We’re Doomed Financially…But Be Happy (?)

There is an interesting contract in the weekend papers in terms of Toronto’s future. The  Toronto Star’s GTA secton on Saturday has several stories about how the city is doomed financially because it simply doesn’t have the revenue and taxation sources to pay for all the services it provides. To be honest, it’s disheartening because it paints a picture of a city in financial crisis with only one way to go: down. Unless something dramatic happens – and I’m not sure it’s just a New Deal with Queen’s Park – all the things we like about Toronto will disappear: clean streets, social services, well-run community centres, low user-fees, accessible services for people with lower incomes, etc. Royson James offers up the more troubling scenario with the possibility that Toronto may have to declare bankruptcy one day – much like what New York City did. Meanwhile, the Globe’s John Barber tells us in Saturday’s paper to “don’t worry, be happy” – suggesting our concerns about traffic congestion, a lack of parking spots, etc. shouldn’t really concern us. Maybe, he’s the eternal optimistic, while the Star is riding the attention-grabbing doom and gloom pony. In any event, I’m feeling terribly uneasy about Toronto’s future. We just don’t seem to have the leadership to create a vision for the future or the financial formula to ensure the city keeps working efficiently. At some point, something’s got to give.

Is David Miller Getting Nervous?

With an election nine months away, there are signs David Miller is starting to feel the heat. After promising sweeping reform and vowing to get Toronto’s house in order, the city is faced with a huge deficit and a mayor who appears afraid to talk tough with salary-seeking unions or consider the possibility of users fees as an alternative to higher property taxes.How else to explain the public dressing down that Miller delivered to Glen Grunwald when the Toronto Board of Trade CEO provided feedback last week at a public forum about the 2006 budget. Rather than thank Grunwald for his insight, Miller went on the attack. He later explained he wanted to “clarify” some of the proposals made by Grunwald. My sense is Miller’s re-election campaign is nowhere near a slam dunk because there’s a feeling he’s ineffective and the city is no better now than it was with Mel Lastman at the helm.

Budget Blues

Royson James had a good column last week (Feb. 15) about the city’s budget deficit – currently about $450-million to $500-million for 2006. He makes a good point in questioning why the city continues to hope that Queen’s Park will come to its rescue while ignoring the fact it makes no sense to continually dive into the pocket of residents through property taxes, user fees, water costs, etc. Unfortunately, there are mixed messages coming from city hall: they attempt to give themselves raises and bend every time their unionized employees threaten to withdraw services. I’m not sure why the city doesn’t face fiscal reality and simply say there’s no money in the coffers for higher salaries – just like most companies have been telling their employees for the past few years. Instead, Toronto continues to operate as if everything will be fine as long as Queen’s Park bails us out.

Dupont St.’s Gentrification: Ha!

There was a story in Saturday’s Globe & Mail about how Dupont St. is slowly being gentrified between Davenport and Spadina. It cites the opening of a new LCBO, a chocolate shop and a French bakery as signs that Dupont will shuck its role as a travel routeto become a quasi-retail strip. As much as I’d like to see it happen, Dupont is what it is – a busy route for people trying to get across mid-town. Still, there’s lot of potential. The land where the 24-hour IGA on Dupont & Shaw has huge potential for residential/retail redevelopment. It would also be nice to see a Firkin-like pub open on the Dupont where you could have a beer and taken the kids for dinner.

TTC Scammed Again

So the TTC, which is facing another budget shortfall this year, has lost $2-million to $5-million of revenue because of a ticket/token scam. If the TTC had any more money, it would be able to upgrade its ticketing system so it could offer cards using digital technology and do away with cash and tokens. Alas, there’s no money in the coffers for new technology so we’ll have to live with these scams popping up from time to time.

Will Fare Hike Hurt TTC Ridership?

Faced with a budget shortfall and a choice between cutting service and raising fares, the TTC has decided to boost fares across the board. The question is whether it will hurt ridership, which has been climbing steadily as the city gets busier and people realize it’s an efficient way to get around. My hunch is it won’t reduce the number of people taking the TTC because what choice do people really have these days? Gasoline prices are rising, there is more congestion than ever and more people are working. It all means the TTC has become more important than ever. The sad part is there’s no money to expand the system – let alone build some badly-needed subway or LRT lines to make the TTC is more attractive and easier to use. Can you imagine what the TTC would look like today if Mike Harris’ PCs hadn’t killed plans to build subways acrross Eglinton and Shepherd (not the line that goes to nowhere now on Shepherd)?

Gun Collectors: A Dying Breed?

There’s a story on the front page of the Toronto Star today about a gun collector who – surprise, surprise – had 40 guns stolen during a break-in. When will we get to the point where society says that gun collections are not allowed. I can understand collecting stamps, hockey cards, teapots, etc. but guns seem strange given they can kill people. At the very least, the rules involving the registration and storage of guns need to be overhauled. If it’s easy for thieves to break into cabinets to steal guns, then the current rules aren’t good enough.

Garbage Bag Blues

In our house, recycling day is a little embarassing because we’re so good at it, we have boxes and boxes of paper, bottles and compostable material waiting for the garbageman. Meanwhile, some people on our street have far less because they’re consuming less or not recycling as much as they should. It got me thinking that perhaps the city should think about rewarding good recyclers in some way. Maybe they could give up an extra garbage bag sticker after limits of how many you can throw out every two weeks drops to four bags from five bags. On a related matter, this garbage bag limit is going to be a disaster. Rather than complying with the new rules and recycling more, do not be surprised to see bags of garbage dumped on street corners, ravines, other people’s front yards and beside garbage cans on the street. Toronto’s going to need a lot more than six new inspectors to regulate this activity.

Island Airport: It’s Alive, It’s Alive

You have to give Robert Deluce credit for his persistance in trying to start an airline from Toronto’s Island Airport. His latest move is an agreement to buy 10 turboprop plans from Bombardier. Clearly, a bigger aiport is not part of Toronto’s waterfront revitalization efforts but guys like Deluce are allowed to create havoc because there’s too many parties at the table (city, province, Ottawa) and the lack of a single entity that can create a cohensive plans and make decisions.

Bail for Boys

You have to shake your head at the news that the two 18-year-old boys who killed a taxi driving while racing each other up Mount Pleasant Rd. at 130 kph were released on bail yesterday. If that doesn’t make you lose faith in the legal system, what does? I mean, they were being dangerous and reckless, and a 46-year-old man lost his life. I suspect that in a year or two, there will be a trial where the two remorseful young men may get a short jail sentence, an order to do some community work and a slap on the risk.