Check your inbox (if you haven’t already): it’s @cityhallwatcher #291. This week, LOBBYIST WATCH returns with a look at efforts to uplift the Island Airport, allow a Steeles Ave dev, a pitch AI. Also: a former Tory staffer and John Baird show up. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw291

Check your inbox: it’s @cityhallwatcher #292! And it’s the return of the always controversial COUNCIL POWER RANKINGS. A look at the movers and shakers of the last year, plus new data on council attendance and motions made on the Council floor. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw292

City Hall’s in vacation mode, but the news keeps coming. Here’s a special FREE issue of City Hall Watcher clearing out some of my many many browser tabs, with a look at the Rail Path extension, the Island Airport, the AMO conference and more. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/railing-agai…

Check your inbox: it’s @cityhallwatcher #293! Guest contributor Damien Moule returns to make some noise about a quiet proposal to quickly — and cheaply — make Toronto streets safer for cyclists. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw293

My first foray into writing about housing! Thanks so much to Matt Elliott for the opportunity: Toronto City Hall's Committee of Adjustment could use some adjustment toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw294

Check your inbox: it’s @cityhallwatcher #294! Guest Hana Suckstorff debuts, looking at the history and purpose of Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment. What is it adjusting anyway? And do the adjustments contribute to our housing shortage? Also: charts! toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw294

Oh look, it’s back-to-school season for students and back-to-City Hall season for @cityhallwatcher. Get yourself set for next week with a FREE bonus newsletter covering rogue RV parking, additional avenues, and a temporary trash bin inspector program. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/trash-bin-in…

Check your inbox: it’s @cityhallwatcher #296! Guest Laura Anonen makes the case for moving quick on the renovictions bylaw to protect the rental supply. Plus: remember last year’s police budget battle? It looks like there’s a sequel coming. toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw296

My Toronto Star column: Toronto drivers are behaving badly. The good news is there’s an obvious thing that can help. Cameras. Lots and lots of automated traffic cameras. City Hall needs to get them rolling. Doug Ford shouldn’t stand in the way. thestar.com/opinion/contri…

On the new Spacing Radio, City Hall Watcher Matt Elliott and it and geography professor Tricia Wood discuss TTC service levels, the Eglinton Crosstown, lack of accountability to the public, the Ontario Line and more: spacing.ca/toronto/2024/0…

I’m on the newest ep of Spacing Radio for a transit chat with Glyn Bowerman and Tricia Wood, talking about Metrolinx delays, TTC service issues and the track ahead. It was hard, at times, to stop myself from banging the table for emphasis. Good talk! spacing.ca/toronto/2024/0…

From this week’s Metrolinx board meeting: weekend ridership on GO Transit has recovered to 162% (!) of pre-pandemic. assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v… (PDF)

Proposed transformation of 1963-era heritage home overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs up for consideration at next week’s Preservation Board meeting. Fun example of how architectural trends change. secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda…

My Toronto Star column: The TTC has a new (interim) leader with Greg Percy. Job one? Some serious relationship counselling with Metrolinx. The provincial agency has been too secretive and too unaccountable. The TTC needs a better partner. thestar.com/opinion/contri…