Those interested in knowing how Councillors voted at North York Community Council (NYCC) yesterday may be able to find out Friday when an official record is issued. In the meantime, there is no information available except from the members as to how the vote result was composed. The 3-3 split in which sent the matter automatically to City Council was unofficially unrecorded. Councillor Burnside moved the motion on a show of hands. Those present were Carmichael Greb, Minnan-Wong, Augimeri, Filion, Robinson and Burnside. The other five members of members of North York Community Council were not present for this item although we don’t know if this means they were absent or simply not in the chamber. .
CTC gives 5,000 office workers day off to watch the Jays
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Fat cat writers can’t recognize first rule of journalism
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That would be to tell the truth. Lying was considered an abuse of the public trust (and dishonest too) back in Journalism 1a6 and it still is. This week a lot of reporters seemed to think that lying to the public was just a lark. That’s when the charity Raising the Roof decided to dupe unsuspecting people on Bayview Ave in order to obtain just the right kind of responses for their project. What was that? Carolann Barr, executive director of Raising the Roof, calls it dispelling the myths about homelessness. Apparently it’s only possible to know authoritatively how misguided people are by lying to them. And what better place to do your lying than in that utterly misguided and uncaring place called Leaside. It makes it easier when fat cat writers purr correct responses. One scribbler snickered about Sleepy South Bayview being thrown into a state of hyper local hyperbole. Is that so? If Mr. Sleepy South Bayview had done what Raising the Roof did he would most likely now be unemployed. At Global News they ventured that Bayview Ave has been the scene of an “elaborate trick”. Actually, it was the scene of rank dishonesty not a surprise party. The further theme running through these stories was that some people don’t think enough about homelessness. Of course comfortable television and newspaper reporters are constantly reviewing what they can do for the homeless. It was all catch phrases. Myths needed to be dispelled, conversations kick-started and similar blather. Dispelling myths. Pinocchio should have tried that one.
Movie shoot blocks parking on east side in north block
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The parking will be a little rocky on Bayview today as a movie shoot has cleared out parking on the east side north of Fleming. Wouldn’t it be nice if the City made them pay the shopkeepers something? Also on South Bayview, a disabled vehicle. It was hidden in front of the police car.
Councillor Burnside’s statement on Costco application
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Yesterday at North York Community Council the Costco application for 42-46 Overlea Blvd. was rejected on a tie vote (3-3). Although The City Planning Department had recommended its approval, the application will now go to the entire Toronto City Council for consideration “Without Recommendation” on November 10.
There were a number of deputations regarding the application and of those opposed, traffic was a major concern. I share this concern and have serious misgivings not only with the methodology and quality of the traffic report, but our own Transportation Department’s unreasonably high threshold for rejecting an application based on a projected increase in traffic volumes. This is somewhat of an unusual situation in that opinions were strongly divided with a majority of Thorncliffe residents in favour of the application.
As I have mentioned previously, I believe the perfect solution would be a Costco without the gas bar but City Staff did not make this recommendation and thus it was not something Costco would agree to. One of the biggest challenges we have in opposing developments based on traffic concerns is that the developer always has a favourable traffic study. While this situation has gone on for years, there seems to have been little effort to hold the traffic consultants accountable. This is exactly what I tried to do with one of the three amendments I proposed.
Recognizing that without our own City Staff’s support a fight at the OMB is extremely difficult to win, I recommend the following additions/changes to the report:
1) Reduce the number of gas pumps from 18 to 12.
2) Costco conduct a follow up traffic study one year after store opening and pay for any mitigation efforts if their study underestimated traffic volumes.
3) Specify number of Thorncliffe residents hired by Costco.
Additionally, Costco had agreed to a voluntary payment of $650,000 to be used for community benefits in Thorncliffe. I ultimately felt that this was the best deal possible under the circumstances and that the risk of losing these concessions by forcing the developer to the OMB was not the proper course of action — especially since Ward 26 residents’ opinions were mixed.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to voice your opinion.
John Burnside, Councillor, Ward 26
Manicured garden graces new push-button McDonald’s
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The new Create Your Taste McDonald’s at Victoria Park and St.Clair Ave. E is graced by a neat and attractive garden that would be the envy of any homeowner, much less restaurant operator. This is the first of the McDonald’s Create Your Taste “kiosk” style restaurants. There are two such large and colourful keyboards inside (as shown in the video below). But it will also be seen that the kiosks are not busy. Most people continue to use the counter. This is only a snapshot taken at about 4.30 p.m. of how things operate at this McDonald’s but so far the modest neighborhood does not seem to be flocking to Create Your Taste.
West Coast Kids on Bayview hopes to be open “in a week”
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Work has begun inside the new West Coast Kids children’s clothing and general goods store at the corner of Bayview Ave and Manor Rd. The foreman in the store said the company hopes to be open in a week. That would have business underway by October 14, 2015. Let’s hope so.
Marina Strauss: Loblaws and the “retroactive discount”
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The Globe and Mail says the Competition Bureau is continuing to investigate certain pricing practices employed by Loblaws with its suppliers. In one example of such a policy, says the Globe, Loblaws is able to apply a retroactive discount, meaning it gets the goods for less. All these little devices are built into the transaction when a supplier deals with a retailer as powerful as Loblaws. The practical effect of such a retroactive discount would be that Loblaws is in a position to sell the product for less than others. As any one who shops there will know, Loblaws is very calculated about what gets on the shelf and what doesn’t. In some cases, it doesn’t seem to care much whether popular products disappear. Of course, big suppliers have their tricks too. The Globe article is written by the retailing reporter Marina Strauss. She says that some suppliers, while pleased with Loblaw’s decision, were concerned that the bureau could wind down its inquiry following notice from Loblaws that it will end the discount device. They worry the bureau might close down on its probe without formulating guidelines on the matter.
Decisions, decisions: Councillors paralyzed on COSTCO
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Looking for leadership in the oddest of places. NYCC members finally produce a 3-3 COSTCO tie at NYCC. What this seems to mean is that five members of the Council were absent or abstained. Odd leadership indeed. Story here (corrected)
ALL-NIGHTER WOES? Scotia cancels Nuit Blanche money
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Scotiabank has decided to set Nuit Blanche free. Bank spokesperson Sean Hamilton said the all-night art festival (which has seen more than one street fight) is off its sponsorship list, telling the Toronto Star that Nuit Blanche organizers were informed of the decision in February. He said the move had nothing to do with reports of troublemaking in the early hours of Sunday morning, when crowds of art crawlers advanced on police and threw bottles at Yonge-Dundas Square. The amount of money spent by the bank on Nuit Blanche is secret but shareholders might cheer the news that Scotia is trimming its sails in the giveaway department. It sponsors many arts and entertainment festivals (we like Buskerfest). It could also doubt do without the tedious moaning of people like Dave Meslin in the Torontoist who just can’t stand seeing a bank associated with artistic purity. Pooey pooey, Dave.
Nanos, Mainstreet polls offer radically different results
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The media love affair with polls is just a headache for voters as they look at radically different results from Nanos Research and Mainstreet Research. Nanos is running a rolling poll in which it posts an average of the latest three days each day. This morning (Tuesday, October 6, 2015) it revealed the Liberals with 35% of the public support nationally and the Conservatives with 31.5%. But the Mainstreet poll, done September 30 and October 1, 2015 shows the Conservatives with a magic-figure lead of 37%. It would almost enough to expect a majority. The Liberals are shown with 29%. Election day is October 19. CTV Toronto Sun
NYCC chokes on COSTCO decision, produces 3-3 tie
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The decision on whether there will be a COSTCO store on Overlea Blvd will be decided by City Council after North York Community Council voted in a 3-3 tie today (Tuesday, October 6, 2015) Council will meet November 3, 2015 The issue is the heritage status of a vacant former office building of the Coca Cola Company at 42 Overlea Blvd. Speakers opposing the store at community council today were particularly against the prospect of a service station on the site. The store, located at 42/46 Overlea would include 625 parking spaces and the gas bar. COSTCO also offered plans which retain the office building, designated as historic, as part of the new store.
THORNCLIFFE VOTERS WILL BE BITTER
The voting split by name will be available in due course but the shape of the dilemma for Councillors was the deep divide between old Leaside and the equally eligible voters in Thorncliffe Park. There are more of the former than the latter but the Thorncliffe residents will probably be deeply bitter over a rejection of the store. Many are counting on it to put more money in their personal bank accounts and their small businesses. COSTCO is known as a generous paymaster. Employees can earn as much as $15 an hour, an amount unheard of at Walmart and other big boxes. The presence of a COSTCO would help rejuvenate the East York Town Centre which is languishing with empty space including the former Target store. MORE
FLEMING CRESCENT
Council also had on its agenda a total ban on stopping on Fleming Crescent just off Bayview. This is a common practice for various reasons, some good and some terrible. But it looks like the practice is over. (Item NY9.28) NY Council Agenda