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All text the MP

 

MPP Cheri DiNovo calls for repeal of the Safe Streets Act with “The Kormos Act”

 

April 29, 2015

QUEEN’S PARK — Today, NDP Urban Issues critic Cheri DiNovo introduced a repeal to the Safe Streets Act. The act came into effect in 2000 under the Mike Harris government, and became commonly known as the “squeegee kids” law because it essentially criminalized poverty by ticketing panhandlers, squeegee kids, the homeless and people with mental health issues.

The law has cost more than $1 million in police time to hand out at least $4 million in tickets, 99 per cent of which remain unpaid. In Toronto alone, over 67,000 SSA tickets were issued between 2000 and 2010.

“For many people, tickets haunt them for years, long after many have turned their lives around” said DiNovo. “Outstanding fines count against a driver’s licence and can make it difficult to obtain credit. This creates a barrier for people to getting employment and housing.”

For those unlucky enough to get multiple tickets, the Safe Streets Act also carries jail time of up to six months for repeat offenders.

“This is not only a bad law, but also a waste of tax dollars,” said DiNovo. “The money could have been better spent on affordable housing, employment, mental health and addictions supports and an investment in prevention so that people don’t become homeless in the first place.”

A recent province-wide poll suggests that Ontarians broadly reject the Safe Streets Act (56%), while only one quarter (26%) actually support this law.

DiNovo is naming her bid to repeal the law “the Kormos Act” after former NDP MPP Peter Kormos, who was a champion for the Bill to be scrapped.

In the legislature today joining DiNovo in her call to repeal the act: Cathy Crowe, Long-time street nurse in Toronto and past executive director of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee; Joanna Neffs, Lawyer, founding member of the Coalition to Repeal the Safe Streets Act and president of Fair Change Community Legal Services, a community legal clinic that represents people charged with Safe Streets Act offence.

Burning Cloud, a Toronto resident speaking out about how the Safe Streets Act has impacted him, was scheduled to join DiNovo on the panel, but because he has an outstanding warrant resulting fro the Safe Streets Act, he decided at the last moment that it was too risky. The sight of police at Queen’s Park was enough to scare him.

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 Beginning on Saturday, May 2, at 6 a.m. until Monday, May 4, at 6 a.m. Lansdowne Ave. will be closed to vehicle traffic between Seaforth Ave. and Shirley St. to allow for equipment delivery, utility relocation and installation of the bridge girder. The west sidewalk may be closed for crane set up.
 
 
 Replacing and realigning three bridge spans and modifying the existing abutments
 How this will affect you
 
 Intermittent lane restrictions on Lansdowne Ave. under the bridge during regular construction hours
 
 One lane in each direction and pedestrian access will remain open
 Short-term full closure of Lansdowne Ave. under the bridge when spans are removed and installed
 
 Full closures limited to nights and weekends
 
 This is routine construction work with regular construction noise and vibration from trucks, cranes, and construction equipment
 
 Pedestrian access will be maintained during regular work hours. Short-term closure of sidewalks under the bridge will be required during bridge span removal and installation.
 

Move OUT of the Junction in the 70’s and 80’s and think they were going to going to greener pastures.
 
 

 My boy Matt says always chk your parking.
 
 
 In the following area,
 
 
 introduce overnight on-street permit parking on Annette Street, between Runnymede Road and the south branch of Beresford Avenue,
 
 
 
 Transportation Services recommends that:
 
 
 
 1. City Council approve the amendment of Schedule A of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to incorporate the south side of Annette Street, between Runnymede Road and the south branch of Beresford Avenue, on an area name basis, within permit area 1E, under the operating hours of 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week.
 
 
 Summary:
 Transportation Services is requesting approval from City Council to introduce overnight on-street permit parking on Annette Street, between Runnymede Road and the south branch of Beresford Avenue, on an area name basis, within permit area 1E, under the operating hours of 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week.
 
 Area residents requested the implementation of overnight on-street permit parking on
 Annette Street, between Runnymede Road and the south branch of Beresford Avenue, to accommodate their long term parking needs without being subject to tagging by Parking Enforcement Officers.
 
 Financial Impact:
 The amount of $200 is available within the current Toronto Transportation Services 2015 Operating Budget.
 
 Background Information:
 (April 17, 2015) Report from the Manager, Right of Way Management, Transportation Services, regarding Overnight On-Street Permit Parking – Annette Street
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-79609.pdf)
 Appendix A – Area Map
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-79610.pdf)
 
 Source: Toronto City Clerk at
 www.toronto.ca/council

City staff recommend Traffic Calming NOT be installed Mulock Ave., Junction Rd & Lloyd Ave.
 
 Council will make decision
 Etobicoke York Community Council consideration on May 12, 2015
 
 EY 6.29 ACTION Delegated Ward:11
 
 Traffic Calming Poll Results – Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue
 
 Origin
 (March 30, 2015) Report from the Director, Transportation Services – Etobicoke York District
 
 Recommendations:
 Transportation Services recommends to Etobicoke York Community Council that:
 
 
 
 1. Traffic Calming NOT be installed on Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue
 
 
 Summary:
 This staff report is about a matter for which Community Council has delegated authority from City Council to make a final decision.
 
 
 
 This report summarizes the results of the traffic calming polls undertaken on Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue.
 
 
 
 At its meeting of August 12, 2014, Etobicoke York Community Council, as per item EY35.75, directed the City Clerk to formally survey residents directly affected by installing speed humps on Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue. Polling ballots were sent to the affected residents, the minimum response rate of 50% plus one ballot was not achieved.
 
 
 Financial Impact:
 Adopting the above-noted recommendation does not result in any financial impact; however, if Community Council decides to approve installing traffic calming devices on Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue, the following financial impact will result:
 
 
 
 1. The estimated cost for installing four speed humps will be $12,000.00. This can be accommodated within funds allocated by City Council as part of the Transportation Capital Budget, subject to competing priorities and funding availability.
 
 
 Background Information:
 (March 30, 2015) Report from the Director, Transportation Services – Etobicoke York District regarding Traffic Calming Poll Results – Mulock Avenue, between Junction Road and Lloyd Avenue
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-79395.pdf)
 Attachment 1 – Proposed Speed Hump Location Plan
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-79396.pdf)
 
 Source: Toronto City Clerk at
 www.toronto.ca/council

 
 
 Often when the Etobicoke York Community Council agenda comes out, front lot parking dominates the issues presented for ward 13.
 
 Local counselor wants to streamline the process where an application meets certain provisions.
 
 City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 918 – Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards (FYP) – Amendment for Properties within Ward 13
 
 Origin
 (April 23, 2015) Letter from Councillor Sarah Doucette, Ward 13 – High Park
 
 Recommendations:
 It is recommended that:
 
 
 
 1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 918, Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards, to provide that, despite any other provisions in Code Chapter 918:
 
 
 
  a. Subsections 918-8 C(2) and 918-8 C(3) shall not apply to a front yard parking application for front yard parking and/or to an application for a licence to park on any portion of a boulevard where the application is for a residential property located within the area of the former City of Toronto in Ward 13 where:
 
 
 
  i. the application is for a front yard parking pad adjacent to an existing mutual driveway which has a width of less than 2.2 metres measured at the narrowest point;
 
 
 
  ii. additional ramping is not required or, if additional ramping is required, there is no loss of an on-street permit parking space; and
 
 
 
  iii. the property meets all other requirements of Chapter 918.
 
 
 
  b. Subsections 918-9D and 918-9E shall not apply to a front yard parking pad in the area of the former City of Toronto in Ward 13 where additional ramping is not required.
 
 
 
 2. City Council authorize staff to introduce in Council any bills that may be necessary to give effect to Council’s decision.
 
 
 Summary:
 The City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 918 – “Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards”, as approved by Council in July 2006 is stringent in its requirements, especially as it relates to on-street permit parking.
 
 
 
 The following Municipal Code sections, 918-8 C(2) and 918-8 C(3) are frequently the reasons for the denial of an application for front yard parking. In these cases the homeowner first submits an application and pays the non-refundable application fee of $347.98 plus HST. The application cannot be approved administratively and is therefore refused. The applicant then has the option to appeal. They must pay the non-refundable appeal fee of $727.85 plus HST, creating a combined total with taxes of over $1,200.00. A poll is then conducted and a report is prepared for the Community Council. Of course with this there is no guarantee of a favourable outcome for the applicant.
 
 
 
 – 918-8 C (2) states that when a home is situated on a street where on-street permit parking is permitted on that same side, the application must be refused. It does not take into consideration whether or not an on-street space will be deleted by the approval of a front yard parking pad. This section of the Code also considers “alternating sides” on-street permit parking as being on the same side, even if it is only for months at a time.
 
 
 
 – 918-8 C (3) speaks to on-street permit parking on any side of the street and being less than 90% allocated or filled on that block where the home is situated. Again, it does not consider situations where there will not be a loss of an on-street permit parking space if the front yard parking pad is granted.
 
 
 
 This proposed amendment attempts to streamline the process by acknowledging that there are some applications that meet all the requirements of the Code and do not affect the on-street permit parking.
 
 
 
 It is specific in that:
 
 
 
 – It must be a mutual driveway of less than 2.2m wide that is being widened. This is very similar to the previous driveway widening by-law.
 
 
 
 – The property must meet all the other requirements of the Code such as landscape open space, soft landscaping, tree protection zones and result in a positive poll.
 
 
 
 – On-street permit parking is not affected. By making this specific to mutual driveway situations, the applicant must access the parking pad via the existing access and maneuver into the spot. There may be occasions where the ramp may need to be extended and in these cases the application would not be approved if an on-street permit parking space is deleted by the addition of ramping.
 
 
 
 On-street permit parking is in effect in approximately 80% of Ward 13 where FYP applications are permitted. The result is that many applicants, after submitting the required fee, are refused a permit to install a parking pad and are forced to incur further charges/fees through an appeal with no guarantee of a positive outcome. It is a costly and lengthy process. Many applicants have advised that is both stressful and onerous.
 
 
 
 Additionally, staff spend a considerable amount of time on these types of applications. If/when they proceed to appeals, the staff must spend time gathering the information necessary for the reports. A further inspection by the By-Law Officers is also typically done to ensure the information provided is correct. It is hoped that this amendment will decrease the number of appeals coming before Community Council, permitting staff to process other applications and appeals more quickly. Currently the timeline from an initial application to the appeal report in front of Community Council is 6 to 8 months. Shortening this is also helpful for the applicant.
 
 
 Background Information:
 (April 23, 2015) Letter from Councillor Sarah Doucette, Ward 13 – High Park, regarding Municipal Code, Chapter 918 – Parking on Residential Front Yards and Boulevards (FYP) – Amendment for Properties within Ward 13
 (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-79542.pdf)
 
 The above link from the SD letter would simply contains the information presented above but by the city staff.
 
 Source: Toronto City Clerk at
 www.toronto.ca/council

The street vendor is not intending to go anywhere very soon. Using all the space he needs, led screen advertising & industrial lamps – great.
 
 

Click here to visit their site.

 

The Junction BIA is pleased to present another great year of Photography in the Junction – part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. This year you will be able to explore 16 venues and see fine photographic works from more than 20 diverse artists. Yet again, this is the highest concentration of photographic venues in the City for the duration of an internationally acclaimed CONTACT Photography Festival.

While the event is open all month long (May 1^st-31^st), the opening reception will take place Saturday May 6^th from 6-9 pm.

For more information please visit the event page.

Junction BIA Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival

 

From Wikipedia
 
 This page has some issues
 The Safe Streets Act, 1999 is a law in the province of Ontario, Canada. In 2004 the province of British Columbia passed its own version of the Safe Streets Act (SSA), substantially a word-for-word copy of the Ontario version. The SSA prohibits aggressive solicitation of persons in certain public places and the disposal of dangerous things in certain public places. It also amends the Highway Traffic Act to regulate certain activities on roadways. The SSA was enacted by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris and received royal assent on December 14, 1999.
 
 The act was created in response to what was seen as the growing problem of squeegee kids on the streets. By 1999, it was very common to see squeegee kids on some of the busiest intersections where they would solicit motorists for spare change.
 
 The Ontario SSA was affirmed by the Ontario Court of Appeal on a constitutional challenge after the Ontario Superior Court also upheld its validity in 2005. The Supreme Court of Canada has denied an application for review.
 
 
 All text below Cheri DiNovo
 
 
 
 
 
 MPP Cheri DiNovo to introduce a repeal of the Safe Streets Act
 
 
 April 28, 2015
 
 For 15 years, the Ontario Safe Streets Act (SSA) has criminalized people in poverty, such as panhandlers, squeegee kids and people with mental health issues. On April 29, MPP Cheri DiNovo will table a bill to repeal it, calling it the Kormos Act, in honour of Peter Kormos, who fought for years to have the law repealed.
 
 The SSA came into effect in 2000 in response to the growing number of homeless individuals in cities across the province during the 1990s. It’s time to repeal the unnecessary and unjust SSA.
 
 Banning aggressive panhandling was never the solution. The acts of aggression it targeted were already illegal. What it did was penalize people for being poor. And it was a convenient way to get panhandlers off the streets, out of sight and out of mind.
 
 A recent poll suggest Ontarians broadly reject the use of the Act and policing as an effective way of dealing with homelessness.

Great article listing stories about urban farming

Click here

 

 The Stop Night Market moves to a new location and tickets go on sale May 13
 
 An excerpt…The Stop’s Third Annual Night Market! This year’s market will be held on Tuesday June 16 and Wednesday June 17 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at a new location, 181 Sterling Rd. in Toronto’s Junction triangle area. Their 2015 market promises to be their biggest event yet, with room for more vendors and ticket holders. Tickets go on sale at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13 at the night market website and are $100 a piece, which includes all food and drinks. Be prepared once the 13th rolls around because last year’s tickets sold out in under an hour.
 
 Full article and story here

The number of Junction churches that have been converted into homes is sad, one two, ok building use moves on. But the huge defining church at 260 High Park Avenue at Annette, is for sale at $8,950,000. Would be the 3rd and a devastating 3rd conversion as it dominates the intersection while defining the history of the area.

This church has been for sale for a while, so glad developers seem to have no interest it.