Recent comments

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    So now you want to attack the NDP. What will you do when run out of "outsiders" to attack when people don't agree with you?

    For the record you never answered the question that you raised and in the end your comments speak for themselves and you have exposed yourself and your divisive views here for all to see. I don't think I could possibly add any more than you have done yourself.

    Now let the residents, ALL residents make up their minds.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I refuse to dignify your stupid remarks with a answer. I know all to well how the NDP group work at trying to disclam the ones who work and they wish they could. If I or Jack affend you then I'm not sorry. We weren't intiminating anyone. You should have been listening more carefullyto what we we saying. From the response we got from the neighbours they thanked us. If the community wanted the media to stop filming Campbell Park well all I can say is you got your information all wrong as usual. I think you are more a bully then I will ever be just by the way you try to provoke someone into your twisted web. SORRY! I have better things to do. Have a good summer everyone and see you in the movies.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    We are still waiting for your answer about when a person becomes a "real resident".

    You could not have stated the communities issues with you and Jack better. You said it here in your own words and we still await a simple answer to your self righteous claim of superiority of other residents.

    You were a bully to other residents when the cameras were rolling but now you don't even have the courage to type an answer to a simple question arising from your own statements found on this page.

    So all the people you dismiss because they are new residents, all the people you dismiss because they have not lived here as long as you, all the people you dismiss because they are not in your orbit of self worship, all the people you dismiss because they want to do new and positive things, all the people you dismiss because you simply dont know they exist....all these people want you to answer the question that you yourself posed as the apparently self-appointed boss of the area

    WHEN IN YOUR OPINION DOES SOMEBODY BECOME A "REAL RESIDENT" OF OUR AREA WITH THE SAME RIGHTS AS YOU?

    We are waiting for an answer.

    As for all the stuff you have done and how sought after you are, anybody who is remotely active in the community already knows the answer to that. BTW Adam's last name begins with a G.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Well Mr. or Ms. "Anonymous"

    The protesters, the few of them that there were, have no right to attack and shout and in intimidate other local residents, who were just following what the City had asked them to do. That's not protesting.

    As another local commentator said on their blog, the protest was a circus. In my peoples opinions it was a circus filled with outlandish claims and needless scare mongering (like Jack's fear of vegetables) that in the end probably will hurt the Parks and Rec budget. As I work in the media I know that locals were emailing and calling TV stations and newspapers asking them to stop covering the Campbell Park "protests" as they were making the area look bad and the few protesters did not have wide community support. So once again Fava and the "crew of the few" get Junction Triangle in the news again for something bad.

    This blog is a form of protest too and I appreciate you endorsing the communities opportunity to express their opinions. And dropping garbage at a City endorsed short term location is a form of freedom of speech too, something you few decided you had the right to take from others. People have the right to speak, even when they don't agree with you.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Yes Jack, perhaps all 21 dump sites had some form of protest, but most of that was striking civic workers on the picket line. Or perhaps, some of those other sites were locations where the park was actually closed, rather than just the unused outdoor hockey rink like at Campbell Park. Or perhaps at those other sites, the soccer and cricket games were actually cancelled rather than continue as they did at Campbell Park. Perhaps at those other sites, they didn't have four other parks within a five minute walk of their location. Or perhaps, at those other sites, the protestors were suggesting alternate measures and solutions to the resolve the temporary disruption rather than just screaming the sky is falling over and over and over. Or perhaps at those other sites, they were first time demonstrators rather than one or two individuals that always go on the attack and bring negative media coverage to their neighbourhood over and over and over. Or perhaps at those other sites, the protestors were not self-anointed and had a broad consensus of support in their neighbourhood rather than acting in an arbitrary manner just to get on TV.

    No one, other than the police perhaps, told you to stop Jack. But if you pretend to speak for this community then everyone in the community has the right to question your actions and debate the value of those efforts in a civil manner.

    It is very difficult to have this kind of conversation in a public forum. People get turned off very quickly by the negative carping, but as you can see from many of the comments, there are a lot of people in this community who want to focus on the positive things (like your pre-school breakfast program for example). How much closer to launching that initiative would you be if you hadn't spent all that time fighting something that was inevitable, short-term and self-resolving?

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I said that I wouldn't stoop down to your level anymore but I will for the last time. No one ever made this community look bad in the media. The strike hit our park and the residence were mad. If you want to be the spokes person for the community, be my guest. Jack and I have never seen the bad in the community, I know everyone who reads this will agree that we live in a good community and the people who live here are a good group of individuals who want to make this a great place to live.
    We have lived here all our lives and our children have grown up here as well. What pisses you off is that you think of the protest first. Jack and I are involved in many projects that will benifit the community of which anyone in the community can come a be apart of great and wanderful things in our community. We are not 1 or 2 induviduals who speak for everyone. We are constanty asked by police, pupbic officials, other individual from other areas in the city and our own residence to help them because we have a reputation for getting things done. Adam J, police chief, and the Mayor, U of T prof. are just a few who think our work and reputation has merrit. If you call this websit an area were individuals can voice their oppions thats fine but you have been very negitive yourself at us and others and we just respond you your childish behaviour.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Scott D, you started all this shit in the blog, Critizing the protesters. I spoke to many of the other protesters in the different dump sites. They were Doctors, social workers, retired people, seniors and many other kind of professionals and people. Are you going to tell them they were wrong and should be doing others things, that suites you or needs to be approved by you, if it's not something you like it's bad. People have the right to speak and they did.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Hi Ranjit

    This is not bickering, this is about:

    1. Asking for all residents to be involved and respected equally with no one or two people speaking as if they speak for the entire community.

    2. Stopping the needless bashing of our community in the media by one or two people who only see bad.

    3. Acknowledging and celebrating all the great projects that are underway by residents of all stripes.

    Ranjit this "bickering", and I know you mean that in a harmless way, is the community stepping up and being heard. These postings here are just a sampling of what is being spoken and emailed between neighbors every day as a new vibe takes hold; a new vibe lead by long time and new residents.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Im not sure what all this bickering will accomplish, but does it really matter how long any of us have lived here.

    I dont really care personally as long as we as a community see improvements.

    Ranajit

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Yea Carla!

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Well said.It was great to meet you at the really successful Perth Park Party this year, an event that was truly representative of our community. Celebrating what is good in our community is the way to go.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Disposal is a different issue from collection.

    Even with incineration, we would still require garbage collection. If a strike happens, then garbage still piles up locally before pickup resumes. Incineration also does not provide as much incentive to reduce the amount of waste generated, so we may end up in a WORSE situation if it has to pile up locally.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Hi everyone,

    For the last couple of years, I've been on the organizing committee for the Perth Park Festival.

    This years festival was great and I would like to point out that one of the reasons it was a success was the fact that complete strangers (to me) that reside in this community came out to help assemble/dismantle/volunteer their time to make it a success. Thank you!

    I've read all these posts and am going to say that "everyone is entitled to their opinions" I voice mine freely as well but would like to take this in a different direction.
    IN my observations, when there is chaos, the community pulls very well together as whole and that is not due to 1 or 2 people. It is a group effort.
    There is a number of people out there that may not be actively involved in committees but no less, donate their time freely to make their own backyard a good place to live in whether they have resided here 1 or 80 years.

    We all pick our causes and mine is fun which promotes community spirit and partnership.
    I would like to see more positive fun events in this community where we all can come out, socialize, celebrate, meet your neighbor and will continue working towards that.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    How sad that you have missed the point entirely on so many points and on top of that by getting left wing and right wing ideologies confused, by getting negative and positive attitudes confused too.

    There are more people out there than you can imagine that do read this web site but are the silent majority. I wouldn't assume anything as to who they are. *sigh*

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I have always believed that Food Share and other organizations are needed in the community. However, your NDP left wing magazine has a habit of misquoting individuals. Jack and I have and will always work to help the poor in this community.
    About the vegetable garden. When Jack and I approached many individuals in that area it was plan to us that many had not seen the flyer and those that read it saw a different picture of what was planned for the park. They thought that a flower garden at the edge for what you wanted to plant. When Jack and I told the neighbours that you were going to construct a vegetable garden and how big, now that angered them. I know you don't like to hear this but I worked with the develeoper and convienced him that a new park was needed to be considered for the housing that was planned. After 2 long years of working with the City and the developer we today have a park. I wasn't about to let you take what I worked so hard for the children be taken away. If you needed more space then move to a area that has large backyards. Some of my neighbours have dug up their backyards and have beautiful vegetable gardens were they share their bounty with their neighbours. You are piss-off at us for bringing the community together and showing your true colours. That night after the meeting Jack was in the meeting room and was swarmed by your cronies and threated him. I walked in just as someone made theatening comments to Jack. Now that's real gown-up.
    As for Fuzzy boundries, I never got any information or flyer of your meeting. I was told some time later of the meeting. Again it is a group of people who have moved in the neighbourhood some time ago and want to change the communities mame. Each community is named for a reason. And if you look at the picture of the neighbouhood when you open the SJRA page you will see why it is named that way. Tell me something, when you are throught living in this area and you move to another location are you going to change that communities name aswell? There is a lot of history here and one should not mess with history.
    I have noticed that their are only 5 0r 6 not including Jack or myself who blog on this site. I believe I know who some of you are even though you hide by using silly names. 6 negetive induviduals does not speak for the whole community. I know your politics, and your ideals. Jack and I know you are doing everything to discredit us. Nice try, it's not working only a very, very small hand full of people read this. The majority applaude us.
    From time to time the media gets involved it helps our message. Left wing individuals that I have meet over the years like yourself, to be negative and see negative in other people. I see the good in everyone, and yes even you. Jack and I would like to work with you but I have never gotten along with negitave individuals.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Virginia I ask you again to have the courage to explain to the hundreds of residents in our area when by YOUR definition people become "real" residents. If you want to throw your bragging rights around than the guts to back it up. So the community is still waiting for your answer.

    My personal record in Parkdale and here speaks for itself. The fact that dont know about me, or about others, doesn't negate our contribution as you are not the Queen of the community.

    For the record, the SJTA fell apart weeks after it started. In case you haven't noticed its the people who you call outsiders and new residents who have been keeping this site going and forming other groups and committees that are getting stuff done in the area.

    So answer the question Virginia when are people "real" residents?

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Through these discussions the topic of issues for the community keeps coming up. Why don't we list some of those here so that others can see what is needed to improve this community further and work towards some resolutions. I have been here long enough to see this area go down hill and now it is picking up again thanks to some of the new neighbours moving in. So many people care about where they live.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I do agree with you 100%. I know that there are companies that burn garbage and in turn use that for energy to power 20 homes. I know that in Durham, one is being built as a pilot project. With pressure from all of us maybe there woun't be a strick.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    Hi everyone,

    I'm glad to see that there is so much activity on this site, but we're veering far off-topic now.

    Sounds like people have too many pent-up emotions around here. :) Let's try to bring this energy back to doing something positive.

    I think we can pretty much all agree that the strike was an inconvenience for many people in the neighbourhood, and that using a local park as a dump really stinks (in more ways than one). Let's make sure this doesn't happen again.

    Here are three ways to keep it from happening again:

    1. Make sure the city workers don't strike again. This is pretty much out of our control, and has everything to do with labour relations. We can, however, pressure the City and their unions to come to agreements before their contracts expire.
    2. Find alternate places to dump garbage, rather than in local parks. The city should start planning this NOW, just in case another strike or other event prevents garbage collection. City-owned parking lots, private spaces (they would have to pay for that), etc... However, I'm not sure if there are any other good options in our own neighbourhood. Plus, they have to be approved by the Ministry of the Environment. Suggestions??
    3. Stop making so much garbage. This is really the key point. This latest strike should be a wakeup call that shows what an utterly disgusting amount of garbage our society produces. The strike was only about 1 month long. We should have easily been able to get by without garbage collection or fouling our local parks for such a short period of time. Most garbage and recycling shouldn't stink or attract vermin if sorted and rinsed properly. Most of our kitchen scraps and yard waste can easily be composted in a backyard composter. Meat scraps and bones can be sealed and refrigerated or frozen until pickup. Diapers...well, that's more difficult, but washable cloth diapers can be an option for some people too. Perhaps the temporary dumps should have ONLY collected green-bin waste, which could take up far less room (especially if people already composted most of it), and could be contained in bins.
    4. With a bit of pressure and forethought, this type of situation can be prevented in the future. And if it happens again, we can minimize the impacts on our neighbourhood.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    It doesn't matter what my real name is or where I live, you wouldn't me if I passed you on the street. As I've said before, you've made yourself a public figure around here.

    This in NOT about the FoodShare garden. It is about the methods in which you incite people to react.

    Yelling at people and name calling: those people throwing out their garbage in the Campbell Park hockey rink are NOT to blame for the strike and yelling at them, as you yelled during the FoodShare meetings and calling people names assaults. It doesn't further debate on an issue where BOTH sides can be heard.

    Riling people up with anger: the white boards put up in the park for the food garden, after spreading lathering people up in a frenzy, what do you think you'll "encourage" children to write on it. Pleases and no thank yous? A civilized debate where BOTH sides can be heard? Same goes for putting up funeral wreaths in Campbell Park. Creating a charged up atmosphere does not create a two sided debate.

    Stating that the public was NOT informed properly:

    If you want to debate public consultation about FoodShare, from this link:
    http://www.campbellpark.ca/wiki/wiki.php?n=NeighbourhoodNews.FoodShareGa...

    Excerpt from an email from Chris Gallop to Jack, dated August 21, 2007:
    "We hand-delivered 500 flyers to the surrounding streets to let people know this garden was being considered and to invite them to the consultation meeting. Volunteers also went door to door on Rankin Crescent to let them know about the meeting. While it's true that some people can't understand English or Portuguese, those two languages are understood by the vast majority of residents. While it's true that only 13 residents attended, we can't force people to attend meetings and every single person who did chose to come supported this project. Over the past three months that we have been working on this project, not a single person has raised an objection with our office to the installation of this garden until now."

    500 flyers! You can't force people to read their mail properly. Therefore, yes, one can knock on 200 doors and people will honestly respond that they were not consulted. Volunteers went door to door on Rankin Crescent to let them know about the meeting. Then who is lying? Adam's office? For personal use -- how is a partnership with FoodShare for personal use? Moreover, FoodShare and Adam's office were willing to discuss compromises. This must have been a huge misunderstanding on your part and all those residents who ended up opposing the project?

    It's a similar complaint Fuzzy Boundaries heard -- why wasn't the community informed of the first meeting? 5000 postcards were mailed out. You can't force people to look and read through their mail properly.

    There are many who do good deeds in this area but do so quietly without fanfare. You and your merry bunch of men and women have been fighting the "good fight" for so long that now it seems you all cannot tell the difference between your friends and your enemies. Perhaps many of these people, myself included, would want to fight the "good fight" along your side but are discouraged due to all the drama and one sided angry atmosphere that is created.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I don't know if you are an arrogant person, and I don't care. If you think other people would benefit from learning feel free share a snide comment with a friend and keep it out of a community discussion. This comment is most certainly condescending and extremely unlikely to have any positive value.

    Along those lines I would suggest we can the credentials as well. Your ideas can stand on their own. Sometimes it is hard to express them. That's ok. If you don't convince everybody of the absolute righteousness of your position on the first go-round, you can try again. It might be helpful to focus on the most important thing you are trying to say. You are no more convincing for living here for 72 years or being the mother of seven children, or having spent 32 hours bleeding in a ditch, or my favorite: responsible for clean air. Do we have a hubris award? That one was really fantastic - aside from it being useless in the current conversation.

    A better way to support a claim would be posting link to a credible source. If someone claims to have scientific proof of something they should be prepared to back it up.

    On a discussion forum moderation note I would suggest the comment titled "Get Real" that starts "I woun't play your stupid game" and gracefully if somewhat ironically signs off with the phrase "think before you speak." seems not to have any merit to counterbalance it's venom. It might present an excellent opportunity for pruning. If this is to be a family show we need to keep things civil.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I grew up in this area and chose to raise my children here so that makes me a resident for as long if not longer than you. I will not list the things that I have done for this community because you probably will not hear me over the sound of your own horn. Like I have already said twice, to get things done we need to come together but when you constantly stand around saying "ME, ME, ME" nothing can get done. I know for a fact that there are a large number of residents who are willing to solve issues that arise in this area. That is what a community is about. But when we can not cut through the BS to see the real issues at hand how can anything get resolved? So no Virginia, I am not sitting on my ass like you said!!

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    For shame. You shouldn't be doing this for bragging rights. You should be doing this because you want to do this. There should be no fame or glory involved in this. And what does it matter how much more one does over another? It doesn't really make you any better. So what if you have more time on your hands to commit to the community verses someone who may only have a few hours per week or say month. What matters is that they tried to commit some thing. Some may also be too sick or weak to commit as much as they'd like to or even commit at all. Maybe there's a person out there who if they were in a better position could do more than you and run you down as you are doing to others.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    No I mean green around the gills. They used this term a long time ago. I simply means that someone still needs to learn more about a subject then they think they know. And I was refering to the person who made a comment about red coat and beard. I am not arrogant. Far from it.

  • Campbell Park dump cleaned up.....almost   8 years 35 weeks ago

    I am glad that you have lived in this community that long. But you did not answer my question what have you done to give back to your community? I don't insult anyone that doesn't want to be insulted. But don't come down on Jack or myself if we have done more then you. And yes that gives us bragging rights. The community that I live and serve tells me when to stop helping people and so forth. By the way Jack and I are the one's that formed "South Junction Residence Association". What have you done.