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Our "Scary Hallowe'en Issue": is it because of tonight's trick-or-treaters, or because of the political trick-or-treaters who will be knocking on your door throughout November? Certainly, it's not our newsletter that's scary...

In this issue:
- Community Partnerships
- Mel visits, but doesn't speak (except to Pinball)
- Rating the (city) candidates
- Stelco site information
- Federal election news

Community Partnership initiative
One of the ongoing results of the "Save the Village" campaign has been a recognition of the need for broader community involvement and participation in local issues and developments. We've mentioned in the past how we were impressed with what we learned from meeting with people from the "St. Lawrence Works" organization. They are an umbrella group of various organizations, residents associations, Business Improvement Area, churches, theatres, etc. in the St. Lawrence area. They have been active now for several years. Each of the constituent groups continues to work in their own areas of interest as always; however on some larger issues of common concern, they work together. Some of their common projects have included the preservation of the historic building facades on Front St. East, the annual "Global Roots" street party, and most prominently, The Toronto Dollar.

We thought their idea was interesting enough to present to some of the groups in this area. We invited some of the St. Lawrence Works people to speak to some community groups in June, in order to discuss the possibility of something similar in the area. There was a lot of interest and enthusiasm, so last week, we met with people from a number of local Bloor West organizations to see what type of ongoing process might be possible here. People attending included members of world19, Swansea Area Ratepayers Association, the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area board, 3 churches (Windermere United, Runnymede Baptist and Morningside Presbyterian), Bloor West Eco-Village, High Park Citizens Advisory Committee, Swansea Town Hall Community Centre, and the Swansea Recreation Centre.

Again, there was real interest in pursuing this type of community linkage. While a formal St. Lawrence Works-style umbrella organization might not be appropriate here (at least at this time), the idea of identifying and pursuing issues of common concern did meet with support. One suggested name for this initiative was "Bloor West Community Partnership", and this describes well the type of ongoing linkage that might be viable and productive. Some issues might engage most or all of the participants, while some might be pursued by only 2 or 3 of the partners.

Two (related) issues that promoted much discussion were housing and (re)development. On the housing front, the federal government recently announced money to address homelessness issues. A significant part of that money is available for education and community understanding with respect to specific affordable housing developments. The planned Fred Victor Centre at Lakeshore & Queensway is one example of how the housing/homeless crisis is going to be felt in neighbourhoods throughout Toronto -- not just in the urban core or "poor" neighbourhoods. Thus, one proposal for action was to involve the "community partners" in helping to communicate the need for communities like Bloor West to support needed housing initiatives.

Other topics of interest under discussion included the notion of appropriate development in the area (ranging from the development on the Bloor retail strip, to condominium issues, to the Stelco site), working with retailers on green initiatives, and in particular, an interest in holding a series of meetings in order to develop a vision of the Village community that can help to establish and steer our future directions.

We will be providing more information on this process (both in general, as well as specific projects), and encourage interested readers to participate or send us your comments.

Mel visits the Village [June 2001 update: see our "Mel Musings" page]
Mel Lastman made a quick "campaign" stop in the Village on Sunday afternoon. Many people in politics and the media had wondered just when his campaign would start, and what it would be. He had raised almost a million dollars in campaign funds, but until late last week, hadn't even produced any campaign literature. It's clear however that his visit here (as it will be in other parts of the City) was not so much to promote his candidacy (although there are 26 candidates running for mayor, his team obviously is not worried about any threat to his election), as it was to promote selected council candidates, or conversely, to help defeat candidates he doesn't want to see returned.

So, it was no surprise to see Bill Saundercook tagging right along beside Mel, the media, BIA, and various hangers-on. Mel did a walk down Bloor and visited selected businesses (starting with Starbucks, he walked west to Timothy's -- certainly an appropriate selection of outlets). He made a special photo-op stop at Simply Kids, the new candy-and-kids-stuff store at Armadale & Bloor owned by Argonaut coach and ex-player Pinball Clemons, who pinned on a Mel button, posed for pics, and walked back along Bloor.

However, Mel didn't have time for anyone who wasn't gushing over him. One man asked the Mayor when he was going to debate. No answer. A block later he asked a question about Adams Mine. That was the only time Mr. Lastman actually spoke to anyone on the street who wanted to ask him some hard questions. Mel turned and said coldly, "I've had about enough of you!" So much for citizen discussion. A few others tried asking some dissenting questions, but were brushed off or ignored by handlers.

There was finally some attention when Mel's leading opponent, Tooker Gomberg showed up on his bicycle, dressed as Robin Hood with a tiny bow and (suction-cup) arrow, once again challenging Lastman to a debate, and asking when he (Mel) would agree to open up the armouries as a hostel because winter was coming and people would be dying. No response from the mayor, only from some of his supporters who argued with Tooker. (An interesting debate ensued between one resident and Tooker over which was the more dangerous weapon - his toy bow & arrow wtth the suction cup, or the resident's SUV).

All in all, a strange exercise in "campaigning". And, we still wonder just how Mel will be using that $1million...

Gomberg, long shot as he is, has been gaining some prominent endorsements, including Jane Jacobs, David Suzuki, Michelle Landsberg, Naomi Klein and the Sierra Club. His website is http://gombergformayor.org

Ward 13 election info
We have put up on our website some evaluations of the 2 City Council candidates by various publications and organizations. See our election pages at www.world19.com, or go directly to http://webhome.idirect.com/~jleeson/council_ratings.htm. These are a combination of overall evaluation of councillors' performance by Toronto Life and the Toronto Star, and reports of council votes on key issues by various interest groups (Arts Vote, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Metro Network for Social Justice). We'd be interested to find other similar evaluations by other groups.

A reminder of the last remaining all-candidates meetings:
-- Mon. Nov 6, 8pm, Humbercrest United Church, Baby Point Rd., just west of Jane. City council candidates.
-- Wed. Nov 1, 7:30pm, Humberside Collegiate, 280 Quebec. School trustees.

Stelco Site Discussion continues on the development of this large site at the south end of Swansea. We've recently posted on our website minutes from 3 recent meetings. These contain a lot of good information on the direction this development may take, its impact on the area, and how we can provide community input to its direction. See info at www.world19.com in our community pages, or link directly to http://webhome.idirect.com/~jleeson/stelco_main.htm.

Federal Election:
As of Oct. 30, all 4 major parties have nominated candidates in Parkdale-High Park:
Liberal: Sarmite Bulte, running for re-election
NDP: Paul Schmidt (came 2nd in the 1997 election)
PC: David Strycharz Alliance:
Vikki Vancas

More info will be coming in other newsletters. There are a few all-candidates meetings being scheduled. The first is:
Wed. Nov 8, 7:30pm Swansea Legion Hall 72 Durie St. at Deforest (south of Bloor), sponsored by SARA.

Other meetings include one Nov. 16, sponsored by Warren Park Residents' Association, and Tuesday Nov. 21, sponsored by Roncesvalles-MacDonnel Residents' Association. (time & location of both meetings to be confirmed).

We have begun a federal election page on our website. Visit www.world19.com, or go directly to to http://webhome.idirect.com/~jleeson/fed_election_main.htm

For world19,
John Leeson

world19: Supporting citizen involvement in our community and its future.
Phone: 416 766-8605
Fax: 416 766-0578
email: world19@world19.com
web: www.world19.com