City Council — October 2011
October 24 + 25, 2011
53 posts
So council pretty much has to accept this bid. Doing this as an RFQ and not an RFP was a nice bit of political gamesmanship.
Rob Ford has been Mayor of Toronto for just under eleven months. I am just saying.
Oh man. The Mayor's going to make all his 'allies' speak about the great work they're doing.
Stintz starts. "Very pleased at what we've been able to accomplish." Essential service is great, because the strike in York is terrible.
Stintz: "Presto will become available." Early 2012, in subway stations, she says. (Where's the money coming from?)
Stintz refers to "efficiencies", by which she means those bus route cuts last year, I guess.
Now comes Milczyn. His biggest success in the last year was brokering a face-saving deal on the waterfront, but he may not mention that.
Mammoliti steps up. He's happy. Speaks on the need for other levels of government to step up. Giorgio is charing three task forces.
Norman Kelly starts by reminding us he was a strong supporter of amalgamation, and as such supports Rob Ford.
Kelly says tree canopy goal still stands, but he's going to get the private sector to help. But trees don't employ anyone!
Kelly says it's time to look at how we "deal with and use" our parks. Hints at getting communities to look after/maintain parks.
Next up, Palacio. Graffiti plan, he says, has brought people together.
DMW steps to the podium. Three accomplishments: garbage contract; bike lane network; traffic study.
Minnan-Wong says bike lanes on Sherbourne are coming next year, plus EA for Richmond/Adelaide lanes.
"City staff have done a tremendous job supporting us," says Minnan-Wong. Agreed.
.@cllrainslie up next. Says he is bringing government into the 21st century.
Ainslie promises an "online idea bank." I have an idea for a network of light rail in the suburbs.
And now @CP24 cuts to commercial as Del Grande speaks. The budget chief gets no respect.
Rob Ford says they've done a lot more in one year than any administration ever has.
Ford: we inherited a "fiscal mess" from the previous administration. Years three and four will be brighter.
Nods to efficiencies, Tim Hortons, staying the course, and we're done. No mention of the Sheppard Subway or the LTT.
If council rejects @CouncillorMB's motion re: the elephants, Bob Barker might come back to town. And this time he'll be angry.
A shark is flying around council. Nunziata is not amused by it at all. De Baeremaker, citing bylaws, says there's no rule against balloons.
Michael Thompson also unamused by De Baeremaeker's remote control inflatable shark. But it is totally awesome.
Nunziata is so mad about the inflatable shark that she has called a 10 minute recess. Applause from gallery. This is the weirdest dream yet.
The "Air Swimmer Remote Control Inflatable Flying Shark" is available for $39.99 at http://amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/Swimmer-Remote-Control-Inflatable-Flying/dp/B005FYEAJ8
Amazon review: "I have the shark and first off, it looks way cool. People who see it flying are intrigued and delighted."
Will make for some fun deputations.
RT @reporterdonpeat
Motion recognizing Occupy Toronto goes to executive committee now.
Holyday, Minnan-Wong and now Mammoliti clearly don't support the ban on shark fin. Looking a bit coordinated.
Absent the shark fin soup appetizer, my Sunday night dinners of poached bald eagle eggs and panda ribs will feel less satisfying.
I only eat animals that are acutely dangerous or dangerously cute.
Cesar Palacio, who told people recently that he thought this ban might pass unanimously, looks a bit defeated.
Mammoliti raises the spectre of the slippery slope, saying this will lead to council banning all sorts of foods.
"it's not our job to police the world's oceans," says Holyday. Aww.
Now to debate a ban on the sale of remote controlled inflatable sharks that fly around the room and anger people.
At #TOCouncil, and things seem to be stuck in a feedback loop, as councillors vote on the same thing again and again and again and again.
Mammoliti accuses @gordperks and Adam Vaughan of having a hidden agenda. Calls Vaughan "the mumbler."
Now Nunziata accuses @shelleycarroll of 'mumbling.' #TOCouncil is all about mumbling tonight, apparently.
#TOCouncil just had a "I'm out of order? You're out of order! This whole freakin' court room is out of order!" moment.
Doug Ford is speaking! People actually applaud, as this is such a rare event. #TOCouncil
Lots of commotion on a Sarah Doucette amendment to a civic appointments item. It loses on a tie, with some strategic walk-outs. Mystery!
.@mary_margaret32 managed to pass a motion extending this meeting until they finish the agenda. Nunziata is not happy about this at all.
Oh man, a glass of wine and three beers later, #TOCouncil continues. Up now: elephants — should we send them away?
.@CouncillorMB has an iPhone, I think, and it's not on silent. Let's see if this makes it beep.
Vote to defer decision on sending elephants to nature sanctuary until February fails big.
The elephants are leaving the city. #TOCouncil did good by animals today. http://twitpic.com/75uzln
Nunziata: "I'm going home with Doug tonight." Big ohhhhhs. #TOCouncil
Robinson rises to excuse Grimes' absence (he's at the Pan Am Games) but everybody is like, hey, that guy always votes against extensions.