Yeung, Juni
Juni L. Yeung is a Chinese cultural historian and author based in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She holds a Master’s degree in History from the University of Toronto. Yeung is the co-founder of the Hanfu Movement of Eastern Canada, chairs the Toronto Guqin Society, and has contested local and federal elections.
Quick Policy Snapshot
| Gentle Density | Support case-by-case after neighbourhood review |
|---|---|
| Parking Mandates | Support keeping current parking mandates |
| Transportation | Strongly support reallocating space where needed |
| Public Safety | Improve street lighting, public-space design, maintenance, and visibility in parks, plazas, and streets |
| Cutting Development Charges | Support targeted reductions for affordable/non-profit housing only |
Detailed Policy Positions
Housing & Growth
Gentle Density
Position: Support case-by-case after neighbourhood review
Priority: Medium priority
Consistency with neighbourhood aesthetics and design needs to be maintained, in addition to addressing local concerns or resistance - esp. w. recent ones on safety and projected traffic congestion. Municipal infrastructure must first be upgraded before density can be serviced in this otherwise low density urban-sprawl based ward.
Small Builders
Position: The City should support small developers, but only in selected areas or under strict design rules
Priority: Medium priority
Densification should not come at cost to livability - esp. given our high standards of living in this city and community. No home buyer should feel shortchanged from a smaller redevelopment units that capitalize on the existing community name.
Growth Corridors
Position: Somewhat oppose corridor-focused growth
Priority: High priority
Concerned for the environmental (esp. wind) and social impacts of continual high-rise corridors, and believe that high-rises should be more mixed with houses/low rise developments interspersed in a loose network, mitigating its impact.
Permit Reform
Position: Support faster permits, but not a fixed one-week target
Priority: Medium priority
A critical component in the review process lies in the democratic process of public information and consent. One week may be too hasty given the frequency and speed council meetings occur, unless a separate dedicated process with similar transparency is offered.
Parking Mandates
Position: Support keeping current parking mandates
Priority: Medium priority
York Region is by far still a private car-centric society. Even with increased public transit access at point B, does not necessarily entice its use for the inaccessible user at point A. Until that is addressed, there is a need to maintain current parking mandates for safety and access.
Transportation & Streets
Transportation Choices
Position: Strongly support reallocating space where needed
Priority: High priority
Street Safety Design
Position: Strongly support using street design as the main safety tool
Priority: High priority
Street racing and unlawful/unsafe usage of e-scooters is a top concern of this ward's residents. I am a strong proponent of safety by design rather than countermeasure, and believe that road design, public facility design and use contribute more to local safety than cameras and police patrols.
Downtown & Main Street
Position: Somewhat support, while still backing major edge projects
Priority: High priority
Ward 3 is the economic fringe and residential suburb of Richmond Hill - as councillor of the ward, I see the need to increase the notability/competency of our ward as a duty of the position.
Public Safety
Public Safety
Position: Improve street lighting, public-space design, maintenance, and visibility in parks, plazas, and streets
Priority: Top priority
The first two choices (programs/infrastructure) should go hand in hand as top priority, just as a computer cannot function without both hardware and software. "Eyes on the street" is proven to work even with local evidence given recent revitalization of park spaces and increased comm. engagement. Given foreseeable tight budgeting as more maintenance becomes due in next council cycle, all the more important to invest in low-footprint, high-impact destinations and programmes now than wait later.
CCTV Cameras
Position: Oppose expansion unless evidence shows clear results
Priority: High priority
When asked, YRP indicates that since last batch of cameras installed a 0.4% decrease in crime rate YoY was noted in past year, however this is inline with trends across region/province, and is not indicative of the measure causing/affecting the result. Recent provincial involvement removing speeding as part of camera function also presents uncertainty to other municipal/regional powers to such measures. While not opposed to CCTVs as a measure, I remain skeptical of its expansion given its costs unless clear evidence of its integrated use leads to direct results of arrests and charges that address the crime.
Money & Services
Funding Growth
Position: Use a mix of taxes, fees, and development charges
Priority: Medium priority
Cutting Development Charges
Position: Support targeted reductions for affordable/non-profit housing only
Priority: Medium priority
Public Spaces & Environment
Public Spaces
Position: Strongly support making this a core budget priority
Priority: Top priority
Purposeful, flexible, and useful permanent infrastructure is the key to what makes a city a city. WIthout this, roads lose significant meaning or in turn service outside destinations instead. RH needs to continue identifying niches of under-addressed interests and groups and lead in providing facilities where talent and innovation (in perhaps unexpected fields) can be nurtured for the future.
Environment & Resilience
Position: Somewhat support, depending on cost
Priority: High priority
RH, including Ward 3, sits on the Oak Ridges Moraine and have rigorous regulations on its management. That should continue to be defended, but again within our budgeting means.
Transparency & Engagement
Transparency & Engagement
Position: Somewhat support better summaries and dashboards
Priority: Top priority