Some of the things to consider are brought out by Toronto's newspapers . You can find some links to their Election 2010 reporting and opinions here as well as our comments. Just click on the link to go to the online article.
Opinion: Is it party time for municipal elections? Star Oct 25 2010
Hume: Bridging the reality gap Star Oct 25 2010
Hume provides astute analysis in this election day column. He's a little late for candidate debate but if you've followed this page you know that we've been trying to bring out the things he mentions as missing.
"It’s getting harder to ignore the feeling that we live in one world, but vote in another.
The growing gap between the two now forms the subtext to 21st century Canadian democracy ...This round of elections will be remembered, if at all, as one of the last gasps of the old order, a final attempt to cling to the power slipping from its hands. After the polls have closed and the votes are counted, most inhabitants will still feel unrepresented ..."
The long shadow over Canada's housing market GM Oct 23 2010
We have been somewhat bemused by the current councillor making an issue of "growing the value of our homes". The Globe's real estate reporter provides a realistic and in-depth column that suggests that house pricing is set by factors and forces outside the mandate of a ward councillor. We also point out that those who have lost flood insurance might not agree especially given the long timelines for implementing the city's corrective programs.
Florida: No Longer one Toronto GM Oct 23 2010
Richard Florida presents a thoughtful view of Toronto as a city split by "haves" and "have nots" and how this ties to the Smitherman vs Ford mayoral contest. Too bad it comes out so late with election decisions just over one day away.
James: Cut waste, but carefully: Poll Star Oct 16 2010
Today we find some number insight from a poll of 1259 residents by an across the board association under the name "Foundation for a Better Toronto". Caution in cutting is what we read. We suggest it supports our position on applying appropriate modern management practices in finance and city operations to ensure that city taxpayers are better assured of an efficient and effective city and they are getting best value for their money. We suggest that those who seek a reduction in the number of wards and councillors reflect on total consequences and city needs rather than reducing costs.
James: What I Like About ... (mayoral candidate) Star Oct 11 2010
Royson James has written a series of insightful and informative essay type columns covering each of the main remaining candidates for mayor. Even if you are a "decided" voter you can get some useful information on the person and platform. Recommended reading if you're looking for the nutshell viewpoint and running out of research time
Essay: Not all Torontonians get to vote Star Oct 7 2010
Gilbert: What happens when a mayor does not have council's support Star Oct 4 2010
This is an interesting read from a retired and respected former councillor, Richard Gilbert. (See below what another former councillor, Karl Jaffary had to say on the dark inner workings of city management.) While he does not mention the need for allowing political parties in a large Ontario
CITY BUDGET FINANCE UPDATES
Rocco Rossi's laast-ditch play: common sense GM Oct 6 2010
Gee: Cutting city staff through attrition not so simple GM Sep 29 2010
The Smell Test: Ford's attrition savings plan Star Sep 30 2010Rocco Rossi's laast-ditch play: common sense GM Oct 6 2010
Gee: Cutting city staff through attrition not so simple GM Sep 29 2010
Editorial: Mayoral race: Competing plans for city finances Star Sep 29 2010
Ford pledges big budget savings Star Sep 28 2010
Smitherman's Fiscal Plan Star Sep 27 2010
James: Smither-maths: Spend more plus freeze taxes = savings Star Sep 27 2010
Goar: The curious case of the 21,000 free Metropasses Star Sep 29 2010
Rossi promises separated bike lanes Star Sep 27 2010
This is a good idea. It is just common sense that you separate bicyclists from motorists by something more substantial than a painted line on pavement. The Star's Hume made this point several weeks ago (see below). Maybe, Rossi is gaining some wisdom as Oct 25 nears. We suggest a bigger discussion is needed however rather than today's piecemeal / patchy idea
CP: Home ownership costs soar, say RBC report Star Sep 27 2010
The ward's current councillor says she "fought to grow the value of your homes". Wow. Ms Carroll must be a superperson. We don't know of any one else who can claim the power to increase real estate value. But if she is growing selling value she must also be increasing MPAC assessment value which in turn leads to higher residential property taxes (even if the property tax rate is the lowest in the GTA according to her)
Link to RBC Report file
James: Toronto "too little" and "too big" Star Sep 15 2010
We missed this on the day is was published but the I Like Mike campaign like Toronto's ex-Planning Chief, Paul Bedford believes the current city governance model needs significant/fundamental change. Term limits is just one idea. Neighbourhood councils such as in the Big Apple are another.
Editorial: Transit planks lack practicality Star Sep 25 2010
The Star today captures the I LIKE MIKE position stated elsewhere on our website except that we believe the Eglinton Subway file needs to be dusted off and worked out again.
Toronto Open Budget Initiative Email Sep 24 2010
TOBI recognizes the need for greater transparency and accountability in the budget process and the need for the budget to reflect residents needs, values and priorities. TOBI presents a new
Hume: For Ford, it's little things that matter Star Sep 24 2010
City Governance - Star Opinion Page, Sep 22 2010
The I LIKE MIKE campaign has listed from its get-go the need for change to the current city governance. The current "strong mayor" with a hand selected Executive Committee (EXECUTIVE or Cabinet) doesn't fit well with the flat city council/district/community council model (LEGISLATIVE). The Karl Jaffary (1970s' councillor) contribution offers the insight into city operations and management with suggestions on how to bring back light and responsibility to city internal affairs and management operations as well as city governance. The Jaffary article is a must read for any candidate and informed voter. We note that neither piece delves into the messy issue of Toronto's ABC governance. (ABC - Agency, Boards, Committees)
Jaffary: Fixing Governance in Toronto
Editorial: Board of Control: should we bring it back?
Editorial: Toronto mayoralty: Ford's unsuited for the job Star Sep 21 2010
...Ford’s mayoral campaign has coincided with a wave of voter frustration over the management of the city. That’s where timing enters the equation. People are angry about tax hikes and new fees leveled on motor vehicles and home sales under Mayor David Miller. Money from those measures was gobbled up by a jump in city spending, leaving Toronto still saddled with a chronic budget shortfall. Yet most councillors didn’t seem to care.
While the Star is not a pro-Ford voice, we are still on the mayoral fence. We just don't see good candidates and will be forced to pick the least bad of a bad crop. However, the Star as underlined above has likely said what most voters consider the key problem: CITY MANAGEMENT. But as Olive points out below we are still relatively better off than most cities looking internationally.
Olive: Rob Ford's unimaginative success Star Sep 21 2010
Rob Ford, poised to win the Toronto mayoralty contest in a landslide, is not the candidate to propel the city’s economic growth. Neither are his four major rivals. None have an economic-development strategy worth touting.... Toronto receives half of Canada’s immigrants. “Toronto can’t afford to be so good at attracting people but so mediocre at economic performance,” says Carol Wilding, president of the Toronto Board of Trade.
Olive's
Hume: Don't confuse road rage with transit policy Star Sep 15 2010
To listen to those who would be mayor, you’d think that transit was a subject not yet broached in this city...Except for deputy mayor Joe Pantalone, however, the candidates seem to think that they must start from scratch, not just to reinvent the city but also its transit. So far, we know that most mayoral hopefuls want more subway lines. They prefer below-grade to above. Who doesn’t? The only problem is that we can’t afford them.
Today Chris has put forth what looks like our position. Except that we suggest that the Eglinton line, that was once started as a subway line should become one and not an LRT. It should also be extended to the Airport and not cutoff far before. It seems that Metrolinx with its Airport-Union Rail responsibility has to promote that expensive transit option over the smarter Eglinton one.
Make contractors pay for road delays, Smitherman says Star Sep 15 2010 Smitherman has touched on a topic that needs more public airing. We all likely have shared a "bad" experience from project or
Editorial: Platform numbers don't measure up Star Sep 12 2010
"Among challenges confronting Toronto’s next mayor, none looms larger than fixing a chronic budget shortfall that if left to fester will ultimately threaten the city’s well-being. Yet with just six weeks remaining before election day, none of Toronto’s leading mayoral candidates has adequately addressed this issue. "...
We couldn't agree more! And nor have the leading councillor candidates addressed this issue. We can't understand why Councillor Carroll in her re-election campaign is not bringing forth this threatening problem as a BIG ISSUE and offering her experience and insight._ she has just had 4 years of being BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR / CHIEF. We have yet to see in her literature or on her website any of her views on city or ward issues. She may be working hard but is she working smart for the ward and city. She may be passionate about our ward but we need practical ideas to get things done.
R. Greenhill: Building a competitive economy Star Sep 9 2010
Today's front page reports that Ford would do away with effective people mover streetcars so that cars could move faster. Well, that vision does not seem like a city builder. However, the above article does provide insight on what Toronto (and Canada) must do to stay competitive and prosperous:
Increasing business sophistication and building a climate of innovation are both complex undertakings without simple formulas or one best global example. Indeed, economies as diverse as Switzerland, the United States, Israel, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Taiwan-China are the best performers in different sub-measures of these two pillars of competitiveness. However, in every case, strong business leadership, working in close partnership with governments and universities, played a critical role.
In order to continue to improve its competitiveness — and indeed not to fall behind — Canada will need to galvanize the strong engagement of its business community. The government has provided a strong underlying human, institutional and physical infrastructure for doing business.
The private sector must now do its part by making the investments and hard choices that will boost the country’s technological adoption and innovation."
There are big issues facing us as Toronto residents and 2010 voters: we need are levels of government working together and having a consistent future vision of needs and solutions. Competitiveness starts in the city and Toronto is Canada's biggest. Toronto needs to be building global competitive business opportunity.
Kelly Grant: Smitherman vows to freeze property taxes for one year GM Sep 7 2010
"If Mr. Smitherman wants to be mayor and budget chief, he better be prepared to “double his office staff,” she (Shelly Carroll) said.
“Tom Jakobek, David Shiner, David Soknacki and Shelley Carroll all did 365 days of budget review,” Mr. Soknacki added. “So I don’t know what he’s going to find in 100 days, unless he’s ready to tackle the big budgets: police, fire and TTC.”
Smitherman: I'd freeze property taxes, Star Sep 7, 2010
Smitherman in this Star report (click link) would not increase property taxes and manpower for one year, would do a detailed "line by line" review of all budgets with full council and hold public consultation meetings in each ward to ensure the budget contains no waste or undesirable spending. However, he continues the sole focus on the "budget" while there is a lot to be learned from looking at the "actuals" of financial performance and getting the "end of year" report in line. See Goar below (Public In Dark...).
Hamilton: I'm still looking for a smart transit plan Star Sep 6, 2010
"...Rob Ford said he’d expand the subway system. And that’s about it with regards to vision...George Smitherman and Rocco Rossi appear to have more comprehensive approaches to dealing with congestion and boosting transit... Rossi wants to sell Toronto Hydro to help pay for it – a non-starter, if you ask me. Smitherman, who like Ford also wants to kill the vehicle registration tax, hasn’t convinced me he has a way to pay for his plan."
"Pantalone hasn’t said much about making the TTC run better. You know, like having buses show up, let alone on time."
"Sarah Thomson wants to expand the subway and believes, like Ford, that surface transit adds to congestion. Not impressive. Still, I like her idea about road tolls and congestion charging, which is a way to both discourage car use and raise money for transit improvements."
"The
What we need, in the end, is a
Editorial: New blood for city hall Star Sep 6, 2010
"... city needs fresh perspectives and new ideas, not to mention representatives that are more reflective of the makeup of the local population than the existing council."
"... incumbents have a heavy advantage at the municipal level, given the absence of party labels""In the 2006 municipal election in Toronto, only one incumbent was unseated. Despite some important reforms, such as a ban on corporate and union donations, existing office-holders retain a huge advantage over political newcomers. "
Well said and we agree. That is why we're pushing for term limits, suggesting a debate on party politics (not Lib, Con, NDP or Green but city-Toronto future focused) as well as searching for new and better ways of getting things done.
Editorial: Funding Public Schools Star Sep 4, 2010
"... parent advocacy group People for Education, Ontario’s public schools now rely on nearly $600 million from private fundraising, user fees, corporate donations and other revenue sources, including vending machines and cafeterias." ...
"... why should any student have to go to the principal’s office and ask for special treatment? The danger is that poorer students will naturally gravitate away from science and music classes because they know their parents can’t afford the fees. Our public school system should not stifle student interests or determine their academic future in such a negative way."
Toronto residents elect public board trustees and councillors in each ward_ although school boundaries are larger, usually the provincial ones. As well, funding is controlled by the province although the city collects the property tax toll for education. We can ask whether the City of Toronto should take over the public boards in Toronto to ensure that all students receive the same opportunities. What do you think?
Editorial: No alternative to road tolls Star Sep 4, 2010
"... arguments were made by this newspaper over a 20-year history of opposition to road tolls. We are now changing course and urging governments, election candidates, business, labour and the public to accept highway tolls as a key component in moving the Greater Toronto Area forward."This is part of a complex
Tree-lined streets not worth the cost, arborists say Star Sep 3, 2010
Trees are an important part of the Toronto experience, We have a significant urban forest _ both on private and public lands. This article highlights poor tree management and horticultural practices that curtail the lives of too many trees planted by the city. No candidates seem to be on top of this issue.
TREE FOLLOWUP - Porter: The Pocket is paying $2,000 a pop for boulevard trees
When a tree goes from our street realm, it can take a generation or more to replace its contribution to our space and environment. C. Porter's Star column (Sep 11) shows how on one street residents worked and contributed together voluntarily to ensure the loss of a tree was soon replaced.
Rossi would fight for municipal term limits Star Sep 3, 2010
And so would Mike. While we're not sure about the merits of recall, we believe that the issue of term limits is important. Moscoe just retired after 30 years_ far too long to hold a single public office but it does provide a good wage and a very liveable pension.
“I truly believe that holding political office is a time of service rather than a career. It is one of the highest callings available to citizens in a democracy. But it is not a retirement plan,” he said. “Under my proposal, which I am announcing here today, mayors and councillors would be limited to two and three terms respectively.”
Carol Goar: Voters in the dark about finances Star Aug 26, 2010
We believe Ms Goar has uncovered today a key item for debate (especially in this ward since the incumbent councillor has run the Budget Committee for several years and has no apparent financial training or qualifications except for her "on-the-job" training at the TDSB and City Hall). This topic was also taken up this spring in Star column. There is a post in the Ward 33 Forum blog.
"Every Toronto mayor in recent memory has vowed to curb spending, keep taxes down and manage the city’s finances rigorously. Each has failed, some spectacularly, others quietly.
Voters are tired of this. As they prepare to choose the city’s 64th mayor, they want a civic leader who can solve Toronto’s persistent budgetary woes."
Ms Goar reports on a C D Howe study "Unbalanced Books": "The first thing they found was a history of sloppiness at city hall"
"They (the authors) pinpoint two perennial sources of error. The city regularly expects more than it gets from Queen’s Park and Ottawa and it lowballs the cost of providing municipal services.
None of the mayoral candidates is addressing this issue head-on:"
Christie Blatchford: Let them eat snacks GM Aug 26, 2010
Ms B. sees more on the incumbent Ward 33 Councillor: "Even less modestly, Councillor Shelley Carroll told her fellows, “You’re the council that doesn’t waste!”
...
"But back to Ms. Carroll, who railed that delaying the zoning bylaw would be a waste of $7-million worth of professional expertise (presumably city staff’s) involved in the multi-year zoning exercise.
Instead, Ms. Carroll said, Mr. Ford (and by inference The Sun) was obsessing about the snacks supplied for councillors. “That costs $8,870.51 a year!” Ms. Carroll thundered, meaning, it was clear, a mere pittance.
Our comment is that for the 24 sessions that council sits a year that works out to about $370 per session or about $8 per elected office on council per day. More money _ see 'gravy train' below
Christie Blatchford: The logic behind Rob Ford’s bid to derail the ‘gravy train’ GM Aug 25, 2010
Ms Blatchford looks at how many councillors spend their office budget (our tax money _ the gravy train) on things such as self-promotion in the name of community support and information. She points out that compared to most of Toronto residents our elected politicians and much of the city's public servants are well paid.
While our campaign doesn't support any of the mayoral candidates (we would hope they would try to organize councillors and see the emergence of a municipal civic party with a common election platform) Ms Blatchford provides some insight into a couple of our "Getting It Done" items_ she particularly provides some insight into our incumbent Ward 33 Councillor and Budget Committee Chair, Shelley Carroll. We point out like Christie does, the need to show how events, publications, website, etc are paid for.
Our own research on Councillor Carroll's office expenses reveals: while she is in the middle of the councillor pack on totals there seems to be some talking points in her "self-promotion" activity numbers. We consider her website, newsletter and movie night costs:
1. Website Costs
Her current website heavy on self-promotion cost over $8 K in 2009. She split the cost with the city (50:50). She had already spent over $2,100 in 2009 on a first and aborted attempt with another website design. So the bottom line is that she used over $6K of city money in 2009. We don't have any 2010 numbers yet although she seemed to have made some website changes this year.
2. Newsletter - Winter 2009/10
From her own numbers we find it cost $4,267.38 for printing and $2,021.59 for Canada Post delivery. Other costs such as staff time on layout and setup, photo taking, etc are not expensed. In total we have a cost in excess of $6,300 _ again heavy self-promotion.
3. Movie Night - 2009 Peanut Town
As Ms B. points out this is a heavy self-promotion item. Again, we don't know how much staff effort goes into this. But the cost per attendee and total cost might be worthy points.
You have to move between expense elements posted online to locate the costs. Expenses are logged by category not project. Ms Blatchford missed the big items:
Photocopying of Flyers
HiRise Newspaper Ad
The total cost is over $3,120. This does not include other expenses such as snack food, drinks that might be handed out that Ms Blatchford included.
If 500 attended, the cost per attendee is over $6 for each person; if 400, the cost approaches $8
It's seems the "ticket" price based on activity costs approaches discounted commercial movie house prices.