Most topics run into others. City things tend to be complex. They reflect life. You can't talk public transit without a discussion on city funding and spending or even creating a sustainable city. The reality of inter-dependence creates linkages _ both direct and indirect. It is easy to seemingly run off on a tangent that is essentially another perspective of an issue.
WARD ISSUES
Rental Hi Rise Condition Our ward currently has 48 occupied hi-rise towers (soon to be about 55). They accommodate about half of the ward population. Some hi-rises are condos. Most are rentals. Some of these fall under the Toronto Housing Corp. From our campaign workers, we are getting observations of THC buildings with sub-standard conditions (mice droppings, cockroaches, dirty appearance,...). The current councillor "ward audit" does not seem to have covered the tower tenants. Why not? We don't know the answer. We do know that many are not likely voters_ they just aren't eligible. But they are ward residents and the city councillor should be just as concerned about the quality of their life as she is about "growing the value of our homes"
Bottom Line: A full ward audit of the hi-rise towers is needed. We need to ensure that there is broader public awareness of hi-rise conditions. Given the recent downtown tower fire, we must be vigilant.
Road Surface Conditions (Inner Streets) You might notice a special city truck or two moving around the ward doing some surface patching. One resident pointed out the condition on several roads due to sewer work and questioned the technical reasoning received from the Councillor's office on why there was a lengthy need to wait for road replacement work. And we notice throughout the city the slow progress made on putting many main arteries back in shape and we likely wonder if the city will ever get around to major reworking of ward roadways that are showing their age.
Bottom Line: The city has a backlog of over $300 million to bring our roads back to shape. Wouldn't it be a good measure of accountability and transparency if the city made public on the internet a database of all roads and the internal evaluations and expected horizon for remedial road work.
Parks & Rec Program Registration Marcus Gee (Sep 30) brings this to our attention in a column of one Toronto resident who in frustration with higher taxes and user fees for city services moved to Barrie. Specifically, Gee mentions the programme registration many of us have experienced over the years: "get on the phone early on the morning of registration in hopes of beating the mad rush". We likely won't hear much about this but we must wonder if city savings (cuts) impact programming for our youth and seniors. We must wonder how many children are left out of Parks & Rec programming due to a lack of capacity or ability to "beat the mad rush". This is the type of voter and resident concern that deserves study. Maybe, there are better ways of doing things. Maybe, we must need to see values, priorities and needs outlined for Parks & Rec.
Inner Street Happenings Resident life on the inner streets brings out a lot of daily life problems: STOP signs being ignored/pedestrians or children at risk; heavy traffic impedes safe crossing of streets to parks, some houses have cars overflowing permitted driveway parking areas, tree branches are being broken by city vehicles, trees need trimming and thinning, city boulevard needs more trees and tree replacements, neighbour has changed filled in and exposed my property to excessive water and basement flooding
Rental Hi Rise Condition Our ward currently has 48 occupied hi-rise towers (soon to be about 55). They accommodate about half of the ward population. Some hi-rises are condos. Most are rentals. Some of these fall under the Toronto Housing Corp. From our campaign workers, we are getting observations of THC buildings with sub-standard conditions (mice droppings, cockroaches, dirty appearance,...). The current councillor "ward audit" does not seem to have covered the tower tenants. Why not? We don't know the answer. We do know that many are not likely voters_ they just aren't eligible. But they are ward residents and the city councillor should be just as concerned about the quality of their life as she is about "growing the value of our homes"
Bottom Line: A full ward audit of the hi-rise towers is needed. We need to ensure that there is broader public awareness of hi-rise conditions. Given the recent downtown tower fire, we must be vigilant.
Road Surface Conditions (Inner Streets) You might notice a special city truck or two moving around the ward doing some surface patching. One resident pointed out the condition on several roads due to sewer work and questioned the technical reasoning received from the Councillor's office on why there was a lengthy need to wait for road replacement work. And we notice throughout the city the slow progress made on putting many main arteries back in shape and we likely wonder if the city will ever get around to major reworking of ward roadways that are showing their age.
Bottom Line: The city has a backlog of over $300 million to bring our roads back to shape. Wouldn't it be a good measure of accountability and transparency if the city made public on the internet a database of all roads and the internal evaluations and expected horizon for remedial road work.
Parks & Rec Program Registration Marcus Gee (Sep 30) brings this to our attention in a column of one Toronto resident who in frustration with higher taxes and user fees for city services moved to Barrie. Specifically, Gee mentions the programme registration many of us have experienced over the years: "get on the phone early on the morning of registration in hopes of beating the mad rush". We likely won't hear much about this but we must wonder if city savings (cuts) impact programming for our youth and seniors. We must wonder how many children are left out of Parks & Rec programming due to a lack of capacity or ability to "beat the mad rush". This is the type of voter and resident concern that deserves study. Maybe, there are better ways of doing things. Maybe, we must need to see values, priorities and needs outlined for Parks & Rec.
Inner Street Happenings Resident life on the inner streets brings out a lot of daily life problems: STOP signs being ignored/pedestrians or children at risk; heavy traffic impedes safe crossing of streets to parks, some houses have cars overflowing permitted driveway parking areas, tree branches are being broken by city vehicles, trees need trimming and thinning, city boulevard needs more trees and tree replacements, neighbour has changed filled in and exposed my property to excessive water and basement flooding
Bottom Line: Our inner streets have a lot of issues where things need to get done.
Redevelopment / Revitalization Because of the Sheppard E. subway we have many projects (in planning, approved or in construction) from Leslie to Vic Park. They have provincial legislation backing. They are bringing more people, more traffic, taller structures and a feeling of more busyness generally_ and commute inconveniences. Things are changing where we live. Many see that those high risers are looking down onto our backyards. We can anticipate more coming: Toronto Housing areas in the southern part of the ward are slated for rebuilding or revitalization. Private-public redevelopment appears likely. We don't know if unfriendly OMB intervention will direct development.
Bottom Line: The residents of the ward must be vigilant and fully informed_ the earlier the better.
Conversion of Single Family Residences to Rooming Houses: Regulation Needed
In some parts of the ward notably close to Seneca College homes have been and are being converted to illegal rooming houses (far beyond the addition of a single basement apartment) to handle the student population. In many cases, the owner doesn't live in the dwelling.
Building structure conversions have not been subject to city approval or oversight (fire, building inspection). With more residents with cars, parking issues and neighbourhood appearance issues arise. Living next to such a “rental” property lowers abutting property values while the owner creates revenue and increases “resale” value not recognized in MPAC assessments.
Ontario property tax law likely needs modification as well as city zoning bylaws.
Bottom Line: Rooming house control is urgently needed.
Sheppard-Leslie Gateway Treatment or Rusty Rail Removal
The neighbourhood has sought its removal since its construction as a community “eyesore”. It never was finished to its design appearance with green growth cover. Attempts to grow Virginia Creeper as rail cover have not succeeded after several attempts.
Councillor Carroll has not proceeded to fulfill community desires putting up emotional roadblocks such as a “living memorial” to its designer ( a noted architect).
Bottom Line: The cost to remove is low and covered by existing funds. It's time to listen and follow the words of residents and initiate the Rusty Rail Removal.
Ward and City Appearance: Weeds, Illegal signs, Litter, Parks, Damaged Trees,...
The “Clean City/Beautiful City” initiative by Mayor Miller is laudable. There are not enough examples that the ward is changing or improving. The overall public property appearance seems to be going downhill. The green in parks and in city boulevards has turned from grass to weeds. New boulevard trees die too frequently.
Pesticide control legislation initiated in the city and focused on “cosmetics” has stymied the use of low risk, cost effective pesticides such as RoundUp that can control weeds_curbs, median islands, etc and not require extensive training. Cutting with gas powered, CO2 producing trimmers seems a poor substitute for a healthy environment.
Illegal signs seem to grow like weeds and pop up now mostly on inner streets.
Litter in public spaces needs more attention.
Inner street trees are being damaged needlessly by city vehicles.
New city trees are being planted without proper horticultural practice and without realizing full environmental benefit.
Bottom Line: Let's push for RoundUp as an allowable pesticide. Let's push reporting on illegal signs to 311 and ensure that offenders are fined. Let's get more students aware and smart on anti-litter/recycling . Let's push for proper tree maintenance and planting_ if trees are really part of a climate control, greening strategy.
Increase Councillor Accessibility with a Constituency Office
We believe that all residents must be able to have face to face access with the councillor or the councillor's office assistants in the ward. That means having office space in the ward. Community centres or city halls need to allow each councillor FREE office space to conduct sessions with residents. This would be very low or no cost to the city.
Town halls and Saturday appointments in the Fairview Library are not substitutes.
Bottom Line: The city must recognize the value to all residents of having councillor access in the community. If need be, we will allocate part of our office budget to rent commercial space.
Basement Flooding Projects
Too many residents have lost insurance coverage due to inadequate city infrastructure. Many have suffered money costs due to city work on mitigation projects. The current councillor calls for suing the city. I suggest working with the residents, city staff and the city Ombuds to resolve issues outside expensive and unnecessary litigation.
Bottom Line: The councillor must work for residents to approach the city bureaucracy. The city cannot ignore financial obligations via cope-out legislation and contracts.
CITY WIDE
Public Transit/Transportation: LRT vs SUBWAY, TTC
Before the Sheppard East Subway, Toronto had been in a long term doldrums on public transit infrastructure. The city population was growing and projections on continued growth were well known. But senior levels of government had stopped providing necessary money assistance. The existing Miller led LRT transit plan is much lower cost and fits the expected population growth of Toronto for at least the next generation as well it starts to provide better transit service (cut travel times) for many. As some call for subways that won't impact surface transportation, a reality check says Toronto is already committed to most of the LRT lines and the transportation agency Metrolinx will be setting up the shots. The issue of LRT vs Subway should at least be reviewed for Eglinton West with an airport terminus. Most of Eglinton will be underground anyway. Lastman and Council decided on a short subway for Sheppard East over a long Eglinton line to fit the Harris choice requirement and funding. Putting Eglinton to the Airport has not diminished in relevance even with the contentious high speed line from Union Station cutting Weston in two. Metrolinx has setback its LRT terminus too far from the airport.
(Metrolinx have taken control of the federally initiated Airport-Union station direct rail transit connection. Metrolinx shortened the Eglinton LRT line. Has regional planning shortchanged Toronto needs? Why isn't the Airport line designed to electrified “subway” line standards?)
As Sheppard has indicated development will come and Eglinton needs much redevelopment to create the compact, sustainable city.
The TTC must regain its position as a better way for people movement through improvements in operational performance, quality of service and customer service. We must remember that the TTC unlike most major public transit systems in other jurisdictios has operations funded only by a mix of passenger fares and property taxes.
Bottom Line: Continue with Sheppard E. LRT (under construction); Make Eglinton into a subway to the Airport and rework the zoning along Eglinton to enable redevelopment. Let's make the TTC the “better way” again.
Municipal Funding: Road Tolls, Budgets / Structural Deficits
Under Miller and the latest Toronto Act negotiated with the province Toronto got 2 new and contentious revenue sources: land transfer tax and vehicle license registration. The province would not consider giving the city “sales tax powers”. In the big picture of a $9.2 billion dollar government they assist budget balancing to the tune of about $200 million or about 2 percent of required revenue. The 1 cent GST campaign did not go well but cities now receive some gas tax money. User fees have increased. And McQuinty has promised that someday the province will take back all of the downloaded social service costs.
Property taxes cannot cover all of the city services required in Toronto. But Toronto must balance its budget every year. Last year, a once only end of year financial discovery found $355 million to produce a balanced budget. But as a recent CD Howe report found out, more often than not, what Toronto actually did f financially does not match its budget plan. The backroom bean counters need to change how Toronto does its budgets and accounting as well as produce more frequent public reports on where the city stands financially with respect to its budget vision.
Bottom Line: Toronto has a severe financial problem. Until the burden of social assistance is lifted the city will have a larger structural hole each year than property tax should be carrying. If highways (such as DVP or Gardiner) could be transferred to the province, if the province more fairly allocated its tax receipts, … Toronto could be financially sustainable without looking for annual provincial handouts.
Road tolls could become a major capital fund source for public transit_ and so should the increase in HST revenue the province collects on gas sales. Road tolls (where and how?) can be used also to change driving patterns (and reduce traffic congestion).
Toronto should not have to consider selling off dividend paying assets such as Toronto Hydro to fund capital projects such as public transit.
Bottom Line: Toronto cannot deliver needed infrastructure and handle population growth without alternate revenue sources. Road tolls (DVP, Gardiner) might just drive business north of Steeles or to Mississagua if commuting workers resist. This is a complex situation that must engage more than Toronto's city council members.
Services and Powers: City Governance: Reducing Size of City Council, Better Organization, Term Limits, Contracting Out, Lowest Tax Rate vs Housing Costs
Toronto's residents have seen what Ward 33 Councillor Carroll says are new savings found by city staff. In fact, we see cutbacks in service levels while our taxes increase to keep Toronto's workers and managers (many who live outside Toronto) better off than most private sector workers living in the city. As taxes and user fees increase and services diminish we need to set out and document our key and essential priorities in spending. The budget vision must layout this in detail.
Toronto needs to have regular value for money operational audits and zero-based budgeting reviews on services.
We need for CUPE to agree that wages cannot continue to escalate while service levels go down. We need to hear more about increased productivity by city staff. We need our mayor and councillors to stop saying : “Look you've got a good deal. Toronto's tax rate is the lowest in the GTA.” Anyone who lives in Toronto knows its high cost of living and housing. Toronto's residents pay a tax levy based on market values that for the same quality of housing are the highest and create higher and higher taxes for less service and higher user fees. The only check is the city inflation rate which Miller has often used for tax increases.
We must investigate how contracting out could deliver same service levels such as Solid Waste Management at lower cost (Toronto seems to be a higher cost per ton city)
City governance has become part of the cost issue. Poor council control and organization creates an atmosphere of political conflicts and ineffectiveness. Many believe that cutting the size of council would cut governance costs and streamline decisions. But would it be improve resident access to the city's elected councillors. How would doubling the population (to near 120,000) covered by each councillor be better for a city democracy? Remember for most of us our daily lives interface more frequently with city services than those of any other government level.
To make council more effective and as a nurturing place for future mayors, Toronto needs to look at how other Canadian cities such as Vancouver or Montreal have civic parties. We must also use term limits to ensure that elected officials remain focused on public service rather than lifetime employment.
Bottom Line: The Spin of City Hall must change. Changes in the governance model are important. Council must look at other, more cost effective ways to provide same level of city services, CUPE must be able to prove productivity increases to backup wage demands. Could councillors' office budgets not been decreased with the smart 311 service to show resident cost control not cost expansion.
Government Spending: Reduce/Tighter Control on City Hall Spending? Increasing Taxes / Decreasing City Service Levels? City Fair-Wage Policy : Scrap It?
Imposing tax freezes and line by line reviews might make good sound bites. But they do not improve city services for residents nor lower the long trend of costs and taxes. In depth reviews via operational audits and zero-based budgeting are two financial control tools needed. As well, more regular reporting of city financial performance with comparisons to budget seem overdue.
The city (and our school boards) must be free of the yoke of union imposed constraints on wage rates it pays for outside service contracts.
Bottom Line: The culture of governance must not hide ineffectiveness nor incompetence. The city needs to be able to pay competitive market based wage rates for outside services. It must employ better financial transparency and accountability. The city council needs a committee on Financial Results.
Bike Lanes: Car People vs ROT (Rest of Transit) People
The notion of a war between car people in the city and the rest of transit people (TTC, bicyclists, pedestrians) especially in the old City has been an undercurrent. There has been much controversy over doing simple things timidly_ such as Bike Lanes.
Other cities have been much bolder and progressive to enable more mixed mode travel especially in zones of the city were more alternatives are effective for people moving and creating a more liveable and sustainable environment.
Toronto has been doing things on the cheap and setting up the conditions for conflict. The increasing intensity of people in the city core and satellite centre areas requires changes to how the design of our urban paths and roads.
Bottom Line: A major position statement must come from council on how our streets and pathways are to be modified to accommodate multiple and mixed modes of travel.
Old City vs Suburbs
There appears to be strong feelings that the old city (which has more big building assessments) receives more than it share of money and services as well as city hall attention.
All districts of the city must feel that city council and community councils are working for them fairly and equitably. Maybe, city budgets and financial performance must start to have a district reporting component plus a city-wide focus.
Bottom Line: City council must work to ensure all districts and communities in the city can see that over time money and attention flows are support perceptions of fairness.
Sustainable City:Able to Take in More People? Building a Brighter City Future
This election has heard Rob Ford express that the city is having a hard time to support its current population, etc. This led to an “immigration” issue controversy.
The real issue is having the leadership vision that maintains a sustainable city and builds a brighter city future. There are global competitive challenges as the world becomes more inter-dependent and connected. This is a multi-level government challenge thing as well as a business community challenge thing.
Climate change, population growth, traffic gridlock and congestion, clear air, urban poverty and a long list of other factors must be captured in a leadership vision that Toronto councillors and residents can buy into and share.
Bottom Line: Councillors must begin to express group ideas on Toronto's future. The best mechanism is through civic political parties. No individual can be the sole champion or visionary.