Maria
AUGIMERI

Get a free Amber Alert child ID kit this Saturday in Downsview!
This Saturday May 19th, Councillor Maria Augimeri will be on hand at the Rameses Shrine Temple for the MasoniCHIP program where Amber Alert compatible ID kits will be created for children free of charge. Sponsored by the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario, the MasoniCHIP Ontario (Child Identification Program) is deemed “one of the most comprehensive child recovery and identification programs in the nation” by The National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and brought to Downsview families by dedicated Masons free of charge. Click here for more.

Rameses Shrine Temple
3100 Keele Street, Toronto Ontario
May 19, 2012
10 am to 4 pm
Click for map

Community Meeting on Projects, May 31 @ 7pm
Staff will be on hand to answer questions about various community projects and developments occurring around the ward. Come, ask questions and learn more.

Thursday May 31, 2012
Downsview Secondary School
Auditorium – 7pm

Anthony Road Park one step closer to being saved!
Last week, monies to save Anthony Road park and Muki Baum School was successfully shepherded through the City’s Executive Committee. When our community received news that the Toronto District School Board intended to sell the Muki Baum School and adjacent park site on Anthony Road we acted fast. I worked closely with community members and formed a panel to save the park. We brought together city Staff to find the necessary resources to save the park and we are almost there. The plan will come to City Council on June 6 and 7, 2012 where I will work to get it passed.

Troutbrooke Stabilization – Homes saved from destruction!
When homes along Troutbrooke Drive were built decades ago, building standards at the time did not account enough for soil erosion next to ravines. Since then, standards have been revised to account for erosion. However, some houses along Troutbrooke  were at risk and needed stabilization because part of these properties was eroding into the adjacent ravine. As vice-chair of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) I acted quickly to initiate a project to secure the resources necessary to stabilize these properties and save these homes. The stabilization of the affected properties will  soon be complete. In addition to new reinforcement, each of the properties will be restored with a chain link fence across the rear yard, and sod/pea gravel. TRCA anticipates the restoration of the construction stockpiling area located in the parkette at the corner of Troutbrooke and Jane by June. Check out this month’s paper newsletter for photos.

Wilson Avenue
Money for the next phase of Wilson revitalization passed its last hurdle at Council at last week with the support of all Councillors. Download revitalization history and plans package here. Meanwhile I assembled a City sign and By-law inspection team to do a walkabout survey of Wilson Avenue to ensure area retailers and property owners are staying in compliance.

Hydro Park
Work should begin this summer to transform this derelict former Hydro transfer station at Jane and Wilson to a new vibrant park space for our community’s enjoyment. Check out the location here.

Are you an artist and want to participate in North York Culture Days?
North York Art is hosting a Culture Days information session which is open to artists, professional and volunteer-run cultural groups, libraries, museums, schools and anyone else wishing to participate in the third annual pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture taking place on September 28-30, 2012. More info here.

Metrolinx approves Council’s plan to bring $1 billion worth of transit to Downsview
On April 25, 2012, I attended the Metrolinx board meeting where it was announced that the Province will be moving forward with $1 Billion worth light rail for Finch. As a TTC Commissioner, for the last year and a half I have been working vigorously to bring the funding and plans for rapid transit along Finch back on the table after it was suddenly “cancelled” in 2010. I am proud to say that due to our hard work at the TTC, plans and the funding are back and province-approved. Construction of the rail line from the new Finch/Keele subway station to Humber College will begin in 2015. Click here for more details. Until then, we will also be looking at enhanced bus options to improve service on Finch.

“Why don’t people get screened for cancer?”
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto, York University, and Cancer Care Ontario need help from the people of Ontario to answer this question. Take this 5 minute on-line survey to find out more about the cancer screening practices and beliefs of all Ontarians. Click here to take the survey.

Dog Owners!
Looking to create an off-leash area for dogs? Want to create a Dog Owner’s Association? Get in touch with my office and we will help connect you to like-minded folks and take you through the next steps! Email us here.

This Saturday May 19th, Councillor Maria Augimeri will be on hand at the Rameses Shrine Temple for the MasoniCHIP program where Amber Alert compatible ID kits will be created for children free of charge.

Sponsored by the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario, the MasoniCHIP Ontario (Child Identification Program) is deemed “one of the most comprehensive child recovery and identification programs in the nation” by The National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, and brought to Downsview families by dedicated Masons free of charge.

The kit will take about 10-15 minutes to assemble and will include digital photographs; digital video; digital fingerprints; vital child information; and a dental bite impression or Intra Oral Swab for DNA.  The photographs, video, fingerprints, and child data are burned onto a C.D. that is compatible with Amber Alert. This kit provides a dramatic, time-sensitive recovery tool for authorities.

Security and privacy are of utmost importance.  All information and specimens are collected on site, processed, and provided to the parent or guardian in an envelope—along with the sentiment of all the Masonic volunteers – “We hope you never need to use it.”  After each child is processed, the data is deleted from the software.  The only item retained by MasoniCHIP Ontario is the signed permission slip.

Rameses Shrine Temple
3100 Keele Street, Toronto Ontario
May 19, 2012
10 am to 4 pm

Contact our office for more info or click here

Environment Day – this Saturday!
Get free compost and your spring cleaning done. Environment day is here! Free compost for your yard, bring old hazardous materials for recycling and proper disposal. New this year: bring clothing and goods for donation! Click here for the flyer and more details.

Saturday April 21, 2012
Downsview Park, 35 Carl Hall Road
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Click for map

Downsview Poised For Revitalization
The Financial Post recently featured Downsview as a community poised for revitalization. Decades of work have gone into ensuring our community’s revitalization is carried through with care and focus. Read the article here for all the details.

Seniors Admitted Free to Black Creek Pioneer Village – May 1
If you’re a senior, mention you are part of Councillor Maria Augimeri’s Community on May 1 at Black Creek Pioneer Village, and you will be admitted Free! Details on Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Children Admitted Free to Black Creek Pioneer Village – July and August
I am pleased to announce that Black Creek Pioneer Village will be admitting children free of charge in July and August during week days and will be given a meal to boot! I will provide more details as they come.

New Protégés – Gloria Antwi and Anne-Marie Croce
I am pleased to welcome my new protégés Gloria Antwi and Anne-Marie Croce who will be learning about and assisting me in my duties as a Councillor. They come to me as part of the City of Toronto and FCM’s Protégé Program which aims to engage young Canadian women (ages 18 – 28) interested in becoming leaders and decision-makers in municipal government.

SaveONenergy Spring Coupon Event
April 29th, the saveONenergy SPRING COUPON EVENT program will be taking place at participating retailers for customer discounts on eligible energy-efficient products for the home. The saveONenergy SPRING COUPON EVENT is funded by the Ontario Power Authority and offered by Toronto Hydro. Click here for details.

Community Developments

Anthony Road Park one step closer to being saved!
When our community received news that the Toronto District School Board intended to sell the Muki Baum School and adjacent park site on Anthony Road we acted fast. I worked closely with community members and formed a panel to save the park. We brought together City staff, the School Board, the Muki Baum treatment centre, and the community. I also worked closely with City staff to find the necessary resources to save the park and the panel met regularly to stay up to date. Last week, a motion passed Government Management Committee bringing us one step closer to saving this crucial peice of green space for our community. I will keep you posted on further developments.

877 Wilson Avenue being redeveloped
A proposal has been made for the redevelopment of the former vacant bowling alley located on the south side of Wilson Avenue, west of Dufferin Street. A plan for approximately 75 multiple attached dwelling units with street-front retail space on Wilson Avenue is proposed.

Downsview Park Development, Stanley Green Neighbourhood
Urbancorp is the company which has been awarded the contract for developing the Stanley Green Neighbourhood in Parc Downsview Park. They have been working with the Downsview Lands Community Voice and other community residents to come up with the best possible concept for the area. The development will include single family homes, semi detached homes, and freehold and stacked townhouses.

The New Humber River Regional Hospital
Developments at the Provincial Quadrant where the future new Hospital will be built are moving fast. Click here for the latest information through the HRRH Blog. You can also sign up to their newsletter and get the latest developments as they happen.

2800 Keele Street – former Canada Post site
This is the former Canada Post building on Keele Street. The City’s Planning Department has taken a number of phone calls from parties interested in the purchase/redevelopment site, but a formal application has not yet been submitted. Zoning allows many possibilities. Technically, the property is zoned Multiple-Family Dwellings “Fifth Density Zone (RM5)”. That means that anything from low density residential such as singles, semis, and townhouses, as well as apartments to a maximum height of 11.5 metres and a maximum density of 1.0 FSI (floor-space-index) is allowed. The site could also be used for a hospital, nursing home or religious institution.

Update on re-zoning panel
In August 2010 I sent out a letter asking residents if they would be interested in being part of a panel that would look after areas in the ward that should be re-zoned. The Official Plan review which occurs every five years gives us opportunity to review current zoning in the City and to have it reconsidered for re-designation. I, along with City Staff, have been working with a panel of community residents and business owners who have expressed interest in participating in this panel. One of the major projects being look into is re-zoning the former Sunrise Propane site.

Wilson Revitalization
Revitalization through streetscaping and resurfacing is about to begin this summer. This will represent phase II of Wilson Avenue’s revitalization plan. As with all progress involving construction and road repair, this will create some inconveniences. We will keep you updated on the progress.

Canadian Tire Site – 2699 Keele Street (Keele and Wilson)
The development just received a Site Plan Approval for construction of a new gas bar with accompanying canopied pump island, convenience store and restaurant.

3621 Dufferin Street
The Canada Lands Company has submitted an application for re-zoning of 3621 Dufferin Street from employment lands to residential. This would permit a mixed use development consisting of a 207 unit, 11-storey residential building with 672m2 of at-grade retail and six blocks of 4-storey stacked townhouses containing 186 units. The application is currently on hold as the official plan process that occurs every five years is currently underway. A policy report should hopefully be ready in the Fall.

Geek out on the City!
In addition to our regular e-newsletters, you can also follow City of Toronto events, news and developments at City Hall more closely with E-Updates. Click here for more details.

For the past year, Toronto’s transit expansion plans have been in a state of limbo. This is primarily due to a declaration by our Mayor that Transit City – the fully-funded, shovel-ready light rail plan which Council approved – was “cancelled”, and that he would instead build a few subway stops along Sheppard.

Recently, the voices of Councillors and  Toronto Transit Commissioners have expressed interest in transit expansion ideas that depart from the Mayor’s costly vision. In the short-term, this would mean directing funds to other areas of the City that are in greater need of a higher order of transit.

Instead of listening and embracing reasonable suggestions, the Mayor maintains that he will not deviate from his preferred vision. In a recent letter posted to his Facebook, the Mayor repeats his reasoning that transit riders want rapid transit and subways are the only solution. Subways may be the preferred option to surface rail until one studies the cost-effectiveness of each. In a world of unlimited finances, subways may be the preferred option. In Toronto’s current fiscal reality, we have $8.2 billion at our disposal, and so we must be creative in its use to maximize results for our City.

Subways are many times more expensive to build than is light rail, and much more expensive to run.  When we have limited building and operation dollars for Transit in Toronto, and city-wide ridership pressures, building a few subway stops along a small section of Sheppard is not a complete transit solution. It is an expensive, unrealistic and irresponsible use of tax dollars. The alternative plan offers 3 light rail lines that reach under-serviced and over-crowded transit areas along Sheppard, Finch, and Eglinton.

The Mayor’s original plan for the Sheppard subway was to have it entirely financed privately and that not a cent of taxpayer money would go into the project. “I’m not quite sure where taxpayers’ money is coming in, when we’re using private money” he said. Even though his “private sector” financing model was contingent on tax and development incentives – which in actuality translate to prolonged costs to taxpayers – technically his promised plan still did not involve the direct and up-front use of tax dollars. Today however, we now know that any Mayor Ford subway plan will be paid for directly with tax money. Gordon Chong (the consultant hired to develop the business model for Mayor Ford’s subway plan) recently stated that up to 90% of any subway plan along Sheppard will be funded by tax dollars. When you think of the transit expansion projects that can be delivered with our very limited capital money, a subway 90% covered by taxpayers is not a cost-effective use of public dollars. The Sheppard subway envisioned by the Mayor is unaffordable to build.

The existing Sheppard subway line does not and will not pay for its own operation for decades. It does not attract enough riders to cover its operational costs. As this chart shows, the current density around the Sheppard subway line is only 68 people/jobs per-hectare (PJH). A subway is only economically viable when the PJH along the subway line is 115-195. As we can see by the chart, the projected ridership even beyond 2031 will not reach this minimum economic viability.  This means that the TTC’s limited operational dollars are taken from other places on the system to cover the cost of operating the current Sheppard subway.

Another claim of the Mayor is that on March 31, 2011 The City of Toronto was in agreement with the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx on a plan to bury the Eglinton LRT and build a subway on Sheppard. This “agreement” known as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a non-binding document that was proposed and signed by the Mayor only, and does not have the approval of TTC planning staff, the Toronto Transit Commission, or include the authorization of Council. In other words, it is a document without legal authority. Council is tasked with approving major policy decisions such as transit expansion plans, not the Mayor. This is why we have recently been reading about Commissioners and Councillors who want to revisit transit plans and approve a new plan that makes economic and transit sense. Regardless of what new plan comes forward, citizens can be assured that Council will approve a transit expansion plan that makes the best use of your tax dollars.

The Mayor cites a Pembina Institute (a policy analysis firm) report to support his subway plan. The Pembina Institute is a great source for analyses of TTC expansion proposals. This is why it is important not to ‘cherry-pick’ the information it provides. In a response to Mayor Ford’s claim that the Pembina Institute supports his case for subways it published an article which clarifies “…the entire LRT plan would have served more Torontonians per dollar invested than the mayor’s current plan as well as reducing more greenhouse gas emissions and removing more vehicles from our severely congested streets.” The Mayor needs to come clean with TTC Riders, citizens and taxpayers when it comes to the facts.

The Mayor claims that LRTs are slow. The top speed for an LRT is just marginally slower than the top speed for a subway (LRT 27km/hr, subway 32KM/hr). True, surface rail has to contend with the traffic stream, but with the flexibility around how and where LRTs are built, LRTs can be a very efficient and flexible rapid transit solution. In addition, LRTs tend to encourage economic development in the communities they service, offer increased safety by encouraging more ‘eyes on the street’, they are more accessible, and offer an operational affordability because they do not require expensive-to-run underground stations.

Moreover, because dedicated LRT lanes are built down the centre of wide suburban avenues like Sheppard, Finch, and the outskirts of Eglinton, they act to reduce road congestion; they hold more people than buses and streetcars and are modular so they can be expanded as necessary.

Light Rail offers a real rapid transit solution for Toronto. The LRT lines in the Transit City plan have their Environmental Assessments complete, their public consultations complete and have funding in place approved by Council. The projects are truly shovel-ready. LRTs are a deliverable transit solution. None of this can be said for the Mayor’s subway plan. The Mayor’s subway plan is simply a house of cards. How it will fall will be up to Council.

Foregoing our LRT obligations will cost the city at least $65 million in cancellation penalties. When the TTC is struggling to find funding to maintain current service levels, spending $65 million to cancel ready-to-deliver transit expansion plans is downright irresponsible.

Having recently travelled the extremely crowded Finch bus, I can say with some authority that Finch riders need a transit solution fast. Finch riders want us to provide a plan that makes sense, and is quick to deliver and the Finch LRT is the best way to achieve this.

As a Councillor it is my role to ensure your tax dollars are spent they best way they can be. As a TTC Commissioner it is my role to ensure that transit planning in Toronto makes sense. Recently we are hearing the voices of other Councillors and Commissioners who also want transit expansion to make sense in this City. I am encouraged that whatever transit plan comes forward, it will be a plan that your Council will approve and we will make decisions based on the best evidence available and good transit planning principles.

We need to get Toronto moving, and you can rest assured I will continue to work towards that goal for TTC riders, for taxpayers and for Toronto’s citizens.

Consider joining the TTC Riders group and visiting CodeRedTO’s website. Also pay attention to the agendas for upcoming Toronto Transit Commission Meetings. Transit expansion plans will soon come to the Commission. You should consider making a deputation to tell the Commission how you feel about Transit in Toronto.

-Maria

At Toronto City Council’s 2012 Budget session, Torontonians witnessed a bold effort by City Council to push back the Mayor’s agenda of major cuts to our services. We had success.

The 2012 Toronto City Budget proposed cuts to Libraries, Childcare, investment to community services, cuts to priority centres, TTC bus routes, police, fire, paramedics, street cleaning, garbage services, etc..

Indiscriminate cuts were not what Torontonians voted for. Making indiscriminate cuts to our services embody a narrow view of our City that most Torontonians don’t share. Torontonians know that these kinds of cuts to our services would create irreparable harm to our community and you demanded we stand up for you.

That is why tens of thousands of you came to depute at our committees, signed many petitions, and attended many community meetings on the 2012 service cuts. In Downsview, over 150 of you came to our meeting on the budget Cuts. You demanded I return to City Council and save important services while ensure a balanced budget. I said it could be done and we did it.

Last Tuesday, your City Council stood up for Toronto. A massive Motion was introduced to save many critical services we all rely on. To save these services, the motion used a tiny portion of our $154 million in surplus money. I supported this motion because it invested important funds in our community and as a result many critical services were saved.

Among what was saved included $4 million to restore Library hours, $5 million to restore service to the TTC, reversed fees for children, youth and older adult programs at Priority Community Centres, ice rinks, community investment programs, reversed daycare fees, reversed pool fees for children and seniors, 3 daycares saved, 3 transitional homes saved.

Still, despite efforts, not all services could be saved from the Mayor’s chopping block. Among these include eliminating 1100 front-line workers, elimination of 4 free garbage tags, street sweeping was cut back from twice a month to once a month, reduced tree and shrub maintenance, 236 police officers cut, 68 firefighters cut, 36 paramedics cut, and the elimination of the Christmas Bureau which coordinates the distribution of gifts to needy kids and more.

Importantly however, Torontonians sent the message that it will not tolerate indiscriminate cuts to the services they rely on. They are willing to hold the Mayor to his “guarantee” that services will not be cut to balance the budget. Services are important to Toronto and your Council showed that it will stand up for you. I will continue to stand up for you.

-Maria

TONIGHT:Community Meeting – How will major service cuts affect you?
The 2012 Toronto City budget contains major service cuts that will affect our community. You are invited to a community meeting to discuss these cuts.

TONIGHT January 11, 2012 @ 7 pm
Downsview Secondary School, Cafeteria
7 Hawksdale Road

Guest speakers include:
Shelley Carroll, Toronto City Councillor
Mike Layton, Totonto City Councillor
Adam Vaughan, Toronto City Councillor

Cuts include:
58 student nutrition programs that help 14,000 kids
19,444 fewer library hours, less first-print material
Introduction of fees for children and youth at Priority Community Centres
17 of 29 Youth Outreach Workers eliminated, who mentor troubled youth
TTC fare hike and reduced service

Learn how these potential major service cuts can affect you, what your City Council is doing about it.

You have likely heard about the major service cuts proposed for Toronto. Cuts to our services are unnecessary. We have balanced our City’s finances in the past by investing intelligently, carefully cutting and finding efficiencies as necessary.

In 2011, the Mayor asked all City departments to cut 10% from their operating budgets. In addition, $3 million was spent on outside consultants to complete a “Core Service” review. The conclusion of their review is that they found no wasteful spending. Over 90% of city services had to be delivered by law, 8% were traditional such as Homes for the Aged, and 1% was discretionary.
Read more…

We need more and better transit on Finch right now. Time to be honest about the state of Transit in Toronto.

December 6, 2011

Dear Community Residents

Murray Road Land Listing

The sale/lease listing of the former Sunrise Propane facility is not new. In fact, the (private) listing expires later this month and the owners have said that they will probably not re-list in the foreseeable future. The MLS listing was suspended today,  December 6. The landowners are looking for the land to be re-used. Ongoing discussions suggest that the listing was intended only for the purposes of publicizing eventual, not immediate intentions. Read more…

Toronto needs more and better transit, not less.

On January 8, 2012 Toronto transit riders can expect over 204,000 fewer bus and streetcar trips to service Toronto. This will create a feeling of all-day ‘rush hour’ as more people will be crammed into fewer buses and streetcars.

TTC managers identify these reductions as a “major service cut”. Read more…