Rowena Santos talks to The Philippine Reporter

Rowena Santos talks to The Philippine Reporter

TORONTO – When asked who among the candidates in her ward is the most likely to win, she replied, “Does that question include me?”

Rowena Santos believes she will win. Self confidence is unmistakbly one of her qualities. Not to mention being articulate, intelligent and young.

Asked what makes her different from the other candidates, she said her emphasis on the youth. She believes opportunities should be provided to the young people in her ward. Specifically, she has organized Boxers Against Guns and Drugs (BAG’D), a non-profit program that gives free boxing training under the guidance of a veteran mentor. BAG’D is housed in a gym on Dundas West and Bloor St. It keeps them away from street crimes and helps them develop discipline, fitness and confidence. There are currently 60 young people under this program.

She said this project has no budget since it is supported by small business, local residents and community organizations. It uses what she calls the “collaborative approach.”

She believes in allowing landed immigrants to vote. When it was mentioned that Mayor David Miller came out in support of that recently, she said she’s been carrying that issue since February this year.

Although the Mayor has endorsed her opponent Gord Perks, Santos has been endorsed by Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo. (She said Perks is not a resident of her ward and he ran for an elected position in Davenport.)

She also supports the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” campaign and believes in an amnesty for the undocumented.

When informed of the Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) and its three issues of community safety and policing, helping live-in caregivers, and access to professions by foreign-trained professionals, she said these are covered by her platform. She added that she wants to expose what had happened in the fatal shooting of Jeffrey Reodica by a police officer.

Essentially, she wants to reconnect the City Council to the community and residents of her ward. (HG)