Rob Ford Vs…well everyone.

Just a tad…

I didn’t vote for the man, but I respect the will of the people.  However that doesn’t mean I need to like “HIS” will against the rest of us.  On day one Mayor Ford cried out that “Transit City is dead and the war on cars is over”.  Over my dead metropass it is.  I’m a taxpayer and home owner (east end Riverdale).  I have a car and travel to my job at Sheppard and Yonge on the Subway.  If we had the money to build subways all over city I’d be fully behind his worships want to put everything underground, but we don’t.  That “We” is the taxpayers of Toronto and Ontario.  This plan that has been in the works for years has finally started and is ready to roll.  After false starts and money taken out of the pot, Transit City should be a beacon of success for Toronto and the rest of the GTA.  But this one man feels that all of this work should be pushed aside like it never happened.  Mr. Ford, I’m not going to wait another 20 years for transit to limp itself to life.  You are one man, our Mayor.  I get that.  But one person does not make a city.  You have a bunch of people to work with in City Hall and oh yeah, you’ve got the rest of the city that didn’t vote for you.  You think change is that easy?  Wait until you get a load of Toronto when it’s not happy.  You talk about saving Taxpayers money, put your plan is to break contracts that could put us in the whole.  I’m one blogger asking you to rethink your planned assault on Transit City.  You city plan of Like It or Lump It isn’t going to work.

OCC

Hume: Transit City roadblock

Rob Ford became mayor on Wednesday and immediately declared and end to the war on the car. In the next breath, he killed Transit City. Councillor Shelley Carroll tells Christopher Hume it could prove a costly move. Video by Randy Risling

http://www.thestar.com/videozone/900630–hume-transit-city-roadblock

 

This text below is via Richard Underhill  ~ http://www.facebook.com/#!/richard.underhill1

 

“Support Transit City, send a quick email” Can be found on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=145893382129341

People we have work to do. Your city needs you. The war on our great city has begun. Fortunately, it will only take a minute to send the letter below to Rob Ford and all our city councillors. (Use this info to keep them informed of other issues too!)

The councillors are most important. You can send a note to your councillor and bcc all the rest, it will just take a sec!

Let them know that the people are in charge and that we wan…t a 21st century city. Let’s have fun with this and nag them until they see the light!

Please personalize this note and resend. It’s always great to say you are a ward resident when emailing the councillor for your ward. They take that seriously!! (Transit city info at the end of this page).

Thanks everyone. We can keep this great initiative alive if we work together. Please invite your friends! Rob Ford’s Phone Number is 416-397-2489

The email. (Thanks for the inspiration Caitlin Smith)
(Councillor Letter and addresses below).

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

subject: I Support Transit City

Dear Mayor Ford

I’m extremely concerned about your plan to scrap Transit City.

As a taxpaying Torontonian, I would be very angry if the tax dollars that we have already spent towards this plan were thrown down the drain at this late date. Contracts have been signed, work has begun, LRTs have been ordered and the city of Toronto will be on the hook for costly fines and penalties if we change course now.

As the province and the federal government will carry most of the funding costs for Transit City, scrapping this plan also represents the loss of billions of dollars of infrastructure money for Toronto. Paying for a new subway line would be a shameful waste of our precious city resources and with no commitment for such a plan from other levels of government, it could end up costing us billions and setting us back more than a decade.

The new LRT lines that the Transit City plan calls for are not a “war on the car.” Instead, they make commuting by both car and public transit more efficient. Dedicated streetcar lanes clear up roads and make it easier for everyone to get to work faster, and do so in a very cost-effective manner.

Please, don’t begin your new term with this shameful waste of my tax dollars.

Regards,

Email it to the following.

mayor_ford@toronto.ca,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Councillor Letter (why not write to your own and BCC all the rest..takes 2 secs!!)

Subject: I Support Transit City

December 2/2010

Dear Councillor,

I’m extremely concerned about Mayor Ford’s plan to scrap Transit City.I sincerely hope that you do everything in your power to save this important initiative.

As a taxpaying Torontonian, I would be very angry if the tax dollars that we have already spent towards this plan were thrown down the drain at this late date. Contracts have been signed, work has begun, LRTs have been ordered and the city of Toronto will be on the hook for costly fines and penalties if we change course now.

As the province and the federal government will carry most of the funding costs for Transit City, scrapping this plan also represents the loss of billions of dollars of infrastructure money for Toronto. Paying for a new subway line would be a shameful waste of our precious city resources and with no commitment for such a plan from other levels of government, it could end up costing us billions and setting us back more than a decade.

The new LRT lines that the Transit City plan calls for are not a “war on the car.” Instead, they make commuting by both car and public transit more efficient. Dedicated streetcar lanes clear up roads and make it easier for everyone to get to work faster, and do so in a very cost-effective manner.

Please, don’t begin your new term with this shameful waste of my tax dollars.

Regards,

Councillor emails:

councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca,
councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca,
councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca,
councillor_augimeri@toronto.ca,
councillor_dford@toronto.ca,
councillor_moeser@toronto.ca,
councillor_bailao@toronto.ca,
councillor_fragedakis@toronto.ca,
councillor_nunziata@toronto.ca,
councillor_berardinetti@toronto.ca,
councillor_grimes@toronto.ca,
councillor_palacio@toronto.ca,
councillor_carroll@toronto.ca,
councillor_holyday@toronto.ca,
councillor_parker@toronto.ca,
councillor_cho@toronto.ca,
councillor_kelly@toronto.ca,
councillor_pasternak@toronto.ca,
councillor_colle@toronto.ca,
councillor_layton@toronto.ca,
councillor_perks@toronto.ca,
councillor_crawford@toronto.ca,
councillor_lee@toronto.ca,
councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca,
councillor_crisanti@toronto.ca,
councillor_lindsay_luby@toronto.ca,
councillor_robinson@toronto.ca,
councillor_davis@toronto.ca,
councillor_mammoliti@toronto.ca,
councillor_shiner@toronto.ca,
councillor_debaeremaeker@toronto.ca,
councillor_matlow@toronto.ca,
councillor_stintz@toronto.ca,
councillor_delgrande@toronto.ca,
councillor_mcconnell@toronto.ca,
councillor_thompson@toronto.ca,
councillor_digiorgio@toronto.ca,
councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca,
councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca,
councillor_doucette@toronto.ca,
councillor_mihevc@toronto.ca,
councillor_wongtam@toronto.ca,
councillor_filion@toronto.ca,
councillor_milczyn@toronto.ca,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Don’t forget to also email Metrolinx, specifically Robert Prichard (Chair) Robert.Prichard@metrolinx.com
& Bruce McCuaig (President and CEO) Bruce.McCuaig@metrolinx.com

Here’s their letter with a bit of variation.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

December 2/2010

Robert Prichard
Chair,
Metrolinx

Dear Chairman Pritchard,

I’m extremely concerned about Mayor Ford’s plan to scrap Transit City. I sincerely hope that you do everything in your power to save this important initiative.

As a taxpaying Torontonian, I would be very angry if the tax dollars that we have already spent towards this plan were thrown down the drain at this late date. Contracts have been signed, work has begun, LRTs have been ordered and the city of Toronto will be on the hook for costly fines and penalties if we change course now.

As the province and the federal government will carry most of the funding costs for Transit City, scrapping this plan also represents the loss of billions of dollars of infrastructure money for Toronto. Paying for a new subway line would be a shameful waste of our precious city resources and with no commitment for such a plan from other levels of government, it could end up costing us billions and setting us back more than a decade.

The new LRT lines that the Transit City plan calls for are not a “war on the car.” Instead, they make commuting by both car and public transit more efficient. Dedicated streetcar lanes clear up roads and make it easier for everyone to get to work faster, and do so in a very cost-effective manner.

Thanks you for your hard work in helping to pave the way for a better transit future for Torontians. We support Transit City and will fight to keep it.

Regards,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Toronto area MPPs have a stake in Transit City. Let’s get them in on the discussion as well.

Here’s a letter to them, I used the first MPP as an example.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

December 2/2010

Dear MPP Albanese,

I’m extremely concerned about Mayor Ford’s plan to scrap Transit City. I sincerely hope that you do everything in your power to save this important initiative.

As a taxpaying Torontonian, I would be very angry if the tax dollars that we have already spent towards this plan were thrown down the drain at this late date. Contracts have been signed, work has begun, LRTs have been ordered and the city of Toronto will be on the hook for costly fines and penalties if we change course now.

As the province and the federal government will carry most of the funding costs for Transit City, scrapping this plan also represents the loss of billions of dollars of infrastructure money for Toronto. Paying for a new subway line would be a shameful waste of our precious city resources and with no commitment for such a plan from other levels of government, it could end up costing us billions and setting us back more than a decade.

The new LRT lines that the Transit City plan calls for are not a “war on the car.” Instead, they make commuting by both car and public transit more efficient. Dedicated streetcar lanes clear up roads and make it easier for everyone to get to work faster, and do so in a very cost-effective manner.

Thanks you for your hard work in helping to pave the way for a better transit future for Torontians. We support Transit City and will fight to keep it. We will be very disappointed if the provincial government helps to dismantle our transit future.

Regards,

Toronto Area MPPS (1st initial + last name.mpp)

lalbanese.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
bbalkissoon.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
lberardinetti.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
mbest.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
lbroten.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
dcansfield.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
dcaplan.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
mcolle.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
dinovoc-qp@ndp.on.ca, – C. Dinovo,
bduguid.mpp@liberal.ola.org, Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure,
mkwinter.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
rmarchese-co@ndp.on.ca,
gmurray.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
mprue-qp@ndp.on.ca,
sqaadri.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
truprecht.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
msergio.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
tabunsp-qp@ndp.on.ca, – P. Tabuns,
kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org,
(Premier) dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Toronto area MPs have a stake in Transit City. Let’s get them in on the discussion too!

Here’s a letter to them, I used the first MP as an example.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

December 2/2010

Dear MP Wrzesnewsky,

I’m extremely concerned about Mayor Ford’s plan to scrap Transit City. I sincerely hope that you do everything in your power to save this important initiative.

As a taxpaying Torontonian, I would be very angry if the tax dollars that we have already spent towards this plan were thrown down the drain at this late date. Contracts have been signed, work has begun, LRTs have been ordered and the city of Toronto will be on the hook for costly fines and penalties if we change course now.

As the province and the federal government will carry most of the funding costs for Transit City, scrapping this plan also represents the loss of billions of dollars of infrastructure money for Toronto. Paying for a new subway line would be a shameful waste of our precious city resources and with no commitment for such a plan from other levels of government, it could end up costing us billions and setting us back more than a decade.

The new LRT lines that the Transit City plan calls for are not a “war on the car.” Instead, they make commuting by both car and public transit more efficient. Dedicated streetcar lanes clear up roads and make it easier for everyone to get to work faster, and do so in a very cost-effective manner.

Thanks you for your hard work in helping to pave the way for a better transit future for Torontians. We support Transit City and will fight to keep it. We will be very disappointed if the federal government helps to dismantle our transit future.

Regards,

Toronto Area MPs (last name. initial@parl.gc.ca,)

Wrzesnewskyj.B@parl.gc.ca,
Volpe.J@parl.gc.ca,
Szabo.P@parl.gc.ca,
Tonks.A@parl.gc.ca,
Simson.M@parl.gc.ca,
Silva.M@parl.gc.ca,
Sgro.J@parl.gc.ca,
Ratansi.Y@parl.gc.ca,
Rae.B@parl.gc.ca,
Oliphant.R@parl.gc.ca,
Minna.M@parl.gc.ca,
McKay.J@parl.gc.ca,
Layton.J@parl.gc.ca,
Kennedy.G@parl.gc.ca,
Karygiannis.J@parl.gc.ca,
Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca,
Duncan.K@parl.gc.ca,
Chow.O@parl.gc.ca,
Cannis.J@parl.gc.ca,
(Prime minister) Harper.S@parl.gc.ca,

You’re done!! Thanks a lot!!

Rich

Transit City info and Links:

http://thumbshift.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/ford-goes-down/,
http://www.thestar.com/news/torontocouncil/article/900043–hume-ford-to-transit-city-drop-dead,
http://www.thestar.com/news/transportation/article/900774–not-so-fast-wynne-warns-ford-on-transit
http://www.jpuopolo.com/2010/12/moving-toronto-forward-not-backward/
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,454517,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Tramway_Line_3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramlink