Just as there were in the first round of deputations a few weeks ago, there have been touching moments — like, say, the group of children signing in support of the island farm. And just like they did then, Ford and his supporters are doing everything they can to mute the voice of the citizens who have taken time out of their lives to speak out about the city they love. Ford's committee members have voted to cut the time for each deputation. They have cut the time that councilors have to ask questions. And they say that once again they will keep the meeting going all night — if that means that in order to speak you need to stay at City Hall until four in the morning? Well, fuck you. Hell, already this morning our glorious mayor has already cut off a soft spoken blind man so rudely that one reporter from the National Post tweeted, "I'm not sure I've ever seen a blind person treated with such indignity. Jesus Christ. Even movies don't depict such dipshittery."
For the millions of us who aren't able to be at City Hall today, they are still plenty of ways to make our voices heard. Councilor Adam Vaughan — who strongly opposes Ford's agenda — recently sent a list of links and other information to the residents and businesses in his Ward. It's a fantastic resource, providing links to all of the major petitions against the cuts, organizations who are working hard to oppose the mayor, ways to keep up to date on developments, and contact information for Ford and the Executive Committee members so that you can personally let them know how you feel.
As Councilor Vaughan puts it at the end of the letter, "The only thing you can do quickly in a city is break things. It has taken us years to build a beautiful city that is as fair as it is beautiful. Don't stand by as it's all taken away and cut to pieces, or sold off to the lowest bidder."
As Councilor Vaughan puts it at the end of the letter, "The only thing you can do quickly in a city is break things. It has taken us years to build a beautiful city that is as fair as it is beautiful. Don't stand by as it's all taken away and cut to pieces, or sold off to the lowest bidder."
Here are the links:
PETITIONS:
Environmental Programs
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/servicereview/petition
Waterfront
http://codeblueto.com/
Riverdale Farm
http://www.facebook.com/SaveRiverdaleFarm
http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/residents-against-closing-riverdale-farm/223
Public Libraries Petition
http://ourpubliclibrary.to/
Protect the Arts & Culture
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/friendsofthearts/
ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN & SUPPORT:
Public Transit
http://www.ttcriders.ca/
Commitment 2 Community
www.commitment2community.org
OneToronto
http://www.onetoronto.ca/
Women Against the Cuts
http://womenagainstcuts.tumblr.com/
Stop the Cuts
http://www.torontostopthecuts.com/
LEARN MORE:
There are a number of independent journalists covering City Hall on these blogs:
http://afuitbs.wordpress.com/
http://spacingtoronto.ca/
http://fordfortoronto.mattelliott.ca/
http://theclamshell.blogspot.com/2011/09/let-us-compare-mythologies.html
http://www.torontostandard.com/
CONTACT THE MAYOR & HIS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Mayor Ford
Mayor_ford@toronto.ca
416-397-3673
Paul Ainslie
Councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
416-392-4008
Michelle Berardinetti
Councillor_berardinetti@toronto.ca
416-392-0213
Mike Del Grande
Councillor_delgrande@toronto.ca
416-392-1374
Doug Holyday
Councillor_holyday@toronto.ca
416-392-4002
Norman Kelly
Councillor_kelly@toronto.ca
416-392-4047
Giorgio Mammoliti
Councillor_mammoliti@toronto.ca
416-395-6401
Peter Milczyn
Councillor_milczyn@toronto.ca
416-392-4040
Denzil Minnan-Wong
Councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca
416-397-9256
Cesar Palacio
Councillor_palacio@toronto.ca
416-392-7011
Jaye Robinson
Councillor_robinson@toronto.ca
416-395-6408
David Shiner
Councillor_shiner@toronto.ca
416-395-6413
Michael Thompson
Councillor_thompson@toronto.ca
416-397-9274
Or send them snail mail City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2.
To contact other councilors and/or find out who your own councilor is:
http://app.toronto.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp
2 comments:
I would add the Toronto Cyclists Union as a great organization to join to help fight cuts and support the voice of cyclists in the city.
Great resource! Ford has to be stopped. Not sure if the 'Well, fuck you.' comment is necessary. Better to keep it clean IMO.
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