Toronto Police have posted an early-warning notice of route clearance (towing) and road closures for the Santa Claus Parade and an earlier event, the Holly Jolly 5 km Fun Run. All this takes place Sunday, November 17 and as reported earlier, the parade will assembled this year at Bloor and Sherbourne Sts and head west to University. Santa Claus Parade, Road Closures,

The City has launched a slick campaign to gain public input on re-making Yonge St. between College St and Queen St. with an online survey that has some prepared options. The choices for a more pedestrian-friendly street are, in general terms, one-lane each way, one-way only or pedestrians only. Keep in mind that some pretty big business players will be watching this initiative. Cadillac Fairview, owners of the Eaton Centre, will want to know how easy it will be to access their enormous parking garage. Hundreds of businesses will be weighing the value of a more pleasant place for pedestrians against the potential impact or advantage to trade.

Many readers are commenting on Facebook about the robbery of the Circle K store at Millwood Rd. and Randolph Rd. Tuesday evening at about 9.30 p.m. Details are sketchy but it appears no one was hurt.

Eglinton and Laird

Another thread names a new sushi restaurant at an address which is something of hard-luck location. It is 874 Eglinton beside Starbucks. In recent years it has seen Wisey’s UrBun, Brunch Story and now, apparently, Sushi by K. It is a difficult corner for reasons well known to all waiting for the LRT.

Remembrance Day might cast a long shadow for aging veterans at the Sunnybrook Centre if not for the selfless work of staff and volunteers. Audra Brown reports. Then, a desperate mother has hope after calling the media over an eviction notice triggered by an outburst of her autistic son. Below that, the CBC assays the technology of self-driving cars. It seems to be barely there. Lastly, the increasing practice of spoofing phone numbers to fool you into paying money. Many people can see right through these scams but it’s a sure sign of a fraud when you’re told to pay in criminal money, i.e. bitcoin.

Bayview tangle from 2002/Bonnie Byford Real Estate

How did this happen?/Bonnie Byford Real Estate

Citizens direct traffic/Bonnie Byford Real Estate

Sign in the background says Bayview Donuts/Bonnie Byford Real Estate

In front of what is now Dollarama/Bonnie Byford Real Estate

Photos of a wild tangle of vehicles on Bayview Ave. just north of Millwood Rd. have been unearthed at the offices of Bonnie Byford Real Estate, 1536 Bayview. Everyone seems to have survived the traffic mishap. It occurred in November 2002, 17 years ago when Shoppers Drug Mart was still at 1531 Bayview (it’s now Dollarama). The former Country Style Donuts on the northwest corner had just morphed into Bayview Donuts. White House Meats was still at 1539 but COBs was soon to move in there.

Jim Karygiannis on winniing Council seat in 2014 after quitting as an MP/Toronto Sun

Jim Karygiannis has been removed as City Councillor for Ward 22 after a review found that he overspent on his 2018 campaign expenses. City Clerk Ulli Watkiss announced the decision in a news release (below) late Wednesday afternoon. According to the release, the campaign spending limit for Ward 22 in the 2018 election was $61,207.95, with a maximum of 10 percent – or $6,120.80 – to be spent for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” after voting day.

Spent $25,962.70 too much

A review of Karygiannis’ expenses found that he spent $32,083.50 on parties and other expressions of appreciation, nearly five times the limit. The Municipal Elections Act dictates that forfeiture of office is automatic if a candidate is found to have exceeded their spending limit. “The Act does not give the City Clerk any latitude or discretion on this matter,” the city said in its release. The move means that Karygiannis is disqualified from being elected or appointed to any office until after the 2022 municipal election.

Toronto City Clerk, Ulli Watkiss, this afternoon gave notice to Jim Karygiannis that he is no longer a City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 22 based on the supplementary financial statement that he filed for the 2018 election, as required under the Municipal Elections Act.

Under the Act, every candidate is required to file a financial statement for the 2018 election. The Act allows candidates to spend a maximum amount of money in an election. For Ward 22 in 2018, that total was $61,207.95, with a maximum of 10% – or $6,120.80 – to be spent for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” after voting day. Mr. Karygiannis filed expenses under “parties and other expressions of appreciation” shows that he spent $32,083.50, which on its face exceeds the expense limit by $25,962.70.

The Act does not give the City Clerk any latitude or discretion on this matter. Under s.88.23(2) of the Act, forfeiture of the office is automatic if, on its face, a financial statement shows expenses for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” after voting day exceed the amount permitted. Mr. Karygiannis is in default of the Act and is disqualified from being elected or appointed to any office until after the 2022 municipal election.

Candidates are responsible for ensuring their financial filings are accurate and compliant with the Act. Mr. Karygiannis’ financial statement, signed by his auditor, can be found here http://app.toronto.ca/EFD/jsf/candidate2018/view_financial_statements.xhtml.

The City Clerk will report to Toronto City Council at its next meeting on November 26, outlining next steps with respect to declaring the seat vacant, as prescribed by the City of Toronto Act, 2006. In the interim, staff in the Ward 22 office will continue to support residents in the ward, and will report to the City Clerk until the office is filled by appointment or by-election.

A Notice of Default was sent to all Members of Council this afternoon and can be read here https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/

Not to be unkind, but a reported decision by Metrolinx to permit riders to use a credit card or phone to tap and pay seems so obvious it makes one snicker. It’s like the day McDonald’s discovered that the world wants the right to eat eggs at any hour. What were they thinking? But never mind because according to the Toronto Star, the new system will allow commuters to tap a chip credit card, debit card, or phone onto a Presto reader. The move is being viewed as a big step towards modernizing transit systems by giving passengers the option to pay for their rides without having to purchase specialized products such as tickets or fare cards. So, no more stressing over last-minute reloads on your Presto card. Duh!

Sliding temperatures are a certain warning that snow cannot be long delayed. Thursday morning will see a mix of snow and rain. Messy. The City News report below tells of how Toronto tries to be “proactive” about it all.

Construction on Bloor St. West will cause the Santa Claus parade to abandon its traditional starting point at Bloor and Christie this year. Instead, the parade will start at Parliament and Bloor, head west and then south on University. The date this year is Sunday, November 17 for the 115th annual parade. “(Bloor) is under construction now and just wouldn’t work for us to host all the thousands of families who line up on the side of the street,” CEO Peter Beresford told reporters at a press conference Tuesday. “So we’re going the other way from University.” The parade will then head east on Wellington Street before heading south on Yonge Street and then east on Front Street.