world19News #138 |
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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. MEOW CLUB SITE - on Metro Morning, Dec 15 This is another case where the developer has filed an early application for approval with the OMB to avoid some of the lengthy city reviews. The developer -- Pemberton Construction, headed by Marco Muzzo -- has been in the news lately from another of their sites: the former Uptown Theatre. We don't have an exact time for the Meow Club item, but it will probably be a little before or after 7am. Frances has also reported some updates on the status of the Southport development and its recent OMB hearing. At this point, the height of the proposal has been downsized from 18 to 16 stories, but the OMB also attached a lengthy list of conditions for the developer to meet in a relatively short time. We will provide more updates on these two developments. 2. LOCAL GROUP JOINS HALL OF FAME The HOF was created by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, "a local chapter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Waterkeeper Alliance, ...an environmental justice organization that fights for clean water and strong communities across Lake Ontario". There were 4 groups honoured at the event, including Community AIR who organized much of the opposition to the Island Airport bridge. The groups received their awards from Mayor David Miller. Click here to read the press release: http://www.lakeontariokeeper.org/lok/index.cfm?DSP=content&ContentID=6620 Readers who have been following the Ellis Park/Wendigo issue either through our newsletter or elsewhere are familiar with the long, painful process. We have often passed on updates from the Working Group, especially regarding the contamination found in Wendigo Creek and in sites in the surrounding residential neighbourhood. It appears that Context's initial, unsuccessful attempts at remediation have in fact made a risky situation worse. Regarding the Wendigo Way/Context site, MPP Gerard Kennedy, in referring to past inaction by the provincial Ministry of the Environment, has cited the work of this group as "do it yourself environmental protection". The Working Group, with their hydrologist consultant has now been working extensively working with the MOE and Context. However, as one member told us regarding the contamination in Wendigo Creek and their neighbourood, "Nobody's testing, nobody's delineating [the contamination], nobody's doing much of anything... It's not nice living here not knowing where this stuff is". We'll have an update on the Ellis Park/Wendigo site very soon, and will post or re-post much of our past information on our website. In the meantime, we congratulate the group for their relentless work. The Lake Ontario Waterkeeper website has an archive of items and news articles on this site. Go their search page, and enter "Wendigo" in the search box: http://www.lakeontariokeeper.org/lok/index.cfm?DSP=act_search
"Our High Park group recently set up a new corporation, High Park Initiatives, to be the funder and employer of staff for programs sponsored by the High Park Community Advisory Council (HPCAC's new name). We have assembled a group of very capable people to serve as directors, but we would still like to add a few more. In particular, we are seeking a lawyer (corporate law) to sit on the Board, preferably someone from the High Park area. If you know of anyone who might be interested or if you want to put this out to the World 19 email list, please direct potential directors to contact me at karen at kryukich.on.ca [change to "@". We altered this to protect from spam-hunters] Thanks!" 4. PARKS & GARBAGE "I think that it is ironic that on the day following David Miller's election, on a campaign "for a clean city," the Toronto Parks commission removed all of the waste baskets from our local parks. This includes Ravina park and the adjacent playground, next to the lawn bowling on Clendenan, and from the parkette across from Western Tech High School at the corner of Glenlake and Evelyn. There are still waste baskets in High Park. Would you please let your readers know the extent of this waster basket removal and the reason behind it. It is irritating that when I walk my dog, that I have to carry the bag of droppings home. Already I notice that others are not so conscientious. Those of us who walk our dogs also spend a considerable effort picking up after the kids who use the park and leave beer bottles, liquor bottles, the usual plastic bottles and other garbage on the ground. Now there is no place to put this litter. Someone is going to have to clean up the parks at some point. Is this a way to save money?" About a week later, I visited most of these sites and found wastebaskets. Our reader explained: "The waste baskets were gone for just over a week. A lot of neighbors complained. A number of these have been put back in place. If I had to guess, the removal was part of a cost-cutting by the Parks Department. I have heard but have not seen for myself that the wastebasket in Beresford Park has not been returned." On Nov. 26, the Globe & Mail reported a cost-saving restructuring proposal by Parks & Rec, involving increased centralization, and the loss of 28 middle-management positions. The story cited concern by Mayor Miller about the proposal, and quoted several residents who were worried about its effects. One woman, a member of the Friends of Dufferin Grove Park, predicted, "What's already a pretty low level of functioning is about to get a lot lower". The Globe on Dec. 10 reported that the department, at the request of many city councillors, has put the plan on hold, pending public consultation. Chair of the Economic Development & Parks Committee, Brian Ashton said there will be a "full review". Citing Miller's campaign promise to "reconnect parks & rec to the community", Ashton said "Grass and splash should become the new motto for our efforts". Links: ASSORTED NOTES: a) Ripley Ave: We recently received the following note from a reader: "I am a concerned neighbour to the folks at 1 Ripley. I have noticed that an extraordinary number of units have been put up for sale. Are these new proposed developments, such as the Meow club, responsible for the mass exodus from these units or are there other non-publicized reasons ?" ... I've spoken to a couple of people living in other condos nearby, and haven't heard of anything unusual. Any thoughts from readers in the area? b) Quebec / Gothic From a reader on Gothic Ave: "By the way, sorry to see you have not picked up on the 20 Gothic Ave debacle over giving away public greenspace to condo developers, and the disenfranchisement of half the street, which paved the way for it. If you want to see cronyism in action, dig into this a bit I suggest. Bill Saundercook is well aware of the problems." c) Property Assessment / Bloor West Residents Association We've had a number of responses interested in these issues. (See issues #137 & 135 -- www.newsletters.world19.com) If you're interested in either, email us and we'll put you in touch. d) Toronto Sun As one of our readers pointed out: the perfect Sun front page: crime, sex & sports.
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