Cllr Cheng laments having to advocate for social & cultural investments for North York every year.
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Cllr Bradford now doing advance-campaign-speech thing. Just to remind everyone, he got 1.28% of the vote last election (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Toronto_mayoral_by-election#Total).
He says the city has never drawn so much on the reserves before. "I call this budget financial malpractice, mortgaging the city's future to make an election-year budget look better on paper."
Cllr Colle starts heckling him. "Brad, what about the police budget?" Cllr Carroll, a couple rows ahead of him, turns around and mouths a "don't do it Mike, he's not worth it"-type message.
Fletcher questioning Bradford about the Main Square redevelopment project in one of his motions. Somehow everyone at the City missed that the lease was expiring in 2023. (Background: https://beachmetro.com/2023/09/12/city-working-on-new-lease-for-main-square-community-centre-amid-plans-for-more-highrises-increased-density-in-area) Fletcher is like, I'm not voting for your motion because we're going to have to dip into reserves to to fund it.
Fletcher: "I have an announcement to make! It is raining!" I am momentarily nonplussed until she goes on to say, "There is someone south of the border creating a lot of storms." Oh, it's a metaphor about rainy-day funds
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Fletcher questioning Bradford about the Main Square redevelopment project in one of his motions. Somehow everyone at the City missed that the lease was expiring in 2023. (Background: https://beachmetro.com/2023/09/12/city-working-on-new-lease-for-main-square-community-centre-amid-plans-for-more-highrises-increased-density-in-area) Fletcher is like, I'm not voting for your motion because we're going to have to dip into reserves to to fund it.
Fletcher: "I have an announcement to make! It is raining!" I am momentarily nonplussed until she goes on to say, "There is someone south of the border creating a lot of storms." Oh, it's a metaphor about rainy-day funds
"Is it too high? Is it too low? Make up your minds!" Fletcher criticizes her colleagues' "hysteria" over a "Goldilocks budget".
It's Cllr Bravo's turn to speak. "I thought Fletcher was the last speaker," says someone. "Crisanti after that," says Nunziata. "Vince! Vince!" heckles Burnside plaintively. Cllr Crisanti makes a 🤌 motion at him.
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"Is it too high? Is it too low? Make up your minds!" Fletcher criticizes her colleagues' "hysteria" over a "Goldilocks budget".
It's Cllr Bravo's turn to speak. "I thought Fletcher was the last speaker," says someone. "Crisanti after that," says Nunziata. "Vince! Vince!" heckles Burnside plaintively. Cllr Crisanti makes a 🤌 motion at him.
"Cllr Fletcher motivated me to say what I'm going to say," says Cllr Crisanti. Fletcherrrr!!! He is like, TECHNICALLY, we're not voting on the budget, just on certain amendments (true).
To clarify for anyone new to this, Council's conservatives are all in favour of keeping residential property tax increases as low as possible and would normally approve of a mere 2.2%. However, they object to this budget because 1) they want to finance that by cutting services, not by dipping into reserves; and 2) they see it as a naked campaign ploy.
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"Cllr Fletcher motivated me to say what I'm going to say," says Cllr Crisanti. Fletcherrrr!!! He is like, TECHNICALLY, we're not voting on the budget, just on certain amendments (true).
To clarify for anyone new to this, Council's conservatives are all in favour of keeping residential property tax increases as low as possible and would normally approve of a mere 2.2%. However, they object to this budget because 1) they want to finance that by cutting services, not by dipping into reserves; and 2) they see it as a naked campaign ploy.
Nunziata: "Cllr Colle, you would like to get up and..." (everyone groans) "…declare a conflict [of interest]." (everyone sighs)
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Nunziata: "Cllr Colle, you would like to get up and..." (everyone groans) "…declare a conflict [of interest]." (everyone sighs)
Voting. I realize this sounds quite intemperate but this has been a peeve of mine for as long as I've been following City Council. They do the item pages in MS Word, I believe, so we're not gonna get like semantic markup, but it does have outline functionality that should allow for it
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Voting. I realize this sounds quite intemperate but this has been a peeve of mine for as long as I've been following City Council. They do the item pages in MS Word, I believe, so we're not gonna get like semantic markup, but it does have outline functionality that should allow for it
Holyday's TTC motions failed. So did Pasternak's motion to delay the shelter. Perruzza accidentally votes against Bradford's Main Square motion and they have to re-open the vote so it can pass unanimously.
(See results on the item page.)
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Holyday's TTC motions failed. So did Pasternak's motion to delay the shelter. Perruzza accidentally votes against Bradford's Main Square motion and they have to re-open the vote so it can pass unanimously.
(See results on the item page.)
Oh shit I forgot about the other budget item (where they actually set the rates). As is tradition, it is considered after the main budget item, even though now it makes no difference.
You'll notice the table of property tax rates is mind-meltingly confusing. As ever, see David Hains's perennially useful explainer on how property taxes work in Toronto.
Holyday has questions about the changes to Toronto Parking Authority financing. (There are interesting changes afoot that I have not looked into myself.)
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Oh shit I forgot about the other budget item (where they actually set the rates). As is tradition, it is considered after the main budget item, even though now it makes no difference.
You'll notice the table of property tax rates is mind-meltingly confusing. As ever, see David Hains's perennially useful explainer on how property taxes work in Toronto.
Holyday has questions about the changes to Toronto Parking Authority financing. (There are interesting changes afoot that I have not looked into myself.)
Cllr Fletcher going into deep history (1998) about money set aside for the Main Square development, the old Neighbourhood Services Committee, etc. "Did the new City spend four million dollars in vain?" I begrudgingly admit I am mildly interested.
As expected, Cllr Carroll has a motion to increase the tax break for small businesses and balance it out with hiking rates for the rest of the commercial property tax subclass. She also has another motion which I don't think does very much
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Cllr Fletcher going into deep history (1998) about money set aside for the Main Square development, the old Neighbourhood Services Committee, etc. "Did the new City spend four million dollars in vain?" I begrudgingly admit I am mildly interested.
As expected, Cllr Carroll has a motion to increase the tax break for small businesses and balance it out with hiking rates for the rest of the commercial property tax subclass. She also has another motion which I don't think does very much
"We have not plundered, we have not raided," Cllr Carroll says in defence of the budget.
Cllr Myers has a motion regarding how the TTC and the City interact, accountability- and funding-wise, instead of the City just "cutting the TTC a check": "considering mechanisms to formalize agreements between both entities on key performance indicators, verification/auditing, service levels, safety and customer experience."
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"We have not plundered, we have not raided," Cllr Carroll says in defence of the budget.
Cllr Myers has a motion regarding how the TTC and the City interact, accountability- and funding-wise, instead of the City just "cutting the TTC a check": "considering mechanisms to formalize agreements between both entities on key performance indicators, verification/auditing, service levels, safety and customer experience."
Cllr Morley has a motion for Toronto Shelter & Support Services to work with the drop-in sector to "review core wage principles, adequate resourcing and overall stabilization of the sector", noting that drop-in staff have to "wear many hats".
Another part of her motion is looking into "enhanced" snow clearing for seniors and people with disabilities, an issue which came to the fore during the recent snow Event. She says Brampton and Pickering have such programs.
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Cllr Morley has a motion for Toronto Shelter & Support Services to work with the drop-in sector to "review core wage principles, adequate resourcing and overall stabilization of the sector", noting that drop-in staff have to "wear many hats".
Another part of her motion is looking into "enhanced" snow clearing for seniors and people with disabilities, an issue which came to the fore during the recent snow Event. She says Brampton and Pickering have such programs.
WINDROW CLEARING RETURNS!!!!! (The enhanced service of clearing the snowbanks left in people's driveways by snow plows has been a perennial budget football over the years.)
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WINDROW CLEARING RETURNS!!!!! (The enhanced service of clearing the snowbanks left in people's driveways by snow plows has been a perennial budget football over the years.)
Cllr Pasternak has a raft of various uncontroversial-looking/ineffectual motions, such as Council telling "the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Canada that it vigorously opposes and takes serious objection to his announced a $10 million reduction in Housing Accelerator Fund funding for the City of Toronto."
Cllr Burnside has a motion to raise TTC fares by $0.10. He says it's unfair to ask Toronto's wealthiest property owners to pay more, but not TTC riders. stares into the camera
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Cllr Pasternak has a raft of various uncontroversial-looking/ineffectual motions, such as Council telling "the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Canada that it vigorously opposes and takes serious objection to his announced a $10 million reduction in Housing Accelerator Fund funding for the City of Toronto."
Cllr Burnside has a motion to raise TTC fares by $0.10. He says it's unfair to ask Toronto's wealthiest property owners to pay more, but not TTC riders. stares into the camera
Note that increasing barriers to using the TTC risks the feared TTC Ridership Death Spiral, where lower ridership leads to worse services leading to lower ridership, etc., etc., hence why your typical transit wonks oppose cutting struggling public transit.
Myers is like, are you aware this is a terrible fucking idea. Burnside is like, "I was advised by folks at the TTC—"
"Which folks? Name names."
"Is this an inquisition?"
Myers (paraphrase): No, I just want to know.
"Uh…I don't know their names."
"It's amazing. You're a former TTC chair. Just amazing." Cllr Myers is extremely amused.
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Note that increasing barriers to using the TTC risks the feared TTC Ridership Death Spiral, where lower ridership leads to worse services leading to lower ridership, etc., etc., hence why your typical transit wonks oppose cutting struggling public transit.
Myers is like, are you aware this is a terrible fucking idea. Burnside is like, "I was advised by folks at the TTC—"
"Which folks? Name names."
"Is this an inquisition?"
Myers (paraphrase): No, I just want to know.
"Uh…I don't know their names."
"It's amazing. You're a former TTC chair. Just amazing." Cllr Myers is extremely amused.
Bradford has a motion to increase the small business tax break from 15% to 25%, instead of 20% as in the Mayor's budget.
Fletcher, who can really nurse a grudge, points out that Bradford didn't move it before Chow was mayor. The old "this u?"
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Bradford has a motion to increase the small business tax break from 15% to 25%, instead of 20% as in the Mayor's budget.
Fletcher, who can really nurse a grudge, points out that Bradford didn't move it before Chow was mayor. The old "this u?"
OHHHHHHHHH Cllr Bravo has a motion similar to Myers' re: the TTC budget, but about the police (and the services transferred from police to the City proper).
- City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the Executive Director, Social Development, to provide, as part of its annual budget submission, starting with the 2027 budget, an accounting of budget impacts, including efficiencies and cost savings, from the following areas:
a. the approximately 40,000 crisis calls responded to by the Toronto Community Crisis Service since launching in 2022, which contributed to a 4.5 per cent decrease in overall mental health-related 911 calls;
b. the transfer to the City of the crossing guard program through Transportation Services;
c. the transfer of noise enforcement to Municipal Licensing and Standards; and
d. increased traffic control done by the City through the traffic agents program.
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OHHHHHHHHH Cllr Bravo has a motion similar to Myers' re: the TTC budget, but about the police (and the services transferred from police to the City proper).
- City Council request the Toronto Police Service Board, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the Executive Director, Social Development, to provide, as part of its annual budget submission, starting with the 2027 budget, an accounting of budget impacts, including efficiencies and cost savings, from the following areas:
a. the approximately 40,000 crisis calls responded to by the Toronto Community Crisis Service since launching in 2022, which contributed to a 4.5 per cent decrease in overall mental health-related 911 calls;
b. the transfer to the City of the crossing guard program through Transportation Services;
c. the transfer of noise enforcement to Municipal Licensing and Standards; and
d. increased traffic control done by the City through the traffic agents program.
I was checking my phone while Cllr Perruzza introduced his latest motion because I didn't want to look at it or read it because I knew it was going to be his usual bullshit, and it is: "City Council request the Government of Ontario to allow the City of Toronto to keep 100 percent of the property taxes collected within the City of Toronto."
C'mon Nonno let's get you to bed
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I was checking my phone while Cllr Perruzza introduced his latest motion because I didn't want to look at it or read it because I knew it was going to be his usual bullshit, and it is: "City Council request the Government of Ontario to allow the City of Toronto to keep 100 percent of the property taxes collected within the City of Toronto."
C'mon Nonno let's get you to bed
Holyday has the Annual Motion to Restore Mechanical Leaf Collection In Etobicoke, as is tradition. (Like windrow clearing, a frequent subject of last-minute budget horse-trading that was cut in recent years.) I am actually laughing out loud.
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Holyday has the Annual Motion to Restore Mechanical Leaf Collection In Etobicoke, as is tradition. (Like windrow clearing, a frequent subject of last-minute budget horse-trading that was cut in recent years.) I am actually laughing out loud.
If I were a councillor, I would bring up the ecological cost of leaf disposal and ask why Cllr Holyday hates pollinators, detritivores, fireflies, etc., and move for a ban on mechanical leaf collection, and that is why I am not a councillor
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If I were a councillor, I would bring up the ecological cost of leaf disposal and ask why Cllr Holyday hates pollinators, detritivores, fireflies, etc., and move for a ban on mechanical leaf collection, and that is why I am not a councillor
Cllr Crisanti has a motion asking the TTC to look into "free to $1 for Wheel-Trans customers aged 65 and over during off-peak hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) on weekdays and all day on weekends".
Cllr Myers says Wheel-Trans actually costs $50 a trip, and suggests instead making fares free/discounted for "conditional passengers", people who could use Wheel-Trans but are using the regular TTC instead. Crisanti says they could look at both scenarios.
OK, speakers over, voting time i guess
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Cllr Crisanti has a motion asking the TTC to look into "free to $1 for Wheel-Trans customers aged 65 and over during off-peak hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) on weekdays and all day on weekends".
Cllr Myers says Wheel-Trans actually costs $50 a trip, and suggests instead making fares free/discounted for "conditional passengers", people who could use Wheel-Trans but are using the regular TTC instead. Crisanti says they could look at both scenarios.
OK, speakers over, voting time i guess
@nev Fucking ghouls. It takes forever to get accepted into Wheel-Trans, and it's such an awful service experience.
