Adam Vaughan's Latest Newsletter

I receive Councillor Adam Vaughan's newsletter and often share tidbits from it on this Blog. But I'm going to post his latest email in full.
Why? Because I think we're in the midst of a fight right now to keep our city sustainable and liveable and if we don't speak up, we'll regret it in very soon -- and even more in a few years.

Cheers,

Vanessa

"Dear residents,

Thank you for your message in support of keeping our libraries public. I really appreciate that you also took the time to send your message to members of the Executive Committee.

I strongly value our public libraries, in our ward and across the city. In Ward 20, in particular, we know how serious Mayor Ford is about closing libraries, with the Urban Affairs Library set to close its doors on September 14^th. A number of Councillors who are now claiming to support public libraries, in fact, voted to close our library just a few months ago.

And, even though a number of Councillors are claiming to support the idea of public libraries now, they are not speaking out against reduced hours and other service reductions in our public libraries. This is why your voice and your support to sustain our community assets are incredibly important.

The Toronto Public Library system is the largest public library system in Canada and the world's busiest urban library system. Our library collections include publications in more than 100 languages, we are able to borrow books from other library systems across Canada, and our libraries offer employment and educational resources, public computers, and other important services that help meet the needs of our diverse communities.

I will continue to make sure that Mayor Ford and his Executive do not close, cut hours and collections, or contract-out services at the Toronto Public Library.

I am also working with others to protect all of our important public services as the City undergoes a Service Review, which has proposed cutting and selling off many of our City's services.

The Toronto Public Library system will be considered again at a Special Executive Committee meeting on Monday September 19. When the agenda is posted, you will be able to find it here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/decisionBodyProfile.do?function=doPrepare&meetingId=5053#Meeting-2011.EX10.
I encourage you to continue making your views known to the Mayor and the Executive Committee. If you would like to send a written submission or speak at the Executive Committee on September 19, please contact exc@toronto.ca or 416-392-6627.

The Mayor and the Executive Committee will make final recommendations on service cuts and the Core Service Review that will go to City Council on September 26 & 27.

It is important for us to stand together and make it known that cuts to crucial programs and services are not acceptable. It seems that Councillors representing communities in the former City of Toronto really understand the value of our City services and are working to sustain them. I believe that Torontonians across our city value and benefit from our public services. We need to reach these people and encourage them to get in touch with their representatives.

If you have friends and relatives in other parts of the city who share your views, it would be great if they too would call their Councillors and the Mayor's office.

If you haven't already done so, you can write to Mayor Ford and the members of the Executive Committee to ensure that they understand how important other city services are to you. Their contact information is listed below.

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

Of course, they all receive mail at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2.

There are a number of community organizations that are taking action against the proposed cuts:

· The Toronto Environmental Alliance is fighting back against proposals to reduce our waste diversion targets, close the Toronto Environment Office, and cut environmental programs. They have great summaries up on their site here and they are asking people to sign their petition to save the City's environmental programs. You can sign the petition here.

· Onetoronto.ca is also posting great summaries about all of the proposed cuts. I encourage you to sign up to receive their e-mails. Visit their site here: http://onetoronto.ca/.

Thank you again for writing and for your commitment to our city.

Yours sincerely,

Adam"