The two leading London mayoral campaigns had launch events this week - and released platform ideas.

Josh Morgan's platform is out and includes promises aimed at transit, taxes, and homelessness.

Meanwhile, Susan Stevenson released priorities at her launch event - with the promise of more detail to come.

Craig was joined for the Friday Round Table by former council candidate Jeremy McCall and advocate Dr. Jeff Preston to look at the promises and whether they'll convince more Londoners to actually head to the polls in 2026.

Then, they talk council races. With less than two months to go, are those engaging the public?

Those stories and more on this week's Friday Round Table -  powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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It's been a brutal construction season in London - no way around it (literally).

How can we speed up these projects and maybe not have so many ongoing at once?

Incumbent councillors and candidates Shawn Lewis and Steve Lehman have an idea and joined Craig on the podcast - along with Ryan Aarts, CEO at J-AAR - to discuss it.

What if, for big projects, crews work until 11pm? What if they work some Saturdays? It might make a big difference.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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As we get closer to the 2026 election, council is debating an issue that many voters have identified as a high priority: transit.

London Transit Commission – which is now run by councillors – is asking for a $2-million budget increase to help stay ahead of rising fuel costs and other price increases.

Should council go for this?

Former City Councillor Cheryl Miller and London Development Institute Executive Director Scott Collyer joined Craig for the Friday Round Table to breakdown that story and look at the latest in the municipal election.

Also, a whole lot of by-elections federally and provincially. Are governing parties just going to keep winning until Donald Trump is out of office?

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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We go to the polls in less than two months - should candidates be talking about the environment more?

Some have release platforms with little to no environmental mention. Others haven't released platforms at all.

What should a council candidate be talking about?

Dr. Brendon Samuels, and instructor at Western in the Masters of Environment and Sustainability Program joined Craig on the podcast to share his thoughts.

Read more about the report on London's infrastructure here. The city's climate plan can be found here.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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Local hospital leadership has talked about saving money and finding efficiencies - especially in the wake of the massive fraud investigation at London Health Sciences Centre.

Would LHSC and St. Joseph's Healthcare returning to a one CEO model save some cash?

In the Windsor area, a hospital partnership is being hailed as a multi-million dollar savings move.

Craig asked hospital officials about this and then breaks it down on the Friday Round Table with advocate Frances Moore and political insider Matthew Newton-Reid.

They also look at council's recent conversations surrounding drugs and homelessness shelters, and then they take a look at the upcoming election - which is less than two months away!

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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Kirsten Krose is running for Mayor of London - and just released her platform.

Where does she think London can improve? How would city hall be different if she were mayor?

What can we do about homelessness? What about traffic concerns?

She's running against an incumbent and another candidate who has been on council for four years - what challenges does that bring in a campaign?

Craig and Kirsten explore those topics and more on the latest podcast - powered by London Hydro, Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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The 2026 municipal election is just over two months away - and the nomination deadline is Friday!

Craig asked Mike Donachie of London Ontario Online News to join him for a podcast episode to analyze the races for Mayor and the 14 council seats.

Who's running? Who are the favourites? Which incumbents are in trouble?

Craig and Mike breakdown those questions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, along with Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig was joined by London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, London Cares Executive Director Chris Moss and former Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to talk about the week's big stories.

First, they look at Kirsten Krose's mayoral campaign and the news stories that came out of that this week - the $536-per-person fundraiser in Toronto and her pledge to not take developer donations during the race.

Then, they discuss renovictions in London and ways to make developers keep their promises, followed by new numbers showing a drop in London's murder rate.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, along with Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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Medical officers of health in various Ontario municipalities say that food insecurity is growing, and they want governments to take action.

Why is food insecurity even considered a public health issue?

Should Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program rates be increased? What about basic income?

Dr. Alex Summers - the Medical Officer of Health for Middlesex-London - joined Craig to discuss those questions and more.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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Friday Round Table!

Craig is joined by a panel of London Home Builders Association Executive Director Jared Zaifman, former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and London Property Management Association Executive Director Nathan Caranci to breakdown the week's top stories.

First, council is being asked to cover for the federal government's share of funding for some homelessness service providers in the city - again. Should city politicians go for this? Is this the time to take a stand against an upper level of government?

Also, the pushback on data centres has reached Strathroy - where a proposed site is not going ahead. Craig and the panel examine that issue and then discuss the latest MP defection from the Conservative Party of Canada.

The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

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