Ward 1 has been front-and-centre in London's challenges with homelessness and open drug use. Both candidates say it's a key issue in the race between incumbent Hadleigh McAlister and former councillor Roger Caranci.
Former councillor Caranci challenges incumbent McAlister in ward that now includes Old East Village
Andrew Lupton · CBC News
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Roger Caranci is stepping back into the breach.
The 61-year-old realtor is running for a council seat in Ward 1 in a bid to again represent roughly the same east London area where he served as a councillor from 2000 to 2010.
Standing in Caranci's way is incumbent Hadleigh McAlister, elected as a rookie in 2022. It will be a two-horse race barring any new entries ahead of Friday's deadline to file nomination papers. Janette Larocque registered as a candidate but tells CBC News she's now dropped out of the race.
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Caranci has seen a lot of changes in his 16 years away from city hall, not all of them to his liking. His top concern: How the city has responded to London's housing and homelessness crisis, particularly when it comes to spending.
WATCH | Ward 1 candidates talk homelessness: Homelessness top election issue in Ward 1 August 20| Duration 1:48
"It's the biggest issue by far," he said. "I think the city's become trapped in a cycle of trying to address it themselves and they don't have the ability to do it themselves. The province and the federal government have to play a bigger role."
Caranci says if elected, he'd apply more scrutiny to money the city hands over to partner agencies that provide homeless supports. Topping this list is Ark Aid Street Mission, which operates the 70-bed Cronyn Warner shelter along with other supports, including a meal service. A city council committee last week voted to continue its support to Ark Aid, along with a handful of other service agencies, through to spring.
"It's disturbing to me they keep requesting money but don't like to answer questions about how they spend it," said Caranci. Among his most recent concerns are two recent job postings for senior positions at Ark Aid with salaries starting at $85,000.
Ark Aid posts its annual audited financial statements at the bottom of this page. It spent $5.5 million last year and 74 per cent of revenue came from the city. About $4.1 million of Ark Aid's revenues went to salaries last year.
"To me, that's too-top heavy," said Caranci.
He also takes issue with other city spending on homeless supports, including the $7 million spent to set up and operate a 60-unit micro shelter site in south London though to April 2027.
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Caranci's campaign plans to highlight some of the accomplishments from his previous stint on council.
He pushed to rename Airport Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway. He also supported the construction of the Hale-Trafalgar overpass, which removed a traffic-clogging rail crossing on the CN line.
McAlister: city has to play a role in homeless supports
Trying to hold off Caranci and retain his council seat is McAlister.
Throughout his term, McAlister has voted to extend Ark Aid funding. And while he agrees senior governments need to step in with more help, he said the city has to continue its support.
"I think we've had some successes in London, we just need those higher levels of government to come in," he said. "What I'm looking for going forward are those expenditures that provide long-term solutions."
The biggest voice on council questioning city spending on the homeless response this last term has been Ward 4's Coun. Susan Stevenson, who's now running for mayor. Her ward included Old East Village (OEV), which continues to be hard-hit by open drug use. It's also where Ark Aid is located. The ward boundaries have been withdrawn and OEV now falls into Ward 1.
Caranci, like Stevenson, believes OEV is bearing more than its fair share of the homeless response, causing the neighbourhood to suffer.
McAlister said it's not so simple. He said the system doesn't always have open beds in other areas of the city and forcing Ark Aid to sell a building they own at Dundas near Elizabeth Street would be tricky.
"Where we need the pressure relief on OEV is to have those options so people aren't just going to the shelter for just basic services, that we're able to offer them something else," he said.
Outside of homeless funding, both Caranci and McAlister agree the city has significant infrastructure needs, and could better manage construction projects in the area.
McAlister touted his efforts to get vacant properties cleaned and put into active use, something that's been a problem in the ward.
As for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), neither candidate is a fan. It was approved by a previous council and is slated to arrive in the ward next fall.
"I was more in favour of LRT [light rail]," said McAlister. "I've lived in cities that have light rail. In London we should have been bold and gone that route."
Voters will cast their ballots in London's council and mayoral races on Oct. 26.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Lupton is a reporter with CBC News in London, Ont., where he covers everything from courts to City Hall. He previously was with CBC Toronto. You can read his work online or listen to his stories on London Morning.
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