In light of Rob Ford - ideas to make Toronto better that would be practically free

[Urban Shocker]

The City does send people around taking down posters, but unfortunately there aren't enough of them working at it. In my neighbourhood they pass through about as frequently as a Halley's Comet sighting, and given Ford's obsession with not spending money on anything that's actually useful to anyone I'd be amazed if that changes. Still, I've had a bit more time at my disposal lately, and took down all the posters on my stretch of street three weeks ago and none have gone up since ... and the difference is quite pleasing to the eye.

 

[Eug]

How about a revenue generator:

Street food licences that don't require food carts designed by bureaucrats.

 

[adma]

Re postering: don't get overzealous. Corporate shills are one thing, but lost-cat and garage-sale notices are eternal...

 

[junctionist]

There should be limits on postering for a cleaner look than what we have now. Postering is a great opportunity for community advertising and can make a street more interesting, but to have it on every single pole simply looks messy. There should be more street furniture for posters and restrictions on commercial mass postering and placement of posters.

 

[gristle]

I think posters on poles make the streetscape look like crap, and I'm tired of my condo corp having to spend money removing graffiti from walls and pillars because some idiot thought we'd be grateful for their uninvited urban grit contribution. Thanks but no thanks. Vandalize your own home.

 

[Torontovibe]

Re postering: don't get overzealous. Corporate shills are one thing, but lost-cat and garage-sale notices are eternal...

Well yeah but that's what those message boards on streetcar shelters are for. They have also put up a few of those oval posts/boards, just for that purpose. They need more of them around town. Ford called me and told me he was going to put a stop to the postering. He agreed, it was a serious problem. He's also plans to taclke the homeless on the street and panhandlers. I hope he's successful.

 

[Torontovibe]

There should be limits on postering for a cleaner look than what we have now. Postering is a great opportunity for community advertising and can make a street more interesting, but to have it on every single pole simply looks messy. There should be more street furniture for posters and restrictions on commercial mass postering and placement of posters.

It's not just on light poles. It's on newpaper boxes, Canada Post boxes, store windows, phone booths and any other flat object they can find. These guys have no respect for public or private property. The worst part of it, is in many cases, it's large private companies doing it. They need to be SERIOUSLY fined or charged. If they put posters up with tape only, it wouldn't be so bad but that glue over everything, is just a mess. It makes the surface of things look so dirty. It's totally unacceptable.

 

[toraerach]

Well yeah but that's what those message boards on streetcar shelters are for. They have also put up a few of those oval posts/boards, just for that purpose. They need more of them around town. Ford called me and told me he was going to put a stop to the postering. He agreed, it was a serious problem. He's also plans to taclke the homeless on the street and panhandlers. I hope he's successful.

Unless he invests money in more community message boards, any anti-postering by-law might not stand up to a constitutional challenge (as the City of Peterborough found out a couple years ago). As for tackling the homeless, I can see Ford interpretting that expression rather literally - there's a world of difference between eradicating the homeless and eradicating homelessness.

 

[DSC]

"Eliminate deliberate desynchronization of traffic lights, which would speed travel for drivers, cyclists, and transit riders alike"

The reason for de-synchronising some traffic lights is apparently to stop speeding but this can actually be done (better) by proper synchronising. I think the City is in the process of updating all its traffic signals so they can be better programmed so MAYBE this will actually happen.

Illegal postering is certainly a problem and I too have wondered if the City or Canada Post or whoever owns the property being vandalised can go after the people who advertise. Many are major corporations, some are City-run places like Sony Centre! It's not the "Lost Cat" (or, soon the "Lost Chicken"?!) posters that are the problem!!

 

[W. K. Lis]

"...

Illegal postering is certainly a problem and I too have wondered if the City or Canada Post or whoever owns the property being vandalised can go after the people who advertise. Many are major corporations, some are City-run places like Sony Centre! It's not the "Lost Cat" (or, soon the "Lost Chicken"?!) posters that are the problem!!

Some of Canada Post's mailboxes have a design that discourages graffiti by using their own graffiti.

 

[Torontovibe]

I went around filming all the postering, mainly around Bloor street, and in a 2 hour period I just happened to run into 3 guys postering, so of course, I filmed them in action. Ford told me to try to catch people doing it and it wasn't hard to do. It was mostly all businesses and even some well known organizations. (TSO, U of T, Government Night Club, internet companies and an ad to become male porn model)

 

[W. K. Lis]

We can tear down the Gardiner Expressway by ignoring the maintenance on it. It will then crumble down by itself.

See Concrete chunks fall from Gardiner at The Star.

 

[Eug]

As for tackling the homeless, I can see Ford interpretting that expression rather literally - there's a world of difference between eradicating the homeless and eradicating homelessness.

Perhaps it should be a bit both. Sometimes I am somewhat frightened by the guys at intersections who clean your windshield, whether you want it or not. I'd like to see them eradicated.

 

[jaycola]

I would make changes to present zoning bylaws to encourage development of more rental apartments.

A first step could be to allow th addition of 2nd floor apartments on all bungalows anywhere in the city.

You can encourage home owners to top up single floor properties with property tax incentives. One example could be no addition to property valuation for 5 years and reduced development charges if the apartments are deemed to be at affordble rental levels.

The city still makes money on development charges, inspection fees, application fees..., future property values will increase adding to the city finances, increase in affordable "family sized" apartment rental stock, increased density in under populated areas.

A next step could be to allow second structures on large lots without the need to sever. Coach house (Garage) conversions or small additional structures on lots large enough to sustain the project would be another simple way to add density and build city finances.

 

[sodapop]

I would make changes to present zoning bylaws to encourage development of more rental apartments.

A first step could be to allow th addition of 2nd floor apartments on all bungalows anywhere in the city.

You can encourage home owners to top up single floor properties with property tax incentives. One example could be no addition to property valuation for 5 years and reduced development charges if the apartments are deemed to be at affordble rental levels.

The city still makes money on development charges, inspection fees, application fees..., future property values will increase adding to the city finances, increase in affordable "family sized" apartment rental stock, increased density in under populated areas.

A next step could be to allow second structures on large lots without the need to sever. Coach house (Garage) conversions or small additional structures on lots large enough to sustain the project would be another simple way to add density and build city finances.

great idea! we need more rentals that aren't those iffy tower in parks. maybe tower renewal will tackle this