Right of Way on St.Clair

Gillan and Vivacqua allege irregularity in debate at City Hall

Following 15 hours of passionate speeches in favour and against the proposed streetcar right-of-way barriers on St. Clair, held on Monday at City Hall from 9 a.m. to midnight, the Planning and Transportation Committee and Works Committee have decided to recommend to the Policy and Finance Committee that City Council approve alternative no. 6, i.e. the one that includes the barriers.
Now it will be up to the Council of September 28-30 to debate and decide whether to approve the recommendation as it is or change anything.
Who could reverse City Hall's orientation in favour of the needs of the citizens of St. Clair? Apparently the destiny of this road is in the hands of two or three councillors who might tip the scales either way.
Things have gone in the direction given by the City Hall-TTC study group. Opponents included the five BIAs of St. Clair, some 65 percent of the residents, and some members of the Police and Fire Services. Three of the four city councillors of the St. Clair wards also opposed the barriers (the fourth, Joe Mihevc, is vicechair of the TTC and supports the barriers).
Their opposition has been dismissed, as was the alternative project they supported.
There was also an alleged irregularity in Monday's debate, denounced by Jeff Gillan and Ida Vivacqua of the SOS - Save Our St. Clair committee.
Opposers see this as the conclusion of a "fake democratic debate" about a "done deal". They wonder whether enough city councillors will manage to act independently and uncover eventual underlying wrongdoings, thus enforcing the democratic process, or will become victims (or accomplices) of a "done deal" flying above their heads and their autonomy.
Another question is asked by councillor Frances Nunziata. "Why must so much money be spent on a project that many residents reject, on a street already served, instead of using the same amount on a street not served yet?"
As we said, Jeff Gillan and Ida Vivacqua also spoke of maneuvering in order to influence the commitees.
"There were 150 people waiting to speak," said Jeff Gillan, "and the first 22 speakers were all in favour of the barriers. The very first speaker, clearly in favour of the TTC project, was Fred Dominelli, a person close to the positions of Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone." "Such a move," claimed Vivacqua, "was meant to condition the minds of committee members right from the start of the debate, when everybody was there and their minds were fresh. I was the 23rd speaker, the first to oppose alternative no. 6."
A maneuver to influence the committee was also hinted at by city councillor Mike Del Grande; after the first six speeches he inquired about the apparent unanimity in favour of the TTC plan.
All the good intentions of social, economic, and urban planning renaissance proposed by St. Clair groups might be crushed by an unstoppable behemoth launched on unswerving rails, for the "done deal" championed by TTC chair Howard Moscoe and by Joe Pantalone. Who's going to gain from this?

Publication Date: 2004-09-19
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4413