Earlier today, city councillor Josh Matlow sent out two tweets regarding the Trump Toronto hotel and resident in the city’s downtown core and is in the process of mounting a personal campaign to remove Trump from the luxurious downtown Toronto building.
The first tweet suggested a name change is in order and referred to Donald Trump as a fascist, stating: “I believe the owners of Toronto's Trump Tower should change its name. Toronto is a diverse & respectful city. Donald Trump is a fascist.” The second indicated his plan to approach the owners of the building asking them to remove Trump’s name: “I'm writing to the owners of the Trump Tower today to make this request.”
Trump is vying for the Republican Party nomination in the United States and has recently amped-up the anti-Muslim rhetoric culminating in his assertion that his country should prevent Muslims for immigrating to the United States at all.
Toronto International Hotel & Tower Toronto is owned by Talon International Development Inc., principles behind the operation are Val Levitan and Alex Shnaider. Trump is essential a brand name purchased by the developers.
Why do you want Trump Tower to change the name of its hotel here in Toronto?
Donald Trump has a disturbing pattern of making hateful and inflammatory comments about a number of different groups in our society. The disturbing thing is that he is a leading contender to become President of the United States. So his comments are not simply words. They are policy proposals.
A while ago, we all remember when he compared Mexicans, or called them rapists and criminals. Most recently, he’s suggest that there should be a ban on Muslim immigration to the United States. These kinds of comments and proposed policies are nothing less than fascist. Typically, Canadians don’t engage directly in American Presidential debates, but we have a tower in the heart of our downtown core named for Donald Trump. The owners of that building believe the Trump brand is a benefit to them.
Toronto is one of the world’s most diverse and accepting cities. We believe in multiculturalism and respecting each other. ‘Diversity is our strength’ is the city’s motto. It’s an embarrassment to have a Trump tower in the heart of our downtown core.
Long gone are the days when the Trump circus meant clowning around with Rosie O'Donnel. He’s not hosting The Apprentice. He is running for President and presenting a fascist policy proposal.
December people are looking for ways to push back, and ths is one way I’m suggesting.
And what are you doing to make this happen?
The first step is that I’m drafting a letter right now in fact to the owners of the building to make a case for changing the name. I don’t believe it is the corporation’s interesting or the right or ethical thing to do to retain that name.
The owners didn’t do anything wrong, to be very clear. I understand that for many years is was a benefit and his name probably helped sell things. I don’t think the intention or motivation is anything but what they believed was good business decision. But, it is so clear today to any reasonable person that Donald Trump is running on fascist policies and that kind of behavious does not reflect who we are Torontonians and I hope owners see that and make that decision.
It is up to them, it’s their building.
What can Toronto residents do to get behind your campaign?
Tell them the same thing. I’m a city councillor and a representative of our city and I’m going to do what I can. But I’m one Torontonian… If others choose to write to the owners of Trump, who share that view, I certainly encourage it.
