When we speak with people—or when they encounter us through our website or our booths at community events—we’re often asked similar questions. We’ve tried to clarify those here. If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Who funds your organization?
Our group is made up of concerned residents of Richmond Hill who want to make their city a better place to live. Any expenses incurred through our advocacy work are paid out of pocket by members as personal contributions to the group and its cause. We do not have any institutional sponsors.
What is your relationship with the Strong Towns organization?
Strong Towns does not fund our group, nor does it fund any of the more than 290 Local Conversation Groups around the world. However, some members of our group are individual, paying members of Strong Towns. Strong Towns supports Local Conversation Groups by providing technical and organizational training, as well as guidance on movement-building and advocacy.
What are your political affiliations?
Strong Towns and our group are non-partisan and are not affiliated with any political party. We promote values such as fiscal responsibility at the municipal level, which some may view as conservative. We also advocate for reducing car dependency and limiting highway expansion, which others may see as progressive or environmentally focused. Strong Towns brings together people from across the political spectrum.
Is Strong Towns against drivers and cars?
Strong Towns is not against drivers or cars. We recognize that driving is an important and sometimes necessary way for people to get around. Our focus is on creating communities where driving is not the only practical option, and where streets are designed to be safer and more efficient for everyone—including drivers. By supporting better walking, cycling, and transit options, we aim to reduce congestion, improve safety, and make driving itself easier and more predictable for those who rely on it.
Does Strong Towns support density that alters neighbourhood character and leads to traffic congestion?
Strong Towns does not support growth that is poorly planned or that undermines the quality of existing neighbourhoods. We advocate for incremental, context-sensitive development that fits within the character of a place and is paired with safer streets and better transportation options. When density is introduced gradually and thoughtfully—along with walking, cycling, and transit improvements—it can reduce long car trips, support local services, and help prevent the kind of traffic gridlock that results from car-dependent sprawl and large, single-use developments.
Is Strong Towns trying to take away my freedom by taking away my car?
No. Strong Towns is not trying to take away anyone’s car or personal freedom. Our goal is the opposite: to expand people’s choices. Today, many communities are designed so that driving is the only realistic way to get around, which limits freedom for people who cannot or prefer not to drive. By supporting safer streets, better walking, cycling, and transit options, Strong Towns aims to give residents more ways to move around their community—while still recognizing that cars will continue to play an important role in everyday life.
I live in a suburban area, and I don’t want it to become busy like downtown Toronto.
That concern is completely understandable. Strong Towns does not advocate turning suburban neighbourhoods into dense, high-rise downtowns like Toronto’s core. Instead, we support modest, gradual changes that respect the existing character of suburban areas—such as small local shops, gentle housing additions, and safer streets—so daily needs can be met closer to home. When growth is handled incrementally and thoughtfully, it can make neighbourhoods more livable and convenient without creating the congestion, noise, or intensity associated with a major downtown.
Won’t your support for biking and bike lanes slow down or complicate driving?
Improving biking and bike infrastructure is not about making driving harder or slower. Well-designed bike lanes help organize street space more clearly, reduce conflicts, and make roads safer and more predictable for everyone, including drivers. When more people are able to make short trips by bike instead of by car, there are fewer vehicles on the road, which can ease congestion and make driving smoother for those who need to drive.
What do you mean by “municipal Ponzy scheme”؟
When we use the term “municipal Ponzi scheme,” we’re referring to the way many cities fund ongoing expenses by borrowing against future revenue rather than making sustainable, long-term financial plans. For example, a city might spend heavily on new roads, highways, or large infrastructure projects funded by debt, expecting future tax increases or development fees to cover the costs. Over time, this can create a cycle where more and more money is borrowed just to pay for past decisions, leaving fewer resources for essential services, maintenance, and smart growth. It’s not an accusation of fraud—it’s a warning about an unsustainable financial approach.
How do you plan to make housing more affordable in Richmond Hill?
Strong Towns advocates for making housing more affordable in Richmond Hill by promoting incremental, context-sensitive development rather than large, car-dependent sprawl. This includes allowing modest infill, gentle density, and diverse housing types—such as townhomes, duplexes, and secondary suites—that fit within existing neighbourhoods. By increasing the supply of housing gradually and thoughtfully, we can reduce pressure on prices while maintaining the character of the community. At the same time, better-designed streets and transportation options help make these neighbourhoods more livable, reducing the hidden costs of car dependence that often make housing feel less affordable.