Show threadMatt Elliott
Colle's motion to request Chow look at ways to use her strong mayor powers to expedite the delivery of affordable housing CARRIES 16-9.
Dec 17, 2024 at 9:23pmWeb
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Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Councillor Mike Colle shows off this chart of killed or seriously injured road users from 2000 through 2023. "These investments that we've made through Vision Zero — all these speed cameras, red light cameras, speed limit reductions — they have saved lives."
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
All remaining motions carry via show of hands. The updated Vision Zero plan is ADOPTED 21-0.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Council votes 22-0 to APPROVE policy of retrofitting city trucks with sideguards. Next step: finding $5.7 million in the budget to do the work. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.IE18.5
Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.5

Agenda Item History 2024.IE18.5

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Up now: a report on the continued effort to make Toronto a "public developer." No debate, but Councillor Holyday wants separate votes on some of the report recommendations. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.EX19.1
Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.1

Agenda Item History 2024.EX19.1

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Whoops, cancel the vote. Actually, Councillor Bradford has questions for staff, so it looks like we will get a bit of debate on the public developer item.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Bradford wants to know the salary range for the Executive Director of the new Housing Development Office that will be tasked with public development. Staff say it'd be similar to other executive positions but don't offer a number. Bradford seems concerned about adding bureaucracy
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
For handy reference, here's the new corporate/bureaucratic structure being planned for housing-related stuff at City Hall with this report.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Council has to press pause on their Housing Development Office debate, because it's class picture day at City Hall. They've got to take a group photo at 12:30. Nunziata says she hopes everyone got the memo re: formalwear. Some did, at least.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Before the break and the photo, Council takes a sec to approve the bill confirming Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey as the Acting Medical Officer of Health, effective January 1. She's currently the Deputy Officer. The process for recruiting a permanent top doc continues.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

And that takes us to the lunch break. Council will be back at 2 p.m. They're scheduled to debate the next steps of the rental housing incentive program. A new report says they received lots of applications.

See you in 90 minutes or so.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Council is back, finally. And look, I spy the Grey Cup in the chamber. They are set to celebrate the CFL Champion Toronto Argonauts for their football accomplishments.

Mayor Chow takes the lectern and yells "ARRRRRRGOS." Some councillors respond, saying, "Arrrrrgos."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Michael "Pinball" Clemons, GM of the Arrrrrgos, is here. "Tell us the magic - teach us how to win!" Chow asks as she invites him to take the lectern for a few comments.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Pinball tells Chow and Council the secret to winning is to have a great head AND a great heart. He doesn't say anything about other body parts but I think they're useful too.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

"Losing is the fast track to winning — know that," says Pinball Clemons. "We learn more oftentimes from our losses than we do from our wins."

He closes by quoting MLK Jr: "Power, at its best, is love. The two are synonymous."

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Councillors want to take a photo around the Grey Cup. Councillor Perruzza hoists it on his shoulder. "Don't drop it!" implores Councillor Chris Moise. He doesn't.

Everyone then says cheese or their customary equivalent.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
The wins just keep coming. Councillor Matlow announces that Councillor Parthi Kandavel just welcomed a new baby to the family.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Up now: the results are in from the initial application intake for the rental housing incentive program approved at the last Council meeting. Staff are recommending awarding about $458 million worth of incentives for these 17 projects, with 7,175 rentals. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.16
Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.16

Agenda Item History 2024.CC24.16

toronto.ca
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
With provincial and federal money and financing support, the city says it could approve another 58 submitted applications under the rental incentive program to create 24,450 more homes.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024

Councillor Bradford when trying to ask questions of housing staff is frustrated after Nunziata shuts off his microphone after his time runs out.

"I gave you an extra minute — and you were not allowing the staff to answer, and you were being very rude," explains Nunziata.

Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
Staff clarify that council already approved, via delegated authority, these applications to the rental incentive program when they approved this program in November. This report is really an FYI plus approval of an extra 528 rentals beyond the original scope.
Show threadMatt ElliottDec 17, 2024
"Members, congratulations — this is literally the fastest and most successful affordable housing project in the City of Toronto in living memory, if not ever," says Councillor Gord Perks. He congratulates the mayor and staff on a "job well done."
Show threadLyle Solla-YatesDec 17, 2024
@GraphicMatt We did something similar but established it as a separate government authority. There is good and bad with that. More independence but harder to collaborate on problems.
Show threadAshok Argent–KatwalaDec 17, 2024

@GraphicMatt From the graph it looks much more like those changes have mostly saved serious injuries, rather than lives. An improvement, but far too far from Zero.

The number killed looks tragically flattish, with the 5 year average declining slightly, but we’re not terribly far from the 20 year average of 55ish recently.

And we’re about to be compelled to make it worse.