Pantalone was the only mayoral candidate to show up to the Get Active Toronto debate

Ford, Smitherman no-shows - thestar.com

Rob Ford and George Smitherman abruptly pulled out of Wednesday’s
debate sponsored by Get Active Toronto, a coalition encouraging people
to get healthy through exercise.

Despite the last-minute cancellations, the event continued with
mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone, who spoke to about 200 people at the
downtown YMCA beside two empty chairs.

“I would say it’s disrespectful and disappointing,” said organizer
Catriona Delaney. “We wanted to know where Mr. Ford and Mr. Smitherman
stood on the subject of the importance of physical activity and the
health of Torontonians. Their actions spoke louder than their words.”

Do you want to elect people to council who won't show up? Of course not. Time to vote for a serious candidate - vote for Joe Pantalone for mayor!

More reasons to vote for Joe Pantalone instead of George Smitherman

Why Tories Support George Smitherman - Torontoist
Nearly 40 Conservatives, including ex cabinet ministers of the Mike Harris government, endorse George Smitherman.
Joe Pantalone said that "Mike Harris is back in the form of George
Smitherman...Why else would the Harris team have just endorsed him?"

Pantalone has the most labour support

Pantalone, Smitherman fight for labour vote - thestar.com
Pantalone still has the most labour endorsements, yet the Star plays up this one labour group supporting Smitherman as if he has more labour support.
Why would labour support Smitherman if he plans to contract stuff out and reduce staff?

Regardless, Pantalone is the only one with a reasonable and progressive plan for Toronto.

Joe Pantalone is your only real choice for mayor

Real Pantalone backers have little choice - thestar.com
Truth is very elusive, especially at election time. But mayoral
candidate Joe Pantalone is closer to the truth than some think when he
says there’s not that much difference between George Smitherman and Rob
Ford. ...

More endorsements for Pantalone

Sarah Polley, Gord Perks, Rosario Marchese – Just Some of the People Helping Build Joe-mentum for Election Day « MayorJoe.ca
On the heels of releasing a balanced budget with no service cuts or new
provincial funding and a plan for giving Community Councils control
over local budgets, just before his final policy announcements, and
amidst a new slew of radio ads and the placing of 5000 signs across
Toronto, Joe Pantalone was cheered this morning by over a dozen high
profile supporters.

“We must not roll back the clock on our great city,” said Councillor
Janet Davis, opening up the celebration at a packed-full campaign
headquarters.

“Joe Pantalone is the only candidate who uses real numbers,” said
Fiona Nelson of the Board of Health. “And he is the only one talking
about the future of our children.”

Councillor Gord Perks (who, according to today’s Toronto Star, “has
done inspired work on council”) said, “I’m going to vote with my
conscience. I’m going to vote for my city. That means I’m going to vote
for Joe Pantalone.”

MPP Rosario Marchese praised Joe’s “political intelligence, charm, and ability to work with all people.”

Actor Sarah Polley also made the following statement:

“Without Joe Pantalone, the destructive, angry tone of this mayoral
race would be too depressing to contemplate. Joe is the only candidate
for Mayor who is talking about building this city rather than tearing it
down He is dedicated to the environment and to the arts, and he
understands the great  value that cultural diversity brings to our
city.”

The full list of today’s endorsers: Janet Davis
(Councillor, Ward 31 Beaches-East York), Gord Perks (Councillor, Ward 14
Parkdale – High Park), Rosario Marchese (Current MPP for
Trinity-Spadina), Sarah Polley (Actor), Martin Silva (Former Ward 4
Councillor, CHIN radio personality), Mike Layton (candidate in Ward 19
Councillor), Fiona Nelson (Member of the Board of Health, Former Chair
of the Toronto District School Board), David Reville (Former Toronto
alderman, former MPP for Riverdale, Professor at School of Disability
Studies at Ryerson University)  Marten Holdenried (EMT, CUPE 416), Jill
Marzetti (Labour Council), Mike Seaward (Steelworkers), Charlene
Mueller (Toronto Hydro worker/CUPE 1 Treasurer), Catherine Leblanc
Miller (Trustee for Toronto Catholic School Board), Barry Lipton
(member of CommunityAIR).

New Joe Pantalone Radio Ads

Listen to the ads:

• One candidate who will continue to build our city

• One candidate with a history of getting things done for Toronto

• One candidate who won't slash and burn public services

Mr. Freeze Fibs - Smitherman pushes for a meaner city

NOW Magazine // Vote TO // Mr. Freeze fibs
Written by Gord Perks, Councillor for Ward 14

Excerpt:

George Smitherman says that a vote for Joe Pantalone is a vote for Rob Ford.

Let’s
leave aside that this is self-serving and ignore how disappointing
Smitherman’s campaign is if he has to rely on not being Rob Ford to get
your vote. 

While Smitherman and a legion of pundits want the
strategic voting argument to be the most important factor in this
campaign, the fact is, it isn’t.

Here’s the truth: a vote for Ford
is a vote for an attack on public services; a vote for Smitherman is
also a vote for an attack on public services; a vote for Pantalone is
the only vote for sustained and improved public services.

The two
most telling election promises Smitherman has made are to freeze taxes
next year and to shed public service jobs by only hiring two new people
for every three who retire.

We all know Ford’s “gravy train”
doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. There simply aren’t enough pennies to
be pinched to support his sweeping tax cuts. 

What gets less
attention is the sleight of hand Smitherman uses to “balance” his budget
plan. His tax freeze principally rests on blowing surpluses generated
by Mayor David Miller ....
Read the rest at the link.

Toronto Mayoral Race: The NOW interview: Joe Pantalone

NOW Magazine // Vote TO // The NOW interview: Joe Pantalone
Joe answers questions from NOW magazine.

Toronto Environmental Alliance grade the top mayoral candidates on the environment

Top Mayoral Candidates graded on the Environment | Toronto Environmental Alliance

Joe Pantalone 20/20 - Strongest on the Environment
George Smitherman 18/20 - Shows clear commitment
Rob Ford and Rocco Rossi - 0/20 - couldn't be bothered.

Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe at Lula's Lounge Oct. 14

Lula Lounge.ca :: Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe
Doors at 7pm
1585 Dundas St. W - West of Dufferin

Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe
Fundraising event with Special Guest Hosts:

Jaymz Bee of JAZZ.FM and singer-songwriter and NOW Columnist, Andrew Cash

Join Michael Occhipinti, Yvett Tollar, Louis Simao, Rich Brown,
Maryem Tollar, Pat Murray, Dan Fortin, Tania Gill, Michelle Willis among
other special guests for an evening of positive songs in support of Joe
Pantalone and his positive vision of Toronto!

Toronto Mayoral Race: Joe Pantalone: community councils should have more control over local spending decisions

The Daily Plank: Fund community councils, says Pantalone - thestar.com
Excerpt:
Joe Pantalone would give greater control over local spending decisions to the four community councils.
If elected mayor on Oct. 25, Pantalone would free up $85 million for the community councils, which meet monthly to discuss development proposals, traffic issues and other local concerns.

The community councils — for Toronto and East York; North York, Etobicoke-York; and Scarborough — are made upof city councillors from those areas.

The community councils make recommendations to city council but they have no budget themselves, something Pantalone would change.

Of the $85 million Pantalone would make available, $10 million would go to improving commercial streetscapes; $30 million for parks; $40 million for community centres
and $5.5 million for snow clearing.

In a news conference at Yonge and Eglinton — the geographic centre of the city — Pantalone said the newfunding model would be implemented in 2012 after spending 2011 to work out any bugs.

The community councils would be able to advocate for more money by applying to council’s budget committee, he said.

And spending decisions of a community council could only be overturned by a two-thirds majority of the city council.

The move, he said, is designed to “strengthen local decision-making and control.”

Toronto Mayoral Race: Duke Pubs' burger poll puts Joe Pantalone in the lead

IMAGO RESTAURANTS INCORPORATED | Pantalone's Mayor Burger in the Lead!
Joe is in the lead with 197 Joe Pantalone Cricket Chicken Burgers sold.
Rossi is in 2nd with 178, Smitherman in 3rd with 163, and Ford is in a distant 4th with 85.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Smitherman and Rossi endorse Pantalone

During the CBC Metro Morning debate on Oct. 5, 2010, when asked the question "If not you, then who?" both Smitherman and Rossi endorsed Joe Pantalone:

Smitherman:“Joe Pantalone, because more than anything else I think that an organization, that institutional memory and experience are powerful attributes.” (26:48 in the debate)

Rossi: “I think that Mr. Pantalone brings incredible assets to the table.” (27:25 in the debate)

Toronto Mayoral Race: Joe Still Rising

From the Joe Pantalone campaign team:

A new poll conducted October 7-9th by the Logit Group shows a steady swing in momentum towards Joe Pantalone. For the first time Joe's support has topped 20%, while Rob Ford's support has sunk into the 30s. Between the two is George Smitherman. The sharp rise in Joe's numbers, and the fall in Ford's support, creates a clear three way contest in Toronto's mayoral race.

As the people of Toronto have begun to look closely at Rob Ford's record and policies, his support has fallen sharply. Ford's own poll (published in the Toronto Sun this weekend) had him at 49.5% of decided voters one month ago. Ford's simple answers to complex problems may have had initial appeal, but as voters start to truly pay attention that appeal is beginning to vanish.

Joe has the momentum

Momentum is shifting towards Joe just in time for the final stretch of the campaign. Thanks to the endorsement of Mayor David Miller and the launch of an aggressive media campaign, Joe's numbers have hit the highest level so far this campaign. Over the last year voters have gotten to know Joe, and his numbers have steadily risen. In the winter Joe was at only 6%, over the spring he rose to 10%, this summer Joe reached 15%, and now he is over 20%!

We need to keep Joe's momentum growing. Much of the jump in Joe's support comes from the radio ads that began on Monday. We need to get Joe's message into the media as much as possible. To do that we need to buy ads. Please donate now to help us buy more media. Each time we run a radio spot it costs about $100, and reaches tens of thousands of voters. Thanks to the generous city rebate program, a donation of $500, enough to buy five radio spots, will only cost you $175!

Now a three candidate race

Other candidates have tried to turn this into a two way race, but there are three people who could win this election. Only one of these candidates is presenting a positive, city building program. Joe is the only one standing up for a green and sustainable Toronto, the only one with a realistic plan for transit expansion, and the only one who has a decades long record of working collaboratively with others to get things done.

The poll found 19% of voters are still undecided, and 43% of all respondents indicated that they were very or somewhat likely to change their minds and vote for another candidate before October 25th. The study showed that Joe had the highest amount of second choice support of all of the major candidates. The survey was a telephone poll with sample size of 500. The results are accurate to within + or - 4%, nineteen times out of twenty. The poll was commissioned by an anonymous Toronto business leader and the results were forwarded to the Pantalone campaign.

This poll suggests that the public will also now start to focus on George Smitherman and his promises to cut city services, to privatize the TTC bus routes, to build city jails and his record of financial mismanagement at e-Health while he was the province's Minister of Health.

Joe can win this election, but he needs all of us behind him. Donate or volunteer today to make sure we elect a mayor to be proud of on October 25th.

Have a great day,

John Laschinger

The numbers in this Logit Group poll are in line with the trend from the last Nanos poll and the Ekos poll before that, which showed Ford's support dropping, Smitherman stagnating in the low 20% range, and Pantalone continuing to rise.

David Miller: Proud of what we've accomplished

David Miller ‘proud of what we’ve accomplished’ - The Globe and Mail
Contrary to opinions of Ford, Smitherman, Rossi and most reporting in the mainstream media, David Miller has done a lot of good for Toronto. Read the link for more.

Joe Pantalone is the only mayoral candidate that is planning on building and going forward from this point on what Miller has accomplished. The other candidates want to take us back and tear it all down. Vote for Joe to continue forward.

More links with info on David Miller's legacy:
Toronto Star - Miller's Exit Strategy

OneToronto.ca - Toronto is our home. Don't Trash Talk It.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Continue To Improve or Tear It All Down

Ivor Tossell blog: David Miller's Toronto

Toronto Mayoral Race: the truth about Toronto city finances and taxes

OneToronto - the truth about city finances
Watch the video.
Ford, Smitherman and Rossi are lying about the city finances and taxes.

Vote for Joe Panatalone. He is not lying to you to get elected. He speaks the truth.

Toronto Municipal Election: How Bike-Friendly is your City Councillor?

How Bike-Friendly is your City Councillor?
A look at how councillors voted on bicycle issues over the last few years.

Friendliest: De Baeremaeker, Heaps and Perks.
Joe Panatalone is in the middle of the bike friendly group.

Most Anti-bicycle (voted against all pro-bicycle initiatives): Rob Ford and Doug Holyday.

Click on the link for all the details

Toronto Mayoral Race: Joe Pantalone receives an A+ grade from the Public Transit Coalition

Public Transit Coalition » Pantalone Gets Top Mark on Transit Report Card

Mayoral hopeful Joe Pantalone received the top grade in the Public
Transit Coalition’s  Report Card which rates where the leading mayoral
candidates stand on key issues facing the TTC.  Candidates were sent a
ten-question survey on a range of transit-related issues from keeping
the TTC public to keeping fares in check. The complete list of survey
questions and candidate responses can be found at www.KeepTTCPublic.ca.

The report card makes it clear where the top 4 mayoral candidates
stand on key issues facing the TTC.  Joe Pantalone scores an A+, George
Smitherman gets a B, and Rob Ford and Rocco Rossi got Fs as both failed
to complete the survey.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Miller endorses Pantalone

This morning Mayor David Miller proudly proclaimed his support for Joe Pantalone as the next mayor of Toronto. Miller told an excited audience in Scarborough that "people want this city to evolve. Joe Pantalone is the only candidate prepared to face our challenges and address our need for public transit and community services. He's the one who's going to help people build a 21st century city for themselves and their families."

Yesterday PricewaterhouseCoopers declared that Toronto is now the most livable major city in the world. Toronto is today known as the greenest city in North America.

The progressive Miller-Pantalone administration has seen remarkable achievements. Major new projects are underway: work has finally begun on the Waterfront and the West Donlands, Regent Park is in the process of being rebuilt, BMO Field has opened and proved a great success, and a subway is finally going to reach York University. Still to come is Transit City, a European style network of light rail lines that will revolutionize transportation in our city.

Miller noted that in sharp contrast to the "candidates who want to tear this city down" Joe has spent a career working with people from "every political belief and every neighbourhood" to build consensus and improve our city. Joe is the only candidate that has the vision and skills to build the Toronto we want.

Miller endorses Pantalone in race for mayor, Mihevc endorses Smitherman - 680News
Excerpt:
"I've watched this mayoral race with incredible frustration and distress
because what I've seen is candidates who want to tear this city down,
and that's not what we need in Toronto," Miller told reporters.

He
said Pantalone is the only candidate who stands apart from the others,
who he said are campaigning on the same platform -- negative campaigns
that suggest Toronto is broken and needs to be fixed.

Miller said
Pantalone is the only city-builder among the candidates and the only
one who can lead the city in the right direction.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Candidate profile: Joe Pantalone

Candidate profile: Joe Pantalone
Information about Joe.

Other key endorsements not listed in the article: Ed Broadbent, and Stephen Lewis.