City Council — March 2016

Can we get back to politics? Please? Yo. City Council meets today. Here's @neville_park's preview at @torontoist: http://torontoist.com/2016/03/city-council-preview-march-2016/

These council speeches about Rob Ford do not appear to be subject to the normal speaking time limits.

Entering onion-on-my-belt territory.

Tory moves to extend this meeting until 11 p.m. Coun. Fletcher rises to point out that councillors vote for ridiculous things at night.

Council votes to extend this meeting of the midnight society until 11 p.m. Vote was 30-8.

As @Sean_YYZ points out, Coun. Ford's name on the voting screen has been removed and replaced with a single period. https://x.com/GraphicMatt/status/715569814023049217

Finally on to council's first order of business. They're debating this transit network plan.

100 years? This is going to make me confront my mortality so hard. https://x.com/moore_oliver/status/715609729867714569

Norm Kelly is disappointed the transit plan doesn't include a Sheppard Subway extension.

Kelly says a Sheppard subway extension could make Sheppard Ave "the new Bloor Street."

Coun. Michael Thompson brings up the HYPERLOOP.

Someone should invent a machine that plays a wicked guitar riff every time a politician brings up the HYPERLOOP.

The next Bloor Street. https://x.com/TorontoArchives/status/715638379120082944

Mihevc amendment to look at speeding up construction of Eglinton West LRT passes 31-10.

Matlow motion to report back on building all or part of the Scarborough subway above ground passes 37-4.

Ainslie's motion for a report on enhanced bus service to the Toronto zoo passes 33-8. Panda express.

Council votes 37-4 to remove the Eglinton West heavy rail section from the SmartTrack plan. LRT is back.

Council votes 38-3 to consider no further the SmartSpur option for Scarborough.

And the big huge transit network plan item as a whole carries 40-1. I'm going to assume the lone no vote is symbolic

Now after that nice moment, get ready to watch council endorse a badly compromised and ill-advised plan for the Gardiner East.

"Sure, Grandma, assuming the planet is still hospitable to human life." https://x.com/neville_park/status/715653395776946185

Minnan-Wong: "This is an important day because we're saving an important piece of city infrastructure and we're keeping the city moving."

Building transit? Eh, I don't know if we can find the money. Saving a highway? I will stop at nothing to preserve this vital infrastructure

Coun. Davis suspects the cost of the Gardiner East hybrid will be even higher than projected. Safest bet in the city.

Interesting split amongst left-leaning councillors: some who will support hybrid as best bad option, some who can't stomach voting for it.

Nunziata: "Was that a quack..." Layton: "It was a quack." Councillor Mike Layton has a ringtone that quacks.

The Hybrid 3 option for the Gardiner East is approved by Toronto City Council, 36-5.

You're now free to attempt to imagine scenarios in which people, 30 years from now, are saying, "yes, I am glad they spent money on that."

"You're not going to have a Norwegian death metal band in your park all of the sudden," says Coun. Colle of the city's music strategy.

Quick note to @JoshColle: I'm starting to see an outpouring of support in my mentions for Norwegian death metal.

Council votes 16-15 to not pay a mystery councillor's legal fees beyond the $20K limit set by policy.

From today's TTC April Fools video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVYcxI2S3Yg), here's an animated gif of @bradTTC opening a pop.

Coun. Ainslie's motion to track homeless deaths passes 36-1. There will always be one.

Coun. Doucette has introduced a motion about Car2Go allowing users to park on residential streets. Will be voted on. http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2016.MM17.41

Coun. Layton's motion to request province review the police SIU with anti-racism lens passes 38-0.

Passed on a voice vote. (Not recorded.) https://x.com/moore_oliver/status/715977993932435456