Here at Toronto City Council for the budget meeting!
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This "barely-at-inflation tax increase from progressive mayor" thing has decalibrated my political compass, I expect some councillors to be criticizing the budget when they're not really.
I admit it is a bit of a disappointment to not be able to see how Cllr Perks (a reliable supporter of the mayor) would justify the low increase.
Cllr Carroll, the budget chief, has some big motions dispensing the various discretionary funds allowed for in the budget. Just scroll down to the bottom here. Omg are we going to wrap this up before lunch?
Carroll is very insistent that the police budget increase is "nothing!" but the (pre-planned) hiring increase and collective bargaining agreement. I mean on one hand, okay sure, but on the other hand, the police budget has always been virtually all labour costs.
Holyday has a motion (once again, scroll down to the bottom) to reduce the TTC reserve draw by increasing TTC fares 10% for adults and, essentially, cancel the fare capping and "kids under 12 ride for free" policies.
Holyday says the 2% tax on the wealthiest homeowners is "taking money from people who earned it and distributing it to others."
Okay, we're recessing till 2:00. Back then!
OH WAIT there's an anti-poverty rally outside City Hall
2 media
Side note: still crushed by the loss of Café on the Square, the unofficial City Hall canteen https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-city-hall-s-caf-shutters-after-more-than-25-years-serving-politicians-public-servants/article_d43de4dd-b3da-4e81-a1b7-5cf80525e0f6.html Particularly Norm!
Oh sick, there are samosas at the rally
Visited my happy place (the stationery section of Muji)
Back at City Council, where Speaker Nunziata threatens to pass a motion to accept the budget "as is" unless they meet quorum.
"You learn more on Budget Committee than any other committee," says Cllr Pasternak, recalling his four-year "sentence" on the committee.
Like others, he sounds a warning bell about dipping into the reserves, citing extreme flooding and COVID as events Toronto could only cope with because of deep reserves.
Pasternak now describing "hateful mobs" "harassing" people on Bathurst, people fleeing from "unstable" people on the subways, violent attacks on Jewish institutions, etc., the usual. He also mentions the uptick in reported assaults on LGBT people, which I would take more seriously if this wasn't coming from the guy who reliably tries to defund Pride if there is even a whiff of pro-Palestinian participation.
Cllr Bravo is concerned about the delay Pasternak is asking for on the building of a shelter in his ward. She notes that keeping people in a hotel, which might involve extending a lease, is very expensive; that inflation could lead to increase in capital costs.
"My concern is being fair to local residents," says Pasternak, who does not consider homeless people "residents". He mentions that many are Italian speakers and says more time is needed to reach out to them. My dude how do you not have Italian speakers in your office
Carroll gets Pasternak to say "I don't think we should be putting a shelter beside a daycare." Ah, there we are
Oh hey, Cllr Shan gives a nod to the people rallying outside. "For one of the wealthiest cities in the world, we cannot be the child poverty capital of Canada," he says, mentioning one of the points one of the speakers mentioned.
Totally superficial observation: I really like Cllr Kandavel's sunny goldenrod-leaning-mustard-yellow sweater. It is a colour I am afraid to try to pull off myself though
Cllr Cheng laments having to advocate for social & cultural investments for North York every year. Me (having watched tired community organizers beg for funding for student nutrition programs for the past 15 years): staring blankly in to the distance get used to it
"Go talk to people in the neighbourhoods. Ask them what they think about taking away police officers," says Cllr Colle.
me (from Parkdale): ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY
