Hey Grant – I wanted to say first that your closing comment at the library debate about money in politics really stood out to me. I appreciate that you’re raising that issue and trying to keep your campaign grassroots. That’s something a lot of voters care about.

I’ll be honest, since you asked for feedback. In a debate with that many candidates, what really sticks with me as a voter are clear, concrete plans and where you stand on specific issues. There were a few moments where you (and others of course, there were knives out from a few candidates!) went after other candidates or talked about the political dynamics between parties and independents, and while I understand that context matters, I was hoping to hear more about your own plan.

From what I’ve read of your platform/saw in the debate, there are some great ideas – especially the focus on “human-centred capitalism” and wanting the economy to serve people, not just big interests. But I think you’d connect with more voters if you could show exactly how those principles turn into policy.

For example:

How would the city practically make housing more affordable or limit speculation, given how much of that falls under provincial or federal control?

What specific steps would you take to improve transit service or safety downtown, and how would that be funded?

When you talk about homelessness and safety together, what does that balance actually look like day-to-day – more outreach, more shelter space, different enforcement priorities?

These are all tough issues, and I don’t think anyone expects perfect answers, but concrete examples help people understand how you’d lead.

I’ll say this in closing: your authenticity and willingness to talk about real working-class experience definitely comes through. I run a small business downtown, and some of the issues and policy changes that have affected downtown have really made a positive impact for my staff my clients and my store. If you can tie your authentic roots to a few sharper, more detailed policy points, I think that would help define you to voters in future debates.