Lily Cheng has been re-elected for a second term as councillor of Ward 18 Willowdale through a platform of promoting road safety, providing new support for housing and food and giving residents a say in their ward.

Cheng was first elected in 2022, and won this year with 63.1% of the vote. She will begin her next term in council on Nov 15. She ran against David Magazzinich, who got 20.7% of the vote, and Ardeshir Zarezade, who had 7.4% of the votes.

The Green Line reached out to Cheng for a comment, but didn’t get a response. So, we compiled promises and priorities shared during her campaign this election season; here’s what you can look forward to:

• Community safety: Cheng supports an extended multi-year police hiring plan, budget reviews to fund frontline capacity and prevention, empowering neighborhood-based safety groups, like neighbourhood watches and a Community Police Liaison committee. 

• Improved transportation:  Cheng plans to explore the possibility of getting regular bus microtransit in Willowdale to allow easier transportation is also a priority. She says her team will focus on monitoring and enforcing bikes, ebikes, and scooters away from sidewalks and host a community meeting with City staff on the Willowdale and Sheppard Ave East bike lanes to share feedback. She will put a focus on traffic calming measures at busy intersections and road maintenance. 

• Resources for seniors: Cheng plans to support naturally occurring retirement communities by implementing a Seniors Advisory Group to share supports and services.

• Responsible growth: Cheng says she plans to review the impact of multiplexes, advocating for parking requirements outside of transit station areas and advocating for responsive amendments with community input.

• Shelters: Cheng plans to continue collaborating with the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto for a new shelter on 68 Sheppard Ave W., built specifically to house and provide resources to Indigenous women and children.

• Sustainable neighbourhoods: Part of her platform includes recycling disposal “reverse vending machines” that pay residents for the glass and aluminum they recycle. She also wants to incentivise reusable containers for businesses, festivals and events. 

• Support for small businesses: Cheng says she’ll support the development of  Business Improvement Areas, or BIAs, in Yonge north of Bishop and Sheppard east of Doris, grow the Willowdale Youth Job Fair and Youth Council and support entrepreneur networks.

• Property taxes: Cheng promises to keep increases near or below inflation.

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

• Cheng didn’t respond to  the Community-led Planning Pledge to fund community-led planning and center community voices. 
• She didn’t sign or respond to TTC Riders’ pledge to push for more reliable, affordable, accessible, frequent, fast and safe public transit.
• Cheng didn’t respond to Cycle Toronto’s pledge to improve cycling infrastructure in the city.
• She 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.
• Cheng didn’t sign the Toronto Environmental Alliance Pledge, which commits councillors to voting 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.