Ward 8 candidate Stefano Presenza says encouraging residents and businesses to be involved in keeping neighbourhoods clean and neat would go a long way to boosting community pride.
“There is a theory that basically states that an unfixed broken window can lead to more negative behaviour: if the owner doesn’t care, and there are no consequences, why should anyone else?” the candidate said in a news release. “I strongly believe the opposite to also be true: the more pride we take in our wards, the more of a positive impact we can make!”
After participating in a Ward 8 clean up blitz in May and participating in a school planting session with students at Cyril Varney Public, Presenza was “blown away” by the impact the efforts had on those participating.
“I was blown away by their hard work and involvement, and I could see the sense of pride and excitement that they were experiencing. Our CAN (Community Action Network) was successfully able to transplant this seed of pride in the kids, and I have no doubt that this will translate into a sense of community participation and growth in our neighbourhood and our city.”
Presenza said he would advocate for more programs and beautification projects that “fix the broken windows” and encourage a cleaner, more inviting community.
Presenza’s election website can be found here. Visit his Facebook page here, follow him on Twitter and check out his election videos on YouTubeYouTube.
Here’s the full text that Presenza released
There is a theory that basically states that an unfixed broken window can lead to more negative behaviour: if the owner doesn’t care, and there are no consequences, why should anyone else?
I strongly believe the opposite to also be true: the more pride we take in our Wards, the more of a positive impact we can make!
Earlier this May, I had the opportunity to participate in the Ward 8 Clean-up Blitz along with my girlfriend, and together we were able to pick up over 8 garbage bags filled with all sorts of waste and debris. Not only did it feel good, but I took note of the smiles on the faces of those who noticed: they were very thankful that there was such an initiative, and they asked for more information. Furthermore, I was also able to also participate in a school planting session, where students from Cyril Varney developed their young green thumbs by helping to plant various flowers and vegetables at Twin Forks.
Again, I was blown away by their hard-work and involvement, and I could see the sense of pride and excitement that they were experiencing. Our CAN was successfully able to transplant this seed of pride in the kids, and I have no doubt that this will translate into a sense of community participation and growth in our neighbourhood and our City.
As a Ward 8 candidate, I will advocate for these programs, as well as any beautification projects with the aim to “fix the broken windows” and make New Sudbury a cleaner and more inviting community. In particular, I would like to partner with local grocery stores to ensure that carts are returned, instead of being left at surrounding playgrounds. I would also like to see more street-sign toppers, placed on top of existing street signs throughout the neighbourhood, giving our streets character and building our identity in New Sudbury. I would also encourage more community clean-up blitzes with schools and surrounding organizations.
Let us again take pride in New Sudbury, our Ward 8!
Stefano Presenza
Candidate for Ward 8 (New Sudbury)
