ww The East York 24-HOUR SUBWAY? n Activist wants TTC OBSERVER to pull an all-nighter Page 2 Serving our community since 1972 www.torontoobserver.ca Friday, October 19, 2018 Housing heats up Ward 19 debate By DANIELLE CLARKE and DOHA HANNO The Observer From affordable housing to park toilets, this week’s Ward 19 all-candidates meeting covered an array of critical topics. Thirteen of the 16 candidates came togeth- er for the event Tuesday evening in a packed basement at Hope United Church. The meeting was hosted by the Danforth Village Communi- ty Association and moderated by minister Brian Stevens. Candidates were given two minutes to intro- duce their platforms, followed by one minute to answer each question. Hot topics included affordable housing, tran- sit, and the always-controversial bike lanes. One issue that all of the candidates agreed on is the lack of affordable housing in the Beach- es-East York community. Another was transit. Many commuters con- tinue to voice their frustrations. “Transit is what connects people to opportu- nity,” Brad Bradford said. “Transit that goes all day in all directions.” Candidates and audience members disagreed over the organization and implementation of bike lanes in the community. Two audience members said they didn’t care about bike lanes and that the candidates should focus on other issues. Most of the candidates agreed that the bike lanes should be moved from Woodbine Avenue to Coxwell Avenue. “Cyclists need to take a more responsible at- Rushanthi Kesunathan/The Observer titude,” Donald Lamoreux said. Church service goes to the dogs Matthew Kellway offered up his solution. Rev. Ian LaFleur blesses Jan Goodman's 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel at St. Cuthbert's Church in East n See HOUSING, page 3 York. The church’s Blessing of the Animals ceremony took place Oct. 6. n COMMUNITY When neighbour disputes go too far: A story of two families when Carpenter shouted at her and kicked her Meaneys supposedly digging into the Carpen- on their own, Meaney said these disputes might Five years of fighting about dog, prompting a kick from her in return. Car- ters’ house foundation to build a garden. be easier to handle were it not for Drake Car- noise, dogs and fences has penter remembers the event differently, saying Now, the two neighbours are involved in an penter. Meaney’s dog peed on his shoe, so he stomped issue over arborists hired by the Carpenters us- “He comes on my property, he’s (hurt) my torn these neighbours apart his foot on the ground to startle him. ing the Meaneys’ backyard garage roof to trim dog … I don’t want this guy anywhere on my That was just one tense incident in a five-year surrounding trees without their permission. property.” By SERGIO ARANGIO battle between neighbours. It was trespassing, says Keiron Meaney, who Carpenter said the Meaneys can’t be reasoned The Observer The Meaneys, who have lived in their East had run home from his job as a chef to deal with with and seem to feel they have a constant right York home for almost 20 years, say their issues the situation. “If you have a right of way … the to meddle with property that’s not theirs. Long-standing animosity between the Meaneys began shortly after the Carpenters moved next right of way is over there, it isn’t on our roof.” Warren Morris, a mediator based in East and the Carpenters on Woodmount Avenue real- door five years ago. Meaney said while he and his wife Paula are York, has a technique he often uses with two ly boiled over when Drake Carpenter called the The fighting started with noise complaints, typically friendly with their neighbours, the parties in a dispute to help each side see the oth- police on neighbour Paula Meaney for allegedly then progressed to a dispute over a fence cov- Carpenters are an exception. Thousands of dol- er’s point of view. The exercise has each side kicking him in the shin. ering the right of way being ripped out by their lars have been spent between the two parties in Meaney says she was about to walk her dog neighbour, and then to an argument over the their disputes. While the issues are frustrating n See MEDIATOR, page 8 2 NEWS Friday,The October East York 19, Observer2018 The Friday, East YorkFebruary Observer 9, 2018 WHAT’S POLICE & UP IN E.Y. FIRE Healthy eating Local principal for seniors charged with Milka Milicevic, a assault after registered holistic nutritionist, will incident at give a free lecture Chester school on healthy eating for optimal health The principal for seniors. It will of Chester Ele- take place Oct. 25 mentary School from 2 to 3 p.m. in East York has at the S. Walter been charged with Stewart Library, assault follow- 170 Memorial ing an incident Park Ave. in the school’s playground. Ac- cording to police, Celebrating the the principal Bobby Hristova/The Observer allegedly kicked Day of the Dead Justin Van Dette, a community activist in East York, wants the TTC to try a pilot 24-hour-service and stomped on a Evergreen Brick program. He says almost 1,000 people have signed his petition. child while trying Works, 550 Bay- to intervene during view Ave., will host a fight in the play- its eighth annual ground. The child Day of the Dead Want 24-hour subway service? reportedly spat on celebration on Oct. him. The alleged 28 from 10 a.m. Then join the almost 1,000 be better,” he said. “School and jobs are minutes you could at least count on it,” incident happened to 3 p.m. Tradi- a necessity, and it’s reassuring advocating said Margaret White, a registered nurse. on Sept. 19. The tional Latin cele- people who have already for something that means a lot to people.” “Right now, there’s nothing.” principal turned brations, family This idea isn’t new. The TTC consid- White is no ordinary nurse. As an agen- himself in to 55 activities and food signed this man’s petition ered full-time subway service in 2006 but cy nurse, she works in every hospital Division two weeks and drink will be never committed. Stuart Green, a senior across the city and thinks any nurse who later on Oct. 3. featured. By BOBBY HRISTOVA communications specialist at the TTC, works in Toronto would want full-time Charged with The Observer confirmed the organization isn’t consider- subway service. assault is principal ing Van Dette’s dream. “We work 12-hour shifts, from 7 a.m. to Sean Hume, who Who was that Even though it was 2:15 in the morn- “It would severely impact our ability to 7 p.m.,” she said. “On Sunday night shifts, was released on a masked child? ing when Justin Van Dette found himself perform essential maintenance. It would you can’t get home and on day shifts, you promise to appear on the subway platform at Times Square, also be very expensive,” Green said in an can’t get in.” in court. That Families are it was only minutes before he was riding email response. White, who lives near Main Street sta- court date has not invited to Tod- a train back to his hotel in Manhattan. If Van Dette points to Nuit Blanche, an tion, said her “nightmare” commute has been set yet. morden Mills for only he could do the same in Toronto. annual city-wide art exhibition, which had led to multiple $30 cab rides and rides a spooky Hallow- “We need an overnight subway,” said all-night subway service. with “some really scary characters.” een mask-making Van Dette, a community organizer in East “They already do it once a year. Why She added that the lack of a late-night Police car crashes workshop. It will York. not try for 100 nights a year?” he said. “It subway could impact nurses in the criti- be held Oct. 20 He wrote a letter about his trip to Rick could be a pilot you only run on one line cal-care units waiting for co-workers to into bus shelter from 1 to 3 p.m. Leary, CEO of the Toronto Transit Com- or something that runs from Thursday to get to work, and could even impact pa- at 67 Pottery Rd. mission, describing the “incredible” abili- Sunday.” tients who need specialized care. at Woodbine and is suitable ty to hop on one of their trains at 2:15 a.m. Green says the TTC offers 24-hour “It’s one nurse to one patient,” she said. and O’Connor for children six and get home within minutes. service through its Blue Night network, “There are only so many hospitals that and up. Attendees Van Dette launched a petition in which has 27 bus routes running every 20 specialize in certain areas.” A Toronto police must be accompa- mid-July. He said it boasts close to 1,000 minutes. Despite this, she doesn’t think the TTC officer has mi- nied by an adult. signatures. But for at least one person, the over- will act. nor injuries after Reservations are “People from time to time write very night network isn’t enough. “There are not enough people who want crashing into an required and can real, sad stories to me about how it would “Even if a subway left once every 20 it to make it justifiable,” she said. East York bus be made online.