The Craig Needles Podcast

London could be a music city after all!

London has often been criticized by commentators (Craig included) for being anti-fun.

But is the city shedding that label?

The Forest City London Music Awards are coming up - which means a city wide celebration that runs for more than a week!

John Pacheco and Howie Kittleson - the co-producers of the June 14th awards show - joined Craig in the studio to talk about London's music traditions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

New TVDSB boss wants to win back trust

It's been a messy few years at the Thames Valley District School Board.

Scandal. Baseball trips. Criminal charges for an executive. Firings. A board of trustees sidelined.

Now, the organization has what they hope is a new long term leader.

Kevin Auckland, the board's incoming CEO, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how he plans to win back the trust of TVDSB parents, staff and students - while navigating difficult financial waters.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Ford government pulls the plug on supportive housing

A supporting housing facility in downtown London is closing after the Ford government decided to pull the plug on their half of the House of Hope funding.

45 people who live there could soon be homeless.

Can this housing be saved?

Chris Moss, executive director of London Cares, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how this all happened and what the next steps might be.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

The latest election buzz, LTC, dogs in hot cars and more

A busy week in London!

Craig was joined by advocate Frances Moore and former Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to breakdown whether more Londoners will vote in this fall's election than did in the one we had four years ago.

Also, a report heading to a city committee this week outlines the potential future of London Transit - should the commission still be made up of councillors or should they bring back citizen appointees?

Councillors are also looking at $300 fines for people who leave pets in their car on hot summer days and the results of the renoviction by-law passed two years ago - which appears to be working.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Early surprise changes London council race

When this election campaign started almost three weeks ago, we thought 13 of 15 members of council were going to run for their old jobs - then we got a surprise.

Susan Stevenson running for Mayor means the race in ward four is wide open. Tom Cull, who put in his nomination papers on the first day of the campaign, joined Craig to talk about the new race, what people at the doors are telling him and what he thinks the big issues are in London.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

What will a Susan Stevenson for Mayor campaign look like?

It's official - Susan Stevenson is running for mayor.

The often controversial Ward 4 councillor filed her papers this week - can she win?

Craig is joined by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, political insider Scott Collyer and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to breakdown the race.

The key takeaway from Craig: This could create an unexpected coalition for Josh Morgan.

Also, the panel looks at what Craig called the worst vote of the term: the 10-5 rejection of a proposed development that featured long-term care home and neighbouring transitional housing building. 

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Will homelessness crisis be the top election issue?

It's election season, so let's break it down on the Friday Round Table.

London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and former city councillor Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to look at whether homelessness will be the top issue, their impression of the mayor's race after the first week of the campaign and how many competitive ward races London may have.

Then, they talk about news that London Health Sciences Centre will have to replace more than 1,300 windows at University Hospital - while also in a legal battle over the allegedly shoddy work ordered by former hospital executives.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Advocates push for bail reform

Brett Broadfoot lost his daughter Breanna to intimate partner violence in 2024.

Now, he's an advocate for change - locally and nationally.

He and London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn joined Craig to talk about Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

It's local politics Super Bowl!

It's election registration day!

The municipal election is in October, but you can officially become a candidate for mayor, council or school board trustee - yes, even for the currently under supervision Thames Valley District School Board.

Craig was joined in the studio by former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad to talk about the upcoming vote.

First, they analyze the news that Kirsten Krose - a former staffer in Stephen Harper's office - is running against Josh Morgan for the mayor's seat. Will this be a more competitive race than the one Morgan won in 2022?

What will be the key issue in the council races? Will longtime city councillor Roger Caranci be successful in his return to municipal politics? What should Londoners expect out of the trustee races now than the Ford government has changed the rules?

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

South London's traffic nightmare

As the city rips up another major intersection for the southern leg BRT leg - this time Wellington and Commissioners - business owners and managers have concerns.

Ian Sterling Leishman, President of the Old South Business Association, joined Craig on the podcast to talk about the potential problems, how BRT construction has impacted other city businesses and his proposed solutions.

 

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

 

Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.