Toronto City Council meets today! @neville_park has your agenda preview here. https://nevillepark.ca/2018/04/24/the-cheat-sheet-april-2018-city-council/
Council is debating the Woodbine casino. Coun. Stephen Holyday just wondered aloud why some councillors object to this casino proposal when they probably wouldn’t object to proposals from Google, Amazon or Microsoft to open offices in the city.
Holyday: I wonder, though, if it wasn’t the casino itself — what if it was Google, what if it was Microsoft or Apple, what if it was Amazon that we were doing a deal with — would we be doing the same thing?” I feel like there are a few subtle but important differences.
Coun. Ana Bailao’s motion to develop a child care centre near the proposed Woodbine Casino CARRIES 38-4.
Coun. Ana Bailao’s motion to strengthen monitoring and accountability of the Woodbine casino project CARRIES 40-2.
Coun. Joe Cressy’s motion to limit Woodbine casino operating hours to no more than 18 hours per day FAILS 16-26.
Coun. Mihevc’s motion to ensure 50% of Woodbine casino hires are local/social hires FAILS 19-23.
Coun. Davis’ motion to request that OLG & province provide one-third of casino revenues to the city CARRIES 37-5. Good luck with that one.
Coun. Karygiannis’ motion that 1% of casino revenue go toward anti-gambling education CARRIES 33-9.
Coun. Perruzza’s motion that the city “continue best efforts” toward extending Finch LRT to the Woodbine casino area CARRIES 35-7.
And the major Woodbine casino item as amended is APPROVED by Toronto City Council, 26-15. Expanded gambling coming to North Etobicoke.
Stealing all your headlines: Toronto Council bets big on Woodbine casino Toronto Council rolls the dice on Woodbine Toronto Council doubles down on Woodbine Toronto Council goes all-in on Woodbine Toronto Council puts coins into allegorical slot machine and hopes for the best
Off a motion by Coun. Neethan Shan, Council votes 34-6 to establish an Anti-Racism Committee on Racial Justice.
Council won’t be debating Coun. Josh Matlow’s motion calling for a judicial inquiry into the Scarborough subway planning process today. Councillors vote 13-28 to refer the item to Tory’s executive committee.
To be clear: councillors in green wanted to debate Scarborough Subway judicial inquiry today. Councillors in red did not. Tory’s executive committee is likely to shelve the item, meaning no further action.
At Toronto Council currently: Coun. Frank Di Giorgio very concerned that 128-unit eight-storey condo proposal doesn’t have enough parking. 184 parking spaces proposed in plan. https://x.com/TorontoCouncil/status/989895152528437250
Coun. Perruzza’s motion to request the TTC continue to provide free parking at the new subway stations on Line 1 FAILS 12-15.
There are, you’ll note, not a lot of councillors in attendance! Coun. Chin Lee gets some applause because this will be apparently be his last meeting (he’s running for the Ontario Liberals) but he is also not here.
It is looking increasingly likely that council will again avoid making a decision on the proposed free-floating car share pilot affecting services like @car2goToronto. The item first came before council in October.
Nunziata takes attendance! 24 councillors (in green) currently in the chamber indicate that they plan to show up for the council session this afternoon. Some currently not in the chamber may also come back. Council needs 23 to maintain quorum. These people make $112,000 a year.
At least one councillor not in attendance is apparently busy listening to the new Post Malone album. https://x.com/norm/status/989907142516903936
Programming note: I’m still “in between opportunities.” (Announcement coming soon, hopefully.) I did some Council reporting here this week anyway, because I think it’s important If you found it useful, consider donating to the #TorontoStrong fund. Thanks! https://torontofoundation.ca/torontostrong/