Do worry, bee not happy
Most people know intuitively the importance of pollinators to the food chain. Pollinators include bats, birds, and primarily a variety of insects such as bees and butterflies: without them, about one third of our food would disappear. Bees in particular play a very important role, ensuring pollination of food crops and plants…
How taxes work for you
Taxes are nobody’s favourite. Most people don’t enjoy paying them and don’t enjoy talking about them either. Doing both is important, though. Since property taxes provide the annual budget for crucial city services, Londoners need to understand how they work and so we can discuss how to make them work…
The need to feed
In my last post I talked about London’s thriving biotechnology sector. Now, I’d like to talk about one of London’s other economic strengths, and arguably a more widely recognized one – agriculture and food production. London is geographically blessed in just about every way that matters to the food supply chain. When…
The science propelling London’s future
Bringing jobs to London is one of the topics that comes up most frequently – at debates, in calls and e-mails from residents, and at the door. I've already told you about my plan to boost entrepreneurship in London, and to make it easier for start-ups to get off the…
The many virtues of arts and culture
Arts and culture are integral to what makes a city worth living in. A thriving cultural scene helps to attract and retain residents, and contributes to our sense of community. The arts provide entertainment for weekends and evenings. They give us something to share with our families and friends and…
Ward 6 candidate Mike Bloxam proposes changes to overnight parking
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, October 14, 2014Ward 6 candidate Mike Bloxam proposes changes to overnight parkingWhen August ended, so did your right to park overnight on city streets for another year. That’s a pain, especially for those who hosted overnight guests during Thanksgiving weekend.It doesn’t have to be that way, says…
Providing the necessities
This Thanksgiving weekend, Londoners sat down to share a meal and to appreciate the fall harvest, and their homes, families, and friends. Unfortunately, not everybody in our society have the privilege of a home.Also this weekend (on Friday, October 10), people in London and around the world marked World Homeless…
More than just child’s play
I've been asked frequently during this campaign about how to get more Londoners working. Previously, I shared my thoughts about supporting small businesses and start-ups so that more people are able to create meaningful work for themselves. Another important way to help is to remove barriers that prevent people from seeking…
What a waste
Garbage collection is one of the city’s most basic and necessary services. It is also a service with enormous room for innovation and improvement. On the pickup end, garbage service helps people keep their home safe and clean. On the other end, how we dispose of that material makes a…
A moving experience
The experience of our city is a collection of places: where we live, where we work, where we play, and where we learn. Each one demands an important part of our time. Getting between these places takes time, too, and that time can often be frustrating. We need to increase…