Baby Point heritage district push

Residents want area’s heritage protected
Kris Scheuer
(Written Feb. 18 for Town Crier.)

Baby Point resident Dr. Robert Galway wants a heritage district in his community. Photo by Karolyn Coorsh/Town Crier.

Robert Galway stands on the street on a chilly but sunny Sunday morning staring at what appears to be a makeshift hockey rink.
Actually, it’s the former location of a stately home in the Baby Point neighbourhood, a house that up until recently stood next door to the one-time residence of Maple Leafs’ fabled owner Conn Smythe.
Until Nov. 30 when bulldozers drove in, the makeshift “hockey rink” was an Arts and Crafts-style home, built in the 1920s.
Months ago, when the owners of 66 Baby Point Rd. applied to the city for a demolition permit, it was granted.
It should not have been, Galway contends.
Once a hobby, protecting these Baby Point homes has now become a mission for Galway, a longtime resident of the area.
Concerned his Toronto neighbourhood could be vulnerable to developers, Galway is attempting to make Baby Point a heritage conservation district.

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Howard Moscoe not seeking re-election

Veteran city councillors will withdraw Sept 1
Moscoe endorsing candidate Josh Colle
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug. 31 for Town Crier.)

Councillor Howard Moscoe is calling it quits after 31 years in politics. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier file.

It’s official. Veteran Councillor Howard Moscoe is withdrawing from the Ward 15 race.
“It’s true,” he told the Town Crier this afternoon. “I decided a few weeks ago.”
He sent out a newsletter to his community today announcing his retirement.
“It’s not that I don’t love the job,” said Moscoe. “I’ve been in public office for 31 years.”
Moscoe has represented at least some section of Eglinton-Lawrence’s Ward 15 that entire time.
Currently there are six candidates (Moscoe, Rob Davis, Ron Singer,William Reitsma, Giuseppe Pede and Josh Colle) registered in Ward 15. Moscoe said that he will be formally withdrawing Sept. 1.

Briar Hill school could close

North Toronto elementary school’s enrollment declining
Parents vow to defeat closure recommendation
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier April 22.)

Briar Hill parent Carmen Moscarello and son Matthew fighting to keep school open. Photo by Karolyn Coorsh/Town Crier.

Briar Hill parent Carmen Moscarello isn’t ready to say goodbye to her child’s elementary school.
But if a report on the future of three schools in the Dufferin and Eglinton area is adopted by the Toronto school board in June, she may have to.
An Accommodation Review Committee report is recommending closing Briar Hill, expanding nearby Fairbank Middle School from JK to grade 8, and keeping West Prep Junior School as JK to grade 6.
Briar Hill is facing closure because of declining enrollment at the JK to grade 5 school. The 1927-built facility has a capacity for 265 students but only about 147 kids are enrolled there.
An attached minority report by committee members and Briar Hill parents Julie McFayden and Paul Dover doesn’t support closing the school.
Board staff will make its own recommendations and the issue will go for a board vote at the end of June, but in the meantime, parents like Moscarello are fuming at the mere suggestion of closure.

Bloor West Village bike lane study

Survey shows shoppers & businesses support bike lanes
Study indicates even if parking removed, support is strong
Some local businesses not a fan of losing parking
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 19)

Study floats idea of bike lanes on Bloor West. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

A controversial new survey of businesses and shoppers in Toronto’s Bloor West Village shows a willingness to sacrifice street parking to make room for bike lanes or expanded sidewalks.
The study, undertaken by bike lane supporters the Clean Air Partnership, indicates the majority of the 510 visitors surveyed either walk or take transit to shop in the busy commercial hub on Bloor Street West, between Kennedy Avenue and Jane Street. In total 47 percent of shoppers in the area walk to their destination while 24 percent said they take transit, 21 percent drive and five percent cycle.

Toronto Centre byelection Murray wins

Liberal Glen Murray voted in as next MPP tonight
NDP Cathy Crowe comes second, PC Pam Taylor third
By Kris Scheuer and Matthew Cohen
(Written Feb. 4 for Town Crier.)

Newly elected Toronto-Centre MPP Glen Murray gets congratulated by his mother Mary and Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

The Liberals are two-for-two in Toronto byelections after Glen Murray was chosen to replace George Smitherman in Toronto Centre.
Murray won handily, taking 47 percent of the popular vote with all the polls reporting. His total was just below the 47.85 percent Smitherman received during the 2007 general election.

Sandra Bussin to seek re-election

Councillor Bussin plans to run again in Beaches East York
Toronto Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher already registered
By Kris Scheuer and Karolyn Coorsh
(Written Jan. 14 for Town Crier newspaper.)

Councillor Sandra Bussin will register for re-election in ward 32.

She may be in no hurry to formally register but make no mistake: Beaches-East York councillor Sandra Bussin is seeking re-election in her ward this year.
“Yes, I will be registering sometime in the future,” the ward 32 rep said in an interview at a Danforth Avenue restaurant. “There are a number of projects I am still interested in pursuing.”
One of the issues dear to her heart is ensuring incineration was not brought back to Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant.
In December, she successfully had council remove a certificate for approval for incineration at the treatment plant. This means burning the residue from water treatment is no longer an option as part of the approved Biosolids Master Plan, said Bussin.
She would like to be back to steer the completion of the Beach Skateboard Park and the new TTC streetcar storage and repair facility at Leslie Street and Lakeshore Boulevard.
She hasn’t decided on an election strategy yet.
“Every campaign is different,” she said. “Something (always) happens where there’s a new challenge of some sort.”

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.”

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.

Miller won’t seek re-election in 2010

Mayor David Miller announces today he won’t run in next election
Wants to spend more time with wife Jill and their kids Julia and Simon
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Sept. 25 for Town Crier.)

David Miller at the Zhong Mua Men Archway opening on Sept. 12. He won't run for a third term as mayor.

The race for mayor is now wide open.
Mayor David Miller announced today he won’t run for re-election in 2010, saying his family played a big part in his decision.
“I will not be seeking a third term as mayor of Toronto,” Miller said with his wife Jill Arthur, son Simon and daughter Julia by his side.
“Both my children were born after I was first elected in 1994,” he said at his city hall office.
“If I were to be re-elected in 2010 and serve until 2014, my daughter would be in university and my son would be about to graduate from high school.”
After his re-election in 2006, Miller made a private decision not to run again in 2010, though he had considered a third run for mayor. 
He met last week with his core campaign team, including John Laschinger and Patrick Gossage. 
“They were excited about the campaign, confident about my record and a message we would present to the people of Toronto,” Miller said. “But after that meeting, I consulted with my family and decided I had to make this announcement today.