Candidate: Shane Martinez

Who are you?
Although I'm originally from the east coast, I moved to Toronto from the Dominican Republic a number of years ago. Since coming here I've been extremely proud to call this city my home. As a leftist Hispanic youth, I've worked for over eight years with Anti-Racist Action, combating organized white supremacy, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, and the far-right. I've also been extremely active in anti-poverty initiatives, fighting for the maintenance of public health care, and in Cuba solidarity efforts, especially with Toronto Forum on Cuba.

Why are you running?
I'm running because I'm frustrated with leaving my apartment and seeing police profiling and harassing youth of colour. I'm running because I'll never get used to seeing people sleeping in the freezing cold on Bay Street, while self-absorbed rich folks step over them. I'm running because I'm tired of seeing immigrants and refugees treated like second class citizens in a city that would be nothing without them. I'm running because these fellow Torontonians, and far too many more, are being denied a voice. They deserve the opportunity to finally be heard, and demand the justice which they rightfully deserve.

What should a City Councillor be?
A City Councillor should be someone who represents working class people in this city. Receiving a salary of $87,000 for doing this civic duty is obscene, and not representative of the majority of people in this city, as it economically alienates the representative from the reality of the masses. As a City Councillor, I would be proud to give more than 60% of that salary to militant progressive community organizations dedicated to fighting by any means necessary to make Toronto a better, and more representative place for the marginalized and impoverished people living in this city.

Anything else?
"We were wedded to lies and forced to live with them; this is why it seems that the world is overwhelmed when we hear the truth." - Fidel Castro

We need new leaders.