My 2006 Toronto Wish List

With 2005 in the books, it’s time to look ahead to 2006. Here’s what I’d like to see in Toronto.
1. A crackdown on gun-related violence. Not just the Liberals’ promise of a ban of guns but a multi-level program to address the roots and symptoms of the problem – everything from well-funded community centres, and low cost or no cost recreational programs to mandatory 10-year sentences for anyone using a gun during a crime.
2. Signs of life on the waterfront, although nothing is better than some of the stupid ideas (high-rise condos, a small sliver of recreational space on the waterfront) that have been proposed. Toronto needs to implement a cohensive development plan rather than the project-by-project work being currently done.
3. Cleaner streets. I’m tired of walking around town and seeing trash everywhere. It’s a classic example of the broken window theory. If you let trash lie around, people think it’s okay to drop more trash. What ever happened to Toronto the Clean? If the city implement a limit of how many garbage bags you’re allowed to toss, do not be surprised to see bags dumped on street corners and in parks and ravines.
4. Smarter developer now that the Ontario Municipal Board appears to be getting defanged. A city can’t be planned properly if developers rule the roost and rely on the OMB to overturn every city planning decision that doesn’t go their way.