#Tag
On today's Executive Committee agenda: a double whammy of devastating cuts to housing & shelter funding from provincial and federal governments https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EX26.13
Agenda: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2468/25778
Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/RC57MK8G6f4
OK, I need to 1) nap through the hot part of the day, 2) do Work, and 3) catch up on big moderation backlog. Later all.
Now, voting.
Great! One item down, uhhh…82 items to go.
Now going through members' motions. Holyday is miffed that councillors are adding new motions. Look, man, how would you like it if people voted not to waive referral on your routine motion to release Section 37 fu—wait, I don't think your ward has any S37 developments, heyoooooo
(I promise this is a sick burn if you know about Toronto urban planning)
"Most people in Toronto are just a couple of paycheques away from losing your house," Cllr Perks, the last speaker, says. "…Saying a shelter brings problems to a neighbourhood is like saying a doctor makes people sick…The people who live in shelters in my ward are every bit as much my constituents as the people who live next to me."
Now, voting.
Great! One item down, uhhh…82 items to go.
Cllr Bravo mentions Lorenzo Berardinetti (whom Cllr Carroll was obliquely referring to before), former city councillor and MPP, who opposed a shelter in Scarborough and years later wound up homeless. He now publicly regrets his decision, she says.
"Most people in Toronto are just a couple of paycheques away from losing your house," Cllr Perks, the last speaker, says. "…Saying a shelter brings problems to a neighbourhood is like saying a doctor makes people sick…The people who live in shelters in my ward are every bit as much my constituents as the people who live next to me."
Cllr Malik recounting how residents literally brought their children to consultations (which Cllr Bradford, raising concerns about "not enough consultation", was at, she notes) to "what about the children" her in person.
Cllr Bravo mentions Lorenzo Berardinetti (whom Cllr Carroll was obliquely referring to before), former city councillor and MPP, who opposed a shelter in Scarborough and years later wound up homeless. He now publicly regrets his decision, she says.
Back to the shelter item. Cllr Carroll is bringing up the concepts of dog-whistles and poison pills (both of which some suburban councillors are employing to try to keep shelters out of their wards).
Lee Atwater famously described dog-whistles:
You start out in 1954 by saying, “N—, n—, n—.” By 1968 you can’t say “n—”—that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites.… “We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, uh, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “N—, n—.”
Cllr Malik recounting how residents literally brought their children to consultations (which Cllr Bradford, raising concerns about "not enough consultation", was at, she notes) to "what about the children" her in person.
We're back! City Clerk John Elvidge is getting the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) Prestige Award: https://www.amcto.com/about/awards/prestige-award
Back to the shelter item. Cllr Carroll is bringing up the concepts of dog-whistles and poison pills (both of which some suburban councillors are employing to try to keep shelters out of their wards).
Lee Atwater famously described dog-whistles:
You start out in 1954 by saying, “N—, n—, n—.” By 1968 you can’t say “n—”—that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites.… “We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, uh, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “N—, n—.”
I have had my almond croissant and coffee and am now ensconced in my room with thick curtains drawn except for the tiny bit of window with screen, the fan going, a spray bottle of cool water and a glass of ice cubes, BRING IT
We're back! City Clerk John Elvidge is getting the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) Prestige Award: https://www.amcto.com/about/awards/prestige-award
Fondly remembering a consultation many years ago for a temporary shelter in #parkdale. Planners are often nervous because of angry backlash from residents opposed to shelters. In this case Perks warned the planner that locals were going to be like, harm reduction practices had BETTER be permitted in this shelter, can people bring pets, why so few spaces, why is it only temporary…
Anyway, gtg coffee and so on, hopefully back before lunch.
Here's a quick janky LibreOffice Calc visualization. I could improve this if I were not using LibreOffice Calc. Can do something better later if people want. Anyway, the point is: there are constantly people being turned away and there is a need for emergency shelter space.
Fondly remembering a consultation many years ago for a temporary shelter in #parkdale. Planners are often nervous because of angry backlash from residents opposed to shelters. In this case Perks warned the planner that locals were going to be like, harm reduction practices had BETTER be permitted in this shelter, can people bring pets, why so few spaces, why is it only temporary…
The shelter item: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.PH23.3
Staff report, including links to the shelter designs, etc. (PDF): https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-257007.pdf
The 6 new sites have already been approved, gone through public consultations, etc.; they just need to be re-zoned.
Creating the shelters is part of the broader HSCIS (Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy) to replace the temporary shelter hotels opened during the first years of COVID and to add more permanent spaces to the perennially at-capacity shelter system, which turns away people every night—~100/night, now; hundreds a couple years ago.
Stats: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/research-reports/housing-and-homelessness-research-and-reports/shelter-system-requests-for-referrals/
Data set: https://open.toronto.ca/dataset/central-intake-calls/
Here's a quick janky LibreOffice Calc visualization. I could improve this if I were not using LibreOffice Calc. Can do something better later if people want. Anyway, the point is: there are constantly people being turned away and there is a need for emergency shelter space.
Stay classy, Pasternak https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/114908563958335821
The shelter item: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.PH23.3
Staff report, including links to the shelter designs, etc. (PDF): https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-257007.pdf
The 6 new sites have already been approved, gone through public consultations, etc.; they just need to be re-zoned.
Creating the shelters is part of the broader HSCIS (Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy) to replace the temporary shelter hotels opened during the first years of COVID and to add more permanent spaces to the perennially at-capacity shelter system, which turns away people every night—~100/night, now; hundreds a couple years ago.
Stats: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/research-reports/housing-and-homelessness-research-and-reports/shelter-system-requests-for-referrals/
Data set: https://open.toronto.ca/dataset/central-intake-calls/
Aaand we're back to City Council day 2!
I have Work so will be only intermittently watching, but follow @GraphicMatt for live updates.
Stay classy, Pasternak https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/114908563958335821
Aaand we're back to City Council day 2!
I have Work so will be only intermittently watching, but follow @GraphicMatt for live updates.
Oh wow, they're wrapping it up for today. I thought for sure they'd agree to run later. Oh well. Till tomorrow!
"Hopefully we'll all be in a better mood tomorrow," concludes Nunziata.
Odds are not looking great.
Aaand we're back to City Council day 2!
I have Work so will be only intermittently watching, but follow @GraphicMatt for live updates.
Pro tip: in TMMIS, on each meeting's page (e. g. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2462/25767) you can "Filter by" item statuses to quickly display, e. g., only remaining items.
Oh wow, they're wrapping it up for today. I thought for sure they'd agree to run later. Oh well. Till tomorrow!
"Hopefully we'll all be in a better mood tomorrow," concludes Nunziata.
Odds are not looking great.
Current item: "Audit of Transportation Services: Improving Utility Cut Permit and Inspection Processes". https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.AU9.7 Gripping stuff but I need to not be in a computer chair right now.
(Seriously though, often it's the driest and most boring-sounding stuff that is actually quite important, so somebody should be paying attention to this.)
Pro tip: in TMMIS, on each meeting's page (e. g. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/committees/2462/25767) you can "Filter by" item statuses to quickly display, e. g., only remaining items.
They're now voting. See status of votes here (not updated in real-time, but eventually): https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EX25.4
Voting on the Bathurst-specific bits separately; passes 18-5. On the rest of the motion, 20-3. Bradford, Holyday, Pasternak against.
"Okay, we've completed one item," Speaker Nunziata says a little wearily. There's applause from the gallery (probably because they like public transit and not to congratulate Council on its efficiency).
Current item: "Audit of Transportation Services: Improving Utility Cut Permit and Inspection Processes". https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.AU9.7 Gripping stuff but I need to not be in a computer chair right now.
(Seriously though, often it's the driest and most boring-sounding stuff that is actually quite important, so somebody should be paying attention to this.)
Cllr Thompson (who, I must add, was just on trial for sexual assault) accuses some fellow councillors of "moonlighting" in other wards, councillors who don't even have red lanes (priority bus lanes) in their own wards. With biting sarcasm: "Wait for a report to come in—what report? The one that's already written" and before them?
They're now voting. See status of votes here (not updated in real-time, but eventually): https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EX25.4
Voting on the Bathurst-specific bits separately; passes 18-5. On the rest of the motion, 20-3. Bradford, Holyday, Pasternak against.
"Okay, we've completed one item," Speaker Nunziata says a little wearily. There's applause from the gallery (probably because they like public transit and not to congratulate Council on its efficiency).
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