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Mayor Olivia Chow's Toronto


Just to bring that forward for those who can't see that:

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Interesting (unverified) anecdote about the City of Toronto government, on the RT derailment:
Muni exec (not Toronto) here.

It (The RT closing) was entirely dependent on the investigated cause of derailment and how much of a sacred cow the person behind advocating the option to keep it (the RT) open was.

This is one of the reasons why many in the local government sector in Southern Ontario would never choose to work for the City of Toronto or an arms length agency without a significant overpayment for employment. This is also directly related to the forced amalgamation in the 90s which was done so hastily, the biggest thing it did was not eliminate duplication but encourage siloing and building fiefdoms everywhere. The legacy now is such a top-down inner circle organizational culture across most CoT departments that it renders itself hostile to any options or solutions not in-house. Your local government is supposed to be—by far—the most responsive level of government to you, the resident. If you’ve ever wondered why that just isn’t the case with anything CoT related, that’s why.
 
The Financial Future of the City report passed at Executive unanimously, a few minutes ago.

Some relatively minor report requests were the only amendments.

Looking at questions, however.........

Several nominally left-leaning councillors on Executive are not comfortable with penalizing parking either though on-street rates rises or through a parking levy.

Those ideas will be getting a tough ride when the specifics come forward, assuming they both make it through Council. (I think they will, at this stage).

The local councillors want to keep some form of VETO on TPA rate hikes, staff are selling that the overall rate hike proposal will still come to Council.

Overall, most Councillors support the direction of the report, with only Holyday giving it a really rough time, and Councillor Peruzza just being his usual loopy self. LOL

One step on a long road.
 
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The Financial Future of the City report passed at Executive unanimously, a few minutes ago.

Some relatively minor report requests were the only amendments.

Looking at questions, however.........

Several nominally left-leaning councillors on Executive are not comfortable with penalizing parking either though on-street rates rises or through a parking levy.

Those ideas will be getting a tough ride when the specifics come forward, assuming they both make it through Council. (I think they will, at this stage).

The local councillors want to keep some form of VETO on TPA rate hikes, staff are selling that the overall rate hike proposal will still come to Council.

Overall, most Councillors support the direction of the report, with only Holyday giving it a really rough time, and Councillor Peruzza just being his usual loopy self. LOL

One step on a long road.
"local councillors want to keep some form of VETO" - is pretty much the problem with every program and policy in Toronto.

The deferential Ward-Boss-ism that treats every ward / neighbourhood as something akin to a Unicorn makes Toronto Council regularly dysfunctional... o_O
 
"local councillors want to keep some form of VETO" - is pretty much the problem with every program and policy in Toronto.

The deferential Ward-Boss-ism that treats every ward / neighbourhood as something akin to a Unicorn makes Toronto Council regularly dysfunctional... o_O

I essentially agree w/ @HousingNowTO above, but thought I'd build on that a bit.

I'm happy to concede that it is the job of a City councillor, in part, to represent the wishes of their constituents to Council and staff.

I therefore don't have an issue w/Councillors wanting some measure of 'reasonable input' into projects/policies etc.

However, I think their input should never be a veto.

I also think their input should not be solicited where that would either mean an absurd level of micro-management of staff that is not a Councillor's purview; or would be inconsistent with Council policy.

****

When it comes to parking, having Councillors involved in rate-setting seems bizarre to me. Councillors don't get to vary the rates charged for recreation programs in their ward, or the user fees for building permits or wedding photography.
Its simply nuts that they should have any say at all on the rate charged for parking.

Their only say belongs at Council in setting City-wide policy that may affect that.

Equally, Councillors should not get to micromanage affordable housing proposals in their wards either. If they think the overall policy is wrong, they need to bring that up at Council in regards to City-wide policy.

I don't really take issue if there's some minor change that can be made to a proposal that will mollify neighbours (can we paint it blue instead?); but otherwise, let the pros do their thing.
 
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From: MLS Feedback <MLSfeedback@toronto.ca>

Date: August 25, 2023 at 1:22:36 PM EDT
Subject: Notice of Public Consultations: Implementation Review of the Noise Bylaw

You are receiving this email because you’ve been identified as a contact at a Residents Association within the City of Toronto

Hello,

You are invited to attend the City’s public consultations on a review of recent changes to the Noise Bylaw, which are happening September 12-21.

The Noise Bylaw (Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 591) provides standards for noise, and applies to all properties in Toronto. It must balance the desires of all residents to enjoy their homes and environments, and at the same time recognize that in a City as large and vibrant as Toronto, certain levels of noise are reasonable and reflect life in a densely populated area. The 2023 Implementation Review of the Noise Bylaw will assess amendments made to the Bylaw in 2019 and consider potential refinements.

There will be six (6) consultation meetings to seek feedback on the public’s experience with the amended Noise Bylaw and the refinements under consideration. Each consultation will focus on one particular area related to the Noise Bylaw, as listed below. There will be a combination of in-person and virtual meetings. Note that there will be two identical meetings held for Amplified Sound and General Noise, one virtual and one in-person. If you’re interested in attending, please register using this link and select the meeting(s) that most align with your interest(s). You are welcome to attend multiple sessions. Links to the virtual meetings are available on the dedicated registration pages.


Meeting Focus
Format
Date (in 2023)
Where
When
General Noise
(for example: unreasonable and persistent noise, power device noise, noise from waste collection)
In personTues, Sep 12Metro Hall
55 John St
Room 308/309
7 to 9 pm
VirtualTues, Sep 19Zoom7 to 9 pm
Amplified Sound
(for example: music from bars)
VirtualWed, Sep 13Zoom7 to 9 pm
In-personThurs, Sep 21Metro Hall
55 John St
Room 308/309
7 to 9 pm
Motor Vehicles

VirtualMon, Sep 18Zoom7 to 9 pm
Construction Noise
(for example: condo developments and residential infill)

In-personWed, Sep 20North York Central Library
5120 Yonge St, Meeting Room 101
5:30 to 7:30 pm


More information on the Implementation Review of Noise Bylaw is available on the City of Toronto webpage - toronto.ca/NoiseReview.

You can also submit your feedback by emailing MLSfeedback@toronto.ca by October 15, 2023.

All feedback from the public consultations will be used to recommend refinements to the Noise Bylaw in a report going to the Economic and Community Development Committee of Toronto City Council in November 2023.

The locations for all in-person consultations are fully accessible. Assistive listening devices, materials in large-print and alternative formats, ASL interpreters, and other accommodations will be made available upon request. Please email the Noise Bylaw Implementation Review team at least 72 hours in advance to help ensure availability. The City of Toronto is committed to building an inclusive society and ensuring compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Thank you,

Noise Bylaw Implementation Review Team

Municipal Licensing and Standards

City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 16th Floor, West Tower, M5H 2N2

MLSfeedback@toronto.ca
 
Scarborough Southwest by-election set for November 30. Nominations open September 7.

 
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Not trying to duplicate stuff from a TTC thread, but it's worth noting mow many quotes there are to this that are either a) 'oh my goodness, *improvements*?! so great!', b) 'here's what an election can do', c) 'fire O'Leary if you wanna make more improvements', or d) dunking on Ottawa's recent service cuts.
 
Not sure if this is the right thread, but Artscape is going into receivership. Tenants and unit owners just received word this afternoon. There are a lot of uneasy artists in the city this evening.
ARTSCAPE offers 265 residential Affordable Rental & ownership spaces for artists /artist-led families and 125 commercial tenancy spaces… It is NOT clear who will take-over their long-term Affordable Housing agreements with the City.

TBD...

 
Maybe Mayor Olivia Chow should require the e-mail contact information posted for each head of each department, commission, or services be made available, starting with their own website.

While the TTC website does have a "Compliments, Complaints, and Suggestions" section, there are no e-mail information for the CEO (or Chair). The names of each TTC board member is listed, but not their e-mail addresses. Have to hunt for them elsewhere.
 

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