Is the Ford Honeymoon Over Yet?
After getting a few of his election campaign promises passed (cancel the Vehicle Registrtaion Tax, Cut Coouncil Office Expense Budgets and Requesting the Province to Declare the TTC an Essential Service), this meeting of the new council has some mundance and not so mundane matters to deal with.
Some fireworks should ensue when they talk about freezing (or not) Councillor pay raises, as well as what to do about funding the sinkhole that is the Pan-Am Games, and perhaps what to do about that pesky rebel Toronto Public Library Board that refuses to cut service by closing the Urban Affairs downtown branch.
* Side-note Ward 22 rookie Councillor Josh Matlow posted this on his website: ..."a 2.5 percent increase to their annual salaries. After taxes, this increase would amount to about $20 net per month."
As always, the new, improved and excellent City Hall website portal here keeps the public in the know... at least those of us who speak English and have computer savvy and the funds to afford the internet connection!
* Side Note: Another really excellent explanation of how Council works is given by Dave Meslin, a very active political geek type who presents City Council Meetings as a baseball game. Check it out!
I still wonder how my Portugese or other language speaking neighbours can be equally involved in the business of local government that so affects their daily lives. I have yet to see a Newsletter from Ana Bailao's ward 18 office in my mailbox. How many constituents are being left behind?
* By the way, HERE is a great official city weblog that tells you How to follow meetings of City Council They seem to cover eveything to get you linked up, including the live Rogers TV link. On Twitter they will be providing updates on major milestones - @torontocouncil. We will use the hashtag #tocouncil. Enjoy.
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There are a number of political geeks and city hall journalist watchers that are active with Twitter tweets like this one: @DavidNickle ...Started the morning off with the first good run of fiction writing I've had in months. Now, on to City Council for another kind of fiction.(David is Author, City Hall Reporter, Toronto Community News link (Tweet posted at 8:30am, one hour before Council meeting starts)
Another tweet: @ddale8 Council liveishtweet time! Denzil MW kicks off festivities by lauding Sen. O'Connor Blues, city high school football champs. (Daniel Dale, The Toronto Star) 9:37 am
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Monday, February 7, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Power Struggles in the Mayoral Palace
Strategic Arguments and Power Wars
Angry Dustup in Rob Ford's Office on Jan 21st. "Kouvalis is widely credited with orchestrating Ford’s convincing election win last fall but raised eyebrows with his willingness to discuss campaign dirty tricks. Pask, meanwhile, wasn’t involved in the election campaign and was brought back specifically to provide the kind of hands-on City Hall experience Kouvalis and other election staffers lacked. One friend of Pask said the tension was obvious between the two, with many of the novice chief of staff’s ideas prompting “eye-rolling” from the City Hall veteran."
Mayor's Inner Sanctum Off Limits to Public
" outgoing chief of staff Nick Kouvalis calling security to have co-worker Pask thrown out of the building."
Mayor's Damage Control Ford’s outgoing chief of staff, Nick Kouvalis seems to have provoked the incident, vehemently disagreeing with Andrew Pask, who was Mayor Ford’s executive assistant while he was a councillor, and was in a policy and council liaison role. Kouvalis is known as the campaign manager architect of Rob Ford's mayoral election win, and is strangley proud of revealing some dirty tricks he used during the campaign, including calling the CFRB John Tory show anonymously to say things he hoped would keep him out of the mayoral race.
More on What Really Happened "Reporters asked if he might return when Remtulla starts. Kouvalis: “Maybe.” Pask was seen as the insider city hall veteran who often 'rolled his eyes' at some of Nick's suggestions on how to deal with council. We can likely extrapolate that Pask was a consensus builder while Kouvalis was more into demanding obedience.
Pask on the left, Kouvalis on the right.
... well, they are both gone now.
Ford Turns into Feather Smoothing Diplomat "After riding into office as a maverick surrounded by confident outsiders, Mayor Rob Ford is turning to a respected city hall veteran to help implement an aggressive agenda of deep budget cuts and contracting-out city services. Ford confirmed Friday his new chief of staff will be Amir Remtulla, who is leaving his job as senior director of public affairs for Molson Coors Canada."
Angry Dustup in Rob Ford's Office on Jan 21st. "Kouvalis is widely credited with orchestrating Ford’s convincing election win last fall but raised eyebrows with his willingness to discuss campaign dirty tricks. Pask, meanwhile, wasn’t involved in the election campaign and was brought back specifically to provide the kind of hands-on City Hall experience Kouvalis and other election staffers lacked. One friend of Pask said the tension was obvious between the two, with many of the novice chief of staff’s ideas prompting “eye-rolling” from the City Hall veteran."
Mayor's Inner Sanctum Off Limits to Public
" outgoing chief of staff Nick Kouvalis calling security to have co-worker Pask thrown out of the building."
More on What Really Happened "Reporters asked if he might return when Remtulla starts. Kouvalis: “Maybe.” Pask was seen as the insider city hall veteran who often 'rolled his eyes' at some of Nick's suggestions on how to deal with council. We can likely extrapolate that Pask was a consensus builder while Kouvalis was more into demanding obedience.
... well, they are both gone now.
Ford Turns into Feather Smoothing Diplomat "After riding into office as a maverick surrounded by confident outsiders, Mayor Rob Ford is turning to a respected city hall veteran to help implement an aggressive agenda of deep budget cuts and contracting-out city services. Ford confirmed Friday his new chief of staff will be Amir Remtulla, who is leaving his job as senior director of public affairs for Molson Coors Canada."
I guess Amir will be the new 'damage control guy' for Mayor Ford, who still has his pitbull brother, and Councillor for his old ward, Doug Ford, to stir things up.
The Enigma That Is Rob Ford's New Chief of Staff "Enter upstage centre Amir Remtulla, returning to the municipal-politics fold after a decade as a Molson Coors executive, a Tanzanian immigrant from Flemingdon Park who rose through the ranks of Toronto and Ontario conservative politics." He will be "Stage-managing Fortress Ford". Amir is former Executive Assistant to Case Ootes and a staunch Mike Harris conservative supporter. However, even lefty Adam Vaughan has good things to say about him: "He gets the complexity of the place. … Amir's not one of those people to be a bull in a china shop. He understands it's about making the city work.”
- Tweet from goldsbie: Doug Ford preaches transparency, accountability: "It’s no one’s business what happens here or in the Mayor’s office..." http://bit.ly/fr0ULu
... Really? But scandals are so interesting to the public! And there are rumours Rob Ford is in hiding, with brother Doug and others doing all the talking to media.
Ana Bailao Having a Ruprecht Moment ?
Please - We Don't Need Another Liberal Photo-Op Queen/King
Ward18AnaBailao Ana Bailao Privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Heart & Stroke Ontario Fundraiser event yesterday. http://bit.ly/gz5MH0%20#fb
First questions" Why was Ana there at Yonge-Dundas, shouldn't it have been that area's Councillor?
Second questions: Is she being taught to have her face out there as much as possible to duplicate do-nothing MPP Liberal Tony Ruprecht's astonishing ability to get re-elected - while doing nothing?
sigh...
* Update: Met with Ana today (Sat Feb 5) at her slightly hard to find, but excellent disabled access location at the Abrigo Centre ground floor of Dufferin Mall. She said she was at the photo op because she was in her office and Heart and Stroke organizers could not find anyone else. So, she did it as a favoursince any councillor has to be seen as a representative of the city.
By the way, Ana's assistants are very personable and accessible, particularly Michael Vieira. I pointed out that I heard from more than a few sources that people are a little surprised their councillor is so reachable - a good sign.
Ward18AnaBailao Ana Bailao Privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Heart & Stroke Ontario Fundraiser event yesterday. http://bit.ly/gz5MH0%20#fb
First questions" Why was Ana there at Yonge-Dundas, shouldn't it have been that area's Councillor?
Second questions: Is she being taught to have her face out there as much as possible to duplicate do-nothing MPP Liberal Tony Ruprecht's astonishing ability to get re-elected - while doing nothing?
sigh...
* Update: Met with Ana today (Sat Feb 5) at her slightly hard to find, but excellent disabled access location at the Abrigo Centre ground floor of Dufferin Mall. She said she was at the photo op because she was in her office and Heart and Stroke organizers could not find anyone else. So, she did it as a favoursince any councillor has to be seen as a representative of the city.
By the way, Ana's assistants are very personable and accessible, particularly Michael Vieira. I pointed out that I heard from more than a few sources that people are a little surprised their councillor is so reachable - a good sign.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Is Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair Out of Control?
Police State or Civilian Oversight?
Today's meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board seems to be a particular lightning rod of how the police under Chief Bill Blair seem to be thinking they are a power unto themselves and don't have to take the Toronto Police Services Board seriously. I find it encouraging and actually surprising that the Board is asking questuions that should be asked, given that it has the same chair and a few of the same members that ignored anything that would challenge police decisions in the past.
For instance: The meeting is being televised, not a normal occurrence.
Also, the twitter world is active with tweets like this reporting on the meeting:
* Once again, you can watch the Police Board argue over sound cannons live: http://bit.ly/flHzTh goldsbie Jonathan Goldsbie The Police Board is discussing the acquisition of sound cannons and CCTV cameras left over from the G20.
* Cohen summarizes the Chief's report before the Board as, "Oh, by the way, I've bought these." goldsbie Jonathan Goldsbie
* Board member Judi Cohen says she is "shocked" that the Chief has unilaterally decided to purchase these items without consulting the Board. Jonathan Goldsbie
* Thompson: "I am not, at this point, willing to simply say with the respect to the LRAD device that I am" willing to validate its purchase. Jonathan Goldsbie* Mukherjee says that the introduction of tasers and CCTV cameras are precedents the Board can look at with regard to LRAD. Jonathan Goldsbie * Motion to ask for Chief to bring back to Board a draft policy on use of LRADs. Jonathan Goldsbie
* So, as tends to happen, the Board put some very tepid brakes on the introduction of a new tool/weapon but approved them in principle. Jonathan Goldsbie
* By which he means, the Board can't touch operational matters, but it can kind of gently poke at things by approving operational frameworks. Jonathan Goldsbie
* Nunziata's lack of institutional memory is actually leading her to ask decent questions of the Chief. (broken clock, twice a day, etc.) Jonathan Goldsbie
* Cohen: "It was very, very clear that LRADs, et., would not be purchased at any point in time." She says the Chief & Chair made secret deals. Jonathan Goldsbie
---
Here is a Weblink to the Police Services Board.
Chair = Alok Mukherjee (since 2004, term end 2013 unless reappointed again)
Vice Chair = Michael Thompson (2010-2012)
Judi Cohen, Member (2005 to June 2011), appointed by Province
Councillor Frances Nunziata, Member (2010-2012)
Councillor Chin Lee, Member (2010-2012)
Dhun Noria. Member (2010-2013), appointed by Province
---
I still wonder why the civilian oversight board still meets at Toronto Police HQ on College rather than at City Hall. Optics at very least are bad.
---
* Update: Police Board 'Shocked' Force Will Keep Sound Cannons
A police officer stands behind the Public Order Unit with a LRAD-X 100 Acoustic Communication Device (sound cannon) during a demonstration of G20 security and crowd control measures in June.
FRANK GUNN/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Today's meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board seems to be a particular lightning rod of how the police under Chief Bill Blair seem to be thinking they are a power unto themselves and don't have to take the Toronto Police Services Board seriously. I find it encouraging and actually surprising that the Board is asking questuions that should be asked, given that it has the same chair and a few of the same members that ignored anything that would challenge police decisions in the past.
For instance: The meeting is being televised, not a normal occurrence.
Also, the twitter world is active with tweets like this reporting on the meeting:
* Once again, you can watch the Police Board argue over sound cannons live: http://bit.ly/flHzTh goldsbie Jonathan Goldsbie The Police Board is discussing the acquisition of sound cannons and CCTV cameras left over from the G20.
* Cohen summarizes the Chief's report before the Board as, "Oh, by the way, I've bought these." goldsbie Jonathan Goldsbie
* Board member Judi Cohen says she is "shocked" that the Chief has unilaterally decided to purchase these items without consulting the Board. Jonathan Goldsbie
* Thompson: "I am not, at this point, willing to simply say with the respect to the LRAD device that I am" willing to validate its purchase. Jonathan Goldsbie* Mukherjee says that the introduction of tasers and CCTV cameras are precedents the Board can look at with regard to LRAD. Jonathan Goldsbie * Motion to ask for Chief to bring back to Board a draft policy on use of LRADs. Jonathan Goldsbie
* So, as tends to happen, the Board put some very tepid brakes on the introduction of a new tool/weapon but approved them in principle. Jonathan Goldsbie
* By which he means, the Board can't touch operational matters, but it can kind of gently poke at things by approving operational frameworks. Jonathan Goldsbie
* Nunziata's lack of institutional memory is actually leading her to ask decent questions of the Chief. (broken clock, twice a day, etc.) Jonathan Goldsbie
* Cohen: "It was very, very clear that LRADs, et., would not be purchased at any point in time." She says the Chief & Chair made secret deals. Jonathan Goldsbie
---
Here is a Weblink to the Police Services Board.
Chair = Alok Mukherjee (since 2004, term end 2013 unless reappointed again)
Vice Chair = Michael Thompson (2010-2012)
Judi Cohen, Member (2005 to June 2011), appointed by Province
Councillor Frances Nunziata, Member (2010-2012)
Councillor Chin Lee, Member (2010-2012)
Dhun Noria. Member (2010-2013), appointed by Province
---
I still wonder why the civilian oversight board still meets at Toronto Police HQ on College rather than at City Hall. Optics at very least are bad.
---
* Update: Police Board 'Shocked' Force Will Keep Sound Cannons
FRANK GUNN/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Sympathy for the TTC Chair
Being TTC Chair Takes Its Toll
In March 2009, Stintz came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she spent $4,500 of her councillor's office budget on voice lessons. She defended her expenditure of taxpayer's money by saying that it improves her speaking during council meetings. Some of her constituents had pointed out that she came across as speaking too fast and sounding "shrill"
Another Toronto Star story tells us that Karen Stintz is kind of a 'regular person' who cares about the TTC.
" Porter: New TTC Chair Karen Stintz cleans up"
Karen Stintz so far this year has been tasked with handling the most difficult and contentious issues facing ordinary citizens, even more so than Mayor Rob Ford.. She has to fix a number of poor decisions made by her predecessors (Miller and Giambrone), like multi-million dollar deals signed just weeks before the election: TTC will try to unravel HQ Deal and the whole Transit City debacle.
Some may say if you want such a the high profile job nd the power and status that goes with it, the troubles come with the job. However, why does Mayor Rob Ford seemingly get off the hook for the biggest, costliest piece of the Toronto city budget with the greatest citizen complaint ratios?
Then again - some political leaders sometimes need sacrificial lambs.
Meanwhile: Disgraced former ward18 City Councillor and TTC Chair Adam Giambrone takes pot shots from a safe distance in lefty Now Magazine. When oh when will this man just be gone! He has done nearly as much damage to the City of Toronto as Mike Harris.
* Update: Karen Stintz @TTCChair is active on Twitter. A few moments ago 6pm Friday she tweeted this: TTCchair Karen Stintz #TTC Complaint? Compliment? Suggestion? Call 416-393-3030 or this link If you don't like the answer you get,tell us."
Indicates to me she is at least trying to change the old TTC culture that says engineers count, moving buses from point A to Point B in Time X counts, but riders do not.
* Update: Prood from a Toronto Star article Feb 6, 2011 that the NOT-customer-friendly culture is ingrained and prevalent everywhere: DiManno: TTC drivers kick courtesy to the curb. "Too many drivers, in my experience, handle their honking big vehicles as if they were muscle cars. They intimidate motorists and pedestrians with sheer size and a presumptive right to the road. And, while some drivers are certainly pleasant and polite — I watched one on the busy Queen St. route Saturday leave his seat to help an old lady exit — a great many are, frankly, rude, thoughtless, cantankerous and easily provoked to annoyance." Too true in my experience as well. Karen Stintz has a big job and a cleanup to do. Hope she cleans up uncaring drivers like the one written about in the article.
Photo and story from The Toronto Star "Ease off on ‘essential’ and we won’t strike: TTC union"
Given the terrible press that the Toronto Transit Commission has encountered ever since Adam Giambrone, the previous TTC Chair, took control and the angry public reactions to threats of TTC fare increases and service cuts and the terrible customer service attitudes of some frontline union workers - being the person seen to be in charge of the TTC is not an attractive job, nor a healthy one in my view.
I have followed Karen Stintz for some time and although her speaking style can seem quite abrupt and off-putting, she does seem dedicated to her job and professional in how she handles it. By following photos of her since she first started on City Council in 2003, you can see the aging toll it is taking on her. She seems almost expecting negativity from the public as a given, which is sad.
Info from Wikipedia :
Karen Stintz is a city councillor inToronto, Canada. She represents Ward 16, one of two municipal wards enclosed within the federal-provincial riding of Eglinton—Lawrence. She grew up in North York. After receiving a BA from University of Western Ontario, she obtained a Master of Science degree in Journalism from Boston University and worked briefly as a journalist. Returning to school, she received a Master of Public Administration degree from Queen's University, and obtained a job in the Ontario Ministry of Health. She lives in the North Toronto neighbourhood with her husband Daryll Parisien and their two children, son Jackson, and daughter Hailey.
In the lead up to the 2003 municipal election, longtime incumbent Anne Johnston became unpopular because of her support for a controversial development project to build very tall condominium towers at the intersection of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. The development, now known as the Minto Midtown project, was appropriate for the location according to Toronto's official plan but was vigorously opposed by a local NIMBY group. No challenger was immediately obvious, and the local ratepayer organization advertised for a candidate to oppose Johnston. Stintz had no political experience other than occasionally volunteering for the Progressive Conservative Party, and she had only lived in the area for three years. With the backing of the ratepayer groups, Stintz defeated Johnston in a close race
Stintz is seen as one of the right-wing members of council, and backed John Tory for mayor. On council she has been a leader of the conservative Responsible Government Group with Case Ootes. She is a member of the both the provincial and federal Conservative parties
In March 2009, Stintz came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she spent $4,500 of her councillor's office budget on voice lessons. She defended her expenditure of taxpayer's money by saying that it improves her speaking during council meetings. Some of her constituents had pointed out that she came across as speaking too fast and sounding "shrill"
Another Toronto Star story tells us that Karen Stintz is kind of a 'regular person' who cares about the TTC.
" Porter: New TTC Chair Karen Stintz cleans up"
Karen Stintz so far this year has been tasked with handling the most difficult and contentious issues facing ordinary citizens, even more so than Mayor Rob Ford.. She has to fix a number of poor decisions made by her predecessors (Miller and Giambrone), like multi-million dollar deals signed just weeks before the election: TTC will try to unravel HQ Deal and the whole Transit City debacle.
Some may say if you want such a the high profile job nd the power and status that goes with it, the troubles come with the job. However, why does Mayor Rob Ford seemingly get off the hook for the biggest, costliest piece of the Toronto city budget with the greatest citizen complaint ratios?
Then again - some political leaders sometimes need sacrificial lambs.
Meanwhile: Disgraced former ward18 City Councillor and TTC Chair Adam Giambrone takes pot shots from a safe distance in lefty Now Magazine. When oh when will this man just be gone! He has done nearly as much damage to the City of Toronto as Mike Harris.
* Update: Karen Stintz @TTCChair is active on Twitter. A few moments ago 6pm Friday she tweeted this: TTCchair Karen Stintz #TTC Complaint? Compliment? Suggestion? Call 416-393-3030 or this link If you don't like the answer you get,tell us."
Indicates to me she is at least trying to change the old TTC culture that says engineers count, moving buses from point A to Point B in Time X counts, but riders do not.
* Update: Prood from a Toronto Star article Feb 6, 2011 that the NOT-customer-friendly culture is ingrained and prevalent everywhere: DiManno: TTC drivers kick courtesy to the curb. "Too many drivers, in my experience, handle their honking big vehicles as if they were muscle cars. They intimidate motorists and pedestrians with sheer size and a presumptive right to the road. And, while some drivers are certainly pleasant and polite — I watched one on the busy Queen St. route Saturday leave his seat to help an old lady exit — a great many are, frankly, rude, thoughtless, cantankerous and easily provoked to annoyance." Too true in my experience as well. Karen Stintz has a big job and a cleanup to do. Hope she cleans up uncaring drivers like the one written about in the article.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Affordable Housing Committee
AFFORDABLE HOUSING -
Definitely NOT There Yet
Chair: Ana Bailao, ward18 Davenport
Vice-Chair: Mark Grimes, ward6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Members:
- Maria Augimeri, ward9 York Centre
- Michelle Berardinetti, ward35 Scarborough Southwest
- Vincent Crisanti, ward1 Etobicoke North
- Joe Mihevc, ward 21 St. Paul's
The Affordable Housing Committee oversees the activities of the Affordable Housing Office. These activities include directing federal and provincial government investments in new affordable rental and ownership housing in partnership with private and non-profit developers. They also include delivering federal funds to repair and modify the homes of low-and-modest income seniors, disabled persons and families. The committee also facilitates the implementation of Housing Opportunities Toronto, the City's 10-year affordable housing action plan. Weblink for more info, schedules, etc
Weblink to overview briefing given at Feb 2, 2011 meeting.
Briefing Highlights:
* 23% or 216,070 households live in housing that is too small, in need of repairs or is too expensive
* 45% of residents rent. Much of Toronto's rental housing is aging and needs repair.
* Vacancy rates have dropped from 3.1% to 2.2% since last year, meaning 5,532 apartments out of 254,555 were vacant
* Average rents for a bachelor, one-, two-and three bedroom apartments are $ 778, $ 950, $ 1135 and $ 1346
* There are currently 76,549 households on the wait list for subsidized housing. In Toronto, there are 99,047 social housing units
* Population Projections: Increase from 2.6 to 2.9 million people by 2020 with more seniors (103,120), children (39,870) and working-age people (122,580).
* Related Story: Data Bank a One Stop Trove of GTA, Regional Housing Stats brings together up-to-date statistics regarding housing, poverty and population trends...The data are compiled from Statistics Canada information, municipal data and reports from the non-profit and development sectors, and provide a comprehensive picture of housing needs in the City of Toronto as well as the surrounding regions of Halton, Durham, Peel, and York...“There isn’t an area in Toronto that doesn’t have the need for more affordable housing.” ...Some other info:
* By 2036, the region's population is expected to grow to 9.1 million (over half of Ontario's population) and be home to an increasing number of seniors, new immigrants, young families and working-age people.
* Toronto's Street Needs Assessment 2009 estimated there were 5,086 homeless people in the City on April;
* Food banks served an average of 85,881 people per month in 2009...Housing is the largest expense for most people who use food banks. Some clients are paying up to 68% of income on shelter...
* almost one in five households (322,415) continue to struggle with finding and keeping an affordable home
* In 2006, some 26% of owners and 46% of renters were spending 30% or more of their income on shelter.
---
Greater Toronto Summit meeting will be held in Toronto next week, Feb. 10 and 11, "a gathering of some of the city’s top thinkers and most influential figures. Weblink info
---
There is STILL no National Housing Strategy for Canada at the federal level.
Definitely NOT There Yet
Chair: Ana Bailao, ward18 Davenport
Vice-Chair: Mark Grimes, ward6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
Members:
- Maria Augimeri, ward9 York Centre
- Michelle Berardinetti, ward35 Scarborough Southwest
- Vincent Crisanti, ward1 Etobicoke North
- Joe Mihevc, ward 21 St. Paul's
The Affordable Housing Committee oversees the activities of the Affordable Housing Office. These activities include directing federal and provincial government investments in new affordable rental and ownership housing in partnership with private and non-profit developers. They also include delivering federal funds to repair and modify the homes of low-and-modest income seniors, disabled persons and families. The committee also facilitates the implementation of Housing Opportunities Toronto, the City's 10-year affordable housing action plan. Weblink for more info, schedules, etc
Weblink to overview briefing given at Feb 2, 2011 meeting.
Briefing Highlights:
* 23% or 216,070 households live in housing that is too small, in need of repairs or is too expensive
* 45% of residents rent. Much of Toronto's rental housing is aging and needs repair.
* Vacancy rates have dropped from 3.1% to 2.2% since last year, meaning 5,532 apartments out of 254,555 were vacant
* Average rents for a bachelor, one-, two-and three bedroom apartments are $ 778, $ 950, $ 1135 and $ 1346
* There are currently 76,549 households on the wait list for subsidized housing. In Toronto, there are 99,047 social housing units
* Population Projections: Increase from 2.6 to 2.9 million people by 2020 with more seniors (103,120), children (39,870) and working-age people (122,580).
* Related Story: Data Bank a One Stop Trove of GTA, Regional Housing Stats brings together up-to-date statistics regarding housing, poverty and population trends...The data are compiled from Statistics Canada information, municipal data and reports from the non-profit and development sectors, and provide a comprehensive picture of housing needs in the City of Toronto as well as the surrounding regions of Halton, Durham, Peel, and York...“There isn’t an area in Toronto that doesn’t have the need for more affordable housing.” ...Some other info:
* By 2036, the region's population is expected to grow to 9.1 million (over half of Ontario's population) and be home to an increasing number of seniors, new immigrants, young families and working-age people.
* Toronto's Street Needs Assessment 2009 estimated there were 5,086 homeless people in the City on April;
* Food banks served an average of 85,881 people per month in 2009...Housing is the largest expense for most people who use food banks. Some clients are paying up to 68% of income on shelter...
* almost one in five households (322,415) continue to struggle with finding and keeping an affordable home
* In 2006, some 26% of owners and 46% of renters were spending 30% or more of their income on shelter.
---
Greater Toronto Summit meeting will be held in Toronto next week, Feb. 10 and 11, "a gathering of some of the city’s top thinkers and most influential figures. Weblink info
---
There is STILL no National Housing Strategy for Canada at the federal level.
Dedication of Ana Bailao seems Promising
Sometimes Little Things Tell You a Lot
Snow Day for councillors? By JONATHAN JENKINS, City Hall Bureau, Toronto Sun
City council's affordable housing committee has had to scrap the morning session of its scheduled meeting today after only three councillors showed up.
Mark Grimes, Joe Mihevc and Ana Bailao were the only committee members able to slog through the snow Wednesday morning to be on time for the meeting.
After waiting some 20 minutes for the remaining members — including Maria Augimeri, Michelle Berardinetti and Vince Crisanti — to arrive, staff decided to reconvene the meeting after the scheduled lunch break.
Wednesday afternoon's TTC meeting won't be cancelled due to snow.
TTC spokesman Brad Ross confirmed they are still on track to meet at 1 p.m
...
I have noticed so far that Ana is on time for meetings, and at City Council meetings she is really there and actively listening to other councillors speak. Not at all like Adam Giambrone who would run in now and then to vote with the Miller block, or sat there texting on his blackberry or chatting with others while debates were active.
I hope this trend continues.
----
Note: News media were embarrassingly alarming predicting a Groundhog Day Feb 2nd 'SNOWMAGEDDON' or 'SNOWPOCALYPSE', schools closed and police warning people off the roads. Well, this prediction was a big bust. Blizzard? What blizzard?
* Update: Congratulations to Ana Bailao. It Seems she is now CHAIR of the Affordable Housing Committee, with Mark Grimes Etobicoke ward 2 as vice-chair.
Snow Day for councillors? By JONATHAN JENKINS, City Hall Bureau, Toronto Sun
City council's affordable housing committee has had to scrap the morning session of its scheduled meeting today after only three councillors showed up.
Mark Grimes, Joe Mihevc and Ana Bailao were the only committee members able to slog through the snow Wednesday morning to be on time for the meeting.
After waiting some 20 minutes for the remaining members — including Maria Augimeri, Michelle Berardinetti and Vince Crisanti — to arrive, staff decided to reconvene the meeting after the scheduled lunch break.
Wednesday afternoon's TTC meeting won't be cancelled due to snow.
TTC spokesman Brad Ross confirmed they are still on track to meet at 1 p.m
...
I have noticed so far that Ana is on time for meetings, and at City Council meetings she is really there and actively listening to other councillors speak. Not at all like Adam Giambrone who would run in now and then to vote with the Miller block, or sat there texting on his blackberry or chatting with others while debates were active.
I hope this trend continues.
----
Note: News media were embarrassingly alarming predicting a Groundhog Day Feb 2nd 'SNOWMAGEDDON' or 'SNOWPOCALYPSE', schools closed and police warning people off the roads. Well, this prediction was a big bust. Blizzard? What blizzard?
* Update: Congratulations to Ana Bailao. It Seems she is now CHAIR of the Affordable Housing Committee, with Mark Grimes Etobicoke ward 2 as vice-chair.
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