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Early
Spring 2004 Newsletter ~
Toronto Public Space Committee
1) ST. CLAIR STREETCAR -
Designated lanes coming soon?
2) RING + POST - Order Your
Bike Rack from the City Today!
3) THE EVEN BETTER WAY -
Four New Subway Lines on the Way?
4) PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
- Online Petition
5) TOOKER - The loss of
a friend and activist
6) TOOKER IN VIDEO - April
26
7) CLASS AND THE CAR-FREE CITY
- April 24th Forum
8) UBB - URBAN BEAUTIFICATION BRIGADE
- on CBC!
9) ALLEY JAUNT : Artists
& Garages Wanted
10) CAR-FREE KENSINGTON
- This Summer!
11) FRONTANDCENTRE - Stop
the Front St. Extension
12) SPACING - Magazine Update
13) VOLUNTEERS - Get Involved
with the TPSC
14) ABANDONED BICYCLES -
We're lookin' for some
15) VOTE FOR A CHANGE.ca
- New Website
______________________________________________________________
1) ST. CLAIR STREETCAR -
Designated lanes coming soon?
** Volunteers Needed This Thursday!! **
The St. Clair Right-of-Way Initiative for Public Transit is promoting
a designated streetcar lane on St. Clair Avenue. The City is holding two
very important public forums next week to get citizen input on this important
proposal (information below). WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach the 20,000 transit
riders who use the St. Clair Streetcar every day. We are organising a
massive leafletting of riders on Thursday (April 8). We are hoping that
you will participate by signing up for a streetcar stop and help distribute
literature. You can request a specific stop or we can assign one for you.
If you'd like to get involved, please send an e-mail to streetcar@publicspace.ca.
THANKS!!
http://www.script2004.ca
The City and the TTC Want to Hear From Us!
The TTC plans to replace the streetcar tracks on St. Clair in 2005. The
City of Toronto and the TTC are holding public forums to find out what
improvements the community wants for the streetcar line. Come out and
let them know what you think!
Public Meetings
Tuesday, April 13
Holy Rosary Parish Centre
356 St. Clair W. (east of Bathurst)
Wednesday, April 14
Joseph Piccininni Centre
1369 St. Clair W. (west of Landsdowne)
Displays 5-7 PM; Presentation 7 PM
You can contact the city researchers at 416-392-4331, or stclairwestea@toronto.ca.
Visit the city website on this issue: www.toronto.ca/planningstudies
______________________________________________________________
2) RING + POST
It's springtime! Bikes are appearing faster than buds. No place to lock-up?
Order a RING AND POST bike rack from the city today!
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/postandring.htm
______________________________________________________________
3) THE EVEN BETTER WAY -
Four New Subway Lines on the Way?
The "Three Ms", Martin, McGuinty & Miller announced this
week a BILLION DOLLARS for public transit. This may sound like a lot,
but in reality it is spread out over many years, doesn't come close to
what the TTC has asked for, and still leaves Canada as the only country
in the G8 that doesn't have national funding for operating costs of public
transit.
Toronto activist Leif Harmsen has taken it upon himself to show what we're
missing. His detailed Ride Guide has four new subway lines (Queen, Humber,
Zoo & Eglinton) with dozens of new stops including Celedonia, Parkdale,
Riverdale, Flemingdon, Malvern, Rexdale and York University.
Check out his maps at: http://www.harmsen.net/projects_ttc.html
______________________________________________________________
4) PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
- Online Petition
To help turn Lief's plan into reality (see item 3), check out this new
website:
http://www.forthepublicgood.ca
It's a new city-wide campaign for provincial transit funding. The campaign
is a joint project of The Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Chinese
Canadian National Council, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
(OCASI), Rocket Riders, Canadian Federation of Students and the Toronto
Youth Cabinet.
Please visit their website and sign the online petition today!
______________________________________________________________
5) ~ TOOKER ~
One month ago, Toronto lost an angel. Tooker Gomberg was a dedicated environmental
and social justice activist and a community builder.
The hub of many networks, the spark for many ideas, and the inspiration
for many of us, he'll be missed immensely.
A memorial discussion and announcements forum has been created on the
web.
It's a place where you can read about Tooker, his life and the many people
he inspired.
You can also find links to Tooker's writings and share your own feelings
and memories.
http://www.planetfriendly.net/tooker
Photos of the Memorial Critical Mass Ride
http://www.web.net/~lukmar/CM0304/
Two funds have been created, to support grassroots ecological work in
Canada, true to Tooker's ideals.
Tooker Gomberg Greenspiration Fund (charitable receipts issued) or
Tooker Gomberg Activist Fund (non-charitable)
You can mail contributions to:
P.O. Box 1242 Place du Parc Station, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 4A7
______________________________________________________________
6) TOOKER IN VIDEO: What His Life Taught
Us
Monday, April 26th, 7pm
OISE Auditorium, 252 Bloor W. at St. George
(near St. George subway)
Tooker lived much of his life in video. From the Burning of his Passport
in the Hague to locking himself in Ralph Klein's safe. His life has been
recorded on video to teach us what community activism is all about and
how it can change the world. Come and meet Tooker.
Price: Free! Donations accepted to the Gomberg memorial foundation.
______________________________________________________________
7) CLASS AND THE CAR-FREE CITY
- April 24th ForumA public discussion forum presented by Planning Action.
This forum will raise issues related to the social and environmental justice
aspects of planning car-free zones in the city. Join in on a roundtable
discussion with speakers presenting different perspectives on car-free
initiatives.
Saturday, April 24th
Cecil Street Community Centre (Cecil Street at Spadina Ave)
2-4 pm.
Free Admission
www.planningaction.org
info @planningaction.org
______________________________________________________________
8) UBB - URBAN BEAUTIFICATION BRIGADE
- on CBC!
"ZED TV will be airing a short documentary on the activities of
two lovely ladies who have taken up the banner of civic duty,
and have turned their attention to the state of our public spaces.
LEARN how you too can transform the dreariness around you.
SEE the lovely ladies take back the city with modern vinyl wallcoverings...
LOSE your heart to their bold colours, innovative designs and darling
dresses."
WATCH the URBAN BEAUTIFICATION BRIGADE on ZED TV
THIS TUESDAY night APRIL 5th, 11:25pm-12am
______________________________________________________________
9) ALLEY JAUNT : Artists
& Garages Wanted
local art in local garages - August 21 & 22
Call for submission
Deadline: May 1
Submit 10 slides and a short proposal
Include SASE
This event will be happening in garages in close proximity to the Trinity
Bellwoods park.
Submit to: 195 Bellwoods Ave. Toronto ON M6J 2P8 Contact us: alleyjaunt@hotmail.com
If you have access to a garage in the Trinity Bellwoods Park area, and
you want to share it with ALLEY JAUNT, please contact us.
______________________________________________________________
10) CAR-FREE KENSINGTON
- This Summer!
The rumours are true! The City is very seriously considering a proposal
to make Kensington Market car-free every Sunday this summer!
Want to get involved?
contact:
Streets Are For People: kelsey@yorku.ca
Sierra Club: dylanp@sierraclub.ca
______________________________________________________________
11) FRONTANDCENTRE - Stop
the Front St. Extension
"For those who want to get involved in stopping the Front St. Extension,
we're holding an *organizational* meeting:
Monday April 5th 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Parkdale Library, located at Queen and Cowan
Lower Room
There are many different things to do from letter writing, lobbying councillors,
handing out flyers, contacting the press, working on our website etc.
It's going
to take a lot of work to stop the FSE, and we need your help."
Organized by front¢re
www.frontandcentre.ca
______________________________________________________________
12) SPACING - Magazine Update
The next issue of Spacing, the TPSC's magazine, will be launched in mid-June.
We are really excited about all the articles and topics we'll be discussing.
There are pieces on Rocky Dobey's utility pole engraving art, Oakville's
billboard ban, plus returning features Hidden Gems, Public Enemies and
the popular laneway getaway Escape Routes. Our cover theme focuses on
the many aspects of being a Pedestrian in Toronto. Some of highlights
are great TO neighbourhoods to walk in, what makes a good pedestrian city,
car-free Kensington, and the dangers of being a pedestrian (42 walkers
were killed by cars in 2003).
The magazine is an expensive endeavor, so if you'd like to donate money
or place an ad in the magazine please contact us at info@publicspace.ca
. Donations should be made out to the "Toronto Public Space Committee."
All money goes towards the cost of printing.
If you're interested in interning or contributing articles, photography
or just an idea, please contact our Managing Editor Dale Duncan at dale@publicspace.ca.
www.spacing.ca
______________________________________________________________
13) VOLUNTEERS - Get involved
with the TPSC!
As the TPSC grows, so do the demands of research. We are looking for people
to take on tasks that come up out of the blue. If you have the time and
would like to help us fight the growing encroachment of private interests
into the public domain, please email us volunteer@publicspace.ca
. We are planning a meeting soon for interested volunteers. Thanks!
______________________________________________________________
14) ABANDONED BICYCLES
We're working on a secret art project. We can't tell you about it, but
we want you to help anyway! We're looking for abandoned bicycles. You
know, the lonely ones that are still locked up but have been rusting away
for months and somehow keep losing parts. Send locations and description
to: abandonedbikes@publicspace.ca
~ thanks, we'll tell you more later!
______________________________________________________________
15) VOTE FOR A CHANGE.ca
There's a Federal election around the corner. As a non-partisan
organisation we're not going to tell you who to vote for.
But we can tell you to check out this great website!
http://www.voteforachange.ca
RECLAIMING THE STREETS
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Toronto Public Space Committee
253 College Street, Box 372
Toronto, ON M5T 1R5
contact@publicspace.ca
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