It’s time to make way for new growth.
I love tending to my garden. Spending time outside and getting my hands in the dirt is one of the ways I recharge. Now that the snow has begun to melt, it’s time to clear out what didn’t survive. A few little green stalks have poked out of the ground, signs that my fall bulbs survived and it’s all about patience.
The whole city is in a state of seasonal change: the tension of squeezed roads and resulting potholes, the earthy smell of decomposing leaves (and much more…) revealed by melting.
But even buried under the record snow and cold, the City doesn’t stop. City workers have been pulling overnight shifts to keep us moving, quickly and safely. Today, 57 crews are out working non-stop to fill potholes.
Just a couple of months into the new year, we’ve already fixed over 47,000 potholes, ahead of where we were this time last year.
Last year, we repaired 44% more potholes than in 2022. We’re on track for even more this year.
This year, we’ve removed 528,000 tons of snow, more than double the amount from last year, despite inheriting a snow contract that doesn’t include removal.
At our snow operations meetings earlier this winter, I asked City staff to explore options to pay Torontonians to help dig out from the snow.
Cities do best when we learn from each other. Seeing New York City’s recent success, I’ve included a letter at Executive Committee asking staff to develop a similar program for next winter.
I will not tolerate slumlords in Toronto.
I visited 500 Dawes Road in Beaches-East York, a notorious building where the City has been issuing orders for decades while living conditions worsened. I met families who keep their clothing in plastic bags because the pest infestation is so bad.
RentSafe officers went door to door to survey tenant needs, and the City took this bad landlord to court — and won. Now that the appeal period is over, we are stepping in.
We have the power of Remedial Action. Over the coming weeks, City-hired contractors will make repairs and deal with pest control, and bill the landlord through their property tax.
I will not stand by while bad landlords refuse to fix their properties.
The City can and will act.
—
As you get back outside over the coming weeks, expect to see City workers picking up litter, sweeping streets, removing graffiti, and keeping public spaces clean and well-maintained.
Now the birds are singing, we’ve turned a corner. Let’s make Toronto beautiful, together.
…even if it snows again this weekend.
Yours,
Mayor Olivia Chow
Antisemitism is a scourge.
Once again, a synagogue in our city has been targeted. Shot at in the middle of the night. Those that commit hate crimes must be brought to justice.
This is a violent act of intimidation — and part of a pattern of emboldened antisemitism that has no place in Toronto.
This weekend I met with Chief Demkiw at the Toronto Police Command Centre to discuss the ongoing work to keep the Jewish community safe in our city.
The Jewish community has the right to practice their faith and culture, and to live their day-to-day lives without fear, intimidation or violence.
Read more about our actions to protect the Jewish community from hate:
The Key to the City is Toronto’s highest honour. The Key is given to individuals whose contributions have strengthened our city and inspired our communities.
These people deserve to be celebrated.
Last months I presented two keys, one to Dr. Joseph Wong and one to Dr. Itah Sadu. Both Toronto legends in their own right.
Dr. Wong helped mobilize Operation Lifeline in 1979 when hundreds of thousands were fleeing Southeast Asia.
He founded the Chinese Canadian National Council, leading the way for an apology and redress for the discriminatory Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act.
Then, in 1994 he opened the first Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, now a model emulated around the world.
Dr. Itah Sadu has opened doors for generations of Torontonians, and it was my privilege to place the Key in her hands.
Dr. Sadu is a storyteller, an award-winning author, the founder of A Different Booklist, an iconic local bookstore. And it’s more than that, it’s a place to learn, organize, laugh, and share — a cultural anchor.
As Managing Director of Blackhurst Cultural Centre and founder of the Emancipation Day Freedom Train she continues to create spaces for art, dialogue, and intergenerational exchange.
Thank you for everything you have done for Toronto, Dr. Wong and Dr. Sadu!
Thanks for reading The Mayor’s Note! This post is public so feel free to share it.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.