tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31066739324717641162024-03-14T00:26:59.887-07:00Running for 30A Torontonian Mother's journey to run for city council in a city she has only known to be hers. A non-partisan voice with no political backing. Just a city girl looking out for her city and her neighbourhood. A neighbourhood that she loves more than anything!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-70514524325987444102010-10-24T22:58:00.000-07:002010-10-24T23:02:16.486-07:00Last note!Elections are today and this has been a great campaigning season. I just want to thank you all for the great conversations, the great opportunity to discuss my platforms and my concerns for the ward.<br /> <br />I am at the end of the day of a defender and vocal spirit in the ward. Ward 30 is my home just like yours and I only want to continue to see it's growth and prosper into a liveable, growing safe community that it can be.<br /> <br />I think that City Hall needs an overhaul, the budget doesn't really make sense and we need to make sure that the property taxes we do pay go to items that make sense and not contracts that are only for certain interest groups or agendas that work for certain political parties. I am not affiliated in any sense to any party as we are first citizens of our ward and political parties have no place in running our neighbourhoods.<br /> <br />Transit needs to make sense for us all, TTC is almost shameful, no proper future growth and expansion has been put into place, millions spent on making old stations beautiful while growth seems so far away. Some want to take street cars away, which for our ward is the only way to get around as buses are almost non-existent 30 minute intervals to move our ward citizens around is not acceptable, Jones, Greenwood and Pape buses could be better utilised.<br /> <br />Our beautiful Portlands... I am a fan of Cherry Beach, and I think it's the hidden jewel of the city. That Gardiner extension was removed so long ago, and no effort has been made to make the Portlands the best gr,een space Toronto could have, instead David Miller touted his beautiful Sugar Beach while our Cherry got looked over once again. Time for someone to defend the beach, it deserves more attention than it gets.<br /> <br />We have some GREAT neighbourhoods, with diverse community and we are steps from the downtown core, but Toronto Council has deemed us the big dumping ground that no one cares about, from the concrete pads, the Streetcar depot to where the TDSB sees the ease at closing schools and pools. These are unacceptable as we are a growing ward with young families whose kids will soon enough to be entering the schools they are shutting so rapidly.<br /> <br />Crime is growing in the ward, from Mom and Pop convenience stores being held up, to shootings on the Danforth, to drug deals infront of citizens on Queen St. grow ops on our small neighbourhood streets, we need someone who is willing to mediate the police to make sure there is a presence without a scare tactic, that foot patrol and bike police is higher, that mothers feel safe in parks, that dog walkers feel ease at all hours of the day and that we can be the best ward in the City, we have that great potential, I believe this to be true, because I live here.<br /> <br />So when you decide, for those of you who might still be on the fence, think about voting for someone who gets it, who lives it and really wants the changes they describe. I was here before I put up my candidacy for the ward, and truth be told I will be here afterwards as well.<br /> <br />Tell your neighbours, your friends, your loved ones and even your enemies to make sure they go out and vote, because this is OUR ward, this is OUR future and we need to take responsibility for making it the best place ever!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-39020331926405230602010-10-21T21:55:00.000-07:002010-10-24T22:57:39.241-07:00Where do your tax dollars go?There are plenty of people, newspapers and political groups that will gripe that you don't have a high property tax living in Toronto, that in comparison your taxes are lower than those in the GTA--- while this statement is fact, this does not describe the reality of where your buck goes!<br /><br />What you are hearing from everyday citizens is the reality of what Toronto voters are facing and wondering... we pay our taxes and we are happy to do so, we like to have essential services such as policing, fire departments and paramedics--- but we don't want to be taken advantage of. We don't want our taxes to go up in our ward when they go down in others... we don't want to pay so that other wards get different services that we too would enjoy.<br /><br />Pennies are pennies... and they don't reflect the bones of the budget problems, please Toronto parking meters don't even take pennies in Toronto anymore. The honest truth is there is wasteful spending, and governments spend frivolously because at years end if there is money left you need to make sure you waste it to guarantee you get the equivalent amount the next, so offices and departments wasting frivolously to have those guarantees that are unfair to the tax payer.<br /><br />Tax payers are normal home owning, car owing citizens of Toronto who want to have money at the end of the day but will continued to feel syphoned if no change is brought forth. If a regular family in the city gets extra money from their income tax, they will pay off essentials, they will make sure debt is not an option, not trying to reason with them self to waste as much as possible in hopes that more money will flow through next month. These are the gravy trains we all hear about.<br /><br />Let's make sure our tax dollar goes to the best place.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-49498168703961354572010-10-12T23:45:00.000-07:002010-10-20T22:32:33.636-07:00Let's talk Parking!Ward 30 has issues, but what bothers most and you constantly will hear about as you hit every door is ... PARKING!<br /><br /><br />Parking is such a hot debate issue from concerns of over crowded streets filled in the evenings in Leslieville, from the movies being filmed nearby to the new construction taking up parking spaces to the pouncing parking authority within seconds of arriving onto the street.<br /><br /><br />Parking issues are not all equal depending on the neighbourhood you live in, for all of us parking permit holders I really do believe that being entitled to park on our streets should be our priority. I believe that limitations in permits be made on the amounts of households that exist in the ward.<br /><br /><br />Parking Authority is a very integral part of the city's funding for roads, and road infrastructure. While I feel that: depending on the street in the ward there are few in which the Parking enforcement are more active than the Danforth.<br /><br />There are laws in place for new builders of homes and condos that require parking spaces for each new dwelling, yet large scale builders who are building townhouses, condos or apartments are using those car spaces as premium space, charging dwellers monstrous amounts to buy or rent them, and people are choosing to forgo them for parking on streets that are already condensed with above parking issues.<br /><br />Do we continue to allow business to skirt around their mandated policies they are to follow, I don't think so, and as a city council member these are issues I plan to make sure don't continue to happen in Ward 30 or anywhere else in the city.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-52696274531731422942010-10-07T00:33:00.000-07:002010-10-08T00:06:09.643-07:00Let's talk reality!Where do I stand on issues?<br /><br />There are many many issues that City Hall has to deal with... the reality is that all issues matter to me, from wasteful spending to the youth that work parks and recs in the summer. From large money syphons like Housing, Garbage and TTC, to small matters such as arts funding and parking authority.<br /><br />I have been berated many times by the fact that I did not attend the TTC meeting here in the ward in Leslieville. I understand why many are concerned about this matter, TTC is a huge problem for the City because for so many years it has been poorly managed by the Chair Adam Giambrone, who wasn't equipped to take care of such a large entity on his own.<br /><br />But if you have been watching the news or listen to the radio recently you will see that the Harmonizing by-law meeting I attended was far more important then any TTC meeting that will continue to happen. A small board of people with the help of councilors such as Paula Fletcher discussing what and how you can use your OWN properties! I don't think people understand the scope of these zoning by-laws until they come into full effect. Cars that might be able to fit in a car pad not being permitted to if Parking Authority thinks the space should only be for 1 car. That if you own a place of business and the building it resides on, want to renovate it or make any changes to it, you are responsible of making sure it becomes a 3 story minimum building to increase livable and working spaces in Toronto. But what these are telling people, is that your right to own comes with limitations, rules on the style and look, use and appearance is under the watch of City Hall and they can warrant to tell you what to do with it as they wish.<br /><br />Everyday from today forward expect a post on matters that affect us all in Ward 30 as well as a City as a whole. Please leave a message if there is a certain topic you would like me to touch on.... I would like to get to know all your concerns within the next 18 days! Want you all to understand the reason why I ran, why I think I am your best candidate and why you need to Vote Angie Tingas on October 25th, 2010.<br /><br />Cheers!<br />Angie TingasAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-72267979579934644112010-09-08T18:37:00.000-07:002010-09-08T19:00:11.622-07:00<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TIg_jwqNyyI/AAAAAAAABwc/XRJmfQz2N_I/s1600/event.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514727627305110306" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TIg_jwqNyyI/AAAAAAAABwc/XRJmfQz2N_I/s320/event.png" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TIg6jE2QbQI/AAAAAAAABwU/1MkQPNJIKDo/s1600/event.png"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-57096793680572112942010-09-07T22:56:00.000-07:002010-09-08T01:03:07.453-07:00Fundraising!Asking others for money is something slightly foreign to me... but it appears in politics it goes hand in hand. And legally for purposes of transparency it's mandated legally that funds need to have a source.<br /><br />And with that note fundraising is completely a great source of funding one's campaign. It's a friendly event, where you meet and mingle with the candidate and others who have the candidates best interest at heart. Nothing to outputting, a comfortable situation where various people who fit the mold of the various people who live in the ward can all be together in one place.<br /><br />We would greatly appreciate if you would come and help us by donating to make the transition for me into City Hall, yes I am confidante... we would really like to see you!<br /><br /><div align="center">On Tuesday September 14th, 2010</div><div align="center">at 7pm til closing</div><div align="center">@ Local Co. at 511 Danforth Avenue</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">We will be hosting a wonderful little Mingle and Drink event to raise funds for signs and advertising costs for the campaign. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Cheers,</div><div align="left">Angie</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-10653794886689168642010-08-27T20:11:00.000-07:002010-08-27T20:28:47.916-07:00Intruiging Question!Today I was asked by a lovely constituent in my ward about my ideas and policies... but then he asked me a question that brought me some great pause!<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Q</span>: It's great what you want to do, but how do you plan on actually passing some of your suggested ideas?</strong><br /><br />Well I answered to my best ability while standing in front of the lovely Mike who also came over to borrow our ladder it hasn't stopped the wheels turning inside my head about what I think is the proper way to answer this question.<br /><br />I cannot make changes on my own at City Hall when I become elected, but I can sure try. Nothing gets passed without votes, nothings gets done without some kind of majority. But I will not vote on items that are not good for our citizens of Toronto, especially those who live in my ward. I am not part of a Political party and I won't be voting to pass a political agenda... I plan to vote on things that are fair. Fair for the people.<br /><br />We all need to take responsibilities for the outcome of what has happened to our city, what we have allowed or not allowed to happen in city hall. We aren't vocal enough in our own lives to complain to our councilors, our mayor or just in general our neighbours about what concerns us as a city. I may not always know what is best for the voters, but I am sure willing to<em> LISTEN</em>, because we need someone who listens to what we <em><strong>NEED</strong></em>.<br /><br />So when I bring forth changes I think are needed in our city, maybe I won't have a lot of clout and political power behind me but I sure will have the interest of the citizens of Toronto, the best interest in a FAIR Toronto. So you will know that with every single vote I will take, it will be something I will think about, I will question myself and others around me in the fairness of not letting the buck pass on important issues and making sure my opinions, the opinions of my constituents are being heard <strong><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#ff6666;">LOUD</span></strong> and <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">CLEAR</span></strong>!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-77719906572567286682010-08-19T23:23:00.000-07:002010-08-19T23:37:31.040-07:00Everyone can make a difference...<object width="400" height="240"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GLgh9h2ePYw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GLgh9h2ePYw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="240"></embed></object><br />I do my best with sorting out my garbage... of course these plastic bags are redundant, especially in Toronto, where your organic plastic bag should be red, your recycling bag blue and your store bought garbage bags either black or white.</p><p>If you happen to get plastic bags, I do. I don't toss into mentioned bags above, it itself becomes the bag in which to dispense garbage into anyways, by all means it's going to make it's way to a landfill why would I put it into a kitchen catcher.</p><p>But why not bring back PAPER in Toronto? It's recyclable, it's even biodegradable! Time to think about alternative that work for the greater good!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-61579924872215831862010-08-18T01:06:00.000-07:002010-08-18T01:16:26.199-07:00Do you Ski?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TGuWdiPA9XI/AAAAAAAABvs/19Ja50BvLEk/s1600/ski.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506660403540718962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TGuWdiPA9XI/AAAAAAAABvs/19Ja50BvLEk/s320/ski.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I don't!</div><div></div><br /><div>Not that I wouldn't love to, not that I could have learnt as a youngster growing up in Toronto. My parents were immigrants and taking me let's say to Blue Mountain to take in a sport they have no understanding for seemed foreign to them.</div><div></div><br /><div>During one small high school excursion that was offered at my high school was a day skiing in Blue Mountain. It was breath taking, awe inspiring and so fantastic. In elementary school skiing was not a extra event in the physical education curriculum. Why would it be the only ski slope is hours away.... or is it?</div><div></div><br /><div>I had never heard of the Toronto ski slopes until they were in need of money... ski slopes in Toronto seems so not possible. How can you be born and raised in a city, attend public school and never heard of a city run slope? Well today with a long list of items that city hall passed, they passed to save the ski slopes. While many may not see the positive in a ski slope that doesn't get any activity... maybe it's because a great part of the citizens of this city didn't know such a hill existed for it's use. </div><div></div><div> </div><div>I am not opposed to this vote I am for it, but my plan when getting into city hall would be to make sure this hill gets some attention, media attention, school board attention... anything to bring it's patrons up. Because such a beautiful and wonderful healthy activity should be available and known to all citizens.</div><div></div><br /><div>Have you ever heard about this ski slope? Would you go?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-36176719530622540662010-08-16T14:23:00.000-07:002010-08-16T14:38:08.882-07:00You just do!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TGmvet7C29I/AAAAAAAABvk/Rj61l_3T3ts/s1600/Photo_00014.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506124961695325138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/TGmvet7C29I/AAAAAAAABvk/Rj61l_3T3ts/s320/Photo_00014.jpg" /></a> <div>I am an average, no a regular, woman! I sometimes can self doubt my decision, I can second guess my actions, I can even self talk myself out of something I want more than anything.</div><div></div><br /><div>And then I persevere, I find it inside of myself to forgo all those doubts and remember that I am a strong outspoken and brilliantly eloquent young woman who has 2 children, who is married and who feels very strongly about the current situation that is our city government.</div><div></div><br /><div>And so, with clarity and decision... I could not bear to allow myself to let it slide by my finger tips without being the CHANGE that I expect of my city without expecting of myself. And on that note, on Friday, the 13th of August, 2010 I pledged my candidacy to run for city council for the Ward 30 (my home ward). In what was an overly exciting experience of me signing my name on the dotted line... answering questions from an official election commissioner. Best part for me, was that I was signed in by a female. It felt very fitting almost.</div><div></div><br /><div>So follow along... 11 weeks of campaigning. I am looking forward to meeting with everyone from my ward, here what it is that people are concerned about in the city as a whole and growing programs for the children of our city, the youth, the elderly and the health conscious.</div><div></div><br /><div>It is time for CHANGE even here in Toronto, remember to vote on October 25, 2010 for Angie Tingas and if you can't share the link and pass me along to those in the voting district.</div><br /><div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-61738650093394166742009-11-18T00:58:00.001-08:002009-11-18T01:21:45.851-08:00My name...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/SwO8mhppvxI/AAAAAAAABf0/2l3I1zK_By0/s1600/hello-my-name-is.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405371347828850450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/SwO8mhppvxI/AAAAAAAABf0/2l3I1zK_By0/s320/hello-my-name-is.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I watch a lot of TV, I am a mother who has 2 beautiful daughters who are my main concern daily and because of such I understand a great deal of caring about their safety. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Everyday I hear about how unsafe the Internet is, how everyone can be found and how dangerous this world is we live in. I try and keep my personal matters (address, locations, pictures and personal information) from making it to my blogs and try and not post images of my family on any free sites that aren't protected so that people other than my friend and family can see.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But how does one do this while running for a political seat? How do I keep myself anonymous while I am trying to get my name out there, it almost is redundant!!! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>How do I do this, how do I get this childhood dream that never let up, to plough ahead and get a political seat I feel very strongly about while no longer being the no named girl next door? I believe I battled with this demon in high school, I fought the shyness, the ambiguity, the non-existence that I had as a child. I made sure you knew who I was, you knew I was coming and well you never forgot I was there.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But I am no longer that teenager walking through the hall of her high school of 2 thousand kids, I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister and a cousin. I don't want to bring anyone else into this fold of me running for politics, I don't want to endanger or make anyone uncomfortable.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thankfully my husband is very excited and supportive about my decision, my daughter's don't solely have my name and my family small enough to bare with me. Sometimes too small and easily found... but I put my name out there. I do it, because it has to be done... I am nervous and well learning to thicken my skin in the process. I have had to introduce myself at meetings, I am letting them know I am coming... so I guess city of Toronto, I am Angie Tingas, and I am running for city council for Ward 30!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-57076287329761952062009-11-13T00:14:00.000-08:002009-11-13T00:51:59.353-08:00Harmonizing not so harmonious!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/Sv0cJe6mDrI/AAAAAAAABfc/a5GfOsz5h_I/s1600-h/n181863174104_5717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/Sv0cJe6mDrI/AAAAAAAABfc/a5GfOsz5h_I/s320/n181863174104_5717.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Today I sat in a very intricate meeting, but excitingly different meeting with different people from the ward with varying opinions. I was attending the Harmonized Zoning By-law meeting... long winded title with really a lot of political talk. <br />
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<div> </div>My issues with this plan and the zoners who are coming together with this plan is the control of personal property space. They will be able to decide how much of your front yard is use for certain items and how much of the back. Terms being tossed around such as hard soil and soft soil on your property... you will be limited to how much patio stone to parking pad, sheds and so on you will be adding to your outdoor space. These wording decisions will continue with what you will have to what you might plan on adding. I am not against the the idea of getting more green spaces on properties and creating a guideline to which to follow, I do have an issue with the wording of seperating the front yard from the backyard. <br />
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<div> </div>The uniqueness and the characteristic of your home especially your exterior which is something that is your first selling feature and the curb appeal of your home is something I think that should be left to the owner under supervision. Never will a parking pad be offered to any home in my ward in the front of the house, you couldn`t attain the size of minimal parking spot while the back of your home could be green as possible.<br />
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<div> </div>Commercial property takes a big blow, perse... under this new by-law any new buildings but on any larger Avenues you would have to build a 3 storey property either for simply commercial usage or combination commercial/residential space. And all new properties will have to be built around 3 ft. from the sidewalk/city line. <br />
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<div> </div>While this by-law is mostly grossly important to those in the construction/building industries, these by-laws are important for current home owners who might want to change and update their home. Differences being peaks of houses will no longer vary, your neighbour and you both can`t surpass a 10.5 m height.<br />
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Zoning by-laws take a severe stab at the big box stores, under no circumstance will there be any zones to permit such a store in the greater Toronto, or amalgamated Toronto. Not sure how I feel about this... I can see the positive and the negatives to this complaint. <br />
<br />
Some more interesting bits that I learned are such....<br />
<ul><li>There will be no business or schools that are allowed to be used in residential homes</li>
<li> There will be no permitted Drive-thru in the city of Toronto.</li>
<li>Limiting your house to a certain width so if you wanted more square footage you could only go up</li>
<li>50% soft soil restrictions on all forms of yards</li>
<li>No more basement sloping driveway with garage.</li>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><li>Place of worships and schools could not open up in commercial zones and take up commercial property.</li>
</ul>My only concern about all the changes that are being offered is that if you wanted to open a school or place of worship... if you wanted to expand your home or build a one story home becuase you couldn`t walk up stairs, you would have to pay to have a designated area rezoned for your needs. Meaning specific case to case basis would perhaps have to pay for the city to simply rezone the property.<br />
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Please feel free to take a look at various different opinions out there, please share your opinions with me... this is your city and these are laws that affect those who buy, own and renovate city residents and commercial properties... I am interested in how this might affect some of you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=79666">Real Estate Article</a><br />
<a href="http://www.eyeweekly.com/blog/municipalaffairsdesk/article/73211">EyeWeekly`s point of view</a><br />
<a href="http://www.toronto.ca/building/pdf/landscaping_requirements_feb08.pdf">Information the City is providing</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-34194892829107728202009-11-11T01:00:00.000-08:002009-11-11T01:21:10.161-08:00Being Independent!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/SvqBEbG2t7I/AAAAAAAABfU/svYxWrP3RjU/s1600-h/0057550.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402772615980300210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/SvqBEbG2t7I/AAAAAAAABfU/svYxWrP3RjU/s320/0057550.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I had discussed on many occasions with friends of mine about finally going into city council and in all our conversation being affiliated to a party was never something that was talked about. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After researching fellow city councilor members that sit in city council currently I was shocked and appalled by the numbers of councilors that are backed or affiliated to a political party. In my opinion a good 90% are so. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After a ton of thought and a fact that while my views can sometimes be labeled, I cannot be! I live in the most party affiliated ward in Toronto. You read correctly, my ward is a political platform... a stepping stone to a political career where the majority of city councilors use it to make gains on their personal careers.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Because of such my ward falls in the fold... I believe the many councilors who have graced us, one being the in/famous Jack Layton who went on to run for the NDP party federally, and is now the leader of that party. I don't have any political opinion at this point, but I think city councilors should breath and sleep care about their neighbourhood, should be more concerned about the people who live in their neighbourhood. They just be independent of political party agenda and should be fighting the council for things that affect the ward not the party that pays for their running purposes.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is my stance on Independence... this is my reason for staying that way in this political running campaign I am about to put myself through. I am independent of thought, my actions are independent... every vote and decision I plan to make as your newly voted city councilor member will be in the best interest of a neighbourhood I am ridiculously proud to call my own. I know nothing more and truly don't have interest in doing so, I am proud of my ward 30 and proud to be running independently in the upcoming city election. Hope you'll join my independent movement and change the game of the political parties who just see our ward as a stepping stone and not a community with needs and great people. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Join the movement... I am always looking for volunteers in the community or anyone with any political running information. Please feel free to email me. Thank you!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-14513654301428655982009-10-28T02:54:00.001-07:002009-10-28T03:00:20.348-07:00Looking for counsel...I have never ran for anything politically in my city or even in my neighbourhood. I can't begin to explain that I have no clue how it works.<br /><br />I am of course in great need to find someone or somebodies to counsel me, do you know, does running for city council needs a team of helpers. What am I looking for in terms of campaign funds, what does it take a campaign manager, volunteers and so on.<br /><br />Everyone one of my friends and associates have offered to help in some aspect of their time for various things, such as canvasing the neighbourhoods and being someone I can speak to for various subjects as schooling and general city involvement.<br /><br />So in case you know anyone who might be of good use, please send them my way... but I don't want them to give me my platforms... those are for me to be passionate about, for me to push for, for me to see the change!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-6232546374519609492009-10-21T13:31:00.000-07:002009-10-21T14:07:16.355-07:00My first community meeting...I attended my first city community meeting last Thursday... which to me was a great experience in personal involvement.<br /><br />When I was fairly younger and in my school days, especially during my time in high school I was very active in my school's community, a social convener for a year at my school, an advocate for things I felt were not right that I watched around me, a peer councilor from the first year I entered school. I guess I enjoyed the feeling of being involved, thought it was something you just did while you were a teen... but much to my knowledge it is something I was craving, needing to do get involved.<br /><br />So I attended my first save the pool meeting in my district, my poor district has been marred with a 30% of intended pool closures by 2010. What a disturbing thought, that in this day and age of high rising numbers of childhood obesity taking away a physical activity from our kids. Worst as well, city run decisions, city sponsored TDSB and pools which we pay money towards and somehow no one is allowed to use them.<br /><br />There were a few speeches made by Peter Tabuns, the Ontario MP for our ward, our current city councilor for ward 30 Paula Fletcher, and the District school board Mrs. Dandy were also in attendance. Everyone shared their opinions but not much offered as from the political side of the matter, most was left to the school, it's parental student council and other save the pools groups to try and save the pool.<br /><br />I must add the initiative to save the pool from the parents, the community was great and nice to see a community pull together to foster ideas and come up with ways to save this part of the school... which I realised is something difficult to prove that the swimming pool is also a classroom.<br /><br />One of the reasons I feel like I identify myself in this cause is because I believe swimming is a right of passage... my parents never taught me to swim, I learnt from a family member on vacation to Greece. My school never offered swimming lessons to us students, it was not a part of our curriculum... when I got into the pool in high school I had no proper training and my swimming style is very self taught. But I never feel more at peace when I am swimming away.., and I feel that children should have that right to experience here in Toronto.<br /><br />So my first community meeting a success, I was filmed for CTV news, but the tape did not get picked up as the precedent was to put on an American Balloon Boy story instead... but my involvement reminded me how much I love to get involved and partake.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-32195856983629753292009-10-13T13:48:00.001-07:002009-10-13T14:55:21.648-07:00Reading minutes...Today, I spent the day reading minutes recorded for the meeting that deal with Community Council decisions. Not the most entertaining part of the job, but far more interesting as to where they might prohibit you from making a right turn on a red or if you own property what kind of amendments you are allowed to impose on someone putting up a poster/billboard on their property.<br /><br />Reading material aside, I was trying to read up on information that might be of use to me when this week's meeting about draining a school pool in the neighbourhood comes up. I haven't heard or scene anything more ridiculous than a city and it's school board wanting to close all the pools in the city.<br /><br />I have had a gamut of ideas of what the pools could be used for, why they should be kept open and how Obesity being one of the biggest epidemics in children's health taking away a physical activity is absurd.<br /><br />I will post more about this on Friday, the meeting is on Thursday and I will attend with notes and things I propose to read off to the school and it's trustees. Time is now, to take back our city from ridiculousness and redirect our community and our city folk into a prosperous and useful society.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-23218318515466264152009-10-08T22:18:00.000-07:002009-10-08T22:38:32.890-07:00Happening in the Ward this month...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/Ss7JcG-Op0I/AAAAAAAABe8/wgsDvXBPjso/s1600-h/community.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390467288754202434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 71px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7DAgv26gYVI/Ss7JcG-Op0I/AAAAAAAABe8/wgsDvXBPjso/s320/community.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>From time to time I will share events that are happening in and around my ward and even in my city...</div><br /><div></div><br /><ul><li>This month is Community Environment Days, every ward in the city will be holding it's own event held by it's own councilor. Ours here in Ward 30 will be held in Riverdale Park East- on October 17, 2009 (it was postponed from scheduled date of July 1st).</li></ul><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is a great event to get rid of waste and items that could be reused or salvaged to avoid landfills. Various items you can bring are old computers, paints, medicines, pencils, plates and motor-powered items for your lawn.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For more details please take a look at the city's description of the event, <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/">http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><ul><li>Also this month is the <strong>Solar Neighborhoods Workshop</strong>. This event is for all those who have thought about making their home a Greener environment by introducing Solar power to their home and eliminating Gas and Electricity usage in their home. </li></ul><div> </div><div>Being held at: Danforth-Coxwell Library, 1675 Danforth Ave.Toronto, ON Danforth and Coxwell Ave <a href="http://map.toronto.ca/imapit/iMapIt.jsp?app=TOMaps&searchType=80000&address=1675+Danforth+Ave" target="_new">Map to this event</a> from 6:30-8pm. This workshop can lead to getting an extra $1000 off incentive to making your home a greener place.</div><div> </div><div>For more details please follow the link <a href="http://www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/incentives.php">http://www.solarneighbourhoods.ca/incentives.php</a></div><div> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3106673932471764116.post-87152711613576242772009-10-06T13:24:00.001-07:002009-10-06T13:29:47.206-07:00Running for 30...2010 here in the city of Toronto is when the next municipal elections will be held. I live in Ward 30, held by Paula Fletcher.<br /><br />I have lived in Ward 30 for all of my life a large 28 years. Not only do I live in my neighbourhood that I am a fan of, I love my ward. There are many fun locations in my ward and some of my most favorite spots in Toronto. Seconds away from me is the Danforth a social hub with food and cafés that go for 2 subway blocks. And my most favorite spot for me personally is Cherry beach... a quiet and serene beach with swans and ducks.<br /><br />Why running for 30... well in 2010 I will also turn 30, my ward is 30. So please join me and follow along as I take you through the ups and downs of being a mom who is running for her local city hall.<br /><br />Tx. AngieAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914345204587619466noreply@blogger.com0