James Pasternak is coming back as councillor for Ward 6 York Centre on a platform of improving community resources, building on infrastructure, and bringing new affordable housing into the ward.

Pasternak was first elected in 2010, and won this year with 71% of the vote. He ran against Conroy Irving, who got 21% of the vote, and Alexander Artamonov, who had 7.6% of votes.

The Green Line reached out to Pasternak to learn more about his priorities for the next four years. Here’s what he had to say: 

• Fighting against hate: In an email to The Green Line, Pasternak says he plans to “fight anti-semitism and hate in all its forms.” 

• Investing in community resources: Pasternak promises to complete design work and break ground for the Downsview Community Centre at Keele and Sheppard Avenue. In his email to The Green Line, he also said he wants to complete and open the Centennial Library at Bathurst and Finch and re-imagine Heschel park with new play equipment, landscaping, seating and an exercise course.

• Investing in senior services: Pasternak plans to invest in services for seniors, including supporting the new Neshama Hospice, a North York based publicly-funded hospice care facility that doesn’t charge families for the care they provide seniors.

• Improving street safety: Pasternak said in his email he’ll implement a number of pedestrian and traffic safety measures, including speed humps, cross walks, Watch Your Speed technology and police enforcement.

Here’s how Pasternak responded to election pledges shared by local organizations and advocacy groups:

• Pasternak didn’t respond to  the Community-led Planning Pledge to fund community-led planning and center community voices. 
• He didn’t sign or respond to TTC Riders’ pledge to push for more reliable, affordable, accessible, frequent, fast and safe public transit.
• Pasternak didn’t respond to Cycle Toronto’s pledge to improve cycling infrastructure in the city.
• He didn’t respond to demands raised by Toronto ACORN to give RentSafeTO teeth, stand up to Ontario and tackle heat and affordability. You can check the details here.
• Pasternak didn’t sign the Toronto Environmental Alliance Pledge, which commits councillors to vote for a maximum temperature bylaw, plant trees in hot neighbourhoods, cut single-use trash at big events, pause approvals for big AI data centres and cut emissions.

What priorities would you like The Green Line to track and report on in the coming year? Leave a comment on this page.