Lower garbage fees for condos

City aims to increase diversion rate in multi-res buildings
Kris Scheuer
(Written July 29 for Town Crier.)

City aims to get more apartment and condo dwellers diverting waste from landfill. Photo by Karolyn Coorsh/Town Crier.

In an attempt to reverse the flow of apartments turning to private garbage collection, the city has introduced a new waste collection fee for multi-residential buildings.
The new fee system, which kicked in July 1, is supposed to be less complex and cheaper for residential buildings than the old city system that started two years ago.
Since July 1, 2008 when the city launched a waste collection fee based on volume, 375 apartment and condos have chosen to go off the public system and sign up with the private sector instead.

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New Flemingdon affordable seniors housing

All levels of government help fund much needed apartments
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Aug 6.)

Groundbreaking at 5 Deauville Place. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Flemingdon Park will be home to 62 new affordable homes for low-income seniors and people with disabilities by next summer.
It’s no accident the developer chose this area for affordable rental apartments for seniors, said Tim Neeb, president of Mahogany Management and Deauville Place, the project development company.
“There’s a higher percentage of seniors in the community than any other in Toronto,” Neeb told the Town Crier July 29 during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which is set to open July 1, 2011.
He’s referring to Statistics Canada Census 2006 for the Don Mills census area that incorporates Flemingdon. Seniors over the age of 65 make up about a quarter of the population in Don Mills, compared to the city average, which is just under 14 percent.
Seniors over 75 account for almost 14 percent of the area population compared to just 6.5 percent in the whole of North York, according to 2001 Stats Can census data and 2005 population estimates.

Ella Rebanks ward 27 candidate

Local resident, mother, volunteer runs for first time
Rebanks passionate about helping others across Toronto
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug 5 for Town Crier.)

Ella Rebanks with her family. Photo courtesy of Rebanks.

Ward 27 candidate Ella Rebanks says wasteful spending at city hall has to stop, but she cautions not all spending is wasteful.
“What (mayor hopeful) Rob Ford considers wasteful and the bulk of the population think is wasteful aren’t the same,” said the Toronto Centre Rosedale council candidate.
“If you have a social program, it’s not wasteful spending. It’s us doing our job,” Rebanks added.
“Focus on Bloor Street construction that’s taking too long…that’s wasteful.”
As of August 5, Rebanks was one of 13 candidates running to replace retiring councillor Kyle Rae. She said with no incumbent the timing was right for her to run.
“I live in the ward,” said the mother of three. “I know the ward inside and out. So why wait to run?”

Shimmy Posen ward 21 candidate

City construct projects on time and within budget
This is one of Posen’s promises, if elected
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug 6 for Town Crier.)

Photo courtesy of Shimmy Posen.

Ward 21 candidate Shimmy Posen wants to fix city hall from the inside.
“We all know city hall is broken,” said Posen, who has a degree in political science. “We see it with cost overruns and delays with St. Clair right-of-way. We see it with the (2009) garbage strike and every dollar wasted.”
“The main issue is we need to address inefficiency in public transportation,” said Posen, who supports subways along Eglinton rather than the approved light rail transit.
“We need to reject the short sighted Eglinton LRT and build a long term subway instead,” said the local resident.