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.

Councillor Pam McConnell and her assistant met for a full 2 hours on Oct 8, with approximately 15 residents who live in Cabbagetown South. (It seems that a strong, well organized residents association can have sufficient influence to warrant regular attention from the city councillor.)

More than an hour was spent discussing problems with the new recycling and garbage bins.  Pam suggested that front-yard storage of these bins was unsightly, and if a resident has no other storage option, then they should quality for bag pickup instead, if requested.  Several attendees complained about trespassers (persons coming into a private backyard or front porch, to search their bins for deposit-return bottles).  It was suggested that once winter snowbanks have accumulated, our narrowed sidewalks will be impassible when cluttered with bins; Pam doesn’t believe bins will be any problem in the winter.

Meeting attendees complained about other problems, which are similar to those encountered by Trefann residents:  the poor state of repair of their potholed streets, garbage dumped in parks not cleaned up for several days, poor maintenance of individual houses owned by TCHC.  Seven “police surveillance” cameras were installed in the Dundas Street East and Sherbourne Street area (51 Division) for a 6-month pilot (Nov 2007 - April 2008); meeting attendees thought the level of prostitution and drug dealing had increased, now that the cameras have been removed.  If a neighbourhood identifies a location where illegal activity frequently occurs, it will be added to the “directed patrols” list (ie. police will drive by that location several times each day).  Pam mentioned that the police are currently preparing their new business plan.  Cabbagetown South lamented that they no longer get a small financial donation from the city’s film liaison office, as happened in the past.

The sign at Jessie’s (Centre for Teenagers) was recently changed to the June Callwood Centre (for Women and Families); see their website for details.

A local “photo opportunity” Aug 22 for our city councillor Pam McConnell (and also for the new boss at Police 51 Division, Superintendent Kimberley Greenwood): the unveiling of an attractively landscaped pie-shaped piece of land immediately north of the crosswalk at Shuter + Sumach. The garden and grass area are approximately 1400 square feet and cost $35,000. Lots of police in attendance at this ribbon-cutting ceremony, including at least 2 constables equipped with Tasers (fortunately, the small crowd was well behaved).

More pictures …

Previously, a larger garden was built just north of here, in the spring of 2006: “a memorial flower garden for people killed in Regent Park. The garden was created and is tended by community leaders in Regent Park, with the involvement of youth who are at risk of becoming involved in crime and violence.”

Now, if only the city could be prodded to make similar landscaping improvements at other nearby TCHC properties, such as the fence and gardens surrounding Moss Park Apartments, those residents could similarly “take pride” in their neighbourhood.

Toronto wants everyone - downtowners as well as suburbanites - to use large wheeled bins for recyclables, garbage (and eventually, a 3rd large bin for organic waste). This plan was approved in June 2007, but until recently, no recognition that “big bins” might not be feasible in downtown neighbourhoods. In early January, the city made a rushed attempt to force acceptance of the bins: a brochure giving Trefann Court residents 10 days to choose a bin size, no small bins (only medium, large, or jumbo), large bin by default, information meetings only a few days before the deadline for ordering bins. After considerable opposition, the City’s only compromise for Ward 28 is a “one bin pilot”: use the same bin for garbage and recyclables, on alternate weeks.

No one likes being lied to by their government. The city’s stated rationale for the bins is to “increase recycling”; not mentioned are the real benefits:
1) mechanized garbage collection (use hoists to lift and empty these bins into the garbage truck), and
2) user-pay “garbage fees” (starting in Nov) set at an amount to ensure extra revenue for the city

Objections have been voiced on the Urban Toronto discussion board:
- large bins will occupy lots of sidewalk space, making it difficult for persons in wheelchairs or pushing a stroller to get by
- challenge of manoeuvring bins around snow banks and parked cars

The newspapers have reported on the controversy with these big bins.
- In a Jan 20 article in the Toronto Sun, it was suggested that one motivation for the bins is to “pay back the CUPE unions for supporting Mayor David Miller in the 2006 election”.
- And on March 25, the Sun asked whether the entire exclusive Cabbagetown area had been granted an exemption from having to use these big bins ?

Toronto Star articles:
Jan 8 (includes a video),
Jan 26 - reasons from the city why bag collection would be problematic,
Jan 29 - suggests that residents revolt, similar to 1773 Boston Tea Party,
Jan 30 - where Mayor Miller asserts that for downtown residents, the new bins are “easier for people to use”,
Feb 8 - estimated garbage fees, now more than anticipated,
Feb 13 - suggests garbage collection fee might be “extra City revenue”, not just a “user-pay fee” calculated to cover costs, and
Feb 22 - challenges of proposed bins for Ward 19

• “They are too damn big. They won’t fit between most houses. There isn’t room for them on most porches. They are too damn heavy. Empty they are cumbersome, full they are dead weights – even with their wheels. …Forget getting one that’s loaded down steps. They’re too damn ugly. Considering that most of them will be left parked in front of houses, they’ll lend a slummy tone to even the most pretentious streetscapes.” (Slinger, Jan 29)
• “Last June, they said the plan would net about $54 million extra. Now, they’ve increased the take to $74 million and rising. Soon, garbage fees will be covering any municipal budgets costs a mayor wants to hide.” (Royson James, Feb 13)

Hopefully some creative thinking and co-operation among downtown residents associations can produce some viable alternatives to these monster bins, that will still achieve our recycling goals.

(Updated to add links to Feb 22 and March 25 newspaper reports.)

A federal by-election for our riding (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) is planned for March 17. The Liberal Party has nominated former Ontario NDP Premier Bob Rae. Activist El-Farouk Khaki is running for the NDP and Chris Tindal is the Green Party of Canada candidate. Zeeshan Baig is running for the Rhinos.The nominated Conservative candidate in the byelection, Mark Warner, was dropped by the party’s national council on October 31, 2007. Don Meredith was nominated as the Conservative candidate in December.

Consult Wikipedia and Elections Canada for more details.

Here is the Xmas greeting we sent to Councillor McConnell. During the fall of 2007, dog owners in the Shuter-Sumach park were being unfairly hassled by city inspectors, even when dogs were on leash. Hopefully the city won’t be hassling Trefann Court-area dog owners during 2008.

Ever wonder where the City gets the money for the historic light fixtures which have appeared at random throughout Corktown during the past few years? Section 37 money of course (if you want, call it a “bribe” for extra density). The historic light fixtures are “nice”, but maybe the City could use the money for more basic items (like keeping our Community Centres open on Mondays).
Anyways, courtesy of the developers of a 19-storey (272 unit) residential building planned for 406 Adelaide Street East (1 block E of Sherbourne), the City will get:

• $85,000.00 toward improvements of a nearby laneway (any leftover funds for Heritage Lighting)
• an additional $245,000.00 for Heritage Lighting Program for the King-Parliament Community Improvement Area

(At the upcoming Nov 27 Community Council, the rezoning application for 406 Adelaide East will be considered.)

For your web-surfing pleasure, here are some links related to the provincial election on Oct 10. Candidates for the Toronto Centre riding (according to Elections Ontario):

• DANISH AHMED Party for People with Special Needs
• JOHAN BOYDEN Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)
• PHILIP FERNANDEZ Independent
• SANDRA GONZÁLEZ New Democratic Party of Ontario
• MICHAEL GREEN Ontario Libertarian Party
• GARY LEROUX Independent
• MIKE McLEAN The Green Party of Ontario
• GEORGE SMITHERMAN Ontario Liberal Party
• PAMELA TAYLOR Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

The Toronto Star’s profile of our riding lists a 10th candidate not shown in the Elections Ontario website: NICHOLAS CARVALHO Family Coalition. Wikipedia provides some useful riding background; Eye Weekly and Inside Toronto have profiled our riding. This Liberal blogger seems confident; here is another prediction. And another election blogger.
Upcoming all-candidates meetings:

• Thursday, September 27: Regent Park, Regent Park Community Recreational Centre. 6 – 9 pm
• Monday, October 1, Grand Ballroom, Sutton Place Hotel, Bay & Wellesley. 7 - 9pm
• Tuesday, October 2: ABC Residents’ Association, Haliconian Club (Hazelton, just north of Yorkville Avenue, east side). 8 pm
• Thursday, October 4: St Lawrence Neighbourhood and Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Associations and BIA St Lawrence Neighbourhood, St Lawrence Market North. 7 – 9 pm
• Friday, October 5: St James Town Safety Committee, Saint Simon-the-Apostle Church, 525 Bloor Street East or 40 Howard Street. 7 – 9 pm

Spacing provides extensive election coverage. Here is some neutral, “pro-MMP” and “con-MMP” information about the election reform referendum, which also happens Oct 10.

As reported this week in the Toronto Star (”Doctors exploit addicts to milk OHIP” and “Methadone rules tightened“), and in a news release on the MoH website, the March 2007 “Methadone Maintenance Treatment Practices Task Force” is now publicly available.

If you want, you can read or print the entire report (146 pages, 2.34 Mb, PDF format), but you cannot electronically copy selected text (eg. to quote sections of the report in an email). Seems like a silly limitation and missue of technology by the MoH.

Corktown was acknowledged in the report for “hosting a local community consultation” (although, to date, CRBA hasn’t been compensated for those meeting expenses, as promised by the task force). The 7 page executive summary opens with a quote from George Smitherman, when he spoke at that Jan 24 meeting. (At that time, George promised to promptly return to Corktown to discuss this completed report - also not done.)

The report’s executive summary included the following, which seem to be the main concerns of Corktown residents:
- “Integrating MMT practices into communities is generally not well done.” (page vi).
- “Some opportunities for improvement [in public accountability by overseeing professionals] ” (page vi)

In its press release, the province has promised some money to:
- develop best practice guidelines for nurses, counsellors and pharmacists
- enhance enforcement of best practice guidelines and quality assurance initiatives
- develop a resource guide to assist in the proper introduction of MMT into local communities
- increase awareness in communities about the value of methadone maintenance treatment

Those are all nice sounding buzzwords, although it remains unclear how the report’s recommendations (or the province’s promises) will reduce the negative impacts that the large volume methadone clinic at 431 King East has on the surrounding Corktown community.