Post Election Blues

Election Results - SO WHAT NOW?

In Ward 18 -

As with every election, no matter who wins, I always notice a bizarre feeling of "Is this real?" after the results are in. For those who lost - and expected to win - like Kevin Beaulieu, the shock and grief is understandable. For those who won, there is always the same degree of shock, just in a different direction.

Ana Bailao won big. She campaigned hard and long and had everything going for her. Despite that, the sneaky tricks, primarily by her campaign, stood out in the last week of the election. I have no doubt she exceeded maximum campaign limits (just by looking at the glossy literature that hit my mailbox all year). I have no doubt she had her election signs up (slightly) early. I have no doubt she engineered and authored supposedly neutral stories in the Portugese only media, and probably exceeded expense limits here too (you are supposed to claim for value of offered goods and services). But then, all those questionable tactics have always been the trademark of big Liberal party politics in Davenport, so were they Ana's doing or did it just come with the territory of her backers? It will be interesting to se if anything comes of these anti-democratic tactics through the normal channels of Toronto Election services.

Despite the tactics, Ana won big. Her shock is likely of the "Oh my God, I won! This is serious!" variety and I hope it sits with her throughout her time on council so that she is constantly thinking - "Now I have to live up to my promises and represent ALL my constituents". The absolute worst thing Ana could do would be to cater to her big development dollar donors and/or her ethnic Portugese community.

REALITY:
* 75% of the ward is NOT Portugese. Our City Councillor must represent ALL of ward 18
* Everyone in the ward is concerned about getting the right kind of development, 100% of the ward wants in on community consultation and real input BEFORE things happen in the ward.
* There are several disparate lobby groups of special interests in the ward: cyclists, artists, BIA's, self-defined resident groups - and the as-always forgotten margianlized poor, homeless and hungry. Ward 18 is complex and will need a careful hand to achieve all the compromises necessary.

For those that came in as 'also-rans', the loss was likely expected, or should have been. Media defined the race as a two person, two party one the moment Kevin Beaulieu announced his intention to run on April 13, after his former boss Adam Giambrone had self-destructed in the mayoral race and finally decided not to run again in ward 18. So for the last 7 months the writing was on the wall for all to see.

Still, we should all ask what will become of the 'also-rans', 90% of whom made a serious try at campaigning. At the 8 meetups and debates, they all offered differing ideas to improve the ward as well as cemented the unifying theme of more and better community consultation. They exhibited their various skills and abilities, which would be a shame and loss to the ward if they all did not continue to contribute to improving the quality 0f life in the community.

Frank de Jong, the Green Party candidate will likely take a run again at the provincial MPP race expected in just under a year, so we can probably count on his staying involved.
Hema Vyas although living within walking distance of ward 18 constantly told us she cared for and was involved in the ward 18 community. She came with impressive cultural and non-profit credentials. Will we see her just as active post-election?
Joe MacDonald promised us he would not be a career politician and came with impressive academic and insider political experience. Hw will he stay involved in ward 18 life?
Kirk Russell stayed very much in the centre of discovering and bringing to light alleged and real infractions of electioneering by the two front-runners. He had some extremely detailed and well-researched ideas about traffic that bears further consideration by those now in power. How will he stay involved?
Nha Le, the perennial election campaigner and supporter of the big Liberal party machine is nothing if not persistent in trying to be involved in ward18 politics. Will he be of use to Ana as he has been to Tony Ruprecht? Is he just a Liberal hanger-on or will he contribte to ward 18?
Doug Carroll was an eloquent and ideas driven person, even if those ideas did not resonate within the ward. Will his interest in city governance continue and be listened to by Ana?
Ken Wood, Mohammed Muhit, Joanna Teliatnik and Abdirazak Elmi - how will they be involved in future ward 18 life, if at all? Time will tell.

I hope Ana Bailao continues to read my blog and considers seriously her promise of better and real community consultation. She has been quoted as saying "Now the work begins". If she doesn't govern well, the next election results could be very different, yet again.

Remember: Davenport Deserves Better.... Will We Get It?

TREE SAVER KEN BECOMES DOG HUGGER KEN

BEAUTIFUL STRAY DOG CAUSES SCENE AT BLOOR and LANSDOWNE

About 10:30am I was having coffee at Coffee Time with some people who care about animal issues and wanting to do something to remedy the cat overpopulation problems both here and in Hamilton. We were trying to come up with humane solutions to find homes for abandoned animals, and talking about the need for mandatory spay-neuter of animals to prevent suffering, when.... THIS GUY:

(Red and white, Border Collie mix about 2 years old) goes charging down the middle of Bloor headed east, looking scared and lost. No owner in sight. Thanks to the sharp eyes of Terry and George, we were able to rescue him.

After a 4 block chase one way and then the other, we were finally able to grab him, pull him over to the sidewalk in front of the Bloordale Pantry (great food by the way) and kept him safe.

I called 311 and was impressed with their response. Within 25 minutes or so an Animal Services officer took him into custody. No collar or tag, not neutered and probably not microchipped (only sure way to protect your animals, cat or dog). He will be held pending the owner being contacted or looking for him at Toronto Animal Services. *

Note: This was not an abused dog and likely not an irresponsible owner as he was very healthy and looked well cared for. Someone said he is owned by someone in the area (I will put up posters).

I want to thank the many people who tried to help catch him (including two younbg guys who were faster than I was). You all made my day.

Guess it was just one of those "the universe puts you somewhere you're meant to be to do some good" things..... Ken Wood's Scorecard: Saved several trees, Saved one dog... (and other stuff) If nothing else happens, I can live with that.

* IF THIS IS YOUR DOG: He is being kept safe at: City of Toronto Animal Services SOUTH Region - Call 416 338 6668 ID #A568294

CITY RESPONSIVENESS IN EMERGENCIES

What St. Jamestown Teaches Us - and the Questions It Raises

Last Friday's (Sept 24) 6-alarm fire at 200 Wellesley Street, the Toronto Community Housing complex of St. Jamestown, has left over 1,200 people homeless. (Some say the figure is inaccurate and that as many as 1,700 lived there) Many of those are frail, senior citizens, disabled, suffering from mental illness or at least suffering the low income life of poverty. City emergency crews in the form of fire response and paramedics were on the scene quickly and had a very difficult time putting a fire out in an apartment bedroom on the 24th floor, rumoured to have been made worse by a hoarding individual who lived there. (Hoarding is a kind of addiction, often suffered by those on low income who gather goods others might consider trash and fill up their living spaces with the false comfort of consumerism).

HOWEVER - our city's overall response in such situations is lacking. Some have labelled the situation 'Toronto's Katrina' (in reference to mass flooding and poor official response to needy residents) - perhaps over-exaggerated, but it does put it in perspective. Displaced residents are being shuffled about in a patchwork of temporary housing and other supports, with much of the support coming from the community and not city hall.

For more background on this situation see: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/866678--dimanno-city-scrambles-as-victims-of-st-james-town-fire-remain-homeless

1. Where was our Mayor in such a significant tragedy and disaster? Providing leadership, comfort and reassurance was needed.
2. Why was there not an efficient, coordinated response? We are a city of several millions, much of us living in densely packed vertical towers.
3. Why was Toronto Community Housing (owned by the city) not proactive and prepared for such an eventuality? Fire officials say the 1968 building was up to code for that time, so had no sprinklers.So why was TCHC not active in taking measures to reduce the risk of fire there? Were there fire drills? Where was the plan for what has happened?
4. Why don't we know the exact number of people living there? 1200 or 1700?
5. Why does our city not have a master disaster plan that works?

I recall the problems the city had many years back when the 'Tent City' that had sprung up for the homeless by the lake was shut down. There was much chaos in trying to find places to put people the bulldozers had removed.

There is no excuse for our city not to be prepared for such situations. Services all over the city are disconnected and have their own 'mandate' or 'priorities' and are not properly coordinated. Toronto City Hall needs a PLAN to be ready for this in future. Surprises and disasters can happen anywhere, anytime and we must be ready... because...

PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER !

Note: On Twitter the hastag #wellesleyfire has gathered comments and information. Mayoral candidate HiMY SYeD is organizing a fundraiser for this Thursday, September 30 - 519 Church Community Centre - 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Volunteers needed.

Number One Issue: Citizen Empowerment

After many days of thinking hard about how to communicate my biggest reason for registering on February 1, 2010 to run as a candidate for City Councillor in ward 18 (Davenport), I concluded it is these two words: CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT

As someone who initially supported what appeared to be hopeful change in a too long ignored neighbourhood in the 2003 municipal election, I bet on a young Adam Giambrone. What followed was a disappointing period of inattention to ward issues, lack of consultation with or respect for constituents and a general 'If it's not about the TTC, I'm not interested' attitude from Mr. Giambrone. The ward seemed to go from being ignored by complacent city councillors to being ignored by a councillor who had a narrow focus and overarching personal ambition.

In the 2006 election, when I asked Adam why I should vote for him, he replied, "Because Mayor Miller will make me Chair of the TTC". What does that do for his constituents? (Need I say I did NOT vote for him in that election?) Mr. Giambrone's recent disasterous mayoral campaign has only reinforced my belief that he is not the person able to effect the kind of positive change I want to see in my neighbourhood.

I do not know the other candidates who have come forward to challenge for city councillor nor do I know who else will join the race. I am not a member of any particular political party or lobby group. I have no obligations to any power brokers or lobby groups (I am a free agent). I am just an ordinary citizen who wonders what it will take for other ordinary citizens in my ward to have meaningful input and impact on decisions made in their name.

CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT is what the main issue is for me.

How can we ordinary citizens become more aware of changes that affect us? How do we reach all our constituents in a ward that is effectively fractured into many different languages and have different ways of communicating (some of us have technological access, many do not). How can we participate better? How can we make government more responsive and effective? How can we each make a positive contribution?

No longer should we just put up with mediocre or self-centered representatives.

Davenport Deserves Better!