Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto

[Admiral Beez]

I don't disagree with the posts above.

I simply think its important to say this will not, unto itself, deliver 'affordable' housing, nor will it do so in real time, that is to say, this a project of 7-20 years in length, if we're ambitious about it, and people need places to live, tonight.

We can and should pursue better inter-city rail in Southern Ontario, and we should distribute growth away from the centre of Toronto.......those are good ideas; just not sufficient, on their own to address the crisis we face, nor will their benefits be felt in the near term.

Turning Peterborough or other outlying communities into commuter hubs will bring gentrification, not affordable housing.

 

[evandyk]

It'll provide housing that's more affordable for people moving out of Toronto, but less affordable for people who have lived in Peterborough previously. Which is what has been happening everywhere any closer than Peterborough already.

 

[DSC]

Transportation has been working on a new Road Restrictions website - the current one is useless as it omits major closures but lists very minor lane blockages. The Current one is at
https://www.toronto.ca/services-pay...s/restrictions-map/#location=&lat=&lng=&zoom=

The test version of the new info is at: https://www.municipal511.ca/

Apparently this new info will be moved to the current City URL "soon"

 

[DSC]

Court House Square is now filled with tents, it's a bit like Whack-a- Mole

 

[Northern Light]

*City Officiousness Alert*

The City is ordering Eric Davies who grows native oak trees on the front lawn of the apartment where he lives to cut them down.........

Saving an oak forest - from bylaw enforcement - Spacing Toronto

Eric Davies is one of Toronto’s most vocal advocates for the heritage oak trees that have managed to survive in this rapidly developing urban environment. For more than a decade, Eric has been collecting and propagating acorns from the city’s oldest oak trees and giving young trees to community...

spacing.ca

With credit to Spacing at the above link, this is the offending yard:

Notice that the Oaks do not in anyway interfere w/passage on the sidewalk, and that a mowed border is maintained to show that the property is cared for........

Worth saying Eric has been doing this for many years........ and he gives away free oaks to all sorts of worthwhile projects from what he's growing on this lawn.

Sigh.........what foolishness.

Anyone who wants to feel free to email the Mayor about this absurdity please do.

mayor_chow@toronto.ca

Or phone her.

Telephone: 416-397-CITY (2489)

****

Disclosure here is Eric is a friend of a friend, who I know only in passing, but whose work I am supportive of.

 

[Coolibop]

Sigh.........what foolishness.

Why anyone would complain about this is a mystery... I'm trying to think of why anyone would look at this and think... That log must go!

 

[Northern Light]

*City Officiousness Alert*

The City is ordering Eric Davies who grows native oak trees on the front lawn of the apartment where he lives to cut them down.........

Saving an oak forest - from bylaw enforcement - Spacing Toronto

Eric Davies is one of Toronto’s most vocal advocates for the heritage oak trees that have managed to survive in this rapidly developing urban environment. For more than a decade, Eric has been collecting and propagating acorns from the city’s oldest oak trees and giving young trees to community...

spacing.ca

With credit to Spacing at the above link, this is the offending yard:

View attachment 573639

Notice that the Oaks do not in anyway interfere w/passage on the sidewalk, and that a mowed border is maintained to show that the property is cared for........

Worth saying Eric has been doing this for many years........ and he gives away free oaks to all sorts of worthwhile projects from what he's growing on this lawn.

Sigh.........what foolishness.

Anyone who wants to feel free to email the Mayor about this absurdity please do.

mayor_chow@toronto.ca

Or phone her.

Telephone: 416-397-CITY (2489)

****

Disclosure here is Eric is a friend of a friend, who I know only in passing, but whose work I am supportive of.

*update*

Late Tuesday, the City relented on the trees............though it still wants the log removed...........

From The Star:

Didn't hear from..............???? Ahem....

Mistakes can happen, people can be new........ but just own'em, and apologize...........gah!

*****

Also about that log...

Credit/Source as per the above

 

[tiffer24]

Rebel News has claimed ownership of a cube van in Toronto seen displaying videos of Muslim people in an incident that politicians, community leaders, and police have since called Islamophobic.

In a post on social media Thursday, founder Ezra Levant said the media group is under investigation for running the ads on their company van. The videos, displayed on the billboard and later shared on social media, ask "Is this Yemen? Is this Syria? Is this Iraq?" before showing images of people in prayer. "Wake up Canada. You are under siege," it then reads.

The Toronto Police Service confirmed Wednesday that its Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.

When asked about the investigation at an unrelated news conference on Thursday afternoon, Mayor Olivia Chow said Islamophobic sentiments have no place in Toronto. "Toronto is a city where everyone belongs. Prayers are welcome, whether you want to pray in a synagogue, a mosque or a church — or in a local park or community centre. It's your freedom to do so,” Chow said.

https://www.cp24.com/news/rebel-new...-by-toronto-police-hate-crimes-unit-1.6934757

 

[picard102]

Let's be real, nothing is going to happen to the right wing rage farm or that muppet Ezra.

 

[just east of the creek]

Any thoughts on who is replacing Rick Leary August 30th?

 

[Admiral Beez]

The city advises anyone visiting the island to be patient, plan to travel during non-peak hours

That’s what I do. I rode my bicycle down to the ferry docks and onto the island two weeks ago, midweek. It was a nice day out. I think a pedestrian bridge would be a mistake - the paywall represented by the ferries keeps the island free of encampments and junkies.

 

[DSC]

This just passed at Cumcil:

MM19.39 - Appointment of a Public Member to the Toronto Police Service Board - by Councillor Shelley Carroll, seconded Councillor Amber Morley​

Motion without Notice
Consideration Type: ACTIONWards: All
Attention
* This Motion has been deemed urgent by the Chair.
* This Motion is not subject to a vote to waive referral. This Motion has been added to the agenda and is before Council for debate.

Confidential Attachment - Personal matters about an identifiable individual being considered for appointment to the Toronto Police Service Board.​

Recommendations​

Councillor Shelley Carroll, seconded Councillor Amber Morley, recommends that:

1. City Council rescind the appointment of Nadine Spencer to the Toronto Police Service Board effective immediately.

2. City Council appoint Chris Brillinger to the Toronto Police Services Board, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.

3. City Council direct that Confidential Attachment 1 to this motion remain confidential in its entirety as it pertains to personal matters about an identifiable individual being considered for appointment to the Toronto Police Service Board.

Summary​

We are recommending Chris Brillinger be appointed to the Toronto Police Service Board in place of Nadine Spencer.

Chris Brillinger worked for the City of Toronto for 31 years, including nine years as Executive Director of Social Development Finance and Administration. He has been instrumental in much of the work of the City of Toronto to create safer, more caring communities, including our youth equity strategy, poverty reduction strategy, and strong neighbourhood strategy. Mr. Brillinger is currently the Executive Director of Family Services Toronto where he leads Family Services Toronto in their work with individuals, families and communities destabilized by precarious mental health and/or socioeconomic circumstances, to achieve greater resilience, stability and equity.

Under new provisions of the Community Safety and Policing Act, City Council must consider the results of an appointee’s police record check. Mr. Brillinger has submitted a police record check to the City Clerk who has attached confidential advice to this motion.

Reason for urgency: so that a new member is appointed and onboarded in time for the next meeting of the Toronto Police Service Board.

 

[christiesplits]

The Don Valley West by-election date has been announced, following the passing of Councillor Robinson.

The by-election will be on November 4, with nominations opening on July 22.

Source: Toronto Elections.

 

[allengeorge]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-ferry-purchase-approved-1.7252366

Not sure where to put this. Not much that’s new, except that the ferries will be built in Romania, and cost $92M vs. the 25M originally proposed (wow).

 

[allengeorge]

Also, an opinion article in The Star about the continued exodus of long-time residents from Toronto:

Edward Keenan: Living in Toronto has become such a grind people are leaving in droves. Can you blame them?

Toronto should be more than just a place to pass through on your way to another stage in life.

www.thestar.com

The usual, legitimate complaints:

* Housing is too expensive and too small
* Travel times are obscene
* City services are crumbling

I’m honestly unsure what the Mayor can do about this. I suspect it’s going to take multiple years of significant tax increases, and streamlining required procedures, insourcing, outsourcing, etc. to get departments more efficient to actually start fixing these issues. And, honestly on the congestion front - it’s going to take real changes by people.