The Craig Needles Podcast

Episode 311: Friday Round Table with Shawn Lewis, Cheryl Miller and Roger Caranci

A busy week in news!

Craig is joined in the studio by London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, and two former city councillors - Cheryl Miller and Roger Caranci.

They talk about the latest changes at the executive level at the Thames Valley District School Board, London leading the nation in downtown commercial vacancy rate, the somewhat controversial ArkAid funding proposal at city hall, and whether it's time to pull the plug on virtual London City Council meetings in the wake of a councillor possibly having a beer during a debate.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 310: More TVDSB "leaves", viral City of London garbage truck video

The changes at the Thames Valley District School Board continue, as three more high level executives are either on leave or no longer with the board.

Craig shares his thoughts.

Then, did you see that video of a City of London garbage truck backing into a car?

Rebekkah Wilkin, the woman who was driving the car, joins Craig on the podcast to explain what happened.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 309: Friday Round Table with Jeff Preston, Lesley Bikos and Jared Zaifman

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by disability advocate Dr. Jeff Preston, police researcher Dr. Lesley Bikos and London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman.

They talk about the latest at London Health Sciences Centre, where the board has been axed an replaced by David Musyj - who is now supervisor.

Then, they look at the latest in the London Police Services Board and navigator story. There's conversations at City Hall about not permitting boards and commissions to allow this kind of spending - is that even possible?

They also breakdown Doug Ford's comments on ODSP/Ontario Works and his magical idea to tunnel under the 401.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. 

Episode 308: The London Children's Museum needs $1,000,000

The London Children's Museum - a gem in the city - is in the middle of a big move from their Wharncliffe Road location to a new spot at 100 Kellogg Lane.

One problem: They're just short of their fundraising goals to get the doors open.

They're asking for the community's help to raise $1,000,000 to finalize their move by the end of the year.,

Executive Director Kate Ledgley joins Craig on the podcast to explain the fundraising push, what the new museum location will do for London, how it will educate kids and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 307: Bonnie Crombie and the Ontario Liberals visit London

The Ontario Liberals are having their AGM in London, so leader Bonnie Crombie stopped by the Covent Garden Market studio to talk about the rebuild of party and some key provincial issues.

Craig asked her about education funding in the wake of the ongoing problems at the Thames Valley District School Board, bike lanes, and whether we may seen an early election on Ontario.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 306: Will more London organizations hire Navigator?

The London Police Services Board is standing by the decision to spend $104,000 on Navigator - a PR firm who has worked with lots of high profile clients. 

A member of that board - Mayor Josh Morgan - joins Craig on the podcast to talk about the broader implications of that spending.

Will the London Transit Commission feel they have to hire Navigator now? What about the London Public Library Board?

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 305: The $38,444 Question

So, how did that TVDSB executive trip to Toronto happen, anyway?

Beth Mai, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, joins Craig on the podcast to share her side of that story, and talk about the reaction parents and teachers have had to the cost of the jaunt 17 executives took to the SkyDome Hotel being revealed.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 304: Why Did the London Police Services Board Spend $104,000 on Navigator?

The London Police Services Board is under fire after, as per a story in the London Free Press, they spent more than $100,000 on Navigator to do communications surrounding their massive $672-million ask during the most recent budget cycle at city hall.

Why did they do it? Why choose Navigator, a rather infamous PR provider, of all firms?

Board chair Ali Chahbar joined Craig to explain the rational behind those decisions.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 303: Can Bill Tucker repair the TVDSB's reputation?

We got the receipts for the TVDSB's jaunt to Toronto, and the numbers aren't good.

$38,444.22 for 18 executives to meet at the SkyDome hotel and maybe watch a few ballgames - all while the board is facing a multi-million dollar deficit.

Not great!

Bill Tucker, who retired as Education Director in 2013, is back! He takes over for the embattled Mark Fisher, who is now "on leave" from the role.

Tucker joins Craig on the podcast to discuss the spending scandal, how to repair trust in the community and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Episode 302: Friday Round Table with Hadleigh McAlister, Ryan Gauss and Jennifer Dunn

Busy week in the news!

Craig is joined by London city councillor Hadleigh McAlister, political insider Ryan Gauss and London Abused Women's Centre executive Director Jennifer Dunn for the Friday Round Table as they break it all down.

They start with the mess over at the Thames Valley District School Board, as Mark Fisher is "on leave" and Bill Tucker returns. Also, the trip Fisher and 17 other TVDSB executives took to Rogers Centre came in at a cost of more than $38,000.

Then, they look at the struggles of local food banks, proposed parking lot to housing conversions in the downtown core, the proposed Canada Life Place name change at Budweiser Gardens, the NDP potentially pulling the plug on the carbon tax and what celebrity endorsements mean in 2024.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.