The leading candidate to become London’s next mayor has outlined his vision for the city.
Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan held a campaign event at the Grand Threatre on Wednesday, where he released his mayoral platform.
“I wasn’t going to sit down and write a platform myself,” Morgan said when asked about creating the document. “I have to recognize what I can contribute and what I need other people to contribute to the process.”
“I organized a diverse and talented team of Londoners to join my campaign team.”
The platform has five key priority areas:
– Housing and Affordability
– Mental Health and Addictions
– Inclusive City & Safe Vibrant Neighbourhoods
– Climate Change – A Greener London
– Economic Prosperity
“I want to be realistic about what the city can do and what we can’t,” Morgan said. “We wanted to make sure we took the time to really be thoughtful with it and pitch things that we feel will move the city forward. It was a team approach.”
Among Morgan’s pledges is the construction of 50,000 new homes in the next decade – including 10,000 in the downtown core.
“The work (on housing) has already started now,” Morgan told the media at his platform release event. “High density residential developments in our downtown, and the trick is, how do we keep them there? How do we keep them building high density residential for a decade?”
Morgan also said he supports the hiring of 50 new front line police officers and a downtown foot patrol office – requests of the London Police Services Board.
“What I expect, as the funder of the police services, is that this does achieve results for Londoners. I’m confident the chief and the board will have a strong deployment of these officers to make a difference for Londoners.”
London’s municipal election is on October 24.
Morgan is running against former London-Fanshawe MPP Khalil Ramal, Pastor Sandie Thomas, and seven other candidates.
Read original story from London Ontario – BlackburnNews.com