big issues:safety in public spaces
The Know Your Vote T.O. "Big Issues" primers are meant to be starting points for readers to continue their own learning and investigation. Note: Sources include City of Toronto materials, Ontario legislation, and publicly available educational and media resources.
Candidate answers
councillor
Nathen Masri
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Safety cannot be a luxury reserved for wealthy neighbourhoods. I’ll bring Bio-Harmony design to underserved communities: smart lighting, safer routes, sensors, cleaner parks and rapid-response technology, backed by visible community policing and compassionate shelter, mental-health and addiction intervention. I’ll pursue partnerships, efficiencies and new City revenue streams to fund safer infrastructure—not keep sending the bill to struggling homeowners and renters.
councillor
Chloe Brown
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I'd direct funding from Mounted Unit to youth/senior programs to prevent exploitation by organized crime. I'd directly fund Mobile Crisis Response, Encampment Support Network, and Paramedicine teams as harm reduction delivery agents, paired with supportive housing, so mental health calls don't fall to police. I'd shift some paid duty work to Firefighters so TPS can focus on crime. I'd also launch community safety hubs in malls and strip plazas, and expand police substations to support public safety via improved response times and visibility.
councillor
Ian Cunningham
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Residents should never have to choose between compassionate care and safe communities. I support community policing and expanded crisis response teams that pair mental health professionals with law enforcement. While enforcement is important, lasting improvements require addressing the root causes of crime through better mental health supports, addiction treatment, housing stability, and early intervention.
councillor
Paul Nash
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?The higher number of people in crisis on Toronto’s streets and public transport makes us all feel increasingly unsafe and points to a broader mental health crisis that the city needs to address. We need to expand access to mental health services and invest more in mental health crisis workers.
councillor
Bashar Kassir
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize a more proactive, integrated approach to public safety. The City should establish a visible neighbourhood by-law presence, with officers proactively patrolling streets, parks and public spaces to educate, improve compliance and consistently enforce existing bylaws. Police should focus on law enforcement and situations requiring police powers, while trained civilian personnel handle appropriate non-criminal issues. The right resource, in the right place, can make public spaces safer and more welcoming.
councillor
Ausma Malik
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I’ve worked closely with staff on encampment resolution in parks and addressing homelessness and public drug use on our streets. Having teams on-the-ground to clean areas up, de-escalate issues, and refer people to shelter and services helps make everyone feel safe. To do this work well, we need to invest more in employment, public health, and housing programs, and we need other governments to fund these services and housing. I’ll also continue to expand the Toronto Community Crisis Service and speed up 911 call times for fast response.
councillor
Husain Neemuchwala
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Toronto’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and welcome. I would make hate incidents easier to report, ensure timely support, and strengthen coordination between the City, community organizations, the TTC and Toronto Police. I would invest in community-led programs that build understanding and prevent tensions from escalating, listen to affected communities, and track results to ensure our actions make Toronto safer and more inclusive.
councillor
Andi Hoàng-Lefranc
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Public safety is a joint responsibility between neighbours, community organisations, and City Hall. This means expanding the Toronto Community Crisis Service, which has been effective at diverting people-in-crisis calls from a resource intensive police-response to a community-based response that focuses on long-term stability. This will also better serve neighbours who are vulnerable to gender-based & intimate partner violence and youth social conflict, by having first responders who are better equipped to understand these sensitive situations.
councillor
Paul Viret
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?The stats say that crime and assaults are down since lockdowns were lifted, but people don't read stats. They want to see the safety measure in place that are supposedly, keeping them safe. I can tell you that in my 15 years of taking the TTC I have never had my fair inspected, even seeing an Inspector is rare so how can I believe that stats. We need to see people doing their job, we need to see then checking fares, we need to see police walking on the street and interacting with the neighbourhood. People need a reason to believe the stats.
councillor
Mike Layton
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Invest in social programs like community centres, employment support, public health, school food, mental health, transit, affordable housing and eviction prevention, interim shelters, 7 day a week library access. Invest in Community Crisis Response Program expansion on transit. Advocate to other orders of government for additional transit and housing support, to reinstate safe consumption sites to bring substance use safe and indoors, and to double income supports for OW and ODSP. Eliminating poverty is the best way to address safety for all.
councillor
Gian Pileri
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize everyday safety through better lighting, clear walkways, clean parks and transit, and visible, trained staff. I would push for more visible, approachable police officers who build trust, offer help and treat everyone with respect. I would support consistent enforcement against threats, harassment and dangerous behaviour, alongside crisis workers who help people in distress. I would work with residents and local services to address recurring problems early. Reports should receive a clear response and follow-up.
councillor
David Cottrell
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize making parks, transit and streets feel safe through visible enforcement, faster responses to persistent disorder, better lighting and maintenance, and stronger coordination between the City, TTC, police and outreach services. Safety is not only about crime statistics. Residents should be able to use public spaces without regularly facing intimidation, open drug use or threatening behaviour.
councillor
Mina Nadimi
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?The safety is very important it doesn't matter where we are in the city i think and many others agree with me in this is all Ties up to high cost of living to drives people to mental disorder to act to make a unsafe place to be. What will i do is i will set a special budget , trained professional who can deal with high cost of living without humiliating them . Of course there is more to this in this proposal i just simplified this in HIGH COST OF LIVING .
councillor
Morgan Harris
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Better public lighting, and cleaning of spaces. In my ward, Toronto Centre, many public spaces are awash with litter which is demoralizing and contributes to unsafe feeling if using such spaces. Example: Residents have identified Barbara Hall Park as a problem area and there are other sites in the core. Drug traffickers exploiting addicts have co-opted public and private spaces for their use. Perhaps more so since safe consumption sites have been closed. Example of success was Allan Gardens moving the drug trade out of the park.
councillor
Norman MacLeod
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Victory for People who vote and elect Norman MacLeod , myself, Councilor Ward13 Tkaronto Toronto. I will engage a waiting inspirational spirits from First Nations to service our Ward 13 to ensure Safty exists without ceasing. I will negotiate money for this most important conglomerate of Ward 13 issues. People from FirstNations will be offered payment for services walking in unison not with parents and school children. I seen a mess of bureaucracy today, and that is what I will break. Victory here is for People.
councillor
Nicki Ward
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I have lived downtown and helped lead our community for thirty years, I know safety concerns are real. Neglect and City Hall gaslighting have let our public spaces decay. Safety requires basic operational effectiveness: well-lit parks, clean transit stations with visible, trained staff, and public washrooms that are actually open. We must expand the Toronto Community Crisis Service and Paramedicine so mental health emergencies get healthcare support, not escalation. This frees first responders to deal with under-reported 911 issues.
councillor
Curran Stikuts
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?The things we need to do to help people get stable also help everyone feel safe walking home, taking transit or spending time in a park. I willexpand crisis teams and focus police resources on violence, threats and trafficking, with more neighbourhood officers on foot and bike. More supportive housing and 24/7 respite spaces must be part of that response, alongside better lighting, regular cleaning, community programming and visible TTC staff.
councillor
Maria Voutsinas
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Toronto is a safe city but residents need to feel safe. We can improve their quality of life by spreading the message that crime is lower but also by targeting improvements such as better lighting in parks, finding housing and treatment programs for the unhoused and funding programs for at risk youth. We should explore more community policing programs to build better relationships between police and the people they serve; and deter minor crimes like vandalism. We should continue the good work that has driven down crime in the city.
councillor
Maqsood Ahmad
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Many residents feel that our streets, parks and transit areas are not as safe as they once were. As property taxes rise, residents deserve to see better safety services. I would support responsible investment in police services and make sure resources are directed to the places and times they are needed most. I would also prioritize better lighting, safer crossings, action on speeding and faster follow up on 311 reports. Better communication among residents, City staff, the TTC and police can help prevent problems and rebuild public confidence.
councillor
Dianne Saxe
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?We need better lighting, maintenance and cleanliness to make our streets and parks safer. I’ll keep improving safety on the TTC with Streets to Homes, fare enforcement & dedicated staff. We’ll fight for all governments to disrupt organized crime, to invest in opportunities for youth, to pay social assistance that people can live on and to support those with mental health and addiction challenges. Joint patrols by police and nurses reduce drug use and connect people to supports. Meanwhile, Vision Zero reduces road violence.
councillor
Michael Mitchell
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?A greater police presence on the street and in parks and on the TTC. Better lighting on public streets.
councillor
Mary Fragedakis
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Everyone should feel safe using our streets, parks and transit. That means addressing crime and disorder, but also investing in better lighting, clean and well-maintained public spaces, responsive policing and community safety measures. We also need better mental health, addiction and housing supports so our transit system and public spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone.
councillor
Jason Stevens
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?social housing can help decrease crime as people are not wandering out with desperation in life
councillor
Denise Walcott
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would bring residents, City staff, the TTC, community organizations and local police together to identify recurring safety concerns and coordinate practical responses. My office would track unresolved cases without publishing personal information and report on broader progress. Priorities would include better lighting, cleaner public spaces, safer crossings, protected cycling routes and faster connections to mental-health and crisis supports. Residents deserve action and clear follow-up when they report a concern.
councillor
Sara Ehrhardt
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?People deserve to feel safe in their parks and on transit. A key way we can do this is by providing people in crisis with the trauma informed supports they need including: a safe place to sleep inside, access to health supports, and a pathway to stable living. We also can invest in more workers on transit to add a track level presence at more stations to respond to issues as they arise. I am particularly interested in public or not-for-profit supports that are barrier-free and trauma informed.
councillor
Sheena Sharp
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?People are afraid because of the presence of homeless people in public spaces, but they have nowhere to go. I will prioritize ending homelessness in 5 years, taking inspiration from programs in Norway. It doesn’t matter that most homeless people are harmless. Some people will never believe that. But homeless people need homes, so lets solve that, and get a side benefit of other people feeling safer.
councillor
Didi Moffat
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Safety requires well-maintained spaces and real human presence. I will prioritize: Environmental Safety: Upgrade lighting across transit paths, parks, and bus shelters, clearing sightlines and funding active community programming. Supportive Transit Presence: Deploy front-line station staff and integrate Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) teams across platforms to de-escalate crises with trained care. Dedicated Spaces: Fund 24/7 supportive housing and drop-ins so transit and parks stop serving as default shelters.
councillor
Jeffery Adamson
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Residents should be able to enjoy parks, transit and neighbourhood streets. I would support a balanced community-safety approach that combines prevention with appropriate enforcement. That means improving lighting and maintenance in public spaces, responding quickly to threatening or dangerous behaviour, maintaining a visible safety presence on transit, and strengthening coordination between police, TTC staff, community organizations, and mental-health and addiction services.
councillor
Hassan Mubarak Noor Mohamed
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would focus on visible, preventive safety, better lighting, clean and well-maintained parks and streets, safer TTC spaces, and targeted traffic-calming measures. I also support a coordinated approach that brings together police, paramedics, mental health, and community services where needed. Youth programs and positive use of public spaces can help prevent problems before they escalate. People should not only be safe; they should feel comfortable using their neighbourhoods at any time.
councillor
Shelley Carroll
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?People should feel safe where they live, work and raise their families. Crime is going down, and I want to build on that progress by focusing on the spaces people use every day. That means cleaner and better-maintained transit, parks, and streets, with stronger neighbourhood policing, Community Safety Hubs, better lighting and faster responses when people need help. Safety also means preventing problems before they become emergencies by investing in youth programs, community partnerships and practical improvements to the public realm.
councillor
Sabrina Zuniga
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize a visible, coordinated safety presence on the TTC and in parks, streets, and public spaces. That means staffing police and TTC special constables, improving lighting and maintenance, and responding quickly to threats, open drug use, weapons, and disorder. Residents should not have to change their routines because they feel unsafe. People struggling with addiction or mental illness should receive treatment and care, while public-safety laws are consistently enforced. Compassion and safety must work together.
councillor
Hamid Shakeri
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Perception differs from reality. Some career politicians exaggerate problems to create fear or advance an agenda. To make everyone safe, we must focus on poverty reduction, mental health resources, and stopping gun smuggling from the US. Some advocate for more police, but we have enough police personnel; we just need to use them efficiently. We rather need more social workers. Anyone wanting more policing must find a way to pay for it without burdening the city budget, perhaps by bringing in additional forces from the OPP or RCMP.
councillor
Adam Smith
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?As mentioned, we need to work with encampments so they are organized and safe and not ad hoc and do not infringe on the public's ability to use the parks. We need TTC enforcement on trains where the problems actually occur, not on platforms where they can only react after the fact. Ultimately, we need safe consumption sites back and more funding for mental health, especially for addicts.
councillor
Jennie Worden
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Housing – Permanent, affordable, appropriate housing. Many residents feel unsafe in public space because of the visible signs of homelessness, drug addiction, and social disorder. Ensuring that everyone in Toronto has a safe place to live and be will move people out of the public realm and into their own homes.
councillor
Syeda Jaana Ali
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize safer, better-maintained public spaces through improved lighting, cleaning, visibility & faster responses to hazards, while increasing community-based safety initiatives. On transit and in parks, people should see a stronger, consistent presence of trained staff and outreach teams, with police resources focused where they are most needed. Safety also means prevention—supporting mental-health, housing & youth services that address issues before they become crises. Every resident should feel safe walking enjoying neighbourhood.
councillor
Mohammad Shabani
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?As candidate for Beaches-East York (Ward 19), my priority is a public health approach to safety. I will shift transit response toward a social-medical model, dispatching mental health workers instead of law enforcement to crisis situations. We will fund community-led violence intervention programs to address root causes of crime, create safer streets and parks through smart urban design, and secure equitable access to health resources across Toronto.
councillor
Jennifer Alexander
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize a community-based approach to public safety that looks at why people don’t feel safe, not just where crime is reported. I’d establish a Community Safety Working Group bringing together residents, City staff, police, transit and community organizations to identify concerns and act on them. That could mean better lighting and maintenance, safer streets and crossings, and stronger supports in parks and public spaces. Safety should be something people experience and feel every day.
councillor
Ariel-Rachel Karokis
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Public safety is one of my top priorities. We need to push for more police patrols so that all citizens can feel safe. As a mother of three, I am one of many that have witnessed our parks become an unsafe place for our children and ourselves. We must clean up our streets and parks. We need to prioritize a better relationship with our police forces and make the City prioritize fixing the homelessness that has increased throughout all of Toronto.
councillor
Taiba Ahmed
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I believe the best way to improve safety in Scarborough’s parks and transit stations is by investing in and expanding the Neighbourhood Community Officer program (NCO). NCOs, unlike regular officers, are more embedded in communities, and take a more proactive role in preventing crimes and patrolling our streets. There’s a wealth of evidence that shows NCOs are effective in curbing petty crime in places like parks and transit, but they’ve only been deployed in 4 of 11 Scarborough Centre neighbourhoods. If elected, I will complete this rollout.
councillor
Krissan Veerasingam
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I’d start with the root causes, from social isolation and precarious housing to inadequate support for people struggling in our public spaces. We need to build more connected communities and take a housing first approach to ensure no one is left on the street, where it becomes much harder to access the supports they need for complex challenges.
councillor
Donny Morgan
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I want people to feel safe walking through their neighbourhood, using our parks, and taking the TTC. I’d focus on better lighting, cleaner public spaces, and more visible staff and community presence. We also need to respond quickly when residents report problems. Safety isn’t just about crime numbers. People should actually feel safe where they live.
councillor
Dan Lovell
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?We can afford to fund supportive housing systems so that individuals aren't cycling through homeless shelters, emergency rooms, and ultimately the justice system. We can afford to fund after school programs, youth outreach programs, and job placement programs because prevention is much cheaper and more effective than punishment and incarceration. For many in Scarborough-Agincourt, this isn't about slogans, it's about outcomes. We can afford to fund community safety programs and neighborhood supports that reduce harm before it even happens.
councillor
Jackson Ho
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?When people can no longer afford basic necessities, financial desperation can contribute to crime and instability. Making Toronto safer means addressing some of the root causes, not just responding after a crime occurs. We need to make life more affordable, while also improving access to mental health care and addiction treatment. By helping people achieve greater stability and get the support they need, we can prevent crime, strengthen communities, and make Toronto safer for everyone.
councillor
Sajawal Javed
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Safety is not something I would leave to complaints after something goes wrong. I would identify Ward 23’s highest-concern parks, streets and transit areas, set clear priorities, and work with City staff and police on targeted solutions. That means fixing lighting and visibility problems, addressing unsafe conditions quickly, and increasing prevention where needed. I would publish what was reported, what action was taken, and what remains unresolved. Leadership means fixing problems before they become crises.
councillor
Ashan Fernando
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize a stronger, visible community-safety approach: better lighting, faster responses to unsafe conditions, traffic-calming measures, speed alerts and new traffic lights where needed. I would also support stronger coordination among police, City services, transit and community organizations. Safety means both reducing risk and ensuring residents feel comfortable using parks, streets and transit. As a 26+ year Ward 25 resident, I’ll listen and act.
councillor
Vane Stavrev
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize an increased police presence in public places
councillor
Mihaela Andrei
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?People feel safe where a space is cared for. That starts with working lights, open & clean washrooms, cleared paths, station elevators that work, and 911/311 calls that get a timely & adequate response. Someone in a mental health crisis needs a trained crisis worker, not a squad car, so I would make sure crisis teams are resourced across Ward 3 and police can focus on crime. I would work with local agencies to fill our parks with programs and events for the whole community. Streets, parks and transit are safest when neighbours know each other.
councillor
Steve Yuen
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?TORONTO DESERVES Safer & Friendlier Neighbourhoods, Roads & Parks! I WILL promote a GOOD Neighbourhood WATCH program for our Children, Pets & Seniors. IF you are not the GOOD Neighbour You are probably the BAD Neighbour ...Who commits crime, lacks respect for property, speeder, breaks the LAW,does not care regardless of age, gender, religion or who you are? GOOD NEIGHBOURS HELP, CARE & WATCH -Each other; & GIVE to Each other When there are those in Need. -in the END the LOVE you take is EQUAL to the LOVE you make!
councillor
Adam Pham
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Make our community safe, fun, artistic, warm, welcoming, attractive, and energetic. Make it easier to create farmer's markets, night markets, street food stalls, and pedestrian friendly community spaces. Police officers should be focused on safety, not on tasks that don't need them — mediating landlord-tenant disputes, issuing traffic tickets. Use technology; I will work with the province to reinstall automated speed and red-light cameras - enforcement that keeps people safe without tying up officers.
councillor
Holly Weber
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?This topic is one of the central areas of focus in my platform. Immediate fixes will be to ensure there are no encampments in parks coupled by improvements to the availability and safety of shelters and public housing so unhoused people have acceptable options to parks and subways. I would also push for increased security measures on public transit including crisis-response and mental-health teams for situations where they are better suited to respond.
councillor
Diana Chan McNally
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would continue to invest in and scale the Toronto Community Crisis Service. As well, people experiencing crisis need dedicated and resourced spaces to connect with people they trust and find adequate and appropriate support. Toronto's 24/7 respite centres currently are closed to walk-in access, leaving people in crisis at all hours of the day stranded in public and unable to access safe and supportive space. As Councillor, I would reverse this policy and bring back walk-in access to 24/7 respite centres.
councillor
Vanessa Raponi
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?More investment in resources like 211 (the Toronto Community Crisis Line), addressing the root causes of homelessness (ranging from affordable housing to stronger community building to reduce social isolation), and ensuring mental health and drug addiction services are well invested in. We must focus on following the strategies experts recommend, that are backed by science. Folks don't feel safe, and so many people are in crisis who need serious help. We must tackle this issue head on, from all angles.
councillor
Conroy Irving
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize more visible policing and enforcement, better lighting and maintenance, faster responses to problem areas, and stronger youth violence-prevention programs. The City should work with police, outreach teams and community organizations. When laws are broken, there must be consequences.
councillor
Enzo Torrone
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?True safety means everyone feeling secure in our parks, on transit, and on our streets. Since 2010, officer levels fell nearly 9% while Toronto grew by over 22%. To ensure reliable coverage, I hope to work toward returning police staffing to previous peak levels. If given the privilege to serve on the Police Services Board, I will strive to deepen ties with Ward 8 divisions, while supporting various youth initiatives and mobile crisis teams to thoughtfully rebuild safety, trust, and community.
councillor
Jason McDonald
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Clean, well-lit transit stations with platform edge doors at busy stops. Real reliability so people feel safe waiting for the next train. On streets: fix broken sidewalks and missing crosswalks, the infrastructure people navigate every day. TPS needs body cameras and independent oversight, not blank cheques.
councillor
Neil Simon
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would focus on the places where residents regularly feel unsafe. That means better lighting, cleaner public spaces, faster attention to problem areas, outreach and mental-health support for people in crisis, and police response when there is violence or a serious threat. We can help vulnerable people while also making sure parks, streets and transit are safe for everyone.
councillor
Alejandra Bravo
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?When people have more services, they are and feel more safe. We’ve made good progress on emergency response times by hiring more 911 operators, firefighters and paramedics, and 911 wait times have dropped by 90%. I’ve fought to increase the Toronto Community Crisis Service to our subway system. This service means people in crisis get support and disturbances are handled quickly and successfully. Supporting young people is critical to safety. Our Youth Safety Plan created 16,000 new jobs for youth, and I'll keep working with community leaders.
mayor
Darrell Brown
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?This is not about increasing the number of police. Violent crime is on the decline. Increase youth programming, mental health and addiction outreach, and community-safety funding that's tracked to the neighbourhoods it's meant to serve. Use dedicated police programming in areas demonstrating proven effectiveness, not blanket police increases. Pair visible, well-resourced policing and transit safety investment (including securing GO and TTC parking, which residents flag repeatedly) with treatment of the root causes. Use proven solutions.
mayor
Georgios Kalkounis
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would implement a coordinated, evidence based safety strategy applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Engineering-based Operational Standards across parks, transit stations and high-traffic areas. Priorities include clear sightlines, lighting, inspections, Integrated Safety Presence across Divisions, rapid response to disorder, modernized transit safety systems, community partnerships, and transparent reporting. My operational standards, audits, and infrastructure experience support consistent, accountable delivery.
mayor
Braeden Chow
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?What is the reason why they don’t feel safe? If it is because of tents and people living in the park while sometimes also using drugs, i would remove the tents and build proper shelters for those people. This applies to streets with that same issue. People struggling with mental health will be directed to one of our many services that already exist in Toronto. Transit i will not focus as much on the “harm reduction squad” or whatever it’s called and allow more police officers + TTC security to handle those situations.
mayor
Jamie Atkinson
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would treat safety in public spaces as a design and community challenge as well as a policing one. Even where reported crime is low, dark, empty or neglected spaces can feel unsafe. I would invest in better lighting, cleaner parks and stations, food pop-ups, street festivals, seasonal markets and community events. I also want more meaningful jobs in public spaces—people helping, maintaining and welcoming—so Toronto feels active, cared for and safe.
mayor
Robert Shusterman
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Parks and streets need to be lit up we have to make sure there's proper lighting in these areas so that at night time people don't feel afraid. We also need to have more special constables patrolling the areas that are unsafe. Also soliciting on the TTC the subway the buses should not be allowed I've seen people panhandling we need to correct this
mayor
Sandeep Srivastava
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize visible, responsive and community-focused public safety. That means targeted police presence where data identifies risks, safer TTC stations and vehicles, better lighting and maintenance, traffic safety measures, and faster responses to disorder. I would also expand mental-health, addiction and outreach services so police are not the only response. Every resident should be able to use Toronto’s parks, streets and transit with confidence. Elect Sandeep Srivastava for Mayor of Toronto
mayor
Joshua Thompson
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Violent crime first. More visible enforcement where people actually walk — parks, transit, streets. Hold the police board and related agencies to results, not slogans. People should be and feel safe in public without waiting for another study.
mayor
Amy Rosen
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Many people living on our streets are also struggling with mental illness, addiction, or other challenges that require treatment and support. We can be compassionate without accepting the status quo. We can help vulnerable people rebuild their lives while ensuring that parks, sidewalks, transit, and public spaces remain safe, clean, and accessible. The city needs to expand mobile crisis response teams independent of police. These services will help the city provide basic healthcare needs, while helping everyone feel safer.
mayor
Laura Dean
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Toronto needs an actionable plan with measurable objectives for transit safety. I would look at the data on where incidents happen and why, and allocate resources accordingly. I would hire more TTC officers with de-escalation and mental health experience, visible in major stations and circulating through the system to be dispatched as needed. More eyes on streets and in parks make people feel safer. Providing real housing solutions would also mean that public spaces and transit are not used as de facto shelters.
mayor
Cory Deville
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?I would prioritize alternating subway trains (ex., sections on the subway), buses and street cars that were exclusive to women, women with children and the elderly. They would be option for the aforesaid groups; and they would run every 15 minutes during rush hour, and after 10pm.
mayor
Roberto Curto
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?People deserve to both be and feel safe in our public spaces. Police have an important role when there are genuine safety threats, but not every problem requires a police response. I would expand crises response and ACT teams so people experiencing mental health or addiction crises get the right help, while investing in supportive housing to stop the cycle. Safety also starts with the spaces themselves: better lighting, cleaner and more active public spaces, and fixing the small things that make an area feel neglected or unsafe.
mayor
Lyall Sanders
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?We need more neighbourhood officer walking a beat. Individuals that will have a personal connection to the residents. They will not be "interlopers", but rather extended members of the community. There for the good of all.
mayor
Martin Fraser
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?Safety is both a policing and a community issue. I definitely have solutions to move both in the right direction. It is very important that everyone realize that we are all in one community and all children are the responsibility, of all adults, regardless of where you live. We are also responsible for each other. It is not wrong to help anyone who needs help. Torontonians need to remember to respect each other, and it does not matter if you are driving, on a bicycle or as a pedestrian, kindness and respect is not a disease it is a mindset.
mayor
Habiba Desai
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?1. Mental-Health Response on the TTC Expand trained mental-health crisis teams across the TTC and shift appropriate non-emergency mental-health calls away from enforcement-only responses. Police and emergency services would remain available when there is violence or an immediate threat to safety. 2. 1,000-Weapon Community Surrender Program I would establish a voluntary program with a target of 1,000 weapons surrendered, combined with positive rewards like VIP event tickets.
mayor
Faisal Razi
Some Torontonians don't feel safe in parks, on transit, or on certain streets, even where reported crime is low. What would you prioritize on the next City Council to help people be and feel safe in the city's public spaces?In regards to crime, violence or abuse, we are simply are wasting our time if try to deal with these topics without addressing sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies. This is an extremely important but completely neglected point that we have not acknowledged as a society: we focus on things such as race or background but not that very important distinction. The hard truth is that we simply cannot study crime, violence, or abuse without acknowledging this very crucial factor. It is one of life’s most profound but little recognized truths.