The July 21 Toronto Star reprinted a chart showing the capacity of existing and planned temporary garbage dumps in Toronto. Throughout most of the city, dumps in parks are limited to paved areas (to limit leaching of nasty toxins into the ground). However, in Moss Park, the city plans to use every square foot of the park, if necessary (107 x 122 meters). Moss Park’s capacity for garbage is listed at 3,500 tonnes, substantially larger than any other site, and more than twice as large as the Sunnyside Park site. Dog walkers, soccer and baseball players who use Moss Park - speak up now (or suffer the health consequences in 6-12 months’ time. Bravo to Councillor Kyle Rae and Pam McConnell for protecting the interests of their constituents. Why doesn’t the city use the large paved area it owns at 100 Queen W, as a temporary downtown garbage site?

Councillor McConnell spent a full hour talking at last night’s Corktown meeting.  She is a member of the city’s Labour Relations Committee, and so is involved in strike negotiations (although, according to today’s Toronto Star, that “committee hasn’t met since before the strike began June 22″). Pam McConnell said “any solution must be affordable”, and then followed up by defending the 2009 cost of living increase to City Councillors (but not to non-union staff), as “a good system”.  Pam’s personal website has daily updates on the strike, including alternative children’s programmes.

As an update to the June 23 meeting, Pam mentioned there is money available for the proposed dog park on the Power - Richmond - Adelaide “triangle” of land, although Build Toronto now controls this land, and needs to be convinced this land is not develop-able for any other purpose.  Pam assured residents that the Shuter-Sumach park will not revert to “dogs prohibited”, and explained the Parks Dept process for applying for “leash free status”.  She was unsure whether this park would qualify, due to minimum size requirements, or inadequate distance separating dogs from childrens’ area.

The meeting finished with the usual complaints about negative impacts of homeless persons, drug dealing and prostitution; too bad that Corktown or Trefann residents’ associations aren’t sufficiently large enough or well organized to actually hold the Councillor and police accountable to ensure city programs such as Parks Ambassador, regular police foot and bike patrols, Streets to Homes, actually lead to sustained noticable improvements in our area.

Meeting attendance was typical:  8 board members, 4 guest speakers, maybe 1 member (and 5 non-members). Like most Corktown meetings, this one lacked an efficient chairperson.  The first speaker droned on for 40 minutes about the Sept 29 marathon, when 5 minutes would have sufficed:  there will be a “cheering section” at Parliament + Front, available for local residents, to cheer for marathon runners.

The 2009 picnic is planned for July 12  @ 1-3pm (raindate:  July 19).  As always, it is potluck; bring some delicious food.

A wonderful thing has happened in Trefann.

Since the start of the City Workers strike, many neighbours and friends have come out and cleaned our little community. Walking up Sumach street, it is not unusual to see a few people out on the street, picking up litter, offering to drive their neighbours’ garbage to a transfer station, sweeping up sidewalks, laneways and driveways. Strolling along Shuter and Tracy Streets, you see the same thing happening. Neighbours helping each other and keeping Trefann clean and tidy.

Last evening, one resident went so far as to transport their ‘ride-upon’ lawn mower down from their cottage and mowed the entire grass area of Stinky’s Park. He did this so the rest of the community could continue enjoying our park.

His actions have motivated others to organize a small ‘clean-up’ party this weekend. We have transport to the transfer station. We have donated garbage bags. We have the will to see this strike through.

I know I’ll be there and hope to see you too.