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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Ford’s team: roles for Shiner, Carroll

Councillor David Shiner in Mayor’s Ford inner circle
While Councillor Shelley Carroll to make her own way
Kris Scheuer
(Written Dec 4 for Town Crier)

Councillor Shelley Carroll.

There’s been a reversal of fortunes for North York representatives Shelley Carroll and David Shiner on city council.
Shiner, who complained of being sidelined under former mayor David Miller, was chosen in early December by Mayor Rob Ford to be on the 13-member executive team.
Meanwhile, Carroll who was budget chief and a member of Miller’s inner circle, was not among the new mayor’s picks for key council roles.
Although Carroll does not paint herself as an opposition member to Ford, she said those with differing views can still have influence at city hall.
“You have to ask the opposition to Miller if it had an impact, but I’d say very much so,” Carroll said. “You could be outside the mayor’s circle and have an impact and oppose things and amend (proposals).”

David Raines Ward 33 candidate

Raines takes on Shelley Carroll in Don Valley East
Kris Scheuer
(Written June 4 for Town Crier.)

Photo courtesy of David Raines.

David Raines thinks it’s time for a change in local representation in Ward 33 so he’s applying for the job.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few years,” says the Don Valley East council candidate, who’s thrown his hat into the political ring, alongside incumbent councillor, Shelley Carroll.
“The last two years, I’ve seen how the city has been going raising taxes on everything.”
He said one way to keep taxes down is to partner more with private businesses.
“For example, the TTC can partner with private enterprise say, on sponsorship of a station,” said Raines. “That could be looked at.”
His father had a courier business in Toronto, so he learned about business from the ground up, he said, and he had his own security business that taught him how to budget and pay attention to the bottom line.
He said he’s gone through the city’s 2010 budget line by line.

Bell cancels North York cell tower

Plans for backyard cell tower abandoned
But Bell looks for new site in the surrounding area
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier May 6.)

L-R: William Marlatt, wife Lee, 1-year-old son and neighbour Wilfred McOstrich want proposed cell phone tower moved. Photo by Francis Crescia.

William Marlatt is pleased Bell Canada has abandoned plans for a 40-metre high cell phone tower steps from his infant son’s bedroom.
Marlatt, who with neighbour Wilfred McOstrich started what they call the Anti-Bell Coalition, gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition and encouraged residents to fight the proposal.
Bell had planned to erect cell phone tower at 4800 Leslie St., but has since backed down.
“It appears Bell has gone back to the drawing board,” Marlatt said May 3. “I am elated and grateful for all the neighbours who wrote emails and correspondence to various levels of government.”

Residents fight cell phone tower

North Yorkers want proposed cell tower stopped
Leslie St location to close to infant’s bedroom: residents
By Kris Scheuer
(Written March 31 for Town Crier. UPDATE HERE.)

Cell phone tower similar to this is proposed backing onto residential area.

William Marlatt views a proposed 40 metre cell phone tower as a health threat to his young family.
The planned Bell Canada tower would be located at 4800 Leslie St. in the parking lot of a medical building that backs onto Marlatt’s condo townhouse.
If the tower is approved by Industry Canada, it will be located less than 12 meters from the bedroom where Marlatt’s one-year-old son sleeps.
“There’s health risks associated with telecommunications towers. It shoots out electro magnetic wave lengths that’s showering down on the neighbourhood below for two kilometres,” Marlatt said. “It’s a nightmare.”
Not so, Bell spokesperson Julie Smithers told the Town Crier.
“Bell operates thousands of cell phone towers across Canada and they all meet or greatly exceed requirements by the federal government,” she said. “If there are concerns, residents can contact Industry Canada or Health Canada.”

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’s next mayor

Who will you vote for when there may be over 40 candidates?
Major players, fringe candidates, unknown names, up-and comers
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated Feb. 5. Frequent updates here.)

Mayor David Miller not seeking re-election in 2010. Who should be the next to run the city?

Who will be the city’s next mayor? As of Feb. 5, two dozen candidates have signed up.
I have started the ball rolling with some who have expressed interest.
Let me know if there are others who you see running or think should run for the city’s top political job.
As well in my eight years writing about politics, I’d say there are two categories of candidates, well maybe four. I will let you decide where you think the mayoralty candidates belong in these categories…
But first  the contenders.
The serious and well known so called “front runners”. These are higher profile candidates.
So far MPP George Smitherman, Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, and Liberal strategist and fundraiser Rocco Rossi, Councillor Joe Pantalone, Councillor Adam Giambrone have announced they will all run for mayor.
Others who were considering and would have been frontrunner but decided against it are Conservative leader John Tory, current city councillors Adam Vaughan and Shelley Carroll.

Here are a couple of the lesser known people planning to run for mayor…
JP Pampena is running. So what does he stand for? Well check out his site for the full scoop. But here are two of his ideas: set up a Public Expense Registry so we can keep track of how city hall spends our money and try to reduce Toronto’s land transfer tax for first time buyers. It’s my recollection first time buyers are exempt already from this tax.
John Letonja wrote me at the end of September to say he’s running for mayor and he is registered.

Now my perspective on the different categories of candidates. This is an observation having interviewed dozens and dozens of candidates in elections at all levels of government in the past seven years.

Strike saved city 33 million

How should city use the savings?
What’s your wish list: rebates or spend on services?
(Written Oct. 6 for Town Crier. Oct. 26 UPDATE.)

You remember the 39-day strike this summer? At the time I wrote this, city figures stated the government saved $33.1 million during the labour unrest.
So what should be done with this money?
The main three options for the city are to issue rebate cheques to residents, use it for specific programs or fold the windfall into general revenues. My preference is to use some of the money to bring down a planned garbage rate hike and if that’s not possible then instead put the millions towards balancing the 2010 budget. But I’d want to know how the money was specifically spent.

Shelley Carroll may run for mayor

Bid for city’s top job isn’t certain
But councillor Carroll says she’ll be on the ballot in 2010
By Kris Scheuer and Karolyn Coorsh
(Written  Oct. 6 for Town Crier. Update here.)

Whether it be for mayor or councillor, Shelley Carroll will be on the ballot for 2010.

One thing is for certain: North York councillor Shelley Carroll is running in next year’s municipal election.
The Don Valley East rep is contemplating whether to seek re-election in Ward 33 or jump into the race for mayor.
The budget chief said she’ll make a decision before the end of the year.
“I am running for council if nothing else,” Carroll said from her city hall office. “I do have to think about the mayor’s office.”

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.