Toronto has two days to remove election signs and people are singling out Gong
Now that the people of Toronto have the city's new mayor elected, our streets are set to look a whole lot emptier, as candidates and residents have been given a strict deadline to get rid of all election signage — which may prove particularly difficult for one candidate in particular.
Xiao Hua Gong, who received 0.4% of the vote, is responsible for 50% of the election debris on our streets.
— UkeTube (@uketube) June 27, 2023
A dozen yard signs litter Scarlett from @lambtongcc to East Dr.
If Xiao wants to rescue Toronto, he can start by cleaning up his mess.@cityoftoronto @oliviachow pic.twitter.com/QyWGl5LUrV
The city issued a release Tuesday morning reminding everyone to kindly dispose of any campaign billboards they'd installed on private or public property, and to do so at a designated City Drop-Off Depot, not in the regular trash or recycling.
Fun fact: the only human-made structure visible from space is the row of Gong posters along Toronto streets right now
— Toronto Mike (@torontomike) June 25, 2023
This leaves us wondering if Xiao Hua Gong, who turned himself into primo meme fodder by plastering his face absolutely everywhere in the weeks leading up to election night, will be able to hit the June 29 cutoff to take down his posters.
His people have to by a certain date
— Mark (@MJW0220) June 27, 2023
The businessman candidate, who even bought out space on the bigscreens at Yonge-Dundas square, seemed to spare no expense with his campaign, with people estimating he had tens of thousands of placards with his likeness (and his motto, "here to rescue Toronto") scattered around the city.
The notorious GONG needs to pick up his bazillion damn signs- this is just litter at this point. Mark Saunders, Chris Sky, same get out there. https://t.co/EVMkBZHI7z
— hoodratinthesix (@srfdva) June 27, 2023
Fifteen years after immigrating to Canada from China in 2002, the former theatre director was arrested and charged for fraud and other offenses by the Ontario Securities Commission, and eventually had to fork over more than $60 million for an alleged multi-national pyramid scheme and money-laundering operation.
After tonight’s election, I think Toronto should leave up Gong signs around the city as an art installation like the moose statues in the early 2000s. pic.twitter.com/c94wPfhBb9
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) June 26, 2023
Even with his shady past, Gong's signs were quite the hit on social media, though not at the actual polls on Monday, where he came in 11th place with 0.41 per cent of votes.
Dear Mr. Gong,
— 𝙰𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚖 𝙺𝚊𝚗𝚓𝚒 (@aleem_kanji) June 27, 2023
Congrats on your second place finish with students. Please have these wonderful students remove your barrage of signs, you have 72 hours to complete this by law.
Thanks,
Toronto #TOpoli https://t.co/yyqbb1rwSv
Of course, many online are joking about the fact that with just shy of 3,000 ballots cast for him in total, the candidate's signs far exceeded his votes.
That’s actually great ROI for advertising.
— Holman (@EmilyVanHolman) June 27, 2023
Anyone with election signs to dispose of is asked to do so in the next two days at 120 Disco Road, 400 Commissioners Street, 35 Vanley Crescent, 50 Ingram Drive or 3350 Victoria Park Avenue.
Jack Landau
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