I ended up going to City Hall yesterday, but decided not to make a fuss. There were 344 people signed up to do just that. Instead, I went to listen and (by being a body in a seat) show that people of Toronto do care about what happens to it. The main action began at 9:30 yesterday in Council Chamber 1 (CC1) but, owing to being at the Hot Yam! and running into/chatting with several people I hadn’t seen in ages on my walk over to City Hall (there was an accident, preventing streetcars from going along Spadina), I started observing municipal politics at about 4:20pm via projector in Council Chamber 2 (CC2), the overflow room. I kept some notes and posted them, mostly unedited, after the jump. Please bear with the lack of sleep.
During the dinner break (see below), I discovered from Alicia Pang, someone I knew from undergrad, that deputations started ~11am. My handwritten notes begin with the deputation of Hassan Fazl at around 4:20pm. Numbers to the left of names are their speaking order number; unless otherwise noted, missing numbers indicate people that were absent when their name was called.
Some councillors are visiting councillors and are not actually part of the committee in question and thus cannot vote. These were the most vocal councillors during this session.
26. Hassan Fazl
I really only caught the tail end of this. Also, many individuals told individual stories or gave dumps of facts, which I’ve omitted. I’ve tried to keep it to interesting and/or amusing points and my random musings.
27. Marni Van Dyk
- Marni is part of a comedy troupe and campaigned for the arts. She is cut off at the three minute mark, coinciding with her mention of the LGBT community, drawing guffaws.
- Councillor Wong-Tam suggests a service for artists and asks if it’s a good idea to implement (rather than cut).
- Councillor Mihevc asks Marni whether she has any ideas about whether stimulus funds pump money back into taxes.
After one question from any councillor, one can usually easily tell what side they have already chosen for any issue.
CC2 is full of hecklers. It’s sometimes hard to hear the speaker over the loudspeaker.
Also, earlier in the day, the committee voted to restrict speaking times to 3 minutes and questions from councillors (including responses) to two minutes each per speaker.
28. Dianah Smith
Dianah asks for a moment of silence for those who could not speak for themselves because of the City’s services having failed them.
29. Cathy Crowe
- Children are afraid of losing their zoos, losing their parks, and that there will be fewer sirens from firetrucks and police. What? Aren’t sirens indicative of bad things happening?
- Cathy gives to Mayor Ford a children’s book she has read from during her deputation. I’m surprised there was no heckling over the Mayor’s reading ability.
30. Brian McLean
Brian lived in a homeless shelter. Prior to that, he had worked at CAMH until he was hit by a car, causing a brain injury.
Councillor, rhetorically: What is a society that doesn’t take care of its needy?
Councillor Vaughn: “When you were a taxpayer, did you ever think you’d need the services you use now? [How do you show tax payers the payoff?]”
Brian: You can’t put a price on life. Draws much cheering.
31. Dr. Franz Hartmann
“Counsellors want to make intelligent decisions.” That’s being generous. I think some only want to seem to make intelligent decisions.
Councillor Mammoliti: Where to cut, then? How to make up the difference?
R. from Hartmann: “Toronto is like a family. And someone will have to do without shoes. [We’re deciding who won’t get shoes.]”
Hartmann: “It doesn’t make sense to create problems more severe than our financial problems.”
34. Ashleigh Dalton, a U of T researcher
Councillor Wong-Tam points out Ashleigh’s lack of self-serving nature; she is lobbying for groups that do not pay her. Most of the people with the earliest/lowest speaking numbers were indeed from “special interest groups”. It was indeed nice to hear from someone like Ashleigh.
35. Ann Dembinski
In a high profile budget, a single cut that alienates a large number of constituents could be political suicide. If a councillor is going to vote to cut one thing, that councillor may as well vote to cut even more things.
The council is catty while lookers-on tended to be loud and rowdy. For some reason, tis reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut writing that laughter is caused as the body’s way of dealing with a discomfort.
At this point, 6:00pm, council adjourns for a 45 minute (which became a 55-minute or so) dinner and many people that were in CC2 do not return, including Ann for more questions from councillors.
36. Robert Cerjanec
37. Jim Roe
39. Christopher Holcroft
A councillor asked what Christopher saw in a city without libraries, trees, etc. I’d feel like I was being grilled, except this was supposed to be a softball question. A few visiting councillors are wearing buttons with pictures of Margaret Atwood on them.
40. John Campey
41. Stephanie Rogerson
People at this meeting sound so robotic while reading from pieces of paper.
43. Anita Agrawal
47. Francisco Rico-Martinez
Councillor: Settlement of immigrants is federal responsibility.
R. from Francisco: But integration is the moral responsibility of city.
48. Karen Sun
Consultation should not be a PR exercise.
The consultation survey design was bad (leading questions, limited options, poor translations); people with special needs couldn’t answer on evenings or weekends.
Rob Ford to councillors: You need to get my attention before a person’s time is up, otherwise I’ll ask them to leave and then I’ll have to ask them to come back.
49. Corey Scott
(Representing U of T undergrads). On TTC cuts: Unfortunately, my constituents cannot ride the gravy train.
C. Are night buses nice-to-haves vs. must.
R. Sexual assaults.
51. Darcy Higgins
Public cannot give input on efficiency because we don’t have any efficiency reviews. Only here under the threat of entire programmes being cut.
Ford reminds councillors not to ask questions at the last minute.
Councillor: Why should the city concern itself with student nutrition?
Councillor: Should we wait for another level of government pick up tab, first?
Councillor Davis notes that someone was present when her name was picked but was ignored.
Mayor Ford: Missed a person’s name when called out three times. We agreed this morning that if you miss name, you miss out.
Councillor: You did not call names 3 times.
Mamaloti: I know what you’re trying to do, but we did agree [to calling names out thrice] “We’re on #60; I’ve been here all day. Why [has the system] worked all day and not any more?”
Councillor Davis pops into CC2: Sorry, I tried!
52. Jennifer Arango
Why are you yelling at me?
Councillor Minnan-Wong: need to stick to point
Mammoliti: [Councillor Minnan-Wong is right. We have rules in order. Cut off anyone not on topic.
Adam Vaughn: What do you get if we don’t have more women on council?
Arrango: You’ll have more men yelling at women.
53. Alison Baxter
55. Maya Roy
56. Paul Farrelly
Councillor Wong-Tam is now wearing a button with a picture of Margaret Atwood on it. Oh, and… Indigo has a promo on Atwood books for those with a library card.
58. Michael Binetti
- KPMG report should be sent back. KPMG says only Manhattan has night bus service. This is wrong. “Boston appears not to have night bus service.”
- Councillor: Should just call.
- Councillor Davis recognizes Binetti from another consultation, laughs, and says “this is not funny”.
- Councillor Kelly: Where do you live in Scarborough?
Many speculated Councillor Kelly was trying to figure out if Michael is one of his constituents (yes). After council meeting, Councillor Mammoliti comments that few people from the suburbs came. Binetti was one of many people from Scarborough and Etibocoke. Perhaps it’s true that North York wasn’t well-represented, but Scarborough definitely had a strong showing.
60. Bronwyn Underhill
Councillor Perks comes in to pour some coffee from a box of it that says “Gravy: Just kidding; it’s coffee” and remarks, “We’re not allowed!” This was a well-photographed box of coffee. Yes, I took a picture, too. I’ll update this blog post with this and another picture when I’ve got them.
61. Matthew Jocelyn
Councillor Davis enters CC2 and remarks, “Hey, you guys have food!” CC2 is a party zone.
63. Clara Ho
The Deputy Mayor has taken over; the Mayor has disappeared.
66. Margaret McRae
- City’s job is to manage city services, not to dismantle them. They were created because there was a need. I recognize that just because I don’t need a service doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t. Fallacious that service shouldn’t be dismantled because there WAS a need. There may no longer be a need (or it serves too small a group at too high a cost — although this is subjective).
- The chairs that people sit on rotate; many people are rotating their rears while staying facing the councillors. It looks bad on TV. Councillor Carroll’s neck piece also looks bad on camera. Fine patterned details cause aliasing.
- I would pay an extra $200 in taxes — 10% property tax increase — instead of paying double the membership for a $200 fitness program as a user fee.
- Councillor Mammoliti: So you’re saying a senior on fixed income paying $3500 to $4000 should pay more for your services? CC2 erupts into “they use services, too”. This is somewhat silly. It always boils down to — even in the user-pay scenario — how to determine what someone’s fair share of the cost of a service is. And that’s highly based on one’s politics.
67. Rodney Diverlus
CC2 is yelling “Where is Ford?”
68. Caitlin Smith
People cheering whenever something that panders to the general public is said is getting to be annoying. Partly because they’re just so loud and I already know how they feel. Plus, the councillors can’t hear us, being in CC1, and even if they could, would the cheers really have much effect? Then again, I never really understood this particular cheering business. Are people really that elated to hear something that jives with their beliefs?
69. Henry Faber
Henry Faber is a small-business owner that relocated to Toronto with family for business. He’s the first person I’ve seen read from an electronic device; an iPad.
- As a small-business owner, I would never cut costs at the expense of integrity of product or customers.
- The Deputy Mayor seems to have no difficulty with recognizing questions from the councillors, unlike the Mayor.
- Oh. But the Mayor just returned. CC2 shouted, “Welcome back.”
- Ford addresses Councillor Davis by her first name. Councillor Davis replies “Thank you, Robert.”
- Councillor Davis asks many leading questions to which the answers are all “yes”. Draws great laughter. Ah, politics.
- Councillor Davis: Is the use of “nice to have” and “must have” a good enough distinction for this city?
- Councillor Davis notes that Henry Faber’s wife is waiting for him at the Drake Hotel, as she has discovered via a tweet.
- Councillor Perks: I’m not going to name your deputant number, but are you surprised about the 68 people before you not supporting these cuts?
- Response from Henry: I don’t understand why a bike land that was put in a few months ago is upended at a few times is cost. I don’t understand why Transit City stopped.
72. Ricky Lalchan
Councillor Carroll takes a picture of the people in CC2 for her twitter feed.
73. Peter Kingstone
One of the councillors in CC2 remarks, “Let it be known that Rob Ford did not pay for the food here; Councillor Shelly (Carroll) paid for some of the food in Council Chamber 2.”
I really appreciated people bringing in food from outside and putting it on a communal table. Also, thanks to the city employee (and Councillor Perks) that ensured a steady supply of water and that garbage/recyclables were handled.
74. Sonya D’Cunha
- Rob Ford, explaining his absence: I want my Redbull.
75. Vesna Iljic (or Tanya Meyers, #76?)
I realized that going early could be a disadvantage; one might not aware of what councillors’ questions will be like.
Ford: Sorry, can’t let you ask questions; council rules. Sorry about that. *shrugs*
77. Michel Labbe
Michel talks about how merging his housing group with one of a different type will prevent his department becoming revenue positive.
78. Jane Beecroft
- “About 80 years ago, I emerged into this world…”
79. Matthew Remski
A lot of people that have come up to talk have given out their home addresses, or at least intersections. I’m not sure what to make of this.
- Suggests vehicle tax should be assessed according to ecological standards.
- Brings up congestion tolls.
- Councillor Davis: Would you counsel any of the councillors around this library to close a library in a heartbeat? Matthew: No.
- Proposes demolition taxes.
- “I guarantee that if everyone took a course in non-violent communication, it would cut acrimony in council and [make meetings go much more quickly. It would be a cost saving measure].”
80. Peter Ortved
- Mammoliti, I think, moves to change questions from 2 minutes to 1.
- Ford: I’d better. Point of Order, I couldn’t count it.
- Councillor Mammoliti: I counted it passes.
- Mayor Ford: I thought it carried. 5-4.
- Clerk: Motion loses 6-5.
- Apparently I missed something here. The motion passed.
- Mayor Ford: “I’m going to extend this item for however long it takes.”
- Motion to stay in session until everyone heard carries.
- Is Rob Ford trying to end this through attrition?
83. June Mc Donald
Councillor Vaughn comes into CC2 to say that he’s never seen a vote, since 1969 when he first got involved, recounted so that councillors that were absent in a vote could come in and get counted; he’s referring to the question period time limit motion.
- We know the TTC’s cost. Why don’t we know what cars cost us?
- Do we get money from the gas taxes for people from out side of the city?
84. Farrah Khan
- I’ve re-fallen in love with this city from hearing the words of all the people that went in front of me.
- Mayor gives councillor one minute to ask questions.
- Confusion abounds about the two-minute/one-minute issue in CC2.
85. Kate Hoffman
- I am a taxpayer, home owner, car owner, […], but the label I am most proud of is citizen.
86. Carol Graham
- Talks about services like Meals on Wheels that help deliver food to those that are not very mobile.
- Counsellor Davis: Do you think that food is a nice-to-have or a must-have? ((Mayor Ford asked councillors to use this as as criteria for the day as to whether a service could be cut.))
- Carol: “It’s a ‘nice to have’… if you want to live.”
87. Bob Kinnear
- Bob is yelling loudly into the mic; his audio is clipping, somewhat.
- “We’ve extended an olive branch to you since you were elected. We can never talk to you.” Mayor Ford: “You never call!”
- Users from outside of TO are subsidized to the tune of about $50M/year by Toronto tax dollars; cutting blue light service affects tax-paying Torontonians.
- (in response to Councillor Layton’s question): Melbourne gets 2x subsidies for 1/3 passengers. That’s an unfair comparison. Geography differs, as do needs, and density.
- Deputy Mayor: So you’re saying it’s the management’s fault, not the worker’s fault, that workers are absent? Bob: Yes.
89. Miro Wagner
- I would like to read a short story I wrote. Once there was a house called Toronto… There were ugly columns in the basement — vehicle registration tax pillar, property tax pillar, … A contractor said he’d remove the pillars. After some were removed, the house was going to collapse. The contractor said, “Preexisting problem!” The occupants had to get rid of furniture — but that’s okay. People could stand. They forgot that contractor promised no changes. Everything was resting on the last pillar and the remaining things were still too heavy. But contractor has a four year contract and is doing exactly what he was paid to do.
- Councillor: “Do you think that pillars are important?” Miro: “Pillars are important to a house.”
90. Sara Diamond
When people are cut off, Councillors Carroll and Davis are asking people to continue as their question. Filibustering without asking a new question. Great!
91. Josephine Grey
- Services required for democracy.
- Proposes withholding money from Ontario for things that we’re supposed get but not getting due to downloading.
- It is the duty of the mayor to uphold human rights.
- The mayor has left the room again and the lights go out.
92. Speaker Bureau
98. Hamish Wilson
- Not the bicycle tires wearing out the road. It’s the cars.
- I’m having problems typing. Brain must be shutting down. I’m doing pretty well – it’s 10:58pm. My brain is normally asleep in the early afternoon.
99. Marilyn Wilcoxen
- Took the day off work to speak as a taxpayer.
- When I was at Trinity College, student government much more efficient/civilized. Why? Is it smaller size (#people)? Homogeny? Smaller problems?
- Marilyn hands over one month’s worth of a ten percent property tax increase in cash. Adam Vaughn collects it and hands it over to the mayor.
102. Shaun Shepherd
- Notes that it’s no longer good evening since it’s very late, now.
- With such a strong mandate to not cut services, the answer is simple: don’t cut services.
- That’s brings up a good point; the mayor’s mandate is to not cut services WHILE lowering taxes. If he can’t deliver on the pair, what does his mandate become? Does it degenerate into one or the other? And which takes precedence?
103. Gilary Massa Machado
- You were elected… Mayor Ford was elected… as she glares at his chair occupied by Deputy Mayor Holyday.
- Deputy Mayor says it’s unfortunate that Mayor was not here for her deputation, but has been in the chair-chair for all but 20 minutes during the day.
- Mammoliti: Mayor was called out to his office for a phone call. Wanted to correct deputy because he made it sound like Mayor is not there. What? Exactly! He’s not there. In the room.
104. Julie Beddoes
- KPMG report exists in a vacuum.
- In report to Councillor Davis: KPMG report is hard to read; encounters so many things that she finds appalling that she needs to take breaks.
106. Madeleine McDowell
- Libraries and heritage are necessities for democracy. Powerful thoughts and ideas have been born from them.
- While waiting for questions, Madeleine comments that she hopes she can leave before having to catch a blue light bus.
108. Christopher Salmond, crossing guard
- Notes 50-80 people use electronic devices while driving through his monitored intersections per day; % CC2 person yells “Like the mayor?”
- Adam Vaughn: Is having a crossing guard a nice-to-have or a must-have. Christopher: From a children’s standpoint, nice to have. From crossing guard’s, it’s a necessity. “I wish they would give us an RPG; that would stop red light runners.”
109. Ida Baan, crossing guard
- Also mentions illegal cellphone usage to more jeering.
- Councillor: How much of raise have you received after 30 years?
- Ida: I’ve worked 20 years, not 30. Paid $12-$13/hr.
- Councillor: Doesn’t sound like gravy to me.
- Councillor Mammoliti is recognized. Chamber groans. During questions, Mammoliti runs out of time. CC2 cheers.
110. Francesca Scalzo
- Maybe my councillor misspoke when he said congratulations on becoming a taxpayer to a new homeowner. Tenants are taxpayers, too.
- Could I have your attention please?
- Mayor Ford: Sorry. Time. Francesca: Oh! Hi! surprised that the Mayor has returned after an ~1 hr absence.
112. Antoinette Davis
The lights and projectors have gone out in CC2; Farrah Kahn comes in to announce timer timed out. It’s good that there is power saving, I guess. But a whole room just got left in the dark.
113. John Rait
The first time I was in a council chamber room here was last year for Doors Open Toronto. I think I’ll be back more after today/tonight/tomorrow.
114. Jason Adam Robins
- I am so glad that this council is going to follow our thoughts.
- I don’t think you will suffer from these cuts because you have lots of money and that you don’t understand the weight of your decisions.
- “Are you prepared to hang your entire political career on this KPMG report? You will not be in here in four years. What you have done is galvanize a giant machine [cannot be heard over cheering in CC2”
- I truly hope that you will reap what you are sowing.
- I don’t think you’ll have any questions for me.
Someone yells “happy birthday” to Councillor Palacio. Mayor Ford: Happy Birthday. Mayor Ford shakes hands with Councillor Palacio and someone brings some cake over.
115. Karen Buck
116. Tim Rourke
Rob Ford starts counting Tim’s three minutes before he even sits down.
- Take the money and give it to a community.
- Proposes each TO neighbourhood runs its own social services.
- “That was a very subversive message. Boo.”
119. Jennifer Wigmore
- Mayor Ford: You have five minutes. Jennifer: Great! Mayor Ford: Three! I mean three! It is pretty late.
- “Mayor Ford, you and I will probably fundamentally differ on a few things. I’m a mother, I’m an artist on a low income, and I’ll ride my bike to my gay friend’s wedding.” Rob Ford gives thumbs up.
- Councillor Carroll: Last election, we heard Toronto was a bad city. Now we hear it’s a good city. Jennifer starts listing things and then pauses, running out of time. Councillor Davis: Are there other things that make the city great? Use the whole minute! Jennifer: The greatest thing about this city is the people that come out to tell us it’s great.
- Mihevc: What themes are we hearing? Jennifer: That the KPMG report is not reflective of the city of Toronto. Loud cheering as she leaves.
121. Alastair Woods
122. Debbie Field
- Representing 16 people who are signed up but couldn’t be here because it’s night – teenagers or in wheelchairs.
- Mayor Ford: I hope you enjoy the football team I started at Endale. (and then adds something about the money he’s given towards that)
123. Herb van den Dool
- His frugal Dutch Calvinist parents knew how to penny pinch and to help others.
124. Leslie Sanders
125. Doug Kerr (12:39am)
129. Paul Codd (12:43am)
131. J Novak (12:46am)
- Mayor Ford: You have 3 minutes starting… when you sit down.
- J prefers the old days; one thing that gets his goat is when laws are not followed. Police should be cut more than 10% just to see what happens.
132. Thom Vernon (12:50am)
- “I want to thank you, Mayor Ford, who just left.”
134. Wendy Greene (12:53am)
The Mayor returns.
135. David Owen (12:59am)
136. Karen Lior (1:04am)
- Counsellor Perks: Are you suggesting that we not write the cheque to KPMG?
137. Sivakami Mylvaganam (1:10am)
- The mayor is being heckled in CC2 over his inability to read that are not “white” and that he should learn to read. Now that’s just unfair to the mayor. Some people in CC2 snicker whenever an “ethnic” name comes up. I’d have difficulty with many of the names, too. I’ll bet the hecklers in CC2 wold have problems pronouncing Sivakami Mylvaganam’s name, by reading it off a piece of paper instead of hearing it first.
- Councillor Davis: I had my hand up very early on.
- Mayor Ford: I will give you the benefit of the doubt; under his breath: you won.
138. Pat Lenathen (1:15am)
- If you leave the Toronto Parking Authority alone, you can do nothing and get $80M/year.
- Mammoloti makes a comment, garnering boos. He dismisses the booing at him: “We’re at a socialist party today, anyway”.
142. Laura Heslin Piper (1:24am)
- Disappointed at the way this meeting is run to not hear Torontonians.
- “Mr. Ford, are you listening? Because you don’t seem to be listening.”
144. Aaron Sidney Wright (1:29am)
145. Avvy Yao-Yao Go (1:32am)
- Cuts to services requires, by laws, a review under equity laws.
147. Kevin Clarke (1:37am)
- Mayor Ford: You’re not the same Kevin Clarke that was signed up… Ma’am…
149. Maureen O’Reilly (~1:39am)
- Boxes of signatures being brought in: 39000 signatures in two weeks.
- During question period, there is a huge amount of clapping in response to something Maureen said. Rob Ford: “It’s your time…” in reference to the 1-minute time limit running out for the councillor he just recognized during all the clapping.
- Councillor Mihevc: Point of order… Point of order… Mayor Ford: No. No. No.
- Mamolliti moves to strike all deputations from record.
- Mayor Ford: This could happen if… I think this has been very productive. We’ve heard both sides. (jeers) If a councillor makes a motion to end discussions… […] I’m being very democratic. Mihevc: You know as well as I do as I couldn’t speak [over all the clapping]. Mayor Ford: I know. But your time is up.
- Councillor Perks: Councillor Mihevc tells me his question was… and is cut off, too.
- Councillor Mammoliti asks whether librarians are using libraries to collect signatures. Maureen: No, we are librarians. We know that we cannot use libraries for union business.
- Councillor Mammoliti actually posed the question several different ways, first, basically trying to get Maureen to say they violated a law.
151. Susan Gapka
- Councillor Vaughn: KPMG managed to square quite a few strange circles.
152. Amy Casipullai (2:01am)
153. Anika Tabovaradan (2:04am)
Anika is a 14 year old; hates public speaking and breaks down. Her parents come to comfort her.
- I’m no tax payer, but when I use computers in the library , […] , when the time comes that I pay taxes, I will be glad to pay taxes for the children that… I’m not making sense any more.
- Councillor Davis: [If we close all the libraries] So there’s no where else for you to go. I look forward to you paying your taxes. Thank you.
- Mayor Ford: Thank you very much. The Mayor sounded sincere; the italics on “very” weren’t to illustrate his sarcasm.
156. Andrew McAllister (2:10am)
159. Anita Khanna (2:13am)
160. Lisa Wong (2:17am)
161. Kathleen Mathurin (2:21am)
162. Grant Ankerman (2:24am)
164. Geoff MacBride (2:29am)
Speakers 168 and 20 were traded.
Mayor Ford: “You don’t trade. It doesn’t work like that.”
Councillor Wong-Tam: “Mr. Mayor, may I suggest that we let this young man…”
Mayor Ford: “NO!”
Councillor Wong-Tam: “Mr. Mayor, this has been an extremely long day…”
Mayor Ford: “Ms. Wong-Tam, you are a visiting guest and you are not getting…”
Councillor Mammoliti: “I did suggest earlier that if this sort of thing happened, that we could end the [deputation hearings]”
Mayor Ford: “I have the rules for expelling a member… or a deputant…”
171. William Pearson (2:37am)
- People who want to save libraries should donate to libraries.
- Mayor Ford (trying to maintain order): The second warning is going to be you’re dismissed. Mayor Ford asks for Guled Arale, speaker #20, to be removed by security.
- “People that actually support libraries should make donations.”
174. Nigel Barriffe (2:43am)
- I expected him to know our riding better than that (Re: Councillor Layton’s question about how Councillor Doug Ford’s comment about libraries outnumbering Tim Hortons made him feel).
- Mammoliti shaking head while WT asks question.
- Councillor Vaughn: Why didn’t the previous person suggest donations for police?
- Nigel, in response to a question from Councillor Mammoliti: You shouldn’t have these people argue against each other (groups).
175. Brian Cauley
A few police have gathered outside CC1 and CC2. Left over from throwing out Guled Arale?
177. Elizabeth Hill (2:54am)
- Mayor Ford got up just as she sat down.
- Councillor: What raises your blood pressure here [about the process today]?
- Elizabeth: That a small room was chosen for 300 people and an overflow room is needed. On the bright side, I can heckle all I want there.
183. Desmond Cole (2:59am)
- Can I have ten seconds to sit down, please?
- Deputy Mayor: Yes. You can have ten seconds.
- Desmond uses a sock-puppet. Out come the cell phones and cameras to take a picture of the projector screen image of the sock puppet in CC2.
- Deputy Mayor: What’s your partner’s name? Desmond: Roy.
187. Claudio Ruiz (3:04am)
Traded his spot with #189 because his document disappeared from his Mac laptop. What would Ford have done?
189. Catherine Parsonage (3:05am)
- Councillor Davis asks a question, but is clearly disappointed when Catherine gives a full answer other than “yes” she was hoping for.
187. Claudio Ruiz (3:12am)
Guled (#20) pops his head into CC2, looking for security guards; it’s all clear and comes in.
198. Sharon Simpson (3:17am)
- “I did not know that I’d be spending the night with you. I don’t know how it’s been for you, but it’s been quite stimulating for me.”
199. Alyssa Williams (3:21am)
- Councillor Davis walks into CC2 and exclaims, “There’re still people here!”
201. Alex McClelland (3:25am)
- Councillor Vaughn: Would we be the first city to cancel an AIDS programme? (nods as a hint)
205. Susan MacDonald (3:31am)
- Councillor Kelly: Will the libraries of the future be the same as they are now?
213. Jonathan Lin (3:36am)
219. Alison Gorbould (3:42am)
- In response to Councillor Davis: I’m very confused as to what you’re basing these decisions [to cut] on. Councillor Davis: I’m very confused, too. I think this sums up the whole spectacle.
220. Adelaida Blaxley (3:48am)
227. Devendra Kumar Sharma (3:52am)
- “You have been very rude” (to Councillor Mammoliti).
- I am a contractor […] seven floors […] there are a hundred floors […] fifty floors and fifty floors […] seven floors […] seven floors […] and you ask them to build the seven floors […] seven floors […] fifty floors […] If you don’t understand, let me put it this way. Say you want seven pens … Keeps yelling after mic is turned off. “You aren’t listening!” Deputy Mayor: “Alright, seven floors…”
230. Susan Wesson (3:57am)
- Sings a song with pictures. She made up the song in response to having to cut her five minute presentation down to three.
232. Liz Rice (4:01am)
- Ford returns at 4:03am
- Ford: With all due respect, your time is up… Okay, you get one minute, councillor. Councillor Wong-Tam: As you were saying (prompting Liz to continue her speech). Mayor Ford: You’re out of order. Councillor Wong-Tam: I have one minute. Mayor Ford: Your time is up. Mayor Ford cuts off mic during quote of Oscar Wilde.
- I wonder what would happen if someone tried to support a cut; would the mayor do the same?
233. Paul Le Page (4:06am) – a city gardner
- Bylaws say when humidex last week took us to 48, city gardeners are supposed to work 15 minutes 45 minute break. The gardeners worked through the day. yikes! Imagine, he says, if the councillors did that.
- Thanks councillors that stayed and didn’t have to. Those that stayed just to keep quorum.
- Mayor Ford: I’ve been very flexible… (in response to a Point of Order question from Councillor Del Grande)
- Councillor Mihevc keeps trying to correct Ford about first syllable of his last name. “Mi”‘. Ford keeps saying “Ma”. “What’s the difference?” asks the Mayor.
- Councillor Mammoliti: This is not a reflection on you, but the gardens in my riding are horrible. Councillor Mammoliti follows this up with some seemingly non-sequitur answers about how seasonal gardeners, rather than permanent ones, get to choose where they work; I think I know where he was going: he wanted to suggest that all the seasonal gardeners went for the choice locations, leaving his riding to rot. However, if he had listened carefully to Paul’s answer, he would have realized there was an allocation of seasonal gardeners per garden/park, so once an allocation had been reached, no other seasonal gardeners could work there.
235. Martin Julien (4:14am)
237. Subir Guin (4:20am)
245. Vikki VanSickle (4:24am)
246. Ryan Knowles (4:28am)
- On moving to a new school: “They had no snack program. I was concerned I would be hungry.”
- “The only reason I remember this was because I was well-fed.”
248. David Hewitt (4:32am)
251. Linda Chamberlain (4:37am)
253. Kathy Jonathan (4:40am)
257. Ernest Tucker (4:43am)
- “Maybe if there were more libraries than Tim Hortonses, there would be fewer dropouts, less obesity, and more people would know about Margaret Atwood.”
- … It was at least as annoying as … people on their cellphone while driving.
- Someone in PJs shows up on screen with a stuffed animal. I have a picture.
258. Miro Glavic (4:48am)
- There are many personal stories, especially connections to libraries being recounted. Not recording them, but not because they’re not important.
- Paulette Andra Hamilton (#326) cheers loudly several times about Glavic living her childhood neighbourhood as though it were a rarity. WOW. WHAT A COINCIDENCE IN A MEETING FULL OF TORONTONIANS.
261. Buffy Childerhose (4:53am)
- Do I have to call you on your cellphone to get your attention? Mayor Ford: Ma’am, you know what? I’m very confused. I didn’t say a word during your … Buffy found his relaxed posture a sign of not listening. Who am I to say? It was almost five AM!
263. Ulla Knowles (4:57am)
264. Dave Meslin (5:02am)
- It feels like Ford is just trying to tick names off his list.
- This meeting was supposed to be respectful to the taxpayer. But it’s insulting that people are claimed to be in unions. The people who can’t leave their families at 4am to talk.
- Mayor Ford is kind of red. He’s giving councillors a bit longer to ask questions.
- Councillor Layton: How should we have run this meeting instead? Dave: We should allow people to come back if their names are skipped, but we should still thank councillors for running all night.
- Ford back to calling names 3 times. He’d been calling many just two times.
266. Russell C. Stewart (5:09am)
- Now that the city’s been amalgamated, I wouldn’t call Scarborough a suburb. It’s part of the city.
- To future-Mammoliti: look, there’s another Scarborough resident!
271. Gayle Hurmuses (5:14am)
Since Ford didn’t call several names 3 times for so many people, can we go back, according to the motion passed yesterday morning? In theory, anyway.
277. Beth Wilson (5:18am)
- Beth reads from Dr. Seuss.
278. Caarla Maria Lucchetta (5:21am)
- Deputy Mayor walks into CC2: You’re still here!
- After all this talk about volunteering in libraries, where can I sign up to volunteer to tutor in a library? I haven’t done one-on-one tutoring in a few years.
283. Cassie Scott (5:25am)
288. Haran Vijayanathan (5:31am)
293. Wallace Simpson (5:36am)
296. Tisha Alam (5:40am)
298. Himy Syed (5:43am)
299. Alberta Nokes (~5:48am)
300. David DePoe (5:55am)
301. Alan Yule (5:59am)
306. Alicia Pang (6:04am)
316. Lawrence Farbman (6:11am)
- Councillor Vaughn: Golf courses aren’t taxed!
- These councillors should get credit for still having energy. Good stuff! If these energetic councillors were in my ward, that’d win voting points from me. Cliff Jenkins, the former councillor for my ward, got lots of brownie points for taking the TTC to work every day, early in the morning.
317. Sean Meagher (6:17am)
- The people giving deputations are being used like voice pieces for councillors. Must be unpleasant. I wouldn’t like it, anyway.
320. Janet Teibo (6:24am)
326. Paulette Andra Hamilton (6:27am)
334. Zoe Dodd (6:31am)
336. Ben Elling (6:35am)
- Councillor Mammoliti during closing: There were some good deputations. Very few of them, may I add.
- Is Councillor Mammoliti ignoring the ideas of people who show up… or being paternalistic?
- Councillor Mammoliti says his constituents want the grassroots services: grasses cut, road paving, etc.
- Mayor Ford: Thank you, Councillor Mamolliti. Great speech.
There was another hour and a half of words exchanged amongst city councillors and staff, but no ideas were exchanged since all minds seemed shut. Then I stayed for another twenty minutes or so of the media interviewing different councillors outside chambers. At one point during the interviews outside, Councillor Mammoliti said to television cameras that most of (or did he say almost all of?) the hangers-on and those that spoke were from the old City of Toronto, not the suburbs. Having talked to people in CC2 and listened to those giving their deputations, there were certainly many from the suburbs, myself included. Finally, I left the building at 8:20am. It was daylight when I arrived and it was daylight when I left. The chambers, of course, were part of the land of eternal light (except when the timers go off) and one couldn’t tell what it was like outside.
When I finally stepped outside, there was a small group of smokers clustered outside; I recognized them from the sessions and noted that they had been cooped up inside the entire evening. I can’t really imagine what it must have been like for them if they were anything like the smokers on the buses I took to Boston and Edmonton that began craving a puff within half an hour of our last stop. Or maybe chain smokers can just never get into politics.
On my way back to campus, I looked for newspaper articles about what had just happened. And when I finally spotted one on the College streetcar, I was pleased to provide a more timely update to the entranced reader of what had come to pass since the article was submitted for printing.
Anyway, the above was my take on what had transpired and was worth noting. In the several hours of deputations, we heard many pleas to save services. Most of them appealed to emotion through anecdotes. But given how the mayor phrased what he wanted this consultation session to be, this was to be expected. Having spent many hours involved with student government during undergrad, the whole affair was unsurprising. I wasn’t pleased with the amount of heckling, though, nor the name calling. At times, I was embarrassed to be part of the mob. Crowd mentality can “make” people do inappropriate things. Besides, with the loud cries of “Shame!” or heckling, which often happened during another deputation, not only were we, the crowd, being disrespectful towards the mayor or councillor (usually Mammoliti) in question, but also to the speaker — for stealing his or her three minutes. If we can’t respect the consultation process, why should the committee take us seriously?
I’m not sure what the mayor was really hoping to achieve, so I can’t even say whether this consultation should be counted as a success — at least in Mayor Ford’s books. In my books, I’m not sure, yet. We’ll see. But will I show up to another one of these? You bet. With Timbits.
While he was chewing his gum, I saw instantly Mammoliti genuinely resents decorum and or dealing with ‘average’ persons at an eye level without looking like a pompous person. His body language adds alot to his bias. Cuts, as the debt, must be gradual, period. Sudden, deep cuts are clearly desperate actions of an obviously imcompetant group of persons covering up for hogging revenue and shoddy accounting without taking resposibility in kind. The only fair way to cut is as slowly as the rise in debt became to be what it is today. I would even question the quality of the furniture in the room and the electronic equipment if they are deciding to instantly slash away. This is obvious and clearly, simply clandestine action masqerading as responsibilty.
Thanks for attending, and for posting this.