Costco was high on the agenda at the Ward 26 candidates debate Tuesday night. Chairman Brian Athey asked the four contenders where they stood on the plan to build a Costco store and gas bar on Overlea Blvd. Ishrath Velshi and David Sparrow gave unequivocal answers. Ms. Velshi offered concerns about traffic but in the end she said: “I do support the Costco project.” She noted the “poverty level of 40%” in Thorncliffe Park and echoed that community’s interest in the good-paying jobs that would be created. Mr. Sparrow spoke from his base when he expressed clear opposition. He cited studies which suggest the store and gas bar would draw some 300,000 vehicles a month to Overlea Blvd. Traffic has become the rallying cry of those opposed to the development. John Parker, the two-term incumbent, said traffic seemed the most critical test the development would face. “I don’t see it passing the traffic test,” he said. Jon Burnside noted both the poverty in Thorncliffe and the need for development. He said he would like to “sever off the gas bar” from the project as it drew the most vehicles. Nonetheless, he seemed to follow the position of the current council — to wait until traffic studies are done before deciding to support the project. The expansion of Toronto Island Airport also drew a mix of answers with Ms Velshi leaving the door open. “We do not have the information.” John Parker and Dave Sparrow were unlikely island parkland soul mates in firmly opposing an enlarged airport with jets. Mr. Burnside answered briefly by saying that he was “against the position as it stands.” He supported Parker and Sparrow. The near standing-room-only crowd at the William Lea Room heard Parker and Burnside spar throughout the evening. Burnside ticked off Parker for his 2010 support of Rob Ford. Burnside noted that he had been endorsed by John Tory. Mr. Parker said he had supported David Soknacki but was prepared to work with John Tory even though he had “paid a price” for telling Tory about concerns with the SmartTrack plan. There was a stand-alone question to Burnside on how he would be a full-time member of council with a business to run. He suggested the ready-made meals business will be sold. Responses to a question about traffic on Laird Drive saw a heated response to Mr. Parker’s observation that there was going to be traffic on Laird no matter what was done. There were shouts from the audience and one man was heard to say “insulting.” The debate ranged across air traffic noise, conservation and heritage legislation, bicycle lanes and the future of the business park. The debate was sponsored by the Leaside Property Owners Association. Photo l-r Jon Burnside, John Parker, David Sparrow, Ishrath Velshi. (Courtesy Rudy Limeback)
There was a moment at last Tuesday’s Ward 26 candidates debate which seemed to say a lot about how traffic laws are bent and ultimately changed. John Parker, the councillor, said that he had no problem with the common practice of cyclists ignoring the requirement that they stop at a stop sign. The practice is known, he noted, as an Idaho stop after the unique legislation that permits cyclists there to treat a stop sign like a yield sign and a stoplight like a stop sign. A question had been asked about how cars and bicycles could possibly be reconciled on City streets. In fact, the discussion was about how all the candidates were in favour of bike lanes. Mr. Parker just added the stop sign reference seemingly as an after thought. Can letting cyclists roll through stop signs and stop lights make things work better? Idaho introduced this legislation in 1982 and it remains the only place in North America where such practices are allowed. Even today, Boise, the capital of that wide-open place has barely 215,000 souls. Bayview and Millwood might look like a speedway to your average Idaho driver. The bicycle versus car dilemma was seen at a police community safety meeting on October 2, 2014 at North Toronto Collegiate Institute. The discussion broke down not only among members of the public but among the police on hand over just where and when it was safe to cycle. Bike riders said they frequently did not feel safe on the road and therefore had to ride on the sidewalk. This is illegal and it enraged pedestrian-minded members of the audience. As anyone knows, it is a daily sight to see bicycles speeding up and down the wide sidewalks of Bayview Ave. Bicycle lanes may help riders to travel more safely. But the collectivity of cycling habits has created an expectation of drivers which challenges even the most careful. Their job is more suited to a pilot with 360 degree radar. Cars fortunately can come to a dead halt without falling from the sky while the driver deciphers as best he can where the cyclist is going. Ideas like rolling stops and safe haven for bikes on the sidewalks hang heavy over the prospects for urban peace however. 
