We considered issues such as speed cameras, expanding the Toronto Community Crisis Service to the TTC and more, as well as several of my motions.
This week was the October meeting of City Council, our first since Council broke for the summer.
We considered issues such as speed cameras, expanding the Toronto Community Crisis Service to the TTC and more, as well as several of my motions.
Council was united in its support for maintaining speed cameras in our city.
Speed cameras, or the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program, is a proven tool to enforce speed limits and protect our vulnerable road users against speeding, aggressive and reckless drivers.
Annual serious injuries and fatalities on Toronto's roads have gone down from 448 in 2018, when speed cameras were first introduced, to 308 in 2024. A recent SickKids Hospital study found speed cameras reduce speeding in school zones by 45 percent.
What's more, those hit by a car travelling over 50 km/h have an 85 percent chance of death, compared to just a 30 percent chance if the car is travelling 40 km/h.
The success of the initial 75 ASE cameras since it’s implementation in 2020 resulted in City Council voting in 2023 to add an additional 75 units, which were installed earlier this year. Of the current 150 speed cameras in operation, 95 percent are in School Safety Zones.
I supported motions from my Council colleagues and Mayor Chow that would see modifications to the program in an effort to work in partnership with the province to maintain safe speed cameras and keep all road users safe.
Make your voice heard on this urgent safety issue. Sign and share my speed camera petition.
City Council voted to expand the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) to the TTC. The city will now pilot embedded TCCS teams on the TTC starting in November in the U-Zone of Line 1 Yonge–University.
These mobile teams of trained crisis workers will respond directly on platforms to support individuals in distress and coordinate with community partners for ongoing care.
The pilot will run through April 2026, providing trauma-informed interventions at TTC stations for those most in need.
I've been a proponent of the TCCS since its inception and was proud to stand in support of its expansion to the TTC at Council this week.
Learn more here.
Council also adopted my motion directing the city to work with community groups, police and other agencies to restore and protect ecologically vital and sensitive areas in the Cottonwood Flats and Lower Don Valley that were damaged by illegal raves the past two summers.
City Council adopted my motion calling for the missing plaque honouring legendary marathon swimmer, coach and disabled athlete advocate Vicki Keith at the Leslie Street Spit to be replaced.
Read more about these and other City Council items we considered this week.
My latest newsletter looks back at the major accomplishments and moments in Toronto-Danforth and at City Hall over the last year.
We considered items relating to homeless shelters, the FIFA World Cup, Toronto's Winter Maintenance Program, new protections for renters, Metrolinx construction issues, measures to address rat infestations and more.
Luella Price Lane was named after the Eureka Club founder and resident of the Black community in early 1900s Leslieville.
