The Toronto Star has published a profile of Ward 27 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. It’s worth a read. Ms. Wong-Tam presides over a huge ward, one which is not just large but quite possibly diverse beyond help. It should probably be broken up. The writer, Alex Ballingall quotes the Councillor as saying her constituents range from the top of the one per cent to the bottom of the 99 per cent. Residents of Rosedale and Moore Park might dislike being included in that largely fictional “one percent” category of scapegoats. But they might agree that hard-working as she is, one percent is about as much of the Councillor’s time as they get. Alex Ballingall, Toronto Star
Walmart says it will stop accepting Visa cards over fees
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The threat from Walmart being reported Saturday to stop accepting Visa cards may be a bluff, but that will depend on whether it spooks Visa into giving Walmart a break on fees. Retailers everywhere know too well the cost of accepting credit cards. Dollarama, the wildly successful Canadian low-end chain, accepts only cash or debit and appears happy with that arrangement. There was a pilot project to see if credit cards cannibalized its cash and debit revenues but nothing seems to have come of it. In 2004 in the U.S. the huge drugstore chain Walgreen (not connected with Walmart) stopped accepting American Express cards because the fees were too high. It may also have had to do with the Amex practice of holding the receipts for a while. Later, after some sort of deal, Walgreens accepted Amex again.
WHO GETS HURT?
The question is, who gets hurt. The conventional guess is that Walmart sees a lot of Visa business, It’s customers may be close to maxed most of the time. In the Walgreens-Amex tiff, it was agreed that Amex was the loser because well-heeled drugstore customers had cash or other means of paying for prescriptions and sundries. At Dollarama, there is no doubt that Visa and MasterCard are the losers. CBC
Fund-raising appeal to stop towers at Sunnybrook Plaza
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The citizens group known as Concerned Residents of Leaside has sent general e-mail asking for financial support to fight RioCan over the redevelopment as proposed of Sunnybrook Plaza. The giant REIT has appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board to overturn the City’s refusal to permit high-rise towers 13 and 19 floors at the site. The mail, which was forwarded by Geoff Kettel, says the City has completed its assessment of RioCan’s proposal, “which is largely in favour of the community. We have a few more points to add, but this is very positive for us. Nonetheless, to fully represent the community’s interests, we will be hiring a lawyer and city planner for representation at the OMB to oppose RioCan’s appeal.”
GO FUND ME
The mail asks people to contribute to a fund at the Go Fund Me site to raise as estimated $30,000 to hire a lawyer and cover other costs related to winning at the OMB, It extends an open invitation to a “community lawn meeting” on Saturday June 18th at 9:30 AM, at 281 Bessborough Dr. to discuss the strategy and answer any questions. It say to bring a lawn chair.
CITY’S ADVICE TO RIOCAN
The mail summarizes the City’s advice to RioCan about this project as follows:
– Revise the proposal to predominantly mid-rise form (9 to 11 storeys)
– Comply with angular planes of neighbouring sites
– Increase the amount of non-residential gross floor area
– Provide an additional setback for the townhouses along the private driveway
– Continue to refine the private driveway to improve the pedestrian environment
– Adjust the setbacks around the buildings for better pedestrian flow and accommodate road widening
– Increase the amount of outdoor amenity space
OMB PRE-HEARING JULY 26, 2016
The matter will be discussed at the North York Community Council meeting on June 14th, at around, but not before, 2 p.m. at the North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge Street) on the lower level in the Council Chamber. The OMB pre-hearing is set for July 26, 2016 at which the group must seek standing for the November meeting where the final decision will be taken.
Loxie looking good after a day at the spa on Bayview Ave.
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Any way one looks at Loxie she is a fluffy treat to meet. It seems a wonder that Loxie can see us but those who know better say she can. Friday the Old English Sheepdog puppy was with her friend Dave outside Starbucks, having just completed a day at the dog grooming spa at Tails Up Dog Grooming at 1662 Bayview Ave. Good to meet you Loxie.
GM adds software staff but will cars be made here too?
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The talk was all about business disruption (that’s a good thing) and electric vehicles as General Motors announced the addition of some 700 software engineers to its staff in Oshawa. What does it really mean? A union boss in the CBC video says that it a good day anytime the prime minister, Premier Wynne, GM executives and autoworkers are in the same room. Still, the end of manufacturing of the Camaro is written large and there are as yet no plans for building anything new. Time will tell.
Damon, Wiig shoot final scenes of Downsizing in Leaside
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The filming of the final scenes of the Matt Damon and Kirsten Wiig movie Downsizing are said to have run well into Saturday morning on Bessborough Drive Drive at Annesley.Ave. The movie has been filming intermittently at the lovely home overlooking the intersection since early May. It appears that Mr. Damon was very accommodating around having pictures taken. Below he is seen with the wife of the picture-taker Charles Chuck Reynolds. In a note published on the Leaside Community Facebook page Mr. Reynolds wrote that Matt Damon was very gracious and posed agreeably while dressed in character after make up “with my wonderful wife”. The producer, says Reynolds, was Mark Johnson who also produced The Notebook was also very nice to meet. Then a little joke. “No, we are not hosting the cast for dinner on Bessborough this evening. (its Tuesday, lol). Friday’s filming was the apparent wrap-up of work on Bessborough for the movie. Those at the site included Louise Brisbois who posted to Leaside Community Facebook page to whom thanks from The Bulldog and also to Wilmar Kortleever. Previous
Caplansky back into deli but what’s the name of the game?
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A judge has found that Zane Caplansky may re-enter his delicatessen at 356 College Street despite an attempt by the landlord to lock him out. This morning in court the landlord, through his lawyer, said the first easily understood thing about Caplansky’s tenancy, which has three years left to go. The lawyer, Jim Morton, told the judge the issues involve health and safety regulations with the fire systems –- an issue Caplansky said was “fictitious.” It is not clear whether Caplansky has heard these concerns before. He has said he had no knowledge of what was going on. These are serious matters if real. So what is the name of the game?
A win for Caplanskys as judge orders lease valid, they are back in business. Locks to be cut right now, opens Sat. pic.twitter.com/bDsWrYz7Fd
— marianne boucher (@CityCourtsTO) June 10, 2016
Little White Sneakers grand opening on Mt. Pleasant
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The children’s new and re-purposed clothing store Little White Sneakers will have a grand opening at its 597 Mt. Pleasant store Saturday. Open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.littlewhitesneakers.com
Legendary Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, dead at age 88
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Gordie Howe has died at the age of 88. The Detroit Red Wings confirmed the news Friday.
Police report man shot on Glenrose Ave. in Moore Park
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Police have told residents of Glenrose Ave. in Moore Park that the man who was shot Friday morning on the street appears to be homeless. He was found on a lawn on the north side of the street near the intersection with Mt. Pleasant Rd. This is near or at the location of the former home of famed sculptors Frances Loring and Florence Wyle. The building itself is an historic former school run by Deer Park United Church when it had a Methodist congregation. The circumstances of the man’s shooting remain unclear but his wound appears to non-life threatening. Toronto Sun
On scene of shooting Mount Pleasant ant St Clair on Glenrose, man found on street gunshot wound #topoli pic.twitter.com/ZDgmmnhIqo
— Ross McLean (@McLeanChronicle) June 10, 2016
Hannah and Cailin reprise Bieber fisticuffs in Cleveland
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Excruciatingly perky Hannah and Cailin assay the latest trailer-park instincts of Justin Bieber while he was in Cleveland for basketball.
$16 million, ten-year plan to double bike lane network
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Toronto City Council has voted 38-2 in favour of the plan that will double the size of the bicycle lane network. It approves eight major streets that could be re-configured to include bike lanes, or bikeways — cycling routes that are separated from traffic lanes by concrete curbs or bollards. It will cost $16 million. By this plan, to be built over ten years, bike lanes or bikeways could appear on stretches of:
- Yonge Street, downtown and in North York
- Bloor Street
- Danforth Avenue
- Jane Street
- Kingston Road
- Kipling Avenue
- Midland Avenue
- Lakeshore Boulevard W.