City Council — October 2012
October 30 – November 1, 2012
113 posts
Among the items Rob Ford has 'held' at this week's council meeting: new traffic signal on Eglinton, road alterations at Coxwell & Gerrard.
Motion to replace ombudsman with pinky swear pledge to not do bad things.
Rob Ford rises to speak on this TCHC motion. Praises Councillor Bailão for her work on the report re: selling vacant homes.
Ford hopes we can sell more TCHC homes to get more money to fix TCHC homes. This strategy may not be sustainable.
Gord Perks rises to oppose sale of 55 TCHC homes. Says it'd wipe out a quarter of TCHC's scattered affordable units.
Perks says 1 or 2 per cent property tax increase would pay for loan to wipe out TCHC repair backlog. (And still leave us with low rates.)
Mammoliti asks Vaughan a question. Vaughan gives long, detailed answer. Mammoliti complains to the chair.
Then Mammoliti calls Vaughan the "51 million dollar man", because Vaughan's ward gets a lot of Section 37 funds.
As she prepares to fight for her job, let's remember that time Don Cherry visited council and praised the ombudsman. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/903120--what-don-cherry-said
(I was reminded of that episode by @ivortossell's "The Gift of Ford", currently available at fine eSellers of eGoods.)
So much gong on at council. Now Rob Ford and Jaye Robinson are introducing The Canadian Tenors.
Ford: "My favourite - [The Canadian Tenors] sing at subways. Not streetcars. Sorry!"
Nunziata: "1! 2! 3! GO!" And now the Canadian Tenors are singing on the floor of City Council. Oh, it's the National Anthem.
The Canadian Tenors are singing the half French/half English version of O Canada, as you do. Think I still have all this memorized.
Nunziata: "Councillor Fletcher, point of order, I believe you want to dance?"
From earlier: Councillor Norm Kelly considers the pumpkin. http://t.co/1K528ctl
But if we outlaw gang members, only outlaws will have gang members.
The mayor was a big fan of rent supplements for housing too. Problem in Toronto is that our rental market is currently nuts.
The Canadian Tenors. Who knew.
Upcoming council schedule. Nov 27 - Rankin Family. Jan 15 - The Moffats. Feb 20 - Snow.
Diverging from the mayor, Doug Ford's apology for his comments re: the Medical officer of Health has been accepted. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-51601.pdf
Pasternak has ventured into odd territory with this TCHC motion. If he doesn't withdraw, everybody might vote against him.
Messaging from Rob Ford's office seems to point to mayor backing two casinos in Toronto: at woodbine *and* downtown.
John Filion points out that his ward now almost has the population of a federal riding. Add more wards, please.
50 local wards, all with unique names. Someone put this into their platform.
Shelley Carroll asks Deputy Speaker John Parker to quiet Giorgio Mammoliti. Parker: "Councillor Carroll has asked me to do the impossible."
The Bailão compromise report re: TCHC carries 38-5. Opposed are Perks, Perruzza, Layton, Wong-Tam and Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday.
Ford moves to extend the ombudsman's appointment next year, until 2015. Surprising. Good.
It's all a bit fuzzy, though. Mayor underlines that he has compromised. Something about wanting five years.
Ah, apparently Ford was of the mind that Crean should only serve as ombudsman for five years total. Compromised to renew, and allow 7.
Ford doesn't look happy. Adamant that it would be unwise to leave an accountability in their position for ten years.
Fletcher says Del Grande wanted the accountability officers to report to a standing committee. Ridiculous.
Now Del Grande makes a motion re: new committee for accountability officers.
This is a terrible idea, as a hypothetical mayor could stack said committee with loyalists who could kill any item they wanted.
Perks is giving a fiery speech: "How dare you consider compromising on accountability." Mammoliti heckles.
Mammoliti: "Learn to control you temper!" He has no idea what irony even is.
Compromise tends to be a good thing only when both sides are on reasonable ground.
Mammoliti actually argues that every new council should install a new slate of accountability officers. Oh my god.
Matlow rises to say Ford was the most mature and adult person in the room with his compromise. He does really like compromises.
One friend thinks I should make dinner. Another friend thinks I should smack myself in the face with a hot frying pan. Better compromise.
Hold on guys. Have we considered that maybe—just maybe—the truth is in... the middle? *eagle lands on shoulder*
(I do think, pragmatically, that supporting a two year extension is the right call. But I don't think anyone should be HAPPY about it.)
Perruzza credits Ford because mayor is okay with extending ombudsman's contract even though she wrote a report that was critical of him.
Mayor never supported hiring ANYONE.
RT @paulmoloney4
Mayor never supported hiring an ombudsman, says Cllr Frank Di Giorgio.
Council's going into closed session. So enjoy a mystery graph. Revealed tomorrow. http://t.co/fOc3283X
None of these TTC citizen appointees are Steve Munro, i'm pretty sure. Which makes me wonder what the point is.
The Integrity Commissioner keeps saying I shouldn't insult staff! She and her staff suck!
So the arguments have moved from "there was no list" to "there was a list, but you're paranoid." Progress.
This is one of those thousand word pictures. (via https://torontosun.com/2012/10/31/doug-ford-wont-be-sanctioned-for-radio-comments) http://t.co/mylP5qN0
Fade in. Supercut of councillors from Oct 2 meeting saying "there was no list." Smash cut to Crean at Oct 31 meeting: "hey, here's the list"
I'd ask where De Baeremaeker got a plush dog costume but he probably just keeps it next to his flying shark, prop toilet and trojan horse.
City Hall security is hard at work researching their dog costume policy.
New TTC commissioner Alan Heisey proposed an improved network of bike lanes back in April 2010. http://natpo.st/TUy9uv
This photo of the Clamshell Quintet is awesome. (via https://meslin.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/quintet/) https://meslin.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/clamshell.jpg
Vehicle Registration Tax revenue sure would fit nicely into Mike Del Grande's projected 2013 budget hole. https://torontosun.com/2012/10/31/del-grande-sees-red-ink
(Er, 2014. Either way. Same deal.)
At council, Vince Crisanti suggests that cameras at TCHC properties will dramatically reduce crime. I have a rock that keeps tigers away.
Frances Nunziata suggests what Toronto needs for its housing is "a SWAT team going from building to building."
Council is set to appoint a new Toronto Poet Laureate. Which opens the door for my second Snow reference of the week. https://secure.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.ED18.9
Byford explains that the first street-closing event to receive a bill from the TTC was a Spice Girls concert in '96. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/ed/bgrd/backgroundfile-51505.pdf
Council endlessly debating motion that Ottawa will ultimately crumple up and toss into one of those little basketball net garbage bins.
Oh man. Adam Vaughan takes this endlessly boring debate as an opportunity to rage against the G20. I approve.
Vaughan: "Ottawa's not coming to the party. When it comes to security, they've got billions for F35s. They've got nothing for cities."
Vaughan: "You want to create a safe city? Invest in the communities that need it." He disputes magic powers of letter to feds.
Dear Steve, Can we get some cameras for our TCHC houses? Thanks in advance. Say hi to the cats. Love, Toronto City Council.
Odd times at City Council. Shiner is *very* angry that council voted against going in camera on the Metrolinx agreement.
Stintz says council isn't voting on the details of the agreement, because they delegated authority in February.
Del Grande asks what happens to the Master Agreement if the government of Ontario changes. Ah, there's a hint of what's up.
Del Grande asks about burying the lines. Pennachetti says council could hold vote to ask Metrolinx for change, but it'd be non-binding.
So, the question: will the mayor and his allies risk losing $8 billion in transit funding just to avoid new at-grade rail projects?
Del Grande asks what happens if the feds come forward with money for these projects. Also asks whether a unicorn could pull Santa's sleigh.
Del Grande is super pissed. There's no other way to put it. He *really* wanted to go in camera.
Going forward with transit expansion, city should always cost-share. One of the biggest mistakes made with Transit City was 0% city funding.
Ah, and now Maria Augimeri states her concern - that a Hudak government would just go ahead and fill in already-dug holes.
Shiner demands Gord Perks give him *ten* examples of a time when council moved to make a confidential report public after signing. Geez.
Del Grande: "I won't be supporting the agreement." Says it gives the people of Scarborough "no hope" for subway.
Del Grande: "I want the people of Scarborough to know that I'm talking on their behalf." Says others want to "ram this thing through."
Yeah, six years after it was first unveiled, council is moving forward with Transit City at breakneck speed.
Del Grande says it's unfair because they would never build above-ground LRT downtown. Um.
Councillor Frank Di Giorgio now says he won't support the master agreement either. Because of reasons intelligible only to him.
That so many councillors are willing to risk EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS must be pointed out again and again.
Now Norman Kelly says he won't support agreement. None of these voices are unexpected, just disappointing.
Kelly: "I'm sad that this [agreement] likely will pass." Says if he has a chance to amend "in the next few years" to get subway, he will.
Stintz says council should just pass this thing. To do otherwise risks $8.4 billion.
Rob Ford rises to support Shiner's motion. "This is not what the taxpayers want in this city."
Ford: "You want to support this contract, you're supporting STREETCARS." "People do not want these, they wanted SUBWAYS."
Ford: "The people of this city have spoken loud and clear. They want subways. You support this, you're supporting more congestion."
Ford: "MASS GRIDLOCK. This is terrible. This is the worst thing we're approving today."
Ford: "Let's start building these subways. This is the worst poison pill for the taxpayers of this city!"
Shiner amendment fails 13-28. Think that was the poison pill one.
Ford allies on the Shiner amendment: Ainslie, Crawford, Crisanti, Di Giorgio, Doug, Holyday, Kelly, Milczyn, Nunziata, Pasternak, Thompson.
Master agreement passes 30-11. If god be willing and the Hudak don't rise, let that be the last we ever speak of this.
Curious votes from @JamesPasternak today. He, Crisanti and Nunziata were only non-executive members to vote against the agreement as a whole
(Well, Doug too. But that only half-counts.)
So, um, hm, did councillors kill time so Ford would make it back from football in time for the transit debate? Curious timing.
Here are the going rates for TTC charter vehicles: http://www.ttc.ca/TTC_Business/Chartering_TTC_Vehicles/Charter_Rates.jsp
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Del Grande stands to do his "BUT HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?" thing in debate over social service funding.
"People have this weird attitude about when they buy property. They want it to stay the way it was when they moved in." https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/11/interview-kyle-rae-part-1.6586
Okay. Ford *also* committed to being mayor of Toronto. And also: didn't Ford say during the campaign that he would have to quit coaching?
"That Mr. Ford continued to coach football, which he had pledged to quit if elected during his 2010 campaign..." http://natpo.st/UcJKpK
Seriously. Ford got bad press and criticism from allies for skipping meetings for football. So he doubles down and does it again?