-partisan progressive who plans to go to as many Toronto neighbourhoods as doable to construct a platform primarily based on group enter within the months to come. And, as a political rookie, she feels she will be able to rise above the polarization frequent amongst councillors, a tone she feels is about by Tory. “I discover so much of group vitality in this metropolis will get stopped at metropolis corridor,” she added, citing the current Remodel Yonge vote that deferred security, beautification and bike lane discussions for the stretch in Willowdale to subsequent 12 months. “The group was supportive of getting a change to Yonge Road to make it extra of a group place… then all of it will get shut down,” she stated.​ Climenhaga welcomes cyclists on behalf of Cycle Toronto on the opening ceremony of a brand new crossing for bikes at Bathurst and Adelaide streets in November 2017. (Equipped by Sarah Climenhaga) Climenhaga a ‘breath of contemporary air’ Whereas some would possibly query Climenhaga’s lack of clout at metropolis corridor, her lived expertise makes her a “breath of contemporary air” in municipal politics, stated Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam. “Why is it that politicians have to take a conventional function to turn into an elected official?” Signing the paperwork to run on Tuesday will not mark Climenhaga’s first time at 100 Queen Road West, nonetheless. Along with her youngest son in tow, she spoke in help of accessible sidewalks at a joint assembly of the Licensing and Requirements and Public Works and Infrastructure committees final 12 months. Through the deputation, the avid bicycle owner — who would not personal a household automobile — stated she’d willingly park her bike on the road slightly than take up beneficial sidewalk house.​ In an earlier deputation to the TTC board, Climenhaga voiced her help for free two-hour transfers in tune lyrics she penned herself.  “Give us two hours of respiratory room,” she sang in a husky tone, whereas strumming alongside on a pink ukulele. “Please cease the upcoming doom.” Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of not-profit group 8 80 Cities, referred to as her gutsy. “She would not like how issues are going, so she wants to run,” he stated. “I am amazed that there are lots of good individuals who could possibly be working, however they’ve given up as a result of they assume John Tory’s going to win.” That is not a certain factor, in accordance to Climenhaga, who initially considered working to merely elevate her voice — however now, on the eve of marketing campaign season, wants to beat Tory and land his job. “I am in it for a greater metropolis,” she stated. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/why-this-gutsy-safe-streets-advocate-and-mother-of-3-wants-to-take-on-tory-for-mayor-1.4638248?cmp=rss