TTC meeting on bus route cuts

Public meeting with no deputations
People fill out comment sheets, talk to TTC reps
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Jan. 26)

Christine Miller looks at info on a bus route cut impacting her commute. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

As part of the 2011 budget process the TTC has vowed to cut 48 bus routes in order to increase service on other unspecified routes.
However, a decision on bus route reductions was postponed until Feb. 2 to allow for public consultations so those impacted by the cuts can plead their case.
At the meeting held at the North York Central Library Christine Miller, who relies on two of the bus routes were service reductions are proposed: 56 Leaside and 62 Mortimer, told the Town Crier that the proposed cuts could imperil her safety.
“I take them for work and a night out,” she told the Town Crier. “I get off (work) at midnight. That’s my safe ride home.”
She works as a security guard in midtown and lives in East York. For her the cuts would mean no service after 10 p.m. on weekdays and after 7 p.m. on weekends on the 56 Leaside route. And on 62 Mortimer no service after 10 p.m. on weekends.
“I work ‘til midnight on Saturdays and Sundays as well,” said the 27 year old. “One alternative is 25 Don Mills.”
This would take her close to home but walking a different route that has safety concerns, she said.

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City eyes site for new Don Mills ice arena

Canada Post’s selling its Donway site
Local rep wants city to consider land for ice rink replacement
Kris Scheuer
(Written July 30 for Town Crier.)

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong wants the city to consider The Donway site as a possible location for new city ice rink.

A soon-to-be vacant post office in Don Mills could be an opportunity to acquire land for a new city ice arena in Don Mills, says Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong.
The site, at 169 The Donway West, is for sale. It’s located near the Don Mills Civitan Arena, an aging facility the city is trying to replace by 2020, when developer Cadillac Fairview takes over that site as part of its residential redevelopment.
The city’s in search of an affordable and suitable spot for a new ice arena in Don Mills and Minnan-Wong said the post office site is worth exploring.
“I heard it was on the market,” Minnan-Wong said July 29. “There were lots of rumours.”

Sloane PS sports facility contest

School in Toronto’s Victoria Village could win upgrade
Top ten facilities each win $25,000 depending on votes
Kris Scheuer
(Written July 5 for Town Crier.)

The Victoria Village community and Sloane Public School have a good chance of winning $25,000 for upgrades to a local sports facility.
But it won’t happen without your help.
Read the school’s pitch right here.
The high-needs community is the only Toronto location remaining in the top 20 to host this year’s Kraft Celebration Tour and receive prize money.
The tour sees Kraft delivering cash and TSN hitting the road to visit 10 Canadian communities.
There are currently 20 finalists paired in 10 groups of two.
Sloane PS put in the application, and would use the $25,000 to help build a track for use by both the 260 students who attend the school and the local community.
Between July 13 at noon until 11:59 pm July 14, Victoria Village, represented by Sloane Public School, will face off against Port Dover. The community with the most votes on that particular day will win.

Peter Youngren Ward 34 candidate

Activist, minister, now a first time Toronto council candidate
Local resident has track record of taking action to help people
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier May 3.)

Peter Youngren running in Ward 34. Photo courtesy of Peter Youngren.

Don Valley East resident Peter Karl Youngren is the kind of person who takes action when he sees a problem.
He’s volunteered in refugee camps, started a non-denominational church and founded a charity to help at risk youth.
Now the Victoria Village resident is running for council in Ward 34.
“I live here. I work here. I love it here,” he said.
He’d like to see more leadership to solve local and city problems including the disappearance of a local resident.

Denzil Minnan Wong seeks re-election

Toronto councillor rules out running for Toronto mayor
Registers as candidate in his Don Valley East ward instead
By Kris Scheuer
(Written March 31 for Town Crier.)

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong seeking re-election.

Denzil Minnan-Wong has decided not to run for mayor and is seeking to keep his old job as the city councillor for Don Valley East Ward 34 instead.
He was seriously considering running for the city’s top political job but in the end, Minnan-Wong decided his heart was in the ward where he grew and has lived here for 30 years.
“It was a personal decision for me to run for council again,” he said. “There’s still a lot to do.”

Toronto councillors 2010 election

The election campaign already heating up
Who is retiring, running, playing coy in TO election
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated Oct.25- Election Day.)

 

Joe Mihevc is one of the incumbent councillors seeking re-election.

 

One thing is certain in life – that’s change. And we can count on that in this city’s election. The vote is Oct. 25.
Of the 44 incumbent city councillors so far 35 current Toronto politicians have signed up for re-election in their own ward. Of the remaining 9 incumbents: 2 are running for mayor instead and 7 aren’t running at all. Want to see for yourself?
Check the city’s election website that shows all 477 candidates running for mayor, councillor and school trustee positions.
Here’s the scope on where all the candidates stand as of Sept. 10 the final nomination day.
Mayor David Miller is not running for re-election. There are 40 candidates registered to run for mayor.
Council races – there are 279 candidates running for 44 council seats
Ron Moeser (Scarborough East Ward 44) has registered and so have three others: Diana Hall, Heath Thomas and Mohammed Mirza.
Paul Ainslie (Scarborough East Ward 43) is running again and has four challengers: John Laforet, Benjamin Mbaegbu, Bhaskar Sharma and Samuel Getachew.

Toronto mayor and council candidates

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone has expressed interest in running for the top job in 2010.

By Kris Scheuer
(For update, click here.)

For political junkies, like me, elections are a fun time to be a journalist.
There’s change, drama, personality clashes, issues debated, suspense, scandals, disappointment, joy, surprise upsets, unpredictability…
Okay maybe it’s just me, but I know I am not the only one who gets excited by politics and electi
Someone back me up here and write to tell what you think.

So last night, I was at a party with a bunch of left-leaning strategists, politicians, journalists and lobbyists. I am not a card carrying member of any political party and never have been. But it so happened this evening’s party was packed with NDPers.
As I was not working this past weekend,yesterday was my first chance to officially confirm what’s been reported on Friday that Councillor Kyle Rae is out of the game. He won’t run in Toronto Centre-Rosedale in the 2010 municipal race.
I interviewed him today, so click here for a teaser of the full interview I am writing for the Town Crier and will post on my site this Thursday.
But that’s not the only story.
Today Liberal fundraiser and strategist Rocco Rossi made it official that he, along with MPP George Smitherman and councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, is running to be Toronto’s next mayor.
But that’s not all. On a range of rumour all the way to sure bet – others are set to announce their mayoralty hopes too including current city councillors: former journalist Adam Vaughan, Budget Chief Shelley Carroll, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone and TTC chair Adam Giambrone.

Don Mills condo plan rejected by city

Plan for multiple condos and $17 mil rec centre rejected by city
Developer will take case to the Ontario Municipal Board
(Originally written Oct. 2 for Town Crier.)
By Kris Scheuer and Karolyn Coorsh

SIMONE GABBAY of Don Mills Friends called the offer made by Cadillac Fairview a bribe. Photo by Kris Scheuer.

The deal is off the table. 
Cadillac Fairview has withdrawn its offer to build a $17 million community centre after council rejected the developer’s application to build a series of residential condos near Lawrence Ave. East and Don Mills Rd.
The community centre was proposed as an added benefit to phase 2 of Cadillac Fairview’s plan to redevelop the Don Mills Centre. 
The condominium buildings would range from 12-26 storeys, and bring a total of 1,387 units to the neighbourhood. 
Councillors voted 17-16 to reject the settlement offer at council on Oct. 1, also defeating the application itself.
Area councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong ultimately voted against it, saying the residential plans are too dense, an opinion the city planners working on the application shared. 
“I don’t agree that we should look at this as simply getting a community centre,” he said during council debate on the matter. “This is first and foremost a planning application that will define Don Mills for years to come so we need to get it right.”

Toronto’s next mayor will be…

Here’s a prelim list of people who are rumoured for the job
Mayor David Miller won’t run in 2010, so who will?
By Kris Scheuer
(See Dec. 16 update)

Everyone wants to be Toronto’s next mayor. A week ago day, Mayor David Miller announced he will not run again in next year’s election.
Since then it seems half of council and a handful of outside candidates have mused about running.
As a city hall reporter, here the unofficial list (no one can register until Jan.4) of who I have heard may run or people who have already indicated their interest:
Current councillors Shelley Carroll, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Adam Vaughan, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Giorgio Mammoliti, Karen Stintz, Adam Giambrone.
Other candidates not at city hall now include former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, Toronto-Centre MPP George Smitherman, former Ontario PC leader John Tory, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow, former city councillor Jane Pitfield.

Who will be next Toronto mayor?

Mayor David Miller won’t run in next election, he announced today
Here’s a list of early possible contenders for 2010 mayoralty race
By Kris Scheuer
(Join the debate below, see update here.)

I attended David Miller’s press conference at 10 am today when he declared he won’t seek a third term as Toronto’s mayor.
For that story, click here.
In the hours that followed myself and colleague Karolyn Coorsh heard about a number of possible candidates for mayor. Keep in mind that we spoke to just a handful of politicians and strategists, so this is just an initial list of contenders. And the next city election is 14 months away.
Tell me if you would vote for any of them or would like to see someone else run instead.
Possible Toronto mayoralty candidates for 201o that were mentioned to me and fellow Town Crier reporter Karolyn today. Keep in mind these names were told to us as possibilities only. No one has officially thrown their hat in the ring, yet.