The South Bayview Bulldog

A town hall meeting has been called for Thursday night to protest the Ford government’s proposed legislation (Bill 108) to return OMB-like qualities to the approval process for development in Toronto. The legislation would reverse new power recently achieved by City Council to control growth and building height by permitting so-called “de novo” hearings. The meeting is scheduled for May 16 at 7 p.m. at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre at 200 Eglinton West. Ford plans to restore developer “de novo” power over City

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Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 15) has published a handy round-up of local developments in her recent newsletter. You can view it below — click images to enlarge. Or visit her website and get updates via her interactive local development map.

Also included in the Councillor’s newsletter is a list of improvements planned for our local parks.

Lilly Singh, 30, has had a remarkable career as a YouTube comedian, vlogger, speaker and role-model (no doubt). Singh was born in Scarborough and is a graduate of York University. She now lives in Los Angeles where she will launch a new NBC post-midnight show in September called A Little Late with Lilly Singh.

Southwest corner of Lake Shore Blvd. and Colonel Samuel Smith Park (and Kipling Ave)

Police are appealing for witnesses and/or video to sort out the circumstances of an accident in which a woman pedestrian was struck by a car as she stepped into Lake Shore Blvd. to meet a streetcar Sunday. The woman suffered life-threatening injuries. This occurred about 8.48 p.m. as a woman was driving a car in the curb lane of eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard West approaching Kipling Avenue. A streetcar was travelling the same direction. The victim, 40, stepped out to meet the tram and was struck by the car. Police are asking local residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident to contact investigators.

POLICE PUBLIC SERVICE NOTICES MAY 14

• Media Advisory, The Ontario Association Of Chiefs Of Police 2019 Drive Safe Campaign, Distracted Driving Ruins Lives. Drive Safe., Tuesday, May 14, 2019, At 10 A.M., Toronto Police Headquarters Lobby, 40 College St
• Media Advisory, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 5 P.M., Law Enforcement Torch Run For Special Olympics Ontario, Queen’s Park To Metro Toronto Convention Centre
• 2019 Special Olympics Ontario Invitational Youth Games (IYG), Toronto ‘Uniting The World’ May 14 To 17, 2019

A boy, 3, has been found safe in Toronto in a waterfront high-rise where police made a check during a search for the lad. The boy was the subject of a 5 a.m. Amber Alert issued by Sudbury police. His mother apparently took him on a bus from one City to the other.

Kevin J. Johnston

“Darkest forces in our society”

Mohamad Fakih

Kevin Johnston, a one-time candidate for mayor of Mississauga, has been ordered to pay the owner of Paramount Fine Foods, Mohamad Fakih, damages of $2.5 million for a calculated campaign of hatred against the businessman. The award was rendered Monday by Ontario Superior Court Justice Jane Ferguson. The hurt caused by Johnston’s anti-Islamic video and writings were found damaging both to Mr. Fakih and to Paramount, a chain of Middle Eastern restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area which Fakih founded. The offending material was posted on Johnston’s so-called Freedom Report, starting in July 2017. Johnston lost to Mayor Bonnie Crombie in the October election, placing second with 13.5 per cent of the vote. He was charged in 2017 with offering a $1,000 reward in exchange for videos of Muslim students praying in schools. He, his website, and Ron Banerjee were named as defendants in Fakih’s original lawsuit, filed August 4, 2017.

INCENDIARY STATEMENTS

In the videos, shot in 2017, Johnston made a series of incendiary statements including a claim Fakih was an “economic terrorist” with backing from the Pakistani spy agency. He alleged restaurant policy barred staff from admitting anyone who wasn’t a “jihadist.” Evidence was also presented that Johnston confronted Fakih and his family, including four children, in public. Ferguson says Johnston’s words amounted to hate speech that called for particularly strong condemnation from the court. “In this fractious 21st century — where social media and the internet now allow some of the darkest forces in our society to achieve attention — (issues raised by the case) are numerous and profound, and their impact extends well beyond the borders of this country,” she wrote in her decision released Monday. CityNews

Some late-day events as recorded by City News include ad wars at Queen’s Park, Alex Trebek on a visit to Ottawa, the catchy bazzer-beater mania infecting Raptor fans and a guilty plea from Falicity Huffman. Be careful you do around the law.

Markets plunged in the US and Canada as China applied new 25 percent tariffs to US goods in retaliation for American tariffs which became effective Friday. The Dow index fell 617, Nasdaq 269 and Toronto 104. CBC

Work at Laird and Millwood, October 2017

Traffic looking west down Southvale/Bulldog

Mayor Tory and City officials held a news conference Monday to prepare people for the  summer of 2019 road and watermain construction season, one which his honour said will be the busiest ever. Some $500 million will be spent on rehabilitating and improving transportation infrastructure while another $480 million will be invested in water infrastructure including. For many it will recall the summer of 2017 when sidewalk reconstruction through southwest Leaside and the re-making of the corner of Laird Dr. and Millwood Rd. pretty much paralyzed the neighborhood. Former Councillor Burnside said at the time that a further project to tighten up the wide intersection at Southvale Dr. and Millwood had been put over to the summer of 2019. Some may wish to navigate the City’s Current Construction Projects page. Global News

The cold, wet weather of Monday and Tuesday are forecast to give way to much warmer days as we head into the Victoria Day weekend. The fireworks guy, Dave Bryant, is asking all those who are likely to turn out on Monday for his show at the Leaside High School field to think about a small donation to the cost of the show. “Victoria Day Fireworks May 20,2019 @ Leaside High School 8:45 approx. start time. Donations can be made via GoFundMe. As always please watch from the safety of the hill and enjoy the show. Remember we can’t put on these fireworks displays without the Neighbourhood. Thank you and hope to see you at the Show.”

Cyclist struck on St. Clair near Mt. Pleasant/Traffic camera

St. Clair Ave has been re-opened after a teen boy on a bicycle was struck near the Clifton Rd. crosswalk Monday about 8.30 a.m. TPS Operations tweeted that the injuries did not appear serious but the boy was taken to hospital for observation. The driver of a car involved remained at the scene.