Is John Tory bold enough for a post-pandemic Toronto?

Plus, the case for boosting Toronto's tax rate, Iran protesters calling for international support, and Wellington County’s butter tart trail [Get access now!]( [The Star] First Up [By Ashley Okwuosa] By Ashley Okwuosa Good morning. Getting around downtown Toronto might be a little harder this morning as the Toronto Waterfront Marathon returns to town. [Check out the list of road closures](. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Steve Russell/The Star toronto votes [Is John Tory bold enough to lead Toronto through its post-pandemic crisis?]( In Tory’s first term as mayor, his role was to stabilize Toronto. In his second term, Tory tried to steer the city through the pandemic. Now up for a third term — one many say he is sure to win — questions swirl about whether his leadership style is what Toronto needs while battling rising interest rates, a housing crisis and overburdened social services. Richard Warnica digs deep into [who Tory is as a leader and what Toronto can expect from another four years with him at the helm](. R.J. Johnston/Toronto Star Photo Illustration can't we do better? [Here’s how Toronto’s tax rate compares to the rest of the province — and what it means for city services]( Toronto remains one of the lowest-taxed cities for homeowners in the province. For the last 17 years, the city’s residential tax rate has hovered between 0.9 per cent and 0.6 per cent. Why does this matter? Well, a third of the city’s operating budget comes from property taxes. And scaling city services — like adding more recreational classes, growing the library collection and expanding shelter spaces — are a challenge if the tax rate isn’t keeping up with population growth, writes Jennifer Pagliaro. [Check this interactive chart of how Toronto’s tax rate compares to other cities]( AP File Photo iran [One month after Mahsa Amini’s death, Iran’s protests show no sign of stopping]( “Mahsa Amini’s death was the spark of fire that lit up the accumulated gunpowder,” Amir, a 28-year-old protester in northwestern Iran, told the Star. “People’s patience is over.” Despite the Iranian government’s sometimes violent attempts to suppress demonstrators, many young Iranians say they are not backing down, Marjan Sadat reports. And they are calling on international governments for more support. [Here’s how some Iranians feel about the global response so far](. [This Week in Politics] Want exclusive analysis of the Toronto election? Get that and more political news from the Star’s This Week in Politics newsletter. [Sign up for free here](. R.J. Johnston/The Star opinion [After eight years of austerity, Toronto needs a robust opposition]( Mayor John Tory and many incumbent councillors are expected to coast to victory in this month’s municipal election. This, writes Shawn Micallef, is indicative of a tide of civic decline that few are willing to address. In response, the city needs an effective opposition in city hall to push back against Toryism where it counts and when it’s critical. [Here’s how a strong opposition would help counter the deep and growing discontent in Toronto](. Annabelle Chih for The Star the view from taiwan [On Taiwan’s campaign trail, global relations are a sticking point]( Although Taiwan’s local elections are a little over a month away, a shadow hangs over local politicking. To be a leader at any level of Taiwan’s government is to grapple with the question of the democracy’s future and its evolving risk of military confrontation with Beijing, writes Joanna Chiu. In response, lawmakers, experts and politicians are stressing the importance of forging global ties on the basis of shared democratic values as part of Taiwan’s strategy for survival. [Here’s how tensions with China are playing out in Taiwan’s local politics]( UP CLOSE Steve Russell/The Star In his new memoir, “Is There Bacon in Heaven?”, comedian and CBC host Ali Hassan documents his experience negotiating his Muslim Pakistani ancestry, attending Islamic Sunday School, discovering pepperoni as a teenager, and generally feeling like an outsider because he could never get the hang of sitting cross-legged. [Hassan opened up to Shinan Govani about his career path, growing up in Montreal in the 80’s, and who his book is for](. treat yourself to THIS Graham Paine/Metroland Looking for the ultimate autumn day trip? Try Wellington County’s butter tart trail. With 23 different stops serving up those delicious, flaky pastries filled with buttery, sugary sweetness, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Before planning your trip, read Karen Kwan’s [guide to the best cafes and markets to explore for more than a delicious sugar high in Wellington County](. Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_149504), and Manuela will see you back here Monday. Get unlimited access to all articles Only $0.50/week for a limited time [Subscribe Now!]( If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](