world19News #119 |
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world19News This e-mail is going to people on the mailing list for world19. If you don't want to receive further notices, please reply to this e-mail with "remove" in the subject. Let us know if you prefer to receive this in "plain text" format. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. In this issue:
1. MILLER TO JOIN MAYORALTY RACE Wed. January 8, 6:00pm at the new Bambu by the Lake, 245
Queens Quay West. Accessible by the Harbourfront LRT, and parking is available across the street. A further to the mayoralty race: in Saturday's National Post, Don Wanagas reported that Mel Lastman is expected to announce on January 14 that he will not be running for re-election. Then the backroom/Godfrey group can proceed to announce their new designate for mayor. It will be an interesting year. The Wanagas story can be found at: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q33713DF2
2. OUR READER'S RANTS: We're always looking for input and comments from subscribers; last month we received a full "editorial", reacting to the note in one of our newsletters (#117, Dec. 2) about the rumour of Wendy's or Tim Horton's taking over the corner Bloor & Runnymede from the TD Bank. Inspired by the TTC's long-standing "Our riders write..." posters, perhaps this could start a "Our Readers Rant" feature. ("non-rant" comments and opinions are also welcomed). Rant #1. "post-Romanow" For those of you concerned about the future of health care and the future of the Romanow report, now's the time for letters, calls and emails. [Note from world19: Parliament is recessed until Monday, Jan. 27. While MP's Ottawa offices can still be contacted, this is a good time to contact your MP "back home"]
Rant #2. "Tim vs Wendy vs civilization" Now, on Runnymede, that would be opposite the glorious golden arches of Ronald McD. and Co. And, on Bloor, it would be virtually opposite the (once) historic Runnymede theatre - now, a branch of the weakened Chapters chain - the big, little bookstore that couldn't and didn't. And now I see that just down the way, the existing Shoppers' Drug Mart has sucked up three adjacent storefronts, chewed them up and is about to spit the whole thing out as one of their Shoppers' plus experiences. That should do wonders for the streetscape. Can we look forward to a big box Shoppers' at the corner of Bloor and Durie? Is this what our neighbourhood needs? Is this what our neighbourhood wants? Oh, but I forgot. We - the actual community residents - neighbours to and clients of Bloor Street commerce - have no say in these decisions because this is private enterprise at work! Ah, the thrill of the market, the smell of the fries. What happened to the thrill of the fruit market? Wasn't it the small, local markets that built the Village? I personally don't know anybody who comes to Bloor West for a big Mac and a donut. But still, we're told nothing can be done. The market will decide. Unfortunately, all too often, by the time the market has spoken, serious damage has been done to commerce and community alike. What is the BIA's role? Apparently, it can't help us. If this is the case, then perhaps its day has passed. Because, this neighbourhood has matured beyond twinkling treelights and sidewalk sales. The year is 2003 and surely it is time to make way for new approaches to city neighbourhoods. We have a great big void when it comes to community-oriented neighbourhood planning and redevelopment - in terms of both form and function. This situation, in part, appears to reflect a great, big void in terms of our collective imagination and capacity for creative response. Why can't the community be included in decisions that affect us all? Why can't a joint community/business committee be established to think about the future of the Village, its physical appearance and the types of businesses we might all like to attract? Is this just fries in the sky? Why can't things change for the better? Signed,
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