July 20, 2007
What Do We Want? When Do We Want It?
Torontonian Vanessa Delsooz (not pictured) has organized an impromptu protest of proposed TTC cuts next Saturday July 28th at Nathan Phillips Square at 1 p.m. The rally will reportedly be outside the law, since it takes longer than a week to secure a permit for such things. Also, the office that issues protest permits just got eliminated due to budget cuts. (Just kidding. We think.)
What those who gather will be protesting is, however, less clear. The Facebook group complains of cuts that haven't actually been made yet as if they've already happened, misrepresents the chronology and reality of the events of the last few days, and doesn't propose any viable alternatives, such as bank robbery or money-tree-harvesting. One wall-poster declares that, "if they hike the [TTC] fare again in the near future i will buy a car and stop taking the bus because it will cost the same amount anyway." We'd like to know where she gets her $250/month car-gas-insurance-parking deal, because it sounds like a great one. (Also, does it come with carbon offsets, or are those extra?)
On the other hand, maybe we're just unfairly taking out our frustration built up from this week's craziness on Delsooz. At least she's engaged and willing to take some kind of action (as opposed to the city councillors who voted to, you know, do nothing and hope things work out). Hopefully some value will come from a show of force that declares a functioning public transit system is non-negotiable.
Another question comes to mind, though: are there better places to be holding this rally? Queen's Park, maybe? Parliament Hill? Mike Harris's house?
Original photo by Spirited_Away in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. Photo has been altered.
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Are we still allowed to blame Mike Harris?
I encourage those that don't like the cuts to join a Facebook group I started called "I'm willing to pay my fair share to make Toronto great." It supports the proposed taxes that Council deferred.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3413515183
Unfortunately I'm still learning the nuances of creating groups so only people in the Toronto network can join this group.
Wasn't a primary criticism of the taxes that they weren't fair, putting the burden on a very narrow segment of the population? And at an essential spot that could discourage people from moving to the city, and encourage them to move out?
You have a lot of questions, but you don't seem to have a frickin' opinion, preferring to instead be a Debbie Downer about the whole thing by not even proiding a counter argument.
-I DON'T KNOW!?! Is there a better place for the protest??? Suggest something!
The city doesn't have the money.
The province doesn't have the money. (The newly formed FTAA estimates provincial debt for 2007 will be 0.4 billion.)
The feds, on the other hand, are sitting on a 13 billion surplus.
Instead of whining about Miller's apparent failure (what happened to the budget they passed for this year? what happened?) to turn lead into gold, we should be targeting our MPs and the no-good Con government.
Don't protest the hikes. Just don't use their service, or use it rarely. The day after the TTC strike last year I bought a bike. Unfortunately it got stolen yesterday, but it had still already paid for itself twice over in saved fares.
Arguably the greenest option besides walking too.
Well actually, I have a bike, but biking from scarborough to downtown isn't the most easiest thing in the world. I'm dealing with intimidating 6 lane roads along with gas spewing in my face. Some days I have no choice but to take public transit, and that choice is becoming harder and harder.
My suggestion? Don Mills subway station. Why not meet on the line under threat?
A strong public transit gives the average
person many more opportunities for work and
social agendas. And it really is possible
despite what various politicians might say.
I have some questions about possible downsides
to improving our transit.
What about taxi service? Will we see less
demand for taxis if we can match public
transit time with driving time?
Having good public transit will impact auto
use. This results in less income from gasoline
taxes, less auto insurance, less revenue for
oil companies and even less demand for new
cars. These are large companies representing
these interests. In fact, less use of petroleum
would mean that Albertans may eventually need
to pay retail sales taxes.
Not that good public transit is not the way to
go. It's just that we need to consider what
effects it will have on us and how we need to
manage them.
Ideas are important for making change. Without
good ideas for handling negative consequences
our intentions will go nowhere.
Regardless, if there are others showing up
at NPS this saturday, I might as well see what's
up. Maybe if there is a march from there to
Queen's Park, I might be tempted to join.
Best,
Doug W