Helping with Property Standards

Helping with Property Standards
Post Date June 29, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category News from Ward 18

UPDATE:  Some bylaw officers who had been redeployed to enforce COVID-19 regulations are returning to their regular jobs this week – just in time to deal with a flood of complaints our office has received about long grass and weeds.

To report a case, please contact 3-1-1. If possible, include a photograph, which will help us respond faster. John met with city staff last week, who assured us that complaints would be followed up according to the following timelines: within two days of the complaint, a …

Read More »

Statement on Police Funding

Statement on Police Funding
Post Date June 26, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News, News from City Hall, Notes from John

Dear Friends,

At its June 29 meeting, Council will be discussing two proposals to change the way we do policing in our City and to fund a variety of programs aimed at combatting racism, inequality and other societal problems that form the roots of crime. Despite the similarities in these two plans, discussion has focused on a single major difference. The first motion, by Councillor Josh Matlow, calls for a 10% “defunding” of the Toronto Police Service while the other, from Mayor John Tory, doesn’t specify the amount …

Read More »

Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Program

Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Program
Post Date June 26, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News, News from City Hall, Transportation & Transit

The City of Toronto will move into the next phase of it’s Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program on Monday, July 6 and start to issue tickets to speeding drivers.

The ASE pilot was initiated in January to increase road safety, reduce speeding and raise public awareness about the need to slow down and obey posted speed limits. There are 50 cameras installed across the City’s Community Safety Zones near schools. Before now, we have only issued warnings to speeding drivers.

Willowdale locations currently include Patricia Avenue west …

Read More »

CafeTO: A New Opportunity to Support Local Business

CafeTO: A New Opportunity to Support Local Business
Post Date June 23, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News, News from City Hall

Restaurants represent the pulse of our local business ecosystem, a magnet that draws people out to our main street, providing places for community members to come together in friendship and for celebrations. Restaurants are among the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic, which is why the City has launched several programs to assist them. These include deferral of property tax payments and digital supports to help them transition into online sales and pickup services.

Now, as Toronto moves closer to a Stage 2 re-opening which will …

Read More »

Green Button, Red Button

Green Button, Red Button
Post Date June 19, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News, News from Ward 18, Notes from John

Dear Friends,

My desk in Council has two buttons: green for Yes, red for No. On major issues, you push these buttons many times, moving through multiple motions and amendments before reaching a single vote on the final package. If you see merit in parts of competing arguments, there is no button for that.

Which brings me to an upcoming vote at which members of Council will grapple with the convergence of multiple issues in a way that does not easily lend itself to a green button/red …

Read More »

CurbTO

CurbTO
Post Date June 15, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News, News from City Hall, Transportation & Transit

As resurfacing work on Yonge Street nears its end, residents will see elements of the City’s CurbTO program implemented between Sheppard and Finch. This is an opportunity to ensure a safer environment for pedestrians during the pandemic, and an opportunity to create a safer mainstreet ecosystem that supports local businesses and promotes active living.

CurbTO is a City wide program designed to re-purpose curb lanes adjacent to businesses to better support physical distancing. There are two main initiatives within this program: Curb Lane Pedestrian Zones will …

Read More »

Stay Cool at North York Civic Centre

Stay Cool at North York Civic Centre
Post Date June 9, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category News from City Hall

With the arrival of warmer temperatures and with a Heat Warning called by Environment and Climate Change Canada for June 9 and 10, the City of Toronto is opening 14 Emergency Cooling Centres to help residents who do not have access to a cool space and cannot keep cool in their home or outdoors.

In Willowdale, the North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge St.) has been designated as an Emergency Cooling Centre. All the centres will operate during Heat Warnings only, from 11 AM to 7 …

Read More »

Public Urged to Wear Face Masks

Public Urged to Wear Face Masks
Post Date June 8, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Mayor John Tory strongly recommend that the public wear a face mask or face covering to protect others when in settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Toronto Public Health advises that wearing a face mask or face covering in public can help protect others from your germs. However, public health officials continue to stress that a face mask or face covering has not been proven to protect …

Read More »

The Need for Real Change

The Need for Real Change
Post Date June 6, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Notes from John

Dear Neighbours,

Too often, discussions about prejudice and social injustice stay largely within the circles of those experiencing the sting of discriminatory treatment. But this week, who among us hasn’t been forced to examine our own actions – or collective inaction – on issues of race and inequality?

My office has received an unprecedented number of emails – 3,400 at last count – from Torontonians responding to the horrific “I Can’t Breathe” murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, captured on video and …

Read More »

Tips for Preventing Auto Thefts & Scams

Tips for Preventing Auto Thefts & Scams
Post Date June 4, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category Community News

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many opportunities for neighbours to pull together and support each other. Unfortunately, in other cases, it has also created opportunity for individuals to take advantage of quiet streets or the uncertainty surrounding government supports, to prey on those who may be more vulnerable.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has noted several online scams circulating related to the Federal CERB program, among those they actively monitor. Toronto Public Health has warned of fraudsters posing as public health officials asking for banking and SIN …

Read More »

COVID-19 Assessment Centres

COVID-19 Assessment Centres
Post Date June 4, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category City COVID-19 Updates

A number of dedicated assessment centres have been established across Toronto to facilitate assessment and testing. Toronto Public Health (TPH) is not an assessment centre and testing is not provided at TPH offices. OHIP coverage is not required to be seen at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre. The assessment is provided at no cost to the individual. For more on assessment centres, click here.

Who Should Visit an Assessment Centre?
People experiencing at least one of the following symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever (temperature of 37.8C or greater)
New or worsening …

Read More »

Update on Yonge Resurfacing/Repurposing of Curb Lane During Pandemic

Update on Yonge Resurfacing/Repurposing of Curb Lane During Pandemic
Post Date June 1, 2020
Comments Comments Closed
Author
Category City COVID-19 Updates, Transportation & Transit

The resurfacing of Yonge Street between 401 and Finch has now been shortened to one-week, beginning Monday, June 1, to minimize the inconvenience to pedestrians and businesses. The work is being done as a temporary fix to hazardous conditions on sections of the road.

From June 1-6, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Curb lanes will be closed, but 10-minute parking for restaurant delivery and pickup will be added at each side street, close to Yonge. Please support our great local restaurants …

Read More »
« Older Entries