Josh Matlow (Ward 22) was at 227 Belsize near Harwood Rd. yesterday where what appears to be demolitions underway for redevelopment Neighbors have complained of the builder parking where he should not and the Councillor tweeted yesterday: “That’ll stop”.
Leaside Smokedown raises $25,000 for Scugog Camps
by •
The Leaside Smokedown event in aid of Lake Scugog Camps for children in need was held last night at the Amsterdam Brewers on Esandar Road. It was a barbecue, music and social triumph attended by about 220 people, the limit possible at the facility. Friday morning Andy Elder, an organizer and caterer to the event reported the Smokedown had raised a clear sum of more than $25,000 for donation to Lake Scugog Camps. Watch for pictures and video during the day.
Toronto woman writes impassioned article on traffic deaths
by •
Mom of Davisville P.S. student writes impassioned article and gets a lot of comment. Toronto Life
Visa, Coke, BNS and other sponsors ponder FIFA roles
by •
Dozens of rich and powerful soccer sponsors in North America and elsewhere were speaking out against corruption, or perhaps just sitting worrying about the waves of scandal splashing on them. Big sponsors like Coca Cola are demanding reforms. Visa has warned it will pull out if there is not “swift and immediate steps to address” the corruption. Scotiabank (Bank of Nova Scotia) a huge sponsor the North American feeder organization of FIFA known as CONCACAF, has yet to say anything. And there are dozens more. Adidas, Gazprom . Hyundai/KIA, McDonalds and Budweisers. The indictments unsealed yesterday mentioned a “sportswear maker” among the accused. No name has so far come out. In Europe, there is a building demand that the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, resign. He spoke at the FIFA Congress today and portrayed himself as the lone honest man among a few corrupt officials. Most national executives are saying this is not good enough and are demanding Blatter go. Below is a clip with David Gill of the U-K Football Association in which he says he will refuse to service on the FIFA executive unless Blatter leaves.
“
Fun time-lapse as Captain John’s towed away to scrapyard
by •
Yet more trolley folly as tracks buillt 4 inches too high
by •
It must surely be the case that secretly the general manager of the TTC Andy Byford harbours a bitter resentment of Toronto’s ill-fated decision to become Streetcar City back in the 1970s. The use of this 19th century form of transportation has been the source of endless mistakes, delays and cost. Canadian streetcars that are built out of alignment, track work shutting down important commercial streets for weeks, grinding down miles of concrete right-of-way on St. Clair Ave to make the streetcars fit. Now it is revealed the Leslie Street track contractor, Pomerleau, has built the Leslie Street car tracks four inches too high. They will be torn up and opening of the street delayed two months.
MPP wants provincial standard for riding-sharing cabs
by •
Michael Harris, MPP
A Conservative MPP has tabled a motion calling for a provincial law to regulate so-called ride-sharing. It would apply to any company, including Uber, that wants to get into the taxi business in any community. The member, Michael Harris of Kitchener-Waterloo, said: “Consumers are driving this and government needs to get on board,” Michael Harris, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga, said Thursday. “The province is changing and the laws need to evolved with it. It seems like a reasonable idea. It might not have been needed if riding-sharing had been introduced in a different way. But, as evidence from all over the world has shown, Uber is a renegade operator. It arrives, sets up and begins operation in total disregard of the law and in the beginning, it even tried to pretend that it was not in the taxi business.
No corruption here! Putin, FIFA and soccer cold war
by •
Head of government known largely for corruption and thuggery says it’s all America’s fault. Globe and Mail Sepp Blather tries to tough it out
Wards 26, 27 votes would benefit from ranked ballots
by •
The Ontario government says it will amend the Ontario Elections Act to permit municipalities to use so-called ranked ballots in the next municipal elections in 2018. It is a process that has promise to end the frequent election of minority-vote candidates in Toronto Wards such as #26, #27 and others. Such balloting permits first and second choice for an elector. This process results in a winner who has a majority of the votes and tends to blunt the impact of electoral slates with 15 or more candidates This type of result is common in Toronto as well as Ontario elections and can result in the election of a candidate with less than 30 percent of the vote. The Ontario announcement does not mean the City is required to adopt ranked balloting It will require City Council to vote for such a reform in the near future for the change to be ready for 2018.
Toronto woman says she found beetle in organic salad
by •
Erin Cameron
A Toronto woman, Erin Cameron, says found a beetle buried in the lettuce of an organic salad she purchased at the Loblaws at Portland and Queen Streets in the City. “I took a scoop, just with my hands, of the lettuce, and put it into my bowl,” she recalls. “Right away I noticed there was a giant bug inside … and I kind of freaked out”. Cameron says she also discovered by looking online that the creature appears to be a so-called Blister Beetles that may be lethal to animals when eaten. This story was originated by the CBC which obtained an email saying the company had been in contact with Ms. Cameron.
Mayor’s cricket tourney Saturday at Sunnybrook Park
by •
The Mayor’s School Cricket Tournament will take place Saturday, May 30. 2015 at Sunnybrook Park on the north pitch at 1132 Leslie Street. Ceremonial remarks by Mr. Tory and others will be given at 9.30 a.m. Also present will be Martin Saxton, Chair of Canadian Institute of Management Accounts, which sponsors the event. Also present will be Raza Hasan, Vice President of CIBC (winner gets the CIBC trophy) and Donna Quan, Director of the Toronto and District School Board.
Sherwood Park ratepayers hold annual general meeting
by •
The Sherwood Park Residents’ Association annual general meeting was held Wednesday night at The Sherwood, a residence for seniors, on Yonge St north of Sherwood Ave. The meeting reviewed as many as five developments in the neighborhood including efforts by homeowners on Keewatin Avenue to stop multiple unit developments at 200-214 Keewatin which they feel will change the neighborhood’s density.
Councillor Jaye Robinson said she had spoken with the developer and directed him to stop sending letters to elderly residents. This was being done, as she believed, to frighten them and cause them to move out. “I don’t know whether he will stop, but I told him to” Ms Robinson said.
The Councillor is head of the public works and infrastructure committee. She offered a cautious but positive response on whether there would be room on streets like Eglinton for all the amenities listed on planning wish lists: wide sidewalks, benches, trees, bicycle lanes and racks, street parking and multiple lanes of traffic. In all of this, congestion had to be avoided, she declared.
There was extended discussion of the Ontario Municipal Board and the view held at City Hall (and by herself) that Toronto would be better off without it. She noted however that Toronto is the creature of the Province, and has no leverage against the OMB. The Committee of Adjustment will shortly be supplemented with an appeal body of some type, presumably to deflect reference away from the OMB.
SPRA president Ben Daube offered a view that it was better to try to work with the developers than focus on the OMB. Among items updated for the meeting was 1860 Bayview where the new Whole Foods is being built. Residents of Rappert Ave. behind the development have approved the brick which will form a separating wall between their cul-de-sac and the shopping centre. The south wall of the development has been moved north permitting wider sidewalks and a better view east toward Bayview.