Fotopoulos, Applebaum make election pledges for Côte des Neiges

“Côte des Neiges is brimming with potential and we have to seize those opportunities,” said Fotopoulos, who is running for the first time in Côte des Neiges after serving as mayor of the Borough of Plateau-Mont Royal. “Our team is in the best position to provide basic services and to create the conditions that will allow our neighbourhood to blossom,” she said.

Applebaum, who is seeking his third term as mayor of Côte des Neiges-NDG, said a number of major initiatives that are changing the face of the borough were started by his administration and he wants to continue to serve residents’ needs in the years ahead. “In Côte des Neiges, for example, we upgraded Queen Mary Road, built a green roof on the library, overhauled Jean-Brillant Park, introduced the BIXI, launched a cleanliness campaign and improved public transit,” he said. “We need a third mandate to pursue the significant community, economic and environmental progress we’re already made in the neighbourhood.”

Since Côte des Neiges is part of the historic and natural area of Mount Royal, Fotopulos said she wants to nurture the area’s progress, while working to preserve the mountain’s environment. “The objective we uphold in all our infrastructure and roadwork projects is clear: greater safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.” She also noted the current city administration’s stated intention of improving access to Mount Royal by creating a third summit park on the mountain.

In terms of specific projects that Applebaum and Fotopoulos promise to complete if elected, they would finish upgrading Côte des Neiges Road (the district’s main street and a City of Montreal thoroughfare) all the way to Côte St. Catherine Road, and they would improve the safety of the Queen Mary/Côte des Neiges Road intersection by replacing the concrete median with a new and greener configuration.

They also have plans to improve local cleanliness and to acquire new “urban furniture,” including additional trash cans near bus stops and around Metro stations. “Over the past eight years, the cleanliness, situation has improved significantly around Montreal in general and in this borough in particular,” she said. “Cleanliness is important to the residents and so we plan to step up our efforts in that direction.”

Fotopoulos said she and Applebaum plan to encourage the development of business activities in Côte des Neiges by tapping the potential from tourism at St. Joseph’s Oratory to encourage visitors to explore other attractions and heritage sites in the area. And she would promote the cultural and artistic diversity that is the cornerstone of the local economy.