Mastodawn

Cllr Holyday mentions this Toronto Star story that revealed Metrolinx and the City spent almost $100 million on two SmartTrack™ stations that ended up getting shelved. (The City's share was $43 million.)

SmartTrack, as you'll recall, was John Tory's big Election Promise/Legacy Project, which over the years dwindled down to, essentially, a handful of specially branded GO stations.

#TOpoli #TOcouncil

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workspace, incidentally

https://visdeurbel.nl

OK, i need breakfast

Oh boy, I was seriously considering skipping this entire item if it came up for debate because I just know people were going to get super racist: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.CC39.1

tl;dr: some fucking right-wing agitator (of the more "respectable", nonprofit-y kind, I gather) was complaining to Cllr Moise about renaming Yonge-Dundas Square: "…so what are you doing this year, in [20]25, relating to renaming things that hurt your feelings for whatever reason?" Cllr Moise accurately called him a "white supremacist". Guy complained. Integrity Commissioner said Cllr Moise violated the Code of Conduct, but also didn't recommend any sort of sanction. (Full report here.)

Luckily Council unanimously was like "yeah fuck that" and moved on

Now on to the Mayor's Key Item, a strategy for cracking down on bad landlords: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.EX29.14

"Inspired" by notorious cases like 500 Dawes Rd.: https://torontolife.com/city/olivia-chow-is-coming-for-toronto-slumlords/

edit: 500 Dawes in particular has been in the news for idk probably decades:

The City has been reluctant in the past to actually step in.

ok, gotta go touch grass

Back from lunch and Mayor Chow is giving a speech in honour of outgoing Deputy City Manager Will Johnston, who is retiring. Shout-out to the City of Toronto org chart (PDF).

Neville Park

They're very slowly voting on Chow's amended motion: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.EX29.14

aldkjfaldjkf The motion passes with only Holyday against…but, SHOCKING TWIST, he admits it was actually an error and wants a re-vote!

"Maybe I should show him where the green button is," quips Cllr Perks.

Current item: a valiant but ultimately doomed attempt to try to stop Doug Ford from cutting the City of Toronto out of waterfront decisions (in this case, re: expanding Billy Bishop Airport). https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM39.59

It's often repeated that Toronto is "a creature of the province", much like how Frankenstein's monster is a creature of Frankenstein

(Right, need to make sure I get at least absolutely essential work done before I pass out, so will not really be following closely)

Holyday is warming up to a truly mediocre argument (planes from Billy Bishop only fly over a very small part of Toronto so it's not a big deal if the City doesn't have a say, conservation and the fact the airport is located in the city and whatnot be damned) and I am turning off the livestream i don't need this shit

Carolyn 1d ago

@nev I live to the east of the city, and noticed when the traffic increased. I've been hiking the spit while planes were doing those things and the noise is loud. I'd like to know where he lives that it's not a problem for him, hence not a problem.

Cities are loud enough without added noise.