Toronto: Why Adam Giambrone Should Not Be Mayor!
February 10th, 2010 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Toronto
One word:Meglomania!
That a member of Toronto City Council and Chair of a very important City Service would think that running for Mayor would not compromise his decisions, shows that Adam Giambrone views himself as other than human and fallible. His recent apology of having a number of sex partners while being in a “supposedly” committed relationship is the next key. Do we need a “supposedly” committed Mayor?
The fact that the Deputy Premier of the Proviince would step down to run for Mayor, yet the Chair of the TTC does not think there is an issue of running for Mayor and being Chair of the TTC at the same time, leaves me in total doubt of his abilities and those of the group of back room boys that would float his name in the first place.
Torontonians are not that stupid!
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
What Kind of Mayor Does Toronto Need Now?
September 29th, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Business, Buying in Toronto, Downtown Toronto, Economy, Lifestyle, Real Estate, Toronto
With David Miller deciding not to run in the upcoming Toronto Mayoralty race, it begs the question “What kind of Mayor does Toronto need now?” Mayor Miller has left us with a wonderful City in decline…
If you, like me, are wondering why it took a 5 week summer Strike to end up with a City Workers contract that could have probably been negotiated without a Strike, I would tell you that it is symptomatic of what is wrong with Mayor Miller’s management. He cannot seem to get consensus on City Council or in the City. He has taken very strong stands on losing causes such as his fight with the Island Airport and the popular Porter Airways and lost a lot of support by implementing two added taxes on Torontonians who drive or buy homes. These taxes will never be great generators of income as they focus on groups rather than the whole who benefit. He has increased City taxes and all you have to do is look around to see a lack of value in those increases…but I digress… Read the rest of this entry »
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Toronto: Saturday Night on St. Clair Avenue West
September 23rd, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Lifestyle, Toronto
Last Saturday night we dropped in on the new location of one of our favorite Italian restaurants: Acquolina Ristorante. They moved to 760 St. Clair Avenue West recently from their original on Mt. Pleasant Road. As usual, the food and service were great however…
It has been a while since I drove the length of St. Clair Avenue West from Yonge Street to Christie Avenue without construction…and now we could truly experience the finished product of the past three years, including special lanes for the TTC Trolleys….
Sadly, on a Saturday night at 6:30 PM (early eaters are we)…the street was vacant of any life. The St. Clair Avenue West BIA or Toronto City Council that proposed the rebuild of this vibrant area have really blown it. There used to be life on the Street, people sitting in sidewalk Cafes, shopping, strolling, etc. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
Downtown Toronto: The Difference Between Cyclists and Bicycle Couriers…
September 3rd, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Downtown Toronto, Getting around the City, Lifestyle, Toronto
Over the past few days there has been lots of sadness and anger from the Car and Bicycle community over Monday night’s altercation that ended in the death of a bicycle courier.
It is hard to forget the personalities involved, who they were, what they did and what would have lead to this horrible result. Yes, this City was built mostly for cars and we now have a strong movement to make the streets more bicycle friendly.
I don’t cycle anymore because it is dangerous out there on the City streets. I have had too many friends who have been hurt riding bikes when there were no cars around. The roads are in worse shape then they have ever been and the Trolley tracks make cycling in Toronto an event more like the “Tour de France”. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
When Toronto’s Green Roof Dream Becomes a Nightmare.
July 1st, 2009 categories: Around TORONTO, Lifestyle, Toronto
Toronto City Council has mandated that as of January 2010, all new construction must have a certain percentage of the roof designated as a GREEN Roof. While the idea sounds great at the onset, I am pessimistic…as usual:
Developers are often short sighted. They know that they have a finite time to build and sell the property, making their profit as quickly as possible. Some are often known to take shortcuts and seldom see themselves involved in the property twenty years from completion. Most intend to be completely finished with the property within five years. (I often have to console Buyers who are looking for attention from their Builders and tell them that when buying new, “ By the time you get to closing, you have to realize that most Builders are working on the third or forth project down the line”). Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 4 Comments »
Common Sense is missed at City Council
May 26th, 2009 categories: Getting around the City, Real Estate, Toronto
Mayor Miller keeps trying to re-invent Toronto as a Bike Friendly City…he forgets that 4 or 5 months of the year it is not prudent to drive a Bicycle. It is called WINTER! Let’s have Bike month in January or February and see what support he gets. Until then we need to focus attention in rapid transit that is available 12 months a year.
Last night the City voted to close one lane of Jarvis Street to Cars and make Jarvis Street more Bike friendly. How about spending that money fixing some of the existing roadways that are potholed? It is all gamesmen-ship at City Hall and the homeowner and car owner are losing…with David Miller as Mayor, get used to more of it! Maybe if we created a Homeowner and Car owner Union we would have more say at City Hall.
When are we going to get angry enough?? Note the photo Mayor Miller and Mr. Rae? It is called WINTER.
| Discussion: 9 Comments »
Toronto City Council: An Idea whose time has come!!
April 11th, 2009 categories: Toronto
If you have not noticed, Toronto City Council has been a greater mess than we have experienced for years. More taxes, hidden fees, special interests, posturing on the left wing and the right. Worst of all however, and part and parcel of what drives the issues is the politics surrounding the Wards.
Aldermen want to be re-elected and in this City Council that means if you support the Mayor, there is a good chance that issues that effect your ward will be the first at the check-out line. Is it better for ward residents to push to elect someone who they know is on the Mayor’s Team or someone who is going to stand up for the issues in the riding? Again and again, Toronto residents hear of Council meetings that seem more like planning the High School Prom than running one of the largest corporations in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
