There’s no mystery behind Mayor Olivia Chow’s budget record. Just math that is readily available for all to see in 100's of pdf's available on line. The budget is public. The candidates complaining about the increases should tell us what they plan to cut: Of the $882 million in new spending under Chow, about 30%, or $266 million, went to an increase in the police budget. Libraries are now open on Sundays. Crisis response teams now work alongside police to help people in distress on the street. Traffic agents. Wheel trans to improve accessible transit. There is also proof in the pudding: less homelessness in Toronto (8%) at a time when everywhere else in the Province there have been surges (23% Province-wide). Spending strategically and surgically, and measuring outcomes, has been working. We need more of this, not less. If candidates have a beef with spending, they should point out what they would cut, specifically. thestar.com/opinion/contribu… via @torontostar