People of Durham #25 - Abdullah Mir, Pickering Ward 1 City Councillor Candidate

00:00 🗣️ Abdullah Mir is introduced as a community advocate in Durham, involved with "Stop Sprawl Durham," "Land Over Landings," and the Rougemount Community and Recreation Association (RCRA), where he is the VP and co-founder. He is also a board member of the Pickering Public Library and is running for Ward One City Councillor. 01:55 🏞️ Abdullah discusses the revamp of Rouge Valley Park, a project he worked on with the RMCRA, the City of Pickering, and Regional Councillor Maurice Brener for two to three years. The initial plan was to only revamp the basketball court, but through advocacy, they added a gazebo and a walking path, transforming it into a more usable community space. 04:34 💬 Abdullah emphasizes the importance of finding ways to say "yes" in a world full of "nos," encouraging community members to band together to achieve positive change, even for small projects like a local park. He believes this serves as an example of what collective advocacy can accomplish. 08:10 📍 Abdullah describes Ward One in Pickering, noting its boundaries: Toronto to the west, Lake Ontario to the south, train tracks north of Finch Road to the north, and Fairport Road to the east. He mentions that Ward One is likely the most populous ward after a recent redistricting. 09:38 🏘️ Abdullah explains that "Stop Sprawl Durham" advocates for building complete communities by utilizing the "missing middle" in housing (duplexes, triplexes, low-rise walkups, purpose-built rentals) instead of just detached homes or 50-story condos. He argues against urban sprawl, which he defines as uncontrolled growth beyond city limits, due to its environmental and financial downsides for taxpayers. 19:34 🏙️ Abdullah highlights the proposal for "Northeast Pickering," which aims to bring 70,000 people to the city, almost doubling its population. He criticizes this plan as "bad planning policy" and "fiscally irresponsible" because it's in the middle of nowhere with no existing infrastructure, meaning taxpayers would bear the cost of building necessary services. He advocates for building within the urban boundary, in areas like Seaton, which are already serviced but largely undeveloped. 23:01 💰 Abdullah discusses affordability, particularly property taxes, as a major concern in Ward One. He pledges to ensure residents get value for their money by pushing departments to renegotiate contracts and procure new services at the best possible deal, fostering a "resident-first mindset." 27:54 🌳 Abdullah recounts a significant win for "Stop Sprawl Durham" where, through sustained pressure and rallies, they successfully advocated for the provincial government to return nearly 7,000 acres of land, including 5,000 acres near his home in Pickering, to the Greenbelt. He uses this as an example of how advocacy can make a difference. 38:03 🏞️ Abdullah explains that "Land Over Landings" continues its advocacy work, now focusing on having the lands originally designated for the cancelled airport incorporated into Rouge Urban National Park. He supports using these lands for agricultural and agri-tourism purposes to generate economic value while preserving natural heritage. 49:34 🌊 Abdullah shares his favourite place in Pickering, Rotary Frenchman Bay West Park, highlighting its beautiful waterfront, beach, and boardwalk. He describes Pickering as a perfect blend of urban and rural living, appreciating the serenity of the water and the accessibility of nature within the city. 57:54 🤖 Abdullah discusses the potential of using AI and LLMs for municipal decision-making, particularly for modeling future city expansion, environmental costs, and financial impacts. He believes these tools can help make better, more informed decisions, leading to sustainable and responsible development. 01:03:07 ⚛️ Abdullah praises the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, noting its green energy production and the good jobs it provides. He mentions attending an informative talk at the Nuclear Information Center, which assuaged his safety concerns, emphasizing the dedicated safety team and the advanced technology used.