Sheppard West

The pressure to increase property taxes seems to be increasing in Toronto. That outcome is strongly resented by most members of our community.

Residents were left guessing what may have affected the water taste in the past couple of days and the government is looking to change the landlord and tenant act with a view to improve landlord protection.

The story of police understaffing has been somehow dominating the headlines for quite a while. Although there are far more police per capita in Toronto than in London for instance, Toronto police officers are reportedly so “demoralized” that they took a symbolic vote against Chief Mark Saunders.

Earlier this year, when the school year started, we learned about a school bus driver shortage. Now we’re learning about suboptimal performance of said companies.

The greenbelt article is very long, but we think it’s important, and so is the Downsview tour. Lastly, a few words on a crime that happened at Jane and Lawrence.

Councillor Karen Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence), a mayoral candidate whose riding had an 18-per-cent failure rate on nearly 1,000 tests, said financial incentives for homeowners who want to replace their lead pipes is worth consideration. “If that’s the reason people aren’t replacing the pipes, then I think we have an obligation to look at that,” she said. “People expect that when they turn on their taps, the water is safe to drink. It’s a reasonable expectation and one we need to make sure we deliver on.”

It is no secret that Toronto’s amalgamation, perpetrated by the Conservatives, happened against the will of the voters. In Montreal it happened on the same oppositional background under the Liberals. Two decades later, it is clear that the cost savings that were supposed to happen did not, we still do not have a harmonized legislation and corruption has increased, while representation and local democracy weakened.

As we begin the new year, we send you our best wishes, together with some fresh news from Toronto’s press.

Two artists have started trolling Old City Hall (and, presumably, other sites) with fake “Development Proposal” signs as a commentary on the condo boom.

It was our current Police Chief who, as the lead author of a secret internal 2012 report, exonarated the Force of racism in carding.

The province is launching a review of OMB. For many communities, it is too late, but could such a review ever achieve its goals?

Toronto Fire crews battled two large fires Saturday morning — one at a North York highrise and the other at two Christie Pits homes.

Neighbourhood Improvement Areas Map Under a new ranking system revealed by city staff on Monday, each of Toronto’s 140 neighbourhoods has been given an “equity score” based on 15 criteria that includes health, economics, political participation and education. A team of experts set 42.89 as a benchmark score. Communities that fall below the line are designated as a “ Neighbourhood Improvement Area ,” which replaces the old “Priority Neighbourhood Area.” Black Creek scored the lowest, with 21.38. Lawrence Park north was the highest, with 92.05. Westminster-Branson, ranked 38th overall, came in at 46.57. This north Toronto neighbourhood is one of eight that no longer qualifies as a priority investment area. Malvern, Dorset Park, L’Amoreaux, Yorkdale-Glen Park, Steeles, Englemount-Lawrence and Humber Heights-Westmount round out that list. Each was part of the city’s original neighbourhoods program, which was launched eight years ago after the so-called Summer of the Gun. The de...

The past 24h have not been particularly auspicious for our neighbourhood, our very own 32 Division investigating a fall off a 6th floor and a shooting in a park.

Easements and rights of way are European traditions, but Toronto tends to limit pathways through private property.

After such a tragedy , where people died or were forcibly evacuated, it is only natural to inquire how could this happen and whose fault was it. As details are starting to emerge, it becomes clearer and clearer that government idiocy and lack of foresight have played an important role in the tragedy.

For reference, we are republishing here the chronology of the 1900 Sheppard Ave W redevelopment project, from 1999 and up to August 29, 2006.

The Downsview Park has taken decades from promise to existence and it seems like it will take a few more. It is nonetheless entertaining to read the “visions”.

CTV's W Five has made a documentary about the Toronto Housing Corporation, widely known as Canada's worst landlord. The documentary can be viewed on their website.

As expected, the Spadina subway extension is late and over budget - business as usual in the amalgamated Toronto.