PIZZA MAKER Dino Ari says its time for a changes and is asking for your vote in October.
Popular Etobicoke pizza maker Dino Ari has donated thousands of his delicious pies to help the hungry, homeless or those down on their luck.
Today he is giving back to the community by running to represent the constituents of Etobicoke’s Ward 3 in the municipal elections in October 24.
“I live here and I have my two stores in Etobicoke,”Ari says. “People have been asking me to run for a long time now I am taking the challenge.”
DINO’s Wood Burning Pizza is popular with west enders.
He believes he can do a better job than incumbent Mark Grimes in fighting crime and helping small businesses and residents of the blue-collar riding.
“I have donated free pizzas to those in need in Toronto and in this community,” Ari vows. “Hunger is a big issue in this community and we have to do something about it.”
He will also be lobbying for more police on the streets and affordable housing for Ward 3 residents.
“My store along with others were broken into by thieves about two weeks ago and they left behind thousands of dollars in damages,” Ari says. “The thieves broke by window and cash register.”
He said a number of small businesses in the Bloor and Kipling Avenue area were damaged or subject to thefts in incidents that took place during the middle of the day. There has been no arrests.
THIS is Amber Morley’s second attempt at Ward 3 councillor.
“Where is our councillor when we need help,” Ari asks. “He is nowhere to be found.”
Ari notes that crime in the area is getting out of hand and points to the recent armed auto theft of Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner outside a movie theatre.
“We need more police or cameras in the area,” he explains. “Something has to be done about the crime in the area.”
It has been a long road for the pizza king, who arrived in Canada more than two decades ago from Turkey.
He managed to learn the pizza making trade and worked his way up to owning two stores.
“I want to show newcomers and immigrants that they too can become part of the system and help make things better in their community,” Ari insists. “I want to show them that it can be done.”
Grimes was elected in 2018 with 40.90% of the vote. He has not indicated whether he will seek re-election.
Registered candidates includes Ari and Amber Morley, a community health promoter who ran against Grimes in 2018 and placed second.
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