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Dec 31,2006 - Jan7,2006 |
Li Preti running for the eighth time
Councillor's priorities include subway and hospital
By Alan Patarga
Originally Published: 2006-06-18
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Councillor Peter Li Preti addressing his supporters at the fundraiser.
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Two decades of political commitment have driven home two important lessons: "Continue listening, always, to the voices and aspirations of one's neighbours; and having a family and friends to rely on."
Armed with his expertise and these two maxims, Peter Li Preti can well tackle yet another campaign to maintain his seat as Toronto city councillor for Ward 8. The kick-off for Li Preti's re-election bid came last week at Meridian Banquet Hall, at a fundraising dinner attended by over 600 supporters.
"For the first time in 20 years," remarked Li Preti in his speech, "we had to turn some people back because we had run out of space: it's a great satisfaction, rewarding my work of many years, but most of all it's another demonstration of the trust and esteem that you've always shown me."
Supporters include so many people, "from Sandy Ricciuto and his family to Tony Dionisio and Local 183, Carmen Principato and Local 506, Bob Iarusci and the Toronto Azzurri Soccer Club, and so many more." A host of supporters for a councillor who saw this city grow, first in North York's and then in Toronto's City Council. "In August 1997," recalled Li Preti, "I organized a dinner just like this, and I've recently reread the speech I gave at the time. I spoke about five issues in particular, giving my forecasts. I foretold that property taxes would increase, that two distinct societies would emerge, that crime would reach new highs and that services offered to the residents would decrease, thus bringing about a change for the worse in quality of life. Unfortunately, I have been proved right. This, however, does not mean that our community did not also win some important victories in these years.
"For instance, the crematory at Jane & Steeles will not be built after all. Few believed me when I suggested the strategy of stalling for time as long as possible, waiting for the subway to thwart that plan; yet, just last week the City of Vaughan began the process for converting the area to residential. I had always believed that it would come to this, despite what my political opponents said. I spoke of the need to bring the subway to that area already in 1985, and then in 1993, and then in 2000. Now, those ideas have been vindicated. Even though I am certain that other people will try to claim this victory for themselves, I know that this community, our community, is the only community that believed in this possibility and always fought to make it real."
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