The Leaside Residents Association hopes you are enjoying a relaxing and tranquil summer. But beware! Our summer is likely to get busier any minute now. Soon we will approach Don Valley West’s November 4th byelection for city councillor to replace the late Jaye Robinson. Nominations have already begun. If you are thinking of running, you have until September 19 to put your name forward.
The LRA is discussing holding an all candidates debate between that date and election day, either in conjunction with several other Ward 15 residents’ groups or on our own. It could be in-person, virtual, or hybrid. Stay tuned for further details as the time nears, and watch this column.
TTC update
I received a lot of reader feedback to my recent Leaside Life column on the breakdown of communications from the TTC during the lengthy Moore Avenue sinkhole repair process.
Notification of Moore Avenue’s closure did not appear on the TTC’s website for weeks. Street signage only arrived after the roadwork had begun. The Route 88 South Leaside bus was diverted in a variety of ways, but posted signage was unclear, and TTC route apps were not updated with any information.
Leasiders didn’t know where to go to catch the bus, and reported that temporary bus stop signs were appearing in odd places. Several related standing at one of the signs only to discover that the bus sometimes didn’t stop there, but was instead running on a parallel street. One Leasider told me that some buses appeared to be driving around the neighbourhood like taxis looking for a fare.
In short, much confusion, many delays and inconveniences, and traffic congestion. Also disappointing, as timely and clearer communication with riders and the public would have significantly improved the situation.
I report this as a strong supporter of public transit and the TTC, both as a transit user and, in my LRA role, as a participant in several TTC service review committees. TTC staff and the LRA worked well together to test and implement the then new 28 South Bayview bus to serve Leasiders. I urge the TTC to use this experience as a lesson to develop better ways of improving their public communication process.
Sad news
I regret to inform you that Karl Jaffary has died. Karl was the LRA’s (then LPOA’s) lawyer during our two-year long fight to preserve the heritage-designated Talbot Apartments on Bayview Avenue just north of Sutherland Drive. Demolition of the Talbot buildings would have been a tragic loss to Leaside’s housing, architecture and history, and a dangerous precedent for Leaside’s residential stability. We were successful at the Ontario Municipal Board and then at divisional court in 2010. The OMB decision has been hailed as an important landmark decision by the conservation community. Karl was key to that victory. He was great to work with, an impressive lawyer and very nice man.
The LRA board of directors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, just south of Leaside Library. You are welcome to join us there. Our next meeting is on August 7th. For more details and updates between now and then, or to become an LRA member, find us at leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or at leasideresidents.ca/contact-us.
