Re: Blowing smoke on the water
Jan,
I absolutely agree with you that visitors to our city are more interested and impressed by our neighborhoods rather then be blinded by our shiny new attractions.
I can assure you that I understand that the Island is well used. From my recent personal experience, when I brought my relatives from the great City of Chicago to the Islands, they couldn’t believe we could go canoeing on the waters. On the day we were visiting, the City of Toronto just so happen to be offering free lessons on the Lake.
Perhaps the word “evict†is too strong for some, however, I’m in favor of phasing out the private homes on the Island community and returning them to public use.
To suggest that my idea goes against Jane Jacob is also unfair. To be fair, I never said we should bulldoze over the Island community.
My initial concept of bed and breakfast places scattered across the Island would be more democratic, providing the possibility for all Ontarian’s to experience living on the Island and not just a select few. Furthermore, these establishments would still need to be run and staffed. There could still be a strong sense of community on the Island with the keepers but they would not be permanent residents as they are now, rather the gatekeepers.
In this case the responsibility of looking after the Island, like maintaining the houses and gardens could be returned to all citizens and not just be left to a few.
My concept is to return all of it over to public use. To eliminate private property, suburban attitudes, and NIMBY complaints. Current Island resident also need to be reminded that the Island is just not theirs and needs to be shared. If that means bearing with noise a few select days a year for special events, that needs to be made clear and maybe included in their sweetheart deal lease agreements.
Shawnmicallef,
Sure my comments are over the top, however that is fueled by over the top comments made by others.
You can also question my “authentic†tourism ideas of Toronto as much as you like.
As a “suburban†resident from Mississauga, I like to think I am equally as passionate about making Toronto better. While I may be a big booster of big special events like Expo and the Olympics, I also believe in creating new CLEAN (free of litter and adverting) in public spaces and on buildings.
I’m strongly opposed to things like Metropolis, the destruction of the Eaton Centre atrium, monster garbage cans, info To Go Booths, the towers on top of the McLaughlin Planetarium and Hummingbird Centre, new subway car designs, the tearing down of the Nathan Philip Square Walk Ways, meaningless government reports sitting on the shelf and token public consultation meetings.
While other may take a passive approach to shaping public policy in Toronto, I dedicate my time, skills and energy to active volunteer time serving on boards and committees, participating in long public consultation processes with “consultants†around boardroom tables, and by engaging, lobbying and challenging elected officials. Nevermind the commute time and cost from Mississauga.
I’m proud of my contribution to the city of Toronto. The most recent proposal I pitched to boring consultants and elected officials was the building of a series of small demonstration housing projects across all of Toronto’s BIAs, which would be used as hostel/hotels for Expo visitors, which in turn boost tourism as visitors experience life in one of our neighborhoods, and later converted to affordable housing units, leaving a lasting legacy from Expo and strengthening our communities. This proposal immediately won praise from consultants, housing advocates and politicians in the room.
I’m not trying to boost that all my ideas are fantastic or right, but to immediately dismiss all my previous thoughts and ideas because one of my suggestions is on the beloved Jane Jacobs list of foolish things hardly seems fair to me.
Louroz
She said that happens alot, and that does not please island residents. Tourists are not always respectfull.