Newsletters

Community Update for March 21, 2014

Significant Progress Made Toward Keeping Hodgson Rink Open!

The Hodgson ice rink is closed this year as a result of two ammonia leaks in two years. Components at a facility like Hodgson have a life cycle of 15-20 years. The Hodgson rink is now over 30 years old. There is no doubt that the rink's infrastructure needs to be completely replaced.

With the rink closed, I worked closely with many dedicated parents to build a natural ice rink nearby. While this rink has been a great success, it does not replace having a reliable artificial rink in our neighbourhood.

The land on which the rink is located is owned by the TDSB. The City earmarked $2 million toward the Hodgson rink in its 2014 capital budget and is ready to begin construction. However, TDSB staff was only willing to commit that their property will remain a rink for 10 years to keep their options open for future uses, which is insufficient for a capital investment of this size.

I worked with Trustee Laskin to ensure that City and TDSB staff were focussed on arriving at a resolution rather than the obstacles in their way.

I am delighted to report that there has been significant progress made by the City and the TDSB toward an agreement. The City is now moving forward with tendering a contract to refurbish and upgrade the rink. The facility will continue to be located at Hodgson Senior Public School and, barring any unknown construction, the rink will most likely be ready for the 2014/2015 winter season.

To the parents and residents who have advocated for our local rink, I can tell you that not only were your voices heard, they were instrumental in what we've achieved.

Once again, when our community has been presented with a challenge we've successfully faced it together.

City Staff recommends Necessary Further Study Needed to Properly Assess Porter's Expansion Proposal

Porter Airline's proposed expansion plans for Billy Bishop Airport (BBTCA) represent an intriguing proposal that could present benefits to downtown businesses, tourists, and travelers. As you may be aware, though, City Staff are making strong recommendations to Executive Committee next week that advises more time is needed to weigh the potential benefits while honestly studying possible long=term negative impacts on, for example, our city's waterfront and local traffic. Moreover, the Staff report points out that Porter's expansion proposal are as yet insufficient and Transport Canada has yet to even evaluate the proposal.

While I recognize that a downtown airport is an asset to the city and appreciate the quality service Porter Airlines provides to Toronto's residents, I believe it's responsible to thoughtfully accept the advice City staff have presented to Council. In fact, I believe it would be reckless not to. I know that Porter has been actively lobbying and campaigning. The convenience of an expanded downtown airport and the excitement many people have about taking a jet from Toronto Island to various destinations has convinced many of you to contact me. Obviously, if Porter's request was a simple as that, I believe it would have been approved already. But it's not. It's actually a far more complex issue than it may seem like on the surface, as clarified in the Staff report I've read. I sincerely hope you can support my position, and strong conviction, that I have a duty to put facts before politics, and to ensure the decision we make is fully informed and truly evidence-based. I voted for a Staff report to be completed on the benefits and concerns regarding an expanded Billy Bishop Airport that would allow jets, no matter whether they eventually be operated by Porter, West Jet or Air Canada, etc. Now, I would like to read the completed Staff report I requested in order to make the right decision for Toronto.

Free the Food Trucks

Earlier this week, the Licensing and Standards Committee made a number of recommendations to provide new opportunities on food trucks. After months of thoughtful debate and collaboration between Councillors and staff, the primary guidelines are:

Food trucks can park for five hours on any one block
Limit removed on the number of Mobile Food Vending Permit holders on any block
Mobile Food Vending Permit holders will be required to be 50 linear metres from a licensed eating establishment that is open and operating.

I strongly support the measures taken by the Licensing and Standards Committee and I will be voting for their recommendations when they come to Council next month. I also support the idea of BIAs being a part of this conversation. From everything I have read and learned on the matter, it has been shown in other cities that food trucks contribute to more vibrant and active streetscapes.

Eglinton Crosstown Update

Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown will be conducted through Midtown from Spring to late Fall 2014. The work zone will extend from approximately east of Spadina Road to Heddington Avenue along Eglinton Avenue West. Traffic patterns in the area will continue to change and shift during different phases of the work. For more information on the Crosstown project, please click here.

2014 Community Clean-Up

The City of Toronto's annual spring clean up is quickly approaching. Residents, businesses and organizations are welcome to participate in local clean up events. If you are interested in helping to keep Toronto clean and green this spring, please click here to register your group.

This year’s clean up will take place on the following dates:

Friday April 25, 2014 - Corporate & School Clean-up Day
Saturday April 26 & Sunday April 27 - Community Clean-up Days

Please call my office at 416-392-7906 or email me at [email protected] and I can provide you with free bags for trash and recyclables. I would also be delighted to join you and help clean our community with you and your group.

Enter and vote in the 2014 Live Green Toronto Awards

With video entries and public voting, the City's Live Green Toronto Awards offer everyone an opportunity to participate in the search for Toronto's greenest people, groups and businesses.

Residents, groups and businesses that reside or operate in Toronto can enter this year’s awards by submitting a short video, up to 90 seconds long, and telling their green story in 500 words or less. Residents can view the videos and vote for their favourites online, once per day. Winners will be determined through a combination of votes and judges' scores.
Award categories open for entries include:

Youth
Individual
Group
Small business
Corporate

Winners will receive $2,500 courtesy of sponsors, including Toronto Hydro and the City's Economic Development and Culture Division, and a chance to appear on CP24. Entries and votes will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on April 28. Winners will be announced on May 20, 2014. For details, the entry form and tips on how to create your video, please click here.

Call for Nominations: Heritage Toronto Awards

The call is out for nominations for the 40th Annual Heritage Toronto Awards! The awards celebrate outstanding contributions in the promotion and conservation of Toronto's history and heritage by professionals and volunteers.

Nominations are requested for five categories, including heritage books, short publications, and digital media; promotion of Toronto's heritage by a volunteer-based organization; and the William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category for building owners' excellence in the restoration of heritage buildings.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 16 at 4:30 pm. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in October of this year.

For more information, and to access the nomination forms for the five categories, please click here.

First Annual Dupont Dig Festival

The Dupont Strip BIA is holding its first annual Dupont Dig: a flower and gardening festival with the goal of reaching out to and connecting with the community.

The event is set to take place on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, from 11 am to 5 pm. The central location for the festival will be at Huron Street North and Dupont Street.

More information will be available closer to the festival dates, but for now please save the dates!

Build the Relief Subway Line Now!

The Relief Subway Line would provide an alternative within our existing subway system, which is already overcrowded during rush hours. It would also curb gridlock on our city’s streets and increase access to jobs and attractions. It is the evidence-based subway expansion project that would most improve Toronto’s economy and residents’ quality of life.

To take action and learn more about the proposal, please visit my page on the Relief Subway Line. In an upcoming update, I'll be providing you notice for a Midtown public meeting on Next Steps for the Relief Subway Line and a Regional Relief Network with the City of Toronto and Metrolinx that I'm organizing for early May, 2014.

Stop Unfair Rent Increases

Above the Guideline Increases (AGIs) for basic upkeep and repairs have pushed rents, that are already steep, into the unaffordable range in recent years. Landlords can apply for AGIs through the Landlord and Tenant Board. While there are certainly some very good landlords, too many others are abusing the system. Many repairs should be included as part of a landlord's overall expenses and paid for from the rent they already receive. It is clear that tenants, often seniors who have fixed pensions, are being unfairly burdened for the landlord’s basic cost of doing business.

For more information and to learn how you can take action against spiralling rent increases and unexpected fees, please visit my page on AGIs.

Free Toronto from the OMB! Stop Inappropriate Development

The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is an unelected and unaccountable provincial body which has the final say on all planning decisions in the province of Ontario that often gives the development industry an unfair advantage at "appeals" hearings over the interests of our communities and the City of Toronto's Official Plan.

The OMB has a history of contributing to inappropriate development in our city. Toronto's midtown neighbourhoods are facing an unprecedented amount of new developments, many of which are condos, and it's putting an unjustifiable strain on our community without the adequate infrastructure, including transit and public realm, to keep up with the growth in population.

For more information on how to get involved and take action, please visit my page on the OMB.

Community Update for February 21, 2014

REMINDER: You're Invited to a Community Skating Party at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park!

After working closely with parents in our community, I'm delighted to announce that the "SkinnamaRink" natural ice rink (near our newly named Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground) at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park is now open for fun! This season, Hodgson Rink is temporarily closed for necessary repairs. While I was very upset about the timing of this work, members of the community and I felt that it was important there still be a local rink for our kids to skate in the interim. I deeply appreciate our remarkable local parents/residents who worked incredibly hard to make this happen including Chris Trussell, Jon De La Mothe (our human Zambonis), Jennifer Dobson Matheson and many others!

To celebrate the opening of our new rink, AppleTree Markets has organized a Community Skating Party on Sunday, February 23. The party will be from 10 am to 12 pm, and will feature refreshments, music and an ice show. I hope to see you there!

Update on Addressing the Roots of Youth Violence

I am pleased to announce that, after nearly a year since I first moved a motion at Council to create this strategy, the final report to address the roots of youth violence, titled the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, was supported unanimously by my colleagues at Council this week. This comprehensive report contains 110 recommended actions to support our most vulnerable youth.

I look forward to seeing the thoughtful and proactive measures to deal with youth violence implemented in community centres, libraries and TCHC facilities across Toronto. The staff-recommended initiatives to assist our city's most vulnerable youth include mental supports, employment training and crime diversion programs in targeted areas. This strategy also uses every dollar allocated to these programs in a more efficient, deliberate and focused way to get the best result for at-risk youth.

Motion to Stop Unfair Rent Increases Supported at Council

Our community's campaign to stop unfair rent increases has kicked into high gear. My motion to request the province to eliminate Above the Guideline Increases (AGIs) for basic upkeep and repairs passed Council this week. Please read this Toronto Star article for more information and to learn how you can take action against spiralling rent increases and unexpected fees, please visit my page on AGIs.

Congratulations to new TTC Chair Maria Augimeri

At Council this week, Councillor Maria Augimera was elected to replace Councillor Karen Stintz as Chair of the TTC. I look forward to working with her on the many important transit issues facing our city. In particular, I will continue to advocate to move up the timeline for the Relief Subway Line, increasing capacity on the existing Yonge subway line and local bus routes that are already overcrowded, returning evening service on the Mt. Pleasant 74 along with many other initiatives critical to reducing gridlock and moving us all to our jobs, school, family and friends faster.

Taxi Reform

After several years of consultation, City Council voted this week to support taxi drivers by moving toward an owner-operator system. The reforms will cut out the middle-men who owned the licenses and ensure that more of the profits will go to the drivers who put in the hard work. Taxicabs were also made more accessible. Please see this article for a more detailed description.

Protecting Ward 22 at the OMB

The applicants for the Art Shoppe development have taken the City to the OMB. At the pre hearing yesterday I ensured that our community's interests were well represented by City Planning and Legal staff. The OMB has suggested mediation and I will be fighting for a more reasonable development on this site. The developers have proposed two towers of 38 and 29 storeys on a site where a midrise is more appropriate. The Art Shoppe is directly adjacent to single family homes on Soudan and Hillsdale, has direct impacts on condo residents in adjacent buildings and many other residents, and is outside the provincially designated Urban Growth Centre.

For more information on developments in Ward 22 please see this webpage and please visit this page for more information about you can help free Toronto from the OMB.

Metrolinx’s Free Social Media Workshop for Businesses

Metrolinx is currently working with local businesses and BIAs to ensure that the public is aware Eglinton Avenue West will be open for business during the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown. Metrolinx will be hosting a free Social Media Workshop for small businesses on Friday, February 28 at 10 am in Northern District Library’s Room 244A (40 Orchard View Blvd.) If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to [email protected] by this Tuesday, February 25.

Eglinton Crosstown Construction Public Meeting

On Thursday, February 27, Metrolinx will be hosting a public meeting for information on the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The meeting will be an Open House format with an opportunity to view displays and speak one-on-one with Metrolinx staff.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Northern District Library, located at 40 Orchard View Blvd.

New Circles Prom Drive

New Circles is collecting new and gently used dresses, suits, shoes and accessories to help make a graduating student's prom memorable. From now until Friday, April 4, items can be dropped off with Patrick Rocca at Bosley Real Estate (290 Merton Street). If you are unable to drop off the items, please e-mail Alexa Rocca or Christian Rocca to make arrangements for pick-up. Please note that all donations must be laundered.

If you do not have any clothing items to contribute but would be interested in donating, a donation can be made and an item will be purchased on your behalf. To make a donation, please e-mail Poppy at New Circles for more information.

Clean Toronto Together 2014

The City of Toronto’s Clean Toronto Together campaign returns this April during Earth Week. With the recent snow storms, Toronto's public and private spaces need our support more than ever! Led by Live Green Toronto, this year's campaign theme, Clean and Green, is encouraging participants to pick up litter, plant greenery, mulch and become involved in community gardening and graffiti clean ups.

Community clean up dates include:

Corporate and School Clean-up Day on Friday, April 25
Community Clean-up Days on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27

To register your clean-up event, please visit Clean Toronto Together 2014.

Last year, I joined many of you for your clean-up events. I would be delighted to participate again this year so please do keep me informed of any events you are organizing in our community!

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca.

Community Update for February 5, 2014

You're Invited to a Community Skating Party at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park!

To celebrate the opening of our new rink, AppleTree Markets has organized a Community Skating Party on Sunday, February 23. The party will be from 10 am to 12 pm, and will feature hot chocolate, music, a food truck and an ice show. I hope to see you there!

Transit Update

At Council last week I asked my colleagues to eliminate the 2014 tax and debt increases to fund a 3-stop subway extension in Scarborough, which would provide far less service, for much more money, to far fewer residents than the original LRT plan. I believe it would have been the honest, prudent and fiscally responsible choice to work with staff over the next year to receive a full and accurate accounting of the sunk costs associated with the LRT cancellation and all the costs required for the subway extension. The purpose of the motion was to provide Council the opportunity to revisit the issue during the 2015 budget process with a clear understanding of the long term impacts this transit decision will have on Torontonians.

Unfortunately, the Council Speaker ruled my motion out of order citing questionable legal issues as justification for her ruling despite my office having been told by the City Clerk that my motion was in order.

I will continue to advocate for the evidence-based transit option for Scarborough, along with championing a Relief Subway Line for every Toronto resident that will provide more residents with better service for less money and will not require 30 years of property taxes and debt. Recent polling is demonstrating that, when given the facts, Toronto residents know that a 7-stop, traffic-separated LRT (no car lanes removed or stops at traffic signals) for $1.8 billion and fully funded by the Province is a better, more honest and fiscally responsible choice than a 3-stop subway for $3.5 billion that isn't supported by transit or planning experts. I believe we must move forward now with transit that makes sense and is based on evidence rather than politics.

In my next update to you, I'll have an update on the progress being made on the Eglinton Crosstown and a notice for a Metrolinx public meeting for Ward 22 residents.

Supporting Tenants

My office has heard from too many renters who have been treated unfairly by their landlords. In most instances, these tenants were taken advantage of because they were unaware of their rights.

The City's Outreach and Organizing Program helps tenant groups to organize and prepare for hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board for rent increase disputes, or at the Ontario Municipal Board for demolitions and condo conversion matters.

Unfortunately this program was cut a few years ago leaving many tenants without effective representation. I successfully moved a motion to renew this program to help ensure that renters are protected against unfair rent increases. You can read my full motion here and learn about my concerns with current rules on Above the Guideline Rent Increases here.

Establishing a Local Appeals Body

The Province of Ontario granted the City of Toronto the power to establish a Local Appeal Body (LAB) to hear appeals of Committee of Adjustment decisions (for minor variances). This does not include larger developments - please see information here about freeing Toronto from the OMB.

The City Planning division is launching "Made-for-Toronto Local Appeal Body" public consultations around the city with the express purpose of initiating and facilitating public dialogue around this matter. City Planning will make recommendations on establishing a Local Appeal Body in April.

Monday, March 17, 2014 at Metro Hall, Rooms 308 & 309, 6:45 pm to 9 pm. Staff presentations commence at 7 p.m.

Notices are being sent out to ratepayer groups (and other interested organizations and parties) around the city.

For more information please visit the City's Planning website.

Update on Addressing the Roots of Youth Violence

I am pleased to announce that, after nearly a year since I first moved a motion at Council to address the roots of youth violence in our City, the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy was approved by the Community Development and Recreation Committee on January 21. This comprehensive report contains 110 recommended actions to support our most vulnerable youth. Please see this article in the Toronto Star for more information. You can download and read the Strategy here. At its meeting on February 19, City Council will consider final approval of the Strategy.

It is time for the City of Toronto to take thoughtful and proactive measures to deal with youth violence no matter what neighbourhood it is found in. We cannot wait for another tragedy to spur more calls for blue ribbon panels and simplistic reactions. There have been many good reports that have already provided us with recommendations on how to move forward including The Review of the Roots of Youth Violence by Dr. Alvin Curling and The Honourable Roy McMurtry. Genuine, evidence-based action is needed now and without delay.

Last week, City Council approved my motion to provide funding in the 2014 Budget for staff-recommended initiatives to provide mental health, employment training and crime diversion supports in targeted areas across Toronto. This is the first step toward implementing the Youth Equity Strategy and truly addressing the roots of youth violence in Toronto.

Jane's Walk: Re-Imagining the Silent City

On Thursday, February 6 at 2 pm, meet at the 1643 Yonge St. gates of Mount Pleasant Cemetery for a Jane's Walk entitled Re-Imagining the Silent City, led by York University urban planning student Nicole Hanson. The walk will focus on re-imagining and reconceptualising urban planning practices for deathscapes in diverse cities.

This is an accessible event. Parking is available at the Mount Pleasant Visitation Centre, and the walk will begin at 2 pm from the Yonge St. gates. Nicole will be holding a sign with her name on it. You may find the online event listing here.

Public Meeting #3 on the Gardiner Expressway East Environment Assessment and Integrated Urban Design Study

The City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto are hosting a meeting on Thursday, February 6 where you can make your voice heard about the results of the evaluation of alternative solutions for the future of the Gardiner Expressway East. The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Toronto Reference Library (789 Yonge Street) in The Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person may participate and watch the meeting online via the project website.

Family Day at Spadina Museum

This Family Day, experience the world of the 1920s and 1930s at Spadina Museum on Monday, February 17. This era will be presented to children through music, toys, games and dance. Hands-on tours are scheduled for 12:15 pm, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm. Regular admission applies.

SPRINT Senior Care Doubles Number of FREE Exercise Classes

SPRINT Senior Care is an accredited not-for-profit, community support service agency, that has recently doubled its number of free exercise classes for seniors. Their classes are great for keeping fit and having fun. They also include chair-based exercises, low-impact cardio, bands and balance, and chair yoga. For information consult SPRINT Senior Care’s monthly community programs calendar or call SPRINT Senior Care at 416-481-6411.

Downton Abbey comes to Spadina Museum

Beginning March 11 and running through April 13, Spadina Museum will host the Canadian premier of Dressing for Downton: Costumes from Downton Abbey. Guests will be able to see 20 costumes worn by the characters on the show, as well as take part in themed tours and related talks. Tickets are available on the Spadina Museum website.

Free Income Tax Clinic at Yonge & Eglinton

From March 1 to April 25 the Central Eglinton Community Centre (CECC) is offering free income tax clinics by appointment at their Yonge and Eglinton office (160 Eglinton Avenue East). Certain income guidelines and restrictions apply. For more information, please phone Nancy at 416-392-0511 ext. 225 or email [email protected].

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca.

Community Update for January 17, 2014

Dear Residents,

It has been a very busy start to 2014. I have been working on several local priorities in every Ward 22 neighbourhood and bringing initiatives forward to council to improve our city on issues ranging from seniors, youth equity, transit, infrastructure, gridlock, planning, and much more.

Now, and over the next 6-8 weeks, there is a massive cleanup effort across the city taking place to clear our roads and parks of debris caused by the recent ice storm. Today, the mayor and deputy mayor are meeting with GTA mayors regarding the clean up and enormous costs related to it. With respect to the storm recovery and necessary preparation for the next one, I believe it is vitally important that politics be put aside and that our leaders work together, in a mature and productive way, for our city and region's residents.

The power outages over the holidays were a truly awful experience for so many people here in Ward 22 and around the GTA. I have been actively sharing feedback I've received from residents (and my own observations) with senior staff at the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro about how storm and disaster preparation, and response, can be improved. This has focused largely on issues such as communication, infrastructure and governance.

I do want to express my gratitude again to the hydro crews from Toronto and across North America for their tireless work to restore our community's power. Along with the many City staff who responded to our requests for support, I believe Toronto Hydro's Joyce McLean and Abby Bogart deserve our recognition. Over the course of ten days, I exchanged literally several hundred emails and calls with them on behalf of residents. They responded to each one and did everything they could to provide assistance. I will forever appreciate the work they did and who they are as people.

And thank you to the many Ward 22 residents who offered everything from firewood and generators to food and even a warm place to stay at their homes to neighbours who were in need. Our community truly came together when it mattered.

Please see my latest update to you below on city and local issues, and some public meeting notices. Click here to read my previous community updates.

Sincerely,

Josh

REMINDER: 2014 City of Toronto Budget Community Town Hall

Next week, I am hosting my 2014 Budget Town Hall for Ward 22 residents. Please join me on Thursday, January 23 at 7 pm at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre - Multi-Purpose Room (200 Eglinton Avenue West).

If you would like any information on the proposed 2014 City of Toronto budget in advance of my Town Hall meeting, please visit my website and the City of Toronto website.

Update on Addressing the Roots of Youth Violence

I am pleased to announce that, after nearly a year since I first moved a motion at Council to create this strategy, the final report to address the roots of youth violence, titled the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, is coming to Community Development and Recreation Committee on January 21. This comprehensive report contains 110 recommended actions to support our most vulnerable youth.

My colleagues at Community Development and Recreation Committee supported my motion to move forward with staff-recommended initiatives to provide mental health, employment training and crime diversion supports in targeted areas across Toronto. I will be working with my colleagues to help ensure these measures are approved by Council through the 2014 budget process.

Please see this article in the Toronto Star for more information.

June Rowlands (Davisville) Park playground now officially named the "Sharon, Lois and Bram" Playground!

Also at Toronto and East York Community Council, my motion to have the playground at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park named after celebrated, Toronto-based children’s music and entertainment trio, Sharon, Lois & Bram, was approved. The official playground sign will appropriately be in the shape of an elephant.

Sharon Hampson, Bram Morrison and Lois Lilienstein are all local residents of midtown Toronto and have been performing quality children's music and entertainment for over three decades and continue to be cherished and loved by many generations of children around the world. Their contributions are not only cultural; Sharon, Lois & Bram have been members of UNICEF since 1988 and were appointed National Ambassadors by UNICEF Canada in 1989. They used their television appearances to support the annual trick-or-treat penny drive campaign and received the Order of Canada in 2002 for their commitment to improving the lives of children around the globe.

Update on the new Natural Rink at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park

I have some exciting news! I’ve been working closely with parents in our community to get a natural rink open at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park while Hodgson Rink is temporarily closed this season for necessary repairs. While I was very upset about the timing of this work, members of the community and I decided to create a natural rink to ensure there will still be a local rink for our kids to skate in the interim. The natural rink will be open soon. I’d like to thank our remarkable local parents/residents who worked incredibly hard to make this happen!

P.S. Given that we’ve already named the playground at June Rowlands Park after Sharon, Lois & Bram, many of us are unofficially calling our new rink the “Skinnamarink”! :)

Improving Urban Design in Forest Hill Village

Forest Hill Village is a unique retail area in Midtown Toronto. It is one of the few commercial shopping enclaves in the city that is wholly contained within a residential area.

Several recent developments and renovations within the Village have been undertaken with little deference to the prevailing streetscape (such as the new LCBO). To allow this inconsistent development to continue will further threaten the very character and aesthetic that makes the Village unique.

That's why I moved a motion to Toronto and East York Community Council this week that directed planning staff to develop urban design guidelines for Forest Hill Village, in consultation with the community, to protect the distinctive "village" character of Forest Hill.

You're Invited to Meet with the Midtown Planning Group

While our Yonge and Eglinton neighbourhoods face enormous development pressure, they are divided by three wards and two different planning areas. That's why I, along with my neighbouring councillors, created a process to finally bring forward a comprehensive and holistic planning vision for the Yonge and Eglinton area. The next Midtown Planning Group meeting will be on Tuesday, January 21 and last met in November 2013 (the minutes can be found here).

This next meeting will be held from 6 to 9 pm at the Anne Johnston Health Station, located three blocks north of Yonge and Eglinton, at 2398 Yonge St.

Midtown in Focus – Public Meeting #2

On Tuesday, February 4, the Midtown in Focus Study Team will present and discuss its Draft Concepts and Implementation Strategies for Yonge-Eglinton's parks, open spaces, and streetscape. This information is the result of community input collected over the fall and winter of 2013.

The meeting will be held from 6 to 9 pm at the Salvation Army, located at 7 Eglinton Avenue East.

Beautifying the Bus Barns at Yonge and Eglinton

After working hard with the TTC, Metrolinx and City Planning, we are moving forward with an improvement plan to beautify the perimeter of the site. Construction crews are currently working to place informative panels about the new Eglinton Crosstown line that will cover the derelict site in behind that has been left an eyesore for over a decade.

While the space is needed in the short-term as a staging ground for Crosstown construction equipment, protecting traffic lanes in the process, I am advocating that there be new public space on this site as part of any new redevelopment.

I will continue to advocate that all parties respect the wishes of the community as set out in the Yonge-Eglinton Centre plan that allows for well-designed and reasonable development, while ensuring public space that major cities all over the world have at major transit hubs.

New Mural for the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail

This week, I met with Greenwood College School students to talk about a mural they are designing for the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail at Mount Pleasant Road. I'm excited to be working with a very talented group of art students and with City staff on this project. I will also be consulting with local residents about the design and will share details of upcoming community consultation meetings once they are finalized.

Cleanup of the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail

As I’ve reported to you before, City staff have told me that it will take at least up to 6 to 8 weeks to clean up debris throughout the city from the recent ice storm. While I know it would be nice to see it all cleaned up overnight, I am encouraged that City crews are working hard to clear up our streets and parks as soon as they can. Specifically, to those who have sent me questions about when we can expect the Beltline Trail to be cleared, I can confirm that Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff have made this a top priority and believe that work can begin within the next couple of weeks. I will send out another update if this timeline changes. While debris on the ground is a focus for the cleanup, certainly safety should always be our priority, including broken branches that are overhanging the trail. For more information on cleanup efforts, including a map that is updated daily, please visit this City website.

Public Meeting on the proposed Billy Bishop Airport Expansion

On Monday, January 27, City staff will provide an update on the status of their review of the request to permit jet airplanes at Billy Bishop Airport. Representatives of City Planning (including transportation planners), Economic Development, and Public Health divisions will be present to answer questions.

The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers at 100 Queen St. West.

Free the Food Trucks!

The regulations restricting the operation of food trucks are far too restrictive. As this portion of a Torontoist article demonstrates, there are a number of by-laws in place that make it near impossible for a mobile food operation to be successful:

"Operating a food truck in Toronto can be a complicated business: you’re not allowed to set up shop in the majority of Toronto streets; you can’t work for longer than 10 minutes in a privately owned parking lot; you can’t settle yourself in a side street; and you’re forbidden from selling your wares within 25 metres of a restaurant that deals in a similar kind of food."

While there may be good reasons for some of these regulations, the City needs to look at reasonable ways to allow these businesses to be competitive and for consumers to have more choice. Please visit this City website to learn more about the public consultation process and have your say on the future of food trucks in Toronto.

Build the Relief Subway Line Now!

To take action and learn more about the proposal, please visit my page on the Relief Subway Line.

Starting a Midtown-Yonge BIA

Successful local small businesses, on vibrant main streets, are important for our merchants but also for the quality of life of community residents. Another exciting meeting I had this week was with Steering Committee members of the proposed Midtown-Yonge BIA. I have been working with a dedicated group of business owners who are interested in starting a BIA for Yonge Street from Soudan Avenue in the north to Merton Street in the south. As the Steering Committee proceeds through the official process of starting a BIA, I will continue to send updates through my e-newsletter. To learn more about BIAs, click here.

Ward 22 Developments

As you know, Midtown has a large number of new development applications. I continue to work closely with our community to protect the fabric and character of our neighbourhoods and advocate for structures that respect the City's Official Plan and consider quality design. I also recognize that the current planning system gives an unfair advantage to developers and I am working to free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (see below). To view development proposals in Ward 22, please visit the development page on my website. I created this to ensure residents would have direct access to staff reports and be informed about proposed developments in their neighbourhoods.

Free Toronto from the OMB! Stop Inappropriate Development

For more information on how to get involved and take action, please visit my page on the OMB.

Stop Unfair Rent Increases

For more information and to learn how you can take action against spiralling rent increases and unexpected fees, please visit my page on AGIs.

For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca.

Happy New Year! Community Update on Ice Storm Recovery for December 31st, 2013

Dear Residents,

It's been a very long and difficult 10 days for so many people in our city affected by the ice storm. Today, I am happy to report that almost all of the 300,000 households that lost power to their homes are now reconnected. However, we cannot rest until every last one is.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the remarkable Toronto Hydro workers and City of Toronto staff, along with their colleagues from other jurisdictions, who sacrificed their holidays to work around the clock, in often very challenging conditions, to serve people in need.

I also want to thank the many Ward 22 residents who offered their neighbours firewood, generators, food, blankets and even a place to stay. I will always remember the kindness and generosity our community shared with one another. I love being your city councillor.

While I believe there will have to be some serious work done soon on improving the way Toronto Hydro and the City of Toronto prepares for events like these, and communicates to residents, today I want to express our community's appreciation to everyone who did their jobs with such tireless dedication to public service.

2013 has been a very interesting year at city hall (to say the least). Far too often, the focus has sadly been on scandal, circus, folly and the sensational. But there has been some very substantive work done that is rarely reported. What I enjoyed most this year was working with so many of you on improving our local parks, creating playgrounds and farmers markets, supporting our local small businesses, working together to improve safety on our local streets, protecting the fabric and character of our neighbourhoods, and offering innovative, evidence-based and fiscally responsible ideas to city council to improve transit, the planning process, gridlock and so many more of our priorities. I also deeply appreciate the many friendships we've created and the sense of community we continue to build together.

Melissa, Molly and I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2014!

Please see my update to you below.

Sincerely,

Josh

PS- Molly will already be turning one year old on January 4th! Like those of you are parents understand well, I can't believe how quickly this time has gone by.

Details on Ice Storm Food Replacement Gift Cards

Gift cards will be available starting Tuesday, December 31st at the following Ontario Works Toronto offices for people in need who have experienced hardship and have lost food due to the prolonged power outages during the ice storm.

All locations are open from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.Locations will be closed New Year's Day and open from 8:30 am until 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 2, 2014.Locations closest to Ward 22:

Metro Hall Employment & Social Services

214 Wellington Street West Toronto, ON M5V 3C6

Telephone: 416-392-2600

Yonge Eglinton Employment & Social Services

150 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 900 Toronto ON M4P 3E2

Telephone: 416-397-1800

Tree Debris Removal begins January 3

Work to clear all tree debris will begin on Friday, January 3 and it will continue for approximately eight weeks, weather permitting.

Residents are asked to place their tree debris on the curb or the boulevard by Thursday, January 2. Please remember to provide at least one metre of clearance to ensure those with mobility issues can pass safely.

Large limb or stem (body) wood from private trees that have fallen on private property should not be taken to the curb. Property owners should contact a private contractor to remove this material.

Homeowners do not require a City permit to remove damaged or downed trees that are hazardous. Tree removal may not be needed. Some trees can be saved with proper care and maintenance. Trees may be pruned to remove damaged branches. Please use a professional arborist to ensure safety.

Please note that City crews cannot go onto private property to clear private trees that have fallen on private property.

Chainsaw Safety

Only use a chainsaw that you have been trained to use properly and safely. Always wear protective equipment and clothing. Be aware of your surroundings such as weather conditions, terrain, wildlife, buildings, power lines, vehicles, and other people.

Toronto Roads and Traffic

Power has been restored to all signals and all signals are operating normally.

However, the power supply is not quite stable at all signalized intersections and there may be fluctuations in the Hydro supply voltage which can result in a few signals being temporarily "all-out" or on flash. Motorists are reminded to treat any intersection without functioning signal lights as an all-way stop. In such cases, the public should call 311 and the City will send a crew to investigate and fix the problem.

Having trouble parking on your street due to ice or debris?

Parking consideration will be provided for residents who park on the street beyond posted times due to limited access to icy or blocked driveways. If the homeowner receives a parking ticket, there is an application that can be filled out to describe the circumstances and request ticket cancellation here. Completed application forms and documentation can be faxed to 416-696-3652 or sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Toronto Public Library

All Toronto Public Library branches are open regular hours on Monday, December 30. Libraries offer wifi and internet workstations as well as great books, magazines and more.

Call your local branch or check www.torontopubliclibrary.ca. All branches are open holiday hours, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31.

Holiday Waste Pickup

Residents are reminded that this week, curbside collection on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will move forward one day. This means that Wednesday collection moves to Thursday, Thursday collection moves to Friday, and Friday collection moves to Saturday. Changes are reflected in the residential collection calendar. Please note that there may be collection delays. Residents should leave their materials out until they are picked up.

Food Waste

If you have organic material (food waste) that cannot fit in the Green Bin, please set it out in a clear plastic bag. Food waste will be collected on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Food Safety

Residents who have been without power, or recently had their power restored, are advised to reduce the risk of a food borne illness:
• If you have been without power for 24 hours or longer, all food in the fridge should be thrown out.
• During a power outage of 48 hours or longer, all food in the freezer should be thrown out.
• Any leftover cooked food that cannot be reheated or stored in a working refrigerator or freezer should be thrown out.
Never eat food that looks or smells strange – when in doubt, throw it out.

2014 City of Toronto Budget

In January, I'll be hosting a Budget Town Hall to inform you about what is being proposed and to listen to your feedback about both services and tax rates. I'll be sending you a notice after the holidays. Meanwhile, please click here to learn more about the staff recommendations.

Three years of regular updates to residents

Keeping you engaged and informed has always been a priority for me since I was elected as our city councillor in 2010. Please click here if you would like to read any archives of past e=newsletters I've sent you on literally thousands of issues important to Ward 22.

My Ice Storm Recovery Update for December 29th, 2013

Dear residents,

It's Day 8 since the ice storm and there are still many residents waiting for power to be restored to their homes. If you are one of them, Toronto Hydro recommends:

Check outside to see if the electrical equipment on your home is

damaged or if the service wire is down. If the wire is down, please
stay back and contact a licensed ECRA/ESA electrical contractor. A list
is available on Toronto Hydro’s website at torontohydro.com/poweroutage

If you have completed the above and your power is still out,

please report your outage to 416-542-8000.

You are my priority until crews arrive at your home at your power is restored. I will be relentlessly advocating towards Toronto Hydro until the job is done.

In addition, please let me know if you need a warm place to stay. We have a community that takes care of each other and know of remarkable residents who are willing to host you.

My Special Council Meeting Request

Along with working very hard to help people in our community affected by the power outages now, I also believe its important to never lose sight of prudent and necessary next steps. To me, that's a part of what good governance means.

I'm asking the mayor and council to hold a special council meeting in January to ensure we meet the 14 day deadline the Province prescribes to pass a resolution requesting support from the Ontario Disaster Relief Program. This program assists municipalities and individuals who have suffered property damage due to a natural disaster such as an ice storm.

This will also be an opportunity for Councillors to share feedback from residents. I've certainly heard from many people about their frustration with the way Toronto Hydro has communicated, the need for better infrastructure and for much more adequate resources to respond to natural disasters and their praise for the tireless work done by Hydro workers. I actually have a long list I've compiled over the past week based on feedback from residents in our community.

Tree debris

I've also heard from many of you about what the City of Toronto's plan is for clearing debris from our city's roads. So I asked.

Solid Waste Management will be leading a team that includes Forestry, Transportation and Toronto Water. They made the decision that when our crews clear a street, they will be removing all debris in the City's right-of-way from all trees.

This means that they will clear, free of charge all trees (public and private) that have fallen on public property (i.e., sidewalks, streets, medians, boulevards, etc.).

Tree branches that have fallen on private property and are of manageable size that can be dragged to the City's right-of-way (i.e. to the curb) will be picked up.

City crews will not go onto private property to clear private trees that have fallen on private property.

Large limb or stem (body) wood from private trees that have fallen on private property should not be taken to the curb. Property owners should contact a private contractor to take away this material.

Private tree care companies that have been retained by property owners to maintain trees on private property are responsible for removing and disposing of limb or stem wood, tree branches or other brush that they generate. This material should not be placed within the public right- of- way.

The City's Forestry crews are still currently focused on maintaining public safety and are working closely with Toronto Hydro to assist and facilitate their efforts to restore power to institutions and residents as quickly as possible. They are removing trees and limbs that are affecting power lines to facilitate power restoration and are clearing trees blocking major intersections and roads to facilitate vehicular traffic, including access for emergency vehicles.

Solid Waste Management, Transportation and Forestry will begin clearing debris from the right-of-way on January 3, 2014. The duration of the cleanup is expected to be 6 weeks or more (weather permitting). We will be deploying crews across the entire City in a systematic fashion.

The requirement for a permit for damaged trees on private property has temporarily been waived. Under normal circumstances, the City requires property owners to submit a request and photos of a tree for which confirmation of by-law exemption is being sought. However, recognizing the impact the ice storm has had on trees, and to enable owners to take immediate action to eliminate dangerous situations related to privately owned trees, the City has relaxed the usual tree by-law exemption request and confirmation process until further notice.

Where a tree has been rendered imminently hazardous due to the ice storm, property owners are requested to take a picture of the tree to document its physical condition prior to having it removed. The visual record of the tree's condition together with any other documented information about the tree from a professional tree care company or arborist will be important should complaints be received for follow-up by Urban Forestry staff regarding suspected illegal tree removal.

I do hope you find this information helpful. My previous updates to you below have even more practical tips that you might find useful too.

As always, please feel very welcome to contact me if I can be of assistance to you and your family. You can also visit my website and follow me on Twitter for immediate updates.

Sincerely,

Josh

My Ice Storm Recovery update to our community on December 28th, 2014

Dear residents,

A quick update today:

Please see the most recent update from Toronto Hydro below. There is some very helpful information there. However, many residents have found going through their website and general phone line to be somewhat problematic (incredibly frustrating).

Therefore, if you are still waiting for power to be restored to your home, or see a downed wire on our local streets, please feel very welcome to email me directly at [email protected] and I'll personally ensure that Toronto Hydro is aware of your specific situation.

I want to take this opportunity again to thank the Hydro workers. first responders and City Staff who have been working so hard for our community through the holidays.

Sincerely,

Josh

PS- I've been working in every Ward 22 neighbourhood over the past week supporting residents and will not rest until every home in our community has power restored. If you live on Kilbarry Rd. or on Soudan near Cleveland, you can come home now. You're power is or is finally being restored. I am hearing about countless streets and individual homes getting power back. Please let me know if yours hasn't.

Also, I know of a wonderful resident who is willing to share a warm room in her home. Please let me know if you need it!

Toronto Hydro power restoration update

TORONTO, Dec. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited
(Toronto Hydro) continues to work around the clock to restore power to
the approximately 6 per cent of customers (18,000) who remain without
power following the ice storm.

Crews are focussing on localized neighbourhoods, apartment buildings,
condominiums and individual homes still without service. While
significant progress has been made, customers who are still without
power should be prepared for restoration to continue over the next few
days. This type of restoration effort is always most labour intensive
with a great deal of forestry work and clean-up required.

Toronto Hydro, with the support of more than 250 electrical trades and
forestry workers from across the province and Manitoba will continue to
work around the clock until all power is restored.

Public and worker safety is Toronto Hydro’s first priority and we urge
the public to exercise extreme caution in power restoration locations.
Please keep a safe distance from crews working in the area (at least 15
feet) as tree limbs and ice continue to fall as a result of the warmer
temperatures.

Toronto Hydro continues to closely monitor the weather. If winds pick
up, they could trigger more outages as already stressed branches and
trees fall onto power lines.

Customers are reminded that if Toronto Hydro is reporting that their
neighbourhood has been restored when their home is still without power
they should do the following:
•    Check to see if your neighbours have power. If they don't, it is
likely that more work is to be done on your street.
•    If your home is the only house without electricity, check your
electrical panel inside the home to see if the breakers are in the "on"
position.

•    Check outside to see if the electrical equipment on your home is
damaged or if the service wire is down. If the wire is down, please
stay back and contact a licensed ECRA/ESA electrical contractor. A list
is available on Toronto Hydro’s website at torontohydro.com/poweroutage

• If you have completed the above and your power is still out,
please report your outage to 416-542-8000.

The City of Toronto is still operating Reception centres, where those in
need can access food, water, warmth and rest. For more information,
please visit Toronto.ca

If you spot a downed wire, please stay back (at least 10 feet) and

report it to Toronto Hydro's operations centre at 416-542-8000. For more

information about household items to have on hand during a lengthy
outage, please visit torontohydro.com/poweroutage

Electrical Safety Authority - esasafe.com

My Ice Storm Recovery update to our community for December 28th, 2013

Dear residents,

While the vast majority of our community here in Ward 22 now has power restored, there are still many residents who are waiting in the dark and cold. It's been a remarkably difficult, and in many cases costly, week for so many people.

Today, along with responding to residents comments and concerns to assist them, I visited every Ward 22 neighbourhood to identify urgent on ongoing recovery and clean up priorities to ensure that both Toronto Hydro and City of Toronto staff were aware of them. The stories of real despair are many but, like I wrote to you about on Christmas, there are so many people throughout our community who are kindly looking out for their neighbours and performing great acts of altruism. That's what our community is truly all about.

I also cannot express my gratitude well enough to the workers who missed Christmas with their families and have been working all day and all night to help all of us. I've had an opportunity to speak with a few of them and share our community's deep appreciation for their service and sacrifices.

And to those of you who are still waiting for your power to be restored, such as residents on Soudan east of Cleveland, Kilbarry Road east of Oriole Parkway and individual households who are seeing your neighbours' lights on while you're still in the dark, you are very welcome to contact me directly at [email protected] and I'll be sure to let Toronto Hydro know about your specific street and address to ensure that you are on their list of urgent restoration work.

To continue keeping you informed, I've posted the latest update from Toronto Hydro below with some helpful advice and contact information. Click here for my previous ice storm updates from the past few days. I'm also providing constant updates via twitter @joshmatlow

Please continue to stay safe and as warm as possible.

Sincerely,

Josh

December 26th, 2013 Power Restoration Continues – Additional crews from other utilities being deployed, focused on most severely impacted areas

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro) has approximately 48,000 customers without power; 82 per cent have been restored since the height of the storm on December 22.

The company continues to work around the clock to get power back on as quickly and safely as possible. Additional aid has arrived from Hydro One and Horizon Utilities and these crews have been deployed to severely impacted areas.

Focus is now on power restoration to feeders that serve communities which impact hundreds of customers at a time. Customers who are still without power should be prepared for restoration to continue through the weekend, as inclement weather triggers additional outages.

Customers concerned that Toronto Hydro is reporting that their neighbourhood has been restored when their home is still without power, are advised to do the following:

· If part of your home is still without power, it could be because a tree is still hanging on a wire. Please be patient as we work to clear all trees.

· Check to see if your neighbours have power, if they don't, it is likely that more work is to be done on your street.

· If your home is the only house without electricity, check your electrical panel inside the home to see if the breakers are in the "on" position.

· Check the electrical service entry outside your home to see if it is damaged or the service wire is "down". If the wire is down, please stay back and contact us at 416-542-8000 to report the downed wire.

Customers who have power are asked to leave a porch light on which will allow crews to identify those who do not have power more quickly.

Due to the warmer temperatures causing heavy snow and ice to fall off of trees, branches and wires, customers should exercise extra caution in heavily treed areas.

Media is asked to refrain from following crews while they are working. It is important for our crews to stay focused on working safely and effectively.

Merry Christmas and tonight's Ice Storm Recovery update

Dear residents,

Like many of you, our family has been without power at our home for the past three days. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Torontonians have had either difficult experiences, or even seen their holidays ruined, due to the aftermath of the ice storm. In some cases, circumstances were even more dire.

While I've been working day and night to respond to, and assist, members of our community here in Ward 22, I've heard heartbreaking stories and have witnessed great acts of kindness by neighbours who care about each other. It's that very spirit of community that makes us appreciate living in midtown and North Toronto. This is why Melissa and I are raising our daughter Molly here.

To those of you who are still waiting for power to be restored to your home, Toronto Hydro has not been able to provide us a schedule of when they will be able to repair specific streets. I know this is the most important piece of information you want. However, I am pleased to report to you that I am learning of several streets regaining power in our community on nearly an hourly basis. To everyone who has their electricity restored, I am so happy for you! And to those still waiting, I am now cautiously optimistic that our wait may indeed be over soon.

I wish everyone of you who are celebrating this evening, whether at your warm home or while taking refuge with family and friends, a very Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Josh

Here's some more useful information from the City of Toronto, Toronto Hydro, and Enbridge. I recognize that I'm providing you with a lot of information. However, I'd rather send you too much tonight than not offer it to you at all.

Please stay safe and warm!

Power outages
Toronto Hydro crews have been and will continue to be working around the clock to respond to streets with power outages. They say they cannot provide updates on specific neighbourhoods or streets. The utility hopes to have power restored by Wednesday. Call Toronto Hydro's Lights Out number, 416-542-8000, for serious situations only.

Emergencies
The City's emergency services (Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Police) are operating and managing increased call volumes. Residents are reminded to only call 911 in the event of an emergency. The non-emergency number for Toronto Police Service is 416-808-2222. Residents who use home oxygen and have concerns can call 416-310-2222 for assistance.

TTC
The TTC has made progress restoring system service, with streetcar service resuming on all routes. Please check www.ttc.ca for updates and service alerts.

Downed wires
If you spot a downed wire, please stay back (at least 10 feet) and
report it to Toronto Hydro's operations centre at 416-542-8000. Please
be cautious of falling tree limbs as well. For more information about
household items to have on hand during a lengthy outage, please visit
torontohydro.com/poweroutage

Tree Debris
We anticipate that the clearing of fallen trees and tree debris will begin on December 27 on City roadways. Staff are currently pushing tree debris to the side of the roads to make them safe and passable. The priority is to ensure public safety. Where debris is not obstructing the road, cleanup will take place at a later date. Clearing of all tree debris will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

If debris is from trees on private property, homeowners should contact a private contractor to clear away.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation
The public is reminded that trees remain covered in ice, which means that parks (anywhere near trees) are very dangerous, particularly in wooded valleys, near slopes and under trees. Park pathways have not been cleared and should not be used. Playgrounds near trees should also be avoided due to falling branches. Public should use extreme caution around parks to prevent slips and falls and should avoid walking under or near trees.
Parks staff who have appropriate chainsaw training and equipment are being deployed to assist in clearing tree debris from roads and paths.

Parks crews will continue to salt and clear debris, focusing on Reception Centres, Community Recreation Centres, parking lots and well-used locations such as rinks.

Holiday Waste Pickup
Residents are reminded that there is no collection on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. This week and next week, curbside collection on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will move forward one day. This means that Wednesday collection moves to Thursday, Thursday collection moves to Friday, and Friday collection moves to Saturday. Changes are reflected in the residential collection calendar. Due to downed trees and hydro wires, collection vehicles are not able to reach some areas. There may also be delays. Residents should leave out their materials until they are collected. If required, additional collection crews will work on Monday (not a regularly scheduled collection day).

Food Waste
If you have organic material (food waste) that cannot fit in the Green Bin, please set it out in a clear plastic bag. Food waste will be collected on your regularly scheduled collection day.

Preventing Frozen Pipes
If you don't have heat for your home and the temperature drops to well below freezing, consider leaving a tap open enough for a trickle of water so there is some movement of water in pipes that might be vulnerable to freezing.

If you are leaving your home because of no heat, you can shut off the main service valve in your basement and open your lowest tap to drain the water out of your plumbing lines to prevent them from freezing.

Food Safety
For more information about when to keep and when to throw out refrigerated foods, visit http://www.toronto.ca/health/food_safety and click on the power outages link on the bottom of the page.

Emergency Preparedness
Information and advice about emergency preparedness are available at http://www.toronto.ca/oem.

Call Enbridge Gas Distribution only if you smell gas or to report an emergency such as a damaged pipe or meter

· Due to a high volume of calls and poor road conditions in the GTA, the natural gas utility is currently only responding to natural gas emergency calls.

· If a customer has an emergency such as the smell of gas or is reporting a pipeline or meter damage (including by falling trees or branches) they should call Enbridge Gas Distribution’s emergency line at 1-866-763-5427 from a neighbour’s phone.

· Customers should not attempt to fix any problems related to the disruption of their supply of natural gas.

Call 911 if you or someone in your family is experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO)

· If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, open windows and doors to let fresh air in. If anyone in your household has symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, leave your house immediately, seek medical help and call 911.

· Exposure to CO can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, burning eyes, confusion, disorientation and unconsciousness. In severe cases, prolonged exposure to CO poisoning could result in death.

· Customers should not attempt to fix any problems related to the disruption of their supply of natural gas.

Relighting natural gas equipment following power outage

· Enbridge Gas Distribution’s natural gas system continues to operate normally during the winter storm however some natural gas appliances including furnaces require power to operate.

· If a customer does not have heat due to a power outage or requires natural gas appliances to be relit after power is restored, they should contact a heating contractor. If a customer does not have one, they can find service providers online at www.enbridgegas.com/homes/customer-service/need-contractor.

Customers without heat due to power outage

· Customers in Toronto can visit www.toronto.ca for more information or contact their local municipality or electricity utility.

· Do not use equipment designed for outdoor use such as barbecues (including natural gas, propane or charcoal burning models) and gasoline powered generators indoors.

· Do not use appliances such as stoves to heat your home.

· Please ensure appliance vents and your meter/regulator are free of snow and ice.

Keep natural gas meter and appliance vents clear of snow, ice

· Frequently check for any icy build-up from melting snow from your roof, drifting snow, freezing rain or water leaking from an eavestrough. This build-up could interrupt your gas service or cause an appliance to malfunction, which may create a hazardous condition.

· Never pile snow against gas equipment or appliance vents.

· If a meter, regulator or external vents are covered with snow or ice, remove the snow or ice carefully with either a car brush or broom. Do not use sharp objects or force, such as kicking or hitting, or hot water, salt or other melting methods to remove the snow or ice as this may cause damage. Be careful when using a shovel, plow or snow blower near gas equipment or appliance vents.

· If snow or ice build-up on natural gas meters or regulators cannot be gently removed with a broom or car brush, call Enbridge Gas Distribution for assistance at 1-877-ENBRIDGE (362-7434).

· If you need assistance to clear a blocked appliance vent, please contact a heating contractor.

My letter to residents on December 23th:

The recent ice storm has had a horrible affect on midtown Toronto along with neighbourhoods across the city. On many of our local streets, there are wires dangling, trees down or hanging on power lines, and icy conditions. There are entire neighbourhoods without power. My home, like many of yours, is still affected by the blackout. I've been out to streets across Ward 22 and have seen the damage the storm caused. I've also seen several examples of how people in our community can be so kind and helpful when their neighbours are in need.

The City of Toronto is continuing to provide updated information this morning on ongoing impacts and the City's response to the ice storm. City staff scheduled to work today are asked to report for their regular shifts to continue to deliver as many services as possible to residents, businesses and visitors.

I have also requested, along with many of my colleagues, that the mayor declare a state of emergency. While this might sound dramatic, it really is simply a procedure to formally request the Province and other municipalities for additional resources to help the City of Toronto ensure our streets are safe and accessible, and as soon as possible. It also sets forward an Emergency Management Team with the Deputy-Mayor as its Chair. However, I have been assured by the City Manager that the Province has indicated that all available resources will be provided regardless of whether the mayor declares a state of emergency. If the job gets done for residents without a formal declaration, great. But the job is clearly far from being done.There are still hundreds of thousands of Torontonians who are without power and Toronto Hydro is unable yet to provide us with information on exactly when power will be restored for specific streets.

Toronto Hydro is currently reporting that approximately 225,000 customers are without power. Hydro crews have been and will continue working around the clock to respond. The utility hopes to have power restored by Wednesday. Call Toronto Hydro's Lights Out number, 416-542-8000, for serious situations only.

The City's emergency services (Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Police) are operating and managing increased call volumes. Residents are reminded to only call 911 in the event of an emergency. The non-emergency number for Toronto Police Service is 416-808-2222. Residents who use home oxygen and have concerns can call 416-310-2222 for assistance.

The TTC has made progress restoring system service, with streetcar service resuming on all routes. Please check www.ttc.ca for updates and service alerts.

GO Transit is operating an Adjusted Winter Schedule today. Check schedule details at http://gotransit.com/public/en/schedules/winterstorm.aspx.

The City's Transportation Services Division reports that approximately 100 traffic signals are not working but the count may change as power is restored. Salting operations are continuing on collector roads, local roads and sidewalks. The following roads in Scarborough are closed to traffic as they are not safe due to fallen power lines and trees:

- Old Kingston Road from Military Trail to Manse Road
- Military Trail from Old Kingston Road to Bobmar Road
- St. Andrews Road from Meldazy Drive to Suraty Avenue
- Colonel Danforth Trail - Bonacres Avenue to dead end
- Highview Avenue at Lillington Avenue
- Pinegrove Road at South Edgely Avenue.

The City is operating nine Reception Centres where vulnerable residents and those who need assistance can access food, water, warmth and rest. Pets are welcome:

- Dennis R Timbrell Community Centre, 29 St. Denis Drive (Eglinton/DonMills)
- Malvern Community Centre, 30 Sewells Rd, (Neilson/Rd/Finch)
- Agincourt Community Centre, 31 Glen Walford Rd (Sheppard/Midland)
- Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane Street (between Finch and Steeles)
- Mitchell Field Community Centre, 89 Church Avenue (Yonge/Finch)
- Joseph P Piccinini Community Centre, 1369 St Clair Avenue West (St Clair/Keele)
- Matty Eckler Community Centre, 953 Gerrard Street East (Pape/Gerrard)
- Franklin Horner Community Centre, 432 Horner Avenue (Kipling/Lakeshore)
- 2 Civic Centre Court – Adjacent to Etobicoke Community Centre (West Mall and 427)

Community centres with power are expected to operate as usual; those without power will be closed. There may be some program and operating impacts at community centres that are being used as Reception Centres.

Toronto public libraries with power are expected to operate as usual; those without power will be closed.

The Toronto District School Board has advised that all Early Learning and Child Care Centres operated by the City of Toronto and located in TDSB sites will be closed tomorrow. A list of the sites is available at toronto.ca.

All Toronto Catholic District School Board facilities and daycare centres will be closed today and tomorrow. Toronto Children's Services is planning to send children home at locations where the power is off. Parents should try to contact their child care centre or provider prior to drop off to determine whether service will be available.

For more information about when to keep and when to throw out refrigerated foods, visit www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/foodsafe/homefood.html.

For more information and advice about emergency preparedness visit http://www.toronto.ca/oem.

For updates during an emergency event and other City of Toronto information, follow @TorontoComms on Twitter. The City will be using #citystorm when providing updates on the storm. I am also posting updates on Twitter @joshmatlow

I do hope you stay safe and warm! We'll get through this together.

Sincerely,

Josh

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for December 19, 2013

Dear Residents,

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at Davisville subway station today as we discussed the need to move forward with the Relief Subway Line, Toronto's evidence-based transit priority. I look forward to visiting many other stations to ask TTC riders to help see this vital project finally get built. We've waited far too long already.

This week at city council, despite unacceptable bickering by a few, divisive politics and strange dance party (yes, this really happened), I continued to work respectfully with my colleagues, focus on our priorities and am pleased to report that some very substantive work was accomplished on several important issues including snow clearing standards and traffic congestion. In 2014, I really want Council to have less drama. Council should be completely dedicated to professional, thoughtful, innovative, fiscally-responsible and city-building initiatives that serve Toronto's residents.

This past year has been challenging. But it has also been remarkably fulfilling. I feel so fortunate to be able to offer ideas to council that I believe reflect our community's priorities and improve our city as a whole. I also deeply enjoy working with local residents to create farmers markets, build playgrounds, improve our neighbourhoods' safety (I'm also advocating for safer school zones), revitalize our parks and main streets, advocate for more appropriate and well designed development and support our schools. I love our Ward 22 community and am deeply grateful to serve you. I am also grateful that my wife Melissa and I are raising our daughter Molly, who will be a year-old on January 4th, in such a remarkable part of Toronto. In other words, I want to thank you.

I wish you and your families a very, Merry Christmas and to all, a Happy New Year.

Warm regards,

Josh

Traffic Congestion Management Plan

Since the day I was elected to represent our community I have been advocating that City Hall make tackling traffic congestion and grid lock a top priority as it's a significant problem for Toronto's motorists, public transit users and cyclists alike. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently noted that the Greater Toronto Area suffers from the longest work commute times in North America. This congestion costs the region's economy an estimated $3.3 billion per year while negatively impacting on the quality of life of our residents. I believe, like most residents I hear from, that this is unacceptable.

This week City Council endorsed in principle a five-year Congestion Management Plan to manage traffic congestion in the City of Toronto. This is a comprehensive plan which incorporates some initiatives that I have already brought forward to City Council such as increasing fines for vehicles that block traffic lanes on arterial routes during rush hour and improved traffic signal coordination (synchronization). I am very pleased that council supported the requests that I made on behalf of residents on these two initiatives.

Among the key elements of the congestion management plan are:

upgrading the City's traffic signal management software to a new system by the end of 2014
the re-evaluation and co-ordination of approximately 1,000 traffic signals
the installation of 100 traffic cameras on arterial roads to better detect problems on these key transportation routes
the addition of 13 variable message signs along the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway
better management and use of curb lanes.

Winter Services - Driveway Windrow and Sidewalk Clearing Update

I have been actively advocating for improved standards when it comes to winter maintenance of public roads and sidewalks. The current standard, where many of our streets in Ward 22 do not receive driveway windrow clearing or sidewalk clearing by the City were put in place in 2008. I recognize that there are some barriers that make it more difficult for the City to provide the same level of service in many downtown wards as efficiently as they can in other areas of city. I strongly believe however, that the City needs to explore every opportunity to deliver these services to a more equitable level.

This week City Council considered a report from the General Manager of Transportation Services that would have maintained the status quo with regards to driveway windrow and sidewalk clearing for many of our residential streets. With thanks to my colleagues for their support, we have directed City staff to report back to Council on how driveway windrow and sidewalk clearing can be expanded to include the many streets in our ward that currently do not get this level of service for the 2015 winter season. I will continue to advocate for this more equitable service standard across the city, and keep you updated as we progress.

During and after heavy storms (like the one we're expecting soon), please call 311 if the City of Toronto can be of assistance. Let me know if I can do anything to support you.

Protecting Ward 22 at the OMB

The applicants for new developments at the Art Shoppe site and 95 & 99 Broadway, near Redpath, have taken the City to the OMB. I have ensured that our community's interests will be well represented by City Planning and Legal staff. I am also fighting to protect the South Eglinton community from major developments that are encroaching on single family homes on Soudan Ave. For more information on developments in Ward 22 please see this webpage and for more information on also please also learn more about you can help free Toronto from the OMB.

Supporting Tenants

City Council voted to support tenants as a result of a motion I co-sponsored earlier this year. The motion seeks to make changes to the provincial Residential Tenancies act by:

· Eliminating the exemption for rent increases for rental residential units built or occupied after November1, 1991 in order to provide the same rent control protection for tenants renting these units that are afforded to other tenants in Toronto, many of them in new condo buildings

· Implementing an automatic rent freeze on all rent increases where there is non-compliance with outstanding work orders and asking the province to collaborate with the City in setting up an automated system for direct access for work orders to eliminate the need for tenants to provide proof of the work orders

To learn more about my campaign to support tenants and stop unfair above the guideline rent increases, please visit this webpage

Addressing Problem Hoarding

As many of you know, I have been working with Manor Rd. E. residents and City staff for several years to address problem hoarding. We took major steps with the support of Toronto Fire last month but there is significant work still needed to find a long-term solution in this specific case, and others across Toronto. That's why I'm pleased my colleagues supported the staff report, which was initiated by my 2011 motion, to help address hoarding from a municipal perspective and my amendment to ask the province for increased mental health resources and changes to the Mental Health Act that will address the roots of the problem. I also met with the local community about this a couple of weeks ago to ensure they were informed.

2014 City of Toronto Budget

Three years of regular updates to residents

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for December 6, 2013

Dear residents,

Yesterday, we lost a truly inspirational leader in Nelson Mandela.

President Mandela's impact on his country of South Africa, and the world, was no less than transformational. He was a strong, kind and forgiving man and has left us all with a legacy of greater equality, peace and reconciliation.

In the face of Apartheid, a cruel and violent policy of racial discrimination, and after decades of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela chose to heal a nation rather than seek vengeance.

I look forward to telling my young daughter about him one day and how we all can learn from his example.

Sincerely,

Josh

Maurice Cody Dirt-to-Turf Update

I am delighted to announce that the Maurice Cody field will be open starting this Monday, December 9. After two years of hard work by the school, parents, students, teachers, the TDSB and my office, I am thrilled to see this exciting new play space now open for our community to enjoy! I was very happy to contribute to the success of this project.

Here are some basic guidelines for using the field, shared by Principal Andrew Howard:

Please do not let dogs onto the field
Holes in the lining can be caused by picking at the grass
Please do not light fireworks from the field on Victoria/Canada Day as it will burn the turf
Please keep the field clean

New garbage bins have been ordered for both sides of the playing field and the playground, and we are hopeful that they will arrive soon. The lines and any final repairs will be completed in the spring.

To celebrate the opening, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be taking place this Saturday morning at 10:30 am, followed by a demonstration and an opportunity to play rugby on the field. The Maurice Cody winter fair begins afterwards. I hope to see you there!

New Mural on the Beltline

I am proud to announce that on November 10, I joined local residents to unveil the second half of the new Beltline Trail Mural. Painted by artists Viviana Astudillo and Logan Miller, this exciting project was conceived by the community group Friends of the Beltline and founder Donna Koegl. The first half of the mural was unveiled this August. The mural is a wonderful example of a community coming together to improve their local green space and I would suggest you visit this beautiful mural when you have the chance! It is located underneath the Eglinton Avenue overpass. For more information, please read this article in the Town Crier.

Update on the Proposed Billy Bishop Airport Expansion

Yesterday at City Hall, the Executive Committee voted to defer Porter's expansion plans to February, 2014. Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, an island airport expansion proponent, supported the deferral stating that staff needs additional studies and information for Council to make an informed decision. I will provide an update on this situation when the item comes back to Council.

For your information, and thoughtful review, I'm providing you with Porter Airline's case for expansion, the case made by NoJetTO, the leading advocacy group opposed to the proposed expansion and the City of Toronto's Staff recommendations to Council.

Correction: In my last e-newsletter, I wrote that Porter Airlines had paid for the study. In fact, they had offered to. It was the Toronto Port Authority who has paid for the report. There are still many unknowns about who exactly will pick up the entire costs of this initiative going forward.

Update on Addressing the Roots of Youth Violence

In February, 2013, with City Council's unanimous support, I asked City staff to develop a plan to take immediate action. I am very happy to share with you a letter from Dr. Curling commending Toronto City Council for tackling this urgent priority.

Since then, I have been working closely with City staff on a Youth Equity Strategy to support the most marginalized youth in Toronto – those who are at the highest risk to be involved in or victimized by violence. As the Youth Equity Strategy won’t be finished until this winter, which is too late for the 2014 City of Toronto budget, I pushed for a list of “quick wins” from City staff to move the Strategy forward in 2014 and also to test some promising pilot projects. The Toronto Star wrote about these initiatives earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the Community Development and Recreation Committee unanimously supported my request to include these important investments 2014 budget. This is a very important milestone but we still need to seek approval from the Budget Committee and, in mid-January, the full City Council. If you would like to support taking action to address the roots of youth violence in Toronto by writing or speaking to the Budget Committee, please email me at [email protected] and I will send you a reminder one week before the committee meets.

Ward 22 Development

As you know, Midtown has a number of new development applications. I continue to work with our community to protect the fabric and character of our neighbourhoods. I also recognize that the current system gives an unfair advantage to developers and I am working to free Toronto from the Ontario Municipal Board (see below). To view development proposals in our community please visit the development page on my website. I created this to ensure residents would have direct access to staff reports and be informed about proposed developments in their neighbourhoods.

Free Toronto from the OMB! Stop Inappropriate Development

For more information on how to get involved and take action, please visit my page on the OMB.

Stop Unfair Rent Increases

Above the Guideline Increases (AGIs) for basic upkeep and repairs have pushed rents that were already steep into the unaffordable range in recent years.

Landlords can apply for AGIs through the Landlord and Tenant Board. Repairs should be included as part of a landlord's overall expenses and paid for from the rent they already receive. It is clear that tenants, often seniors who have fixed pensions, are being unfairly burdened for the landlord’s basic cost of doing business.

For more information and to learn how you can take action against spiralling rent increases and unexpected fees, please visit my page on AGIs.

Build the Relief Subway Line Now

To take action and learn more about the proposal, please visit my page on the Relief Subway Line.

City of Toronto's Winter Preparation Update

With winter just around the corner, the City of Toronto is once again getting ready to tackle snow and ice when it hits the streets.

Winter is also high season for watermain breaks. Cold weather plus rapid swings between periods of thaw and freezing put pipes under stress. Crews are ready to respond to minor and severe breaks 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As soon as the snow begins, Transportation Services sends out its fleet of salt trucks to the expressways and main roads, while local roads and laneways are salted soon after. Once 2.5 centimetres of snow has accumulated, then plowing will begin on the expressways and when five centimetres has accumulated, plowing will begin on the main roads. Plowing on the expressways and main roads will continue until the operation is complete.

Once the snow stops and if the snow accumulation reaches eight centimetres, local road plowing will begin. During this time, snow service requests will not be taken by 311. Residents are asked to only call 311 during the storm if they would like to report an urgent winter-related concern. Residents are asked to not call 311 during the storm to ask when their street will be cleared.

The City will also open driveway windrows wherever it is mechanically possible to do so. Typically, driveway windrows are opened between one and two hours of the road being plowed. This service is meant to open up an area about the size of a single car width in order to make it more convenient to enter or exit the driveway.

The City will clear snow from sidewalks on local roads where it is mechanically possible to do so after eight centimetres of snow has fallen (five centimetres in January and February). In the central core of the city, property owners are required to clear their sidewalks of snow 12 hours after a storm has taken place.

To learn more about sidewalk snow clearing in Toronto and to view a map of the areas where the service is provided, please click here.

Besides snow and cold weather, there are numerous causes of watermain breaks and the City is taking steps to address the ongoing problem, currently spending $110 million to improve the watermain distribution system. Toronto Water is dealing with aging infrastructure and through the capital infrastructure renewal program, approximately 40 to 60 kilometres of watermain pipes are being replaced annually. In addition, three rehabilitation programs continue: cathodic protection of watermain pipes, cleaning and cement mortar lining, and structural lining.

Response crews are available 24/7 to locate, assess and repair watermain breaks in order to restore service as quickly as possible.

More information about watermain breaks is available here.

Please click here for more information about the City of Toronto’s winter operations.

Please read my update from a recent enewsletter I sent to our community in November about the work I've been doing to encourage the City to improve its snow and winter operations.

A message from TANG on air noise pollution due to Pearson flight paths

In early 2012, NAV Canada changed the flight patterns of aircraft approaching and leaving Toronto Pearson International Airport. Many residents have contacted me and reported disturbances from increased air traffic noise including during overnight hours. Some have described the noise as living under an "air super-highway" and find the volume and frequency of flights intolerable.

I brought a motion to City Council to have City of Toronto officials meet with representatives from NAV Canada, the federal Ministry of Transportation, and other relevant bodies to find a less intrusive flight path that respects the needs of Toronto residents to live without excessive noise pollution. I am following up with the City Manager on the status of actions Council requested him to take.

Recently, I met with the Toronto Aviation Noise Group (T.A.N.G.). They have asked me to share the following with you:

T.A.N.G is working in Ward 22 to stop the excessive aviation noise stemming from the new concentrated flight path that takes planes right over our communities and neighbourhoods. A T.A.N.G. representative may knock on your door requesting all adults in the home to please sign the petition.

To bring peace and quiet back to areas affected by this noise, you can sign an online petition. You can also contact the GTAA by calling 416-247-7682 or register a complaint. Lastly, you can write to our local MP Dr. Carolyn Bennett and show your objection. Together, we can work to make our voice heard over the roar of jet planes!

Problem Hoarding Update

Yesterday, my colleagues at Executive Committee supported my initiative to ensure that the City of Toronto takes a more effective and coordinated approach to problem hoarders. In 2011, I moved a motion to create an inter-divisional task force to address this issue. The task force's report to Executive Committee yesterday creates a formal structure and response protocol to deal with animal and content hoarders. This motion will come to full Council in two weeks.

Ecumenical Christmas Food Drive: Results and Outcome

The Drive concluded on November 30 and was considered a success with slightly over 16,000 items collected compared to 15,500 in 2012. In addition about $2,000 in cash and cheques were received for bulk purchases. The donations were sorted, packed in boxes and then delivered within hours to recipient food banks and agencies. Next year’s event, the 43rd, will again take place on two Saturdays: November 22 (to deliver flyers to canvassed households) and November 29 (to pick up donations). Please mark these dates in your calendars. Look out for advance notices in September.

Two area Sobeys stores (St. Clair Avenue just east of Yonge Street and Wicksteed Avenue near Laird Drive) are again supporting this effort by holding in-store drives throughout the Christmas season. These sources typically add another 10,000 to the overall total and your participation is encouraged to help the needy within our community.

Please contact Brian Kearney, at 416-972-0585 or by e-mail at [email protected] if you have questions and/or comments.

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for November 28, 2013

Dear Residents,

It has been such a pleasure seeing so many of you throughout our community. I always appreciate your feedback on both local community and city-wide issues. Along with my update below, I've been meeting with residents on an array of priorities every day (and most evenings), working on ways to improve our public spaces and main streets, improving traffic safety on our neighbourhood streets and bringing forward initiatives to city council to improve our community and our city as a whole.

To our Jewish community, I wish you and your families a very Happy Hanukkah. I also wish Ward 22 residents who are U.S. citizens a Happy Thanksgiving this evening.

On a personal note, I can't express well enough how much I appreciated the many birthday wishes I received yesterday. I really love our community and it was special to celebrate my birthday (my first as a dad) with my wife Melissa and Molly who's now almost 11-months old already.

And as always, feel welcome to contact me if I can be of assistance to you. To read past community updates, click here.

Sincerely,

Josh

Ward 22 Parks Improvements Update

This fall, I brought forward a motion to name the playground at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park the “Sharon, Lois & Bram” playground. My proposal was successfully referred to City staff to undertake a study and this important next step includes consulting with local residents. Staff will bring their report back to a Community Council meeting for a vote in early 2014.

Last week, I hosted public meetings regarding improvements to Charlotte Maher Park and the parkettes on Belsize Drive. Input from local residents is very important to me so that I can help determine what changes our community would like to see in our parks. If there is a park in your neighbourhood that needs improvement, please do contact me!

I welcome you to join me on Thursday, December 5 at 7 pm to discuss playground improvements for Forest Hill Road Park. The meeting will take place at Grace Church on-the-hill, in the Parish Hall, at 300 Lonsdale Road. I hope to see you there!

Snow Update: The City of Toronto can do better

As you may recall, following the large volume of snowfall experienced last February, I wrote a letter to Transportation Services proposing several improvements to snow removal in Toronto. I was promised by city staff that the levels of service provided were going to be reviewed, and reported back to city council this fall.

At the October City Council meeting I brought forward a motion to request the General Manager of Transportation services report directly to the November 19th Community Council meeting with an update of the winter services review and proposed changes to service standards to provide fair and effective winter service across the city. I felt that it was important that this matter be discussed at Community Council, as our district of Toronto and East York with more narrow streets, lack of boulevards and dependency on on-street parking has more unique challenges when it comes to handling snow removal.

Unfortunately this request was not supported by my colleagues, and the request was referred to the Public Works Committee.

I am extremely concerned that the current level of service does not provide enough snow removal, particularly on streets where residents rely on on-street parking. When we get hit with volumes of snow like we did last winter, residents are left with little options to park on the street, and windrows also create unique challenges for getting and out of their driveways. I met with City Staff earlier this week on site at some of our more challenging streets in the ward. They have insisted that they will do be monitoring some of our more challenging streets and will remove snow to enable their standard 5m clearance.

They have also indicated that they have been developing ways to enhance communication with residents, 311 staff, other city departments and contractors to improve the cooperation and awareness during severe weather. GPS technology is further being utilized to aid with the management of contractors.

The majority of winter roadway maintenance services are delivered through outside contractors. The contractors are to fulfill the level of services approved by council. The current level of service was approved in 2009, and we are bound by this contract until 2015. The General Manager of Transportation Services has reviewed the current service levels and submitted his recommendations on the proposed level of services to be fulfilled for the 2015-2022 year terms to the Public Works Committee last week and these recommendations are going to City Council in December for approval. The report can be found here. http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-63459.pdf

While there is a recommendation to enhance level of service for sidewalk clearing in high volume pedestrian levels (along arterial roads, in school zones, transit and accessibility areas), this report more or less reconfirms that the service levels of the current contract. While snow removal can be more challenging and costly on narrower streets with more obstructions such as on-street parking, I am extremely concerned about the impact on local residents when these streets are not adequately cleared.

I will continue to advocate for a more equitable level of service across the city,that will have a positive impact on the flow of services in our area. As I did last year, when severe snow events occur I will work closely with city staff to help address any immediate issues and concerns during major snow events this season.

Taking Action on Problem Hoarding at 313 Manor Rd.

Yesterday morning, representatives from Toronto Fire, Toronto Police, Animal services, Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) and Public Health will began cleaning the inside of 313 Manor Rd. This is another step in the long process to address the unfortunate problem hoarding at this address. Through a lengthy and unprecedented process, Toronto Fire and City Legal have received a court order allowing the removal of personal property from 313 Manor Rd. Toronto Public Health's Vulnerable Adults Unit have been on hand to provide counseling to the individual at this address. Please read my letter to local residents for more information regarding this issue.

Update on Porter Airlines' Proposed Billy Bishop Expansion

Over the past several months, I have heard from many Toronto residents expressing their voice about Porter Airlines and the proposed expansion of Billy Bishop Airport (BBTCA). I have, and continue to believe, that it is important to understand the facts, both benefits and concerns, to ensure that Council's decision is fully informed. The City of Toronto is currently undertaking a review of the request to amend the 1983 Tripartite Agreement between the City, the Government of Canada and the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), which would permit the landing of commercial jets at BBTCA. Council requested City Staff to report back with evidence and recommendations regarding Porter's request. This study was paid for by the Toronto Port Authority. Please click here to read City Staff's recommendations to the City of Toronto's Executive Committee that it would be premature to support Porter's expansion request before all relevant facts are made available.

2014 Budget Launched

The 2014 staff supported budget was introduced at Budget Committee this week. Staff recommended a 2.5% property tax increase that includes funding for the ill-advised Scarborough subway. I will spend the next few weeks and the holiday season reviewing the documents in detail in preparation for the City Council meeting on the budget in the New Year. As always, I will advocate for services that are important to our community including transit, parks, tenant supports, recreation programs for young people and childcare in a fiscally responsible manner. Please review the budget documents here.

Addressing the Roots of Youth Violence

City Staff are bringing specific recommendations to address the roots of youth violence to Community Development and Recreation Committee in response to my motion from earlier this year. Proposed actions to support at-risk youth will include: employment training/counselling, mental health supports and a program in cooperation with the Toronto police that explores alternatives to criminal charges for minor crimes.

Build the Relief Subway Line Now!

What subway expansion project does Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig, TTC CEO Andy Byford, Toronto's Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat and City Manager Joe Pennachetti all agree is Toronto's top transit priority? The Relief Subway Line. The line would provide an alternative to our existing subway system that’s already overcrowded during rush hours, curb gridlock on our city’s streets and increase access to jobs and attractions. Please visit my webpage to take action

Stop Inappropriate Development! Free Toronto from the OMB

The OMB is a quasi-judicial, un-elected and un-accountable provincial body that has the final say on all planning decisions in the province of Ontario. Please visit my webpage to help bring control of our neighbourhoods back to your democratically elected City Council.

Is your Rent Out of Control? Stop Unfair Rent Increases

An AGI is a rent increase above the "Guideline" increase that a landlord can apply for through the Landlord and Tenant Board to cover the cost of capital repairs such as replacing elevators or balconies. As a result of this provincial law, tenants are being unfairly burdened for the landlord’s cost of doing business. Tell the provincial government to end this unfair practice here.

Newsletters

Community Update for April 4, 2014

Community Update for March 21, 2014

Community Update for March 7, 2014

Community Update for February 21, 2014

Community Update for February 5, 2014

Community Update for January 17, 2014

Happy New Year! Community Update on Ice Storm Recovery for December 31st, 2013

Merry Christmas and tonight's Ice Storm Recovery update

Freezing Rain Warning for Southern Ontario

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for December 19, 2013

Happy Holidays from your City Councillor

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for December 6, 2013

Councillor Matlow's Community Update for November 28, 2013

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