Londonist recently posed some questions to the mayor following his visit to Borough Market. Here are his responses:

What do you say to people who say that they have a good job but can?t afford to live in zone 2 or 3, therefore why should other people get help to live there?

Londoners are going through one of the toughest periods in recent memory. That is why I have focused all of our investment programmes on not just improving London?s transport network and regenerating the capital, but ensuring that we are growing London?s economy while keeping cost of living down. A large part of this is getting real value for money and I have started by cutting waste at City Hall to free up £3.5 billion for services. By putting taxpayer money where it has the biggest impact we have been able to put £445 back into Londoners? pockets after cutting City Hall?s share of council tax, and if re-elected I will cut council tax by at least 10 per cent over the next four years.

I also want to make home ownership more affordable to help low and modest income Londoners on to the property ladder. That is why we launched the First Steps housing programme, helping 25,000 first-time buyers, and my plan is to boost this scheme further by delivering more than 18,000 First Steps homes to assist another 25,000 Londoners. And I want to launch London rental standards because I am committed to promoting an attractive and vibrant private rented sector. I have doubled the number of accredited landlords and launched London?s first Rents Map to allow the public access to information on rents to ensure they are being charged a fair price.

Your stance on high-rise developments seems to have reversed somewhat since 2008. Can you tell us why?

I introduced a new London View Management Framework to give greater protection to historic views because I believe it is important that we find a way of ensuring that new development fits with our built heritage. London must continue to be a desirable place to live, work and do business and I am determined to preserve the character of the capital by making sure new development makes a positive contribution to the characteristics and composition of designated views.

In 2008 you promised 1,000 black mentors to combat youth violence, can you give us your progress on this?

In the last election, youth violence was on the rise after 27 youths were murdered in 2007 alone. That is why I pledged to fund youth community groups that provide mentoring schemes and the Mayor?s Mentoring Programme is now providing appropriately trained adult volunteer mentors for at least 1,000 black boys aged 10-16 who may be at risk of offending. I have also supported a wide range of volunteering activities, such as Team London, which increase our sense of community and improve our shared experience of life in London. £2.6 million ? which has been matched by philanthropic support ? has been committed to projects supporting young people to reduce crime and improve community cohesion.

But successfully tackling youth violence in London cannot start and stop with mentoring schemes and volunteer programmes. That is why we launched Operation Blunt 2, which has taken 11,000 knives and guns off the street, and by putting 1,000 more police on the beat youth violence has come down 13.8 per cent, murders are at their lowest since the 1960s, and total crime in London is down 10.8 per cent.

Can you tell us more about your plans to improve things for cyclists in London?

A cycling revolution has swept London thanks to the world?s most successful Cycle Hire Scheme. It is something I am very proud of and I am determined to spread my love for cycling throughout the capital. That is why we have just extended it eastwards, adding 2,300 extra bikes and 4,800 extra docking points. The scheme now covers 65km2 of the Capital and I?ve asked Transport for London to plan for a westward expansion in 2013. Alongside Cycle Superhighways, we?re making cycling more accessible than ever before.

As a cyclist myself, I am well aware of the safety issues. We have done a huge amount to promote cycling and make it safer in London, with the number of cycling accidents causing injury down 10 per cent since I became Mayor, and launched the Cycling Safety Action Plan in 2010 which included promoting safety technology such as sensors and cameras, increasing adult cycle training, and developing a new Certificate of Professional Competence module on cycle safety awareness for lorry drivers. But we need to do more to remodel dangerous junctions and blackspots and I have instructed TfL to review over 500 junctions to identify potential cycle safety improvements such as the work already undertaken at places like Bow and Henlys Corner.

If Londonist gave you £60m, what would do to make London better?

In these tough economic times, it is important we do all we can to create new employment opportunities and grow London?s economy. That is why I want to create 200,000 jobs over the next four years by investing over £22 billion in London?s transport network, investing £221 million in local high streets to support small businesses, investing in 55,000 new affordable homes and a true Olympic legacy that will create 10,000 new jobs and 11,000 new homes.

Photo by BethPH in the Londonist Flickr pool

What a glorious feeling! (photo by World of Tim 2)

Monday: The New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festivals are on whatever the weather. Frog Morris screen VHS and Super 8 film in New Cross People’s library and 100 years of the moving image is discussed at Big Red Pizzeria in Deptford Church Street. Check the listings – it’s on till 6 May (free).

Tuesday: The Betsey Trotwood hosts a charity live music night: Music Earth Rise, raising funds for orphans in Zambia and rocking the place with unplugged talent, doors at 7pm (£5 advance).

Wednesday: Discover the themes of the V&A exhibition, ‘British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age’ from the curator Ghislaine Wood with a talk at 1pm (free).

Thursday: It’s a free art frenzy in east London and the City for First Thursday.

Play Indie Bingo at the Tooting Tram and Social from 7pm (free entry, £1 per bingo card).

Friday: Tate Britain is open until 10pm for after hours art exploration (free).

Saturday: For the first time, the Camden Crawl has a free fringe in the shape of the Crawlternative Media Expo featuring underground press and zine making, gig poster design, screen printing and record collecting at St. Michaels Church, Camden between 1-8pm Saturday and Sunday, (free entry).

Sunday: It’s Free Comic Book Day at Gosh! Comics Soho with window painting, live drawing and stuff for the kids from noon – 4pm (free).

Shrek the Musical celebrates a year at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with an open door, family fete were you can meet the cast, get facepainted, do artsy stuff and have a tour of the theatre between 11am-2pm (free).

Check out our things to do in London for free page for more.

Puddle jumper photo by World of Tim 2 via the Londonist Flickrpool.

For your next trip to London, check the best Hotel reviews and tips from previous travellers with HolidayCheck.com.

Could this landmark building become a missile base? Image by M@.

The army is considering stationing soldiers and missiles on top of a block of residential flats in East London during this summer?s Olympic Games.

The residents of private flats at the Lexington Building Water Tower in Bow, which is home to 700 people, have received leaflets warning them that a “high-velocity missile system” could be placed on the water tower to ward off any airborne terrorist attack during the Games. Residents are unimpressed, fearing that if the missiles were used, people living in the high-density area would be showered with debris.

The news follows reports in March that the Ministry of Defence is considering installing a Rapier surface-to-air missile system on Blackheath in southeast London as one of six potential missile bases in the capital.

Already the 2012 Olympics is seeing the biggest mobilisation of military and security forces in Britain since the Second World War, with around 13,500 troops to be drafted onto the streets of London ? more than are deployed in Afghanistan.

In addition to these and record numbers of police, private security companies such as G4S have a £130 million Olympic security contract. There will also be, it is estimated, some 1,000 armed US diplomatic and FBI agents and 55 dog teams patrolling the perimeter of the main Olympic zone, which will be protected by an 11-mile, 5,000-volt electric fence.

The Royal Navy?s largest ship, the 22,500-tonne helicopter carrier HMS Ocean will be based in Greenwich for the duration of the Games, and the assault vessel HMS Bulwark will be moored in Weymouth, home of the sailing events. New checkpoints and police control centres are being set up across the capital. Unsurprisingly, security costs for the Olympics have almost doubled to £553m.

Don’t be put off by the name, land lubbers. Boat Magazine has nothing to do with boats. It’s a bi-annual publication that moves to a different “complicated city” for each issue. After covering Sarajevo and Detroit, Boat Magazine now moors up in London, with over 100 pages about the capital.

So what do you get for your £8? For starters, some thoughtful essays by the likes of Nick Hornby and Jon Ronson. The former writes about the evolving city — how his favourite shops and haunts of 20 years ago, including Highbury stadium, have now vanished. Ronson, meanwhile, takes a break from interviewing goat-staring men and the criminally insane to speak to young people affected by the closure of the Greenwich Youthreach councilling service.

Elsewhere, we find photos from the top decks of busses, the importance of wearing trainers for Londoners, insights into Nigerian, Muslim, Russian, Buddhist and Chinese subcultures within the city, changes within the Isle of Dogs, fiction by Lee Rourke, and interviews with an athlete, a local campaigner, a legendary publisher and people living in unusual places.

Given that it’s published by Boat Studio, a design agency that tackles everything from theatre sets to album covers, you’d expect the magazine to look good, and it does. Photography and illustration are as important as the words. We’re even treated to a pull-out A-Z guide to London’s burgeoning street food scene.

Boat Magazine styles itself as “an antidote to lazy journalism”. This is certainly true. It might add “and a beacon for balanced commissioning”, with stories from many corners of the capital that cover any number of ethnicities, cultures, and world views.

There were 7.8 million ways to be a Londoner at last reckoning. No publication can tickle a fraction, but this one really pushes out the boat.

Buy Boat Magazine here, or in the shops soon. And don’t forget the short film competition co-organised by Boat Magazine, which could win you a gig with the Guardian.

Everyone should see at least one Wagner opera in their life, and The Flying Dutchman could be the perfect choice. While most of the composer?s creations last five hours, you?ll be in and out of this opera in just over two, and, given the amount it packs into that time, it could be a 120 minutes that changes your life!  

Although the legend of The Flying Dutchman, in which the eponymous captain is condemned to sail the seas for eternity, is grounded in literature and legend, Jonathan Kent?s new production for English National Opera makes the characters and settings feel very human. The Overture (superbly led by Edward Gardner making his debut conducting Wagner) sees projections create a ship tossing on the sea, which later crashes spectacularly onto the stage. The factory women appropriately make ships in a bottle, while the sailors? celebrations are both exciting and exuberant.

From amongst the strong cast, Orla Boylan as Senta, with whom the Dutchman?s potential salvation lies, stands out, with her resonant voice, strong vibrato and emotional rendering of the ballad. James Creswell as the Dutchman has a firm, expansive tone, Clive Bayley is an effective Daland and Stuart Skelton a splendid Erik.

Not everything about the production works. Pushing the revelries so hard that Senta is almost raped does not make sense, while hearing an amplified ghosts? chorus from off-stage probably reflects budgetary constraints. Still, with such an exciting production, and tickets starting from just £22, there has probably never been a better time to experience Wagner.    

Until 23 May (seven performances). Tickets: 0871 911 0200 or from the ENO website.     

Photo: Flying Dutchmans don?t come more colourful than this! © Robert Workman.

Cantina

Headlining London’s latest erection are Cantina who will be making their London debut. Think of them as the Aussie version of circus spectacular La Soiree and you won’t be too far off or, hopefully, disappointed. They will be playing their 18+ show in the tent from May through to September so if your idea of an international feast of skillful athletic talent isn’t Euro 2012 or the Olympics, this could be just the ticket.

Alongside Cantina are some highly-rate Londonist favourites. Raunchy communist duo EastEnd Cabaret return to the capital after their award-winning tour down under to present their latest show The Revolution Will Be Sexual. Meanwhile, the Boom Boom Club follow their sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the Old Vic Tunnels with Prospero’s Tavern, a kinky and kooky take on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

After rocking the Roundhouse on St Patrick’s Day, the Irish lass with the golden voice Camille O’Sullivan plays a series of events. The beautifully bizarre Bourgeois and Maurice and their neo-cabaret antics can be seen alone in We Started A Band or as part of this year’s Alternative Eurovision (which they won in 2010).

If that isn’t enough, there are also events dedicated to burlesque, boylesque and a new show by top London compere Dusty Limits.

Full ticket and event information on the Priceless London Wonderground can be found here.

Every week we select a photo from the Londonist Flickr pool, taken in the last seven days, that illustrates this season or time of year in London.

This week, nolionsinengland has captured an emergent reservoir in Shoreditch.

The Saatchi gallery is most commonly known for its contemporary art. This is its first photography show since 2001.

There are a wide range of photographers on display ranging from the classical to the abstract, with enough variety to suit art fans of all tastes. Familiar names are present, such as John Stezaker who is famed for his collaged portraits (which had their own show at the Whitechapel Gallery last year). But Sohei Nishino’s huge collages of Paris, Tokyo and New York are more likely to catch the eye. These are made from thousands of individual photo segments, yet the cities are easily recognisable.

The use of light to subvert is another highlight, as David Sherry is able to transform a scenic landscape into something otherworldly and apocalyptic by simply applying a coloured filter. Ryan McGinley also manipulates lighting to make a concert crowd appear as if they are witnessing an alien mothership landing.

Also of note are Mat Colishaw’s haunting and mesmerising five metre tall mosaics and Noemie Goudal’s scenic clashes of nature with the man-made.

Though only half of this exhibition is truly noteworthy, the sheer volume of artists on display means that all fans of photographic art will find something to like at Out of Focus.

Out of Focus: Photography is on display at the Saatchi gallery until 22 July. Admission is free.

Fans of photographic art should also check out the Sony World Photo Awards exhibition at Somerset House