Anxious to placate residents upset about living near a temporary dumpsite during the 39-day city workers' strike, some Toronto councillors want to stop certain locations from ever again being used for waste.
Councillor Sandra Bussin, for example, wants east-end Ted Reeve Arena removed from consideration as a future dump site and is planning a motion to that effect for next month's works committee meeting. However popular such initiatives might be at the neighbourhood level, acquiescing to these demands would only open a Pandora's box.
The 26 parks, skating rinks and parking lots selected as temporary dumps were not randomly chosen. Each was designated only after extensive study by city staff and ministry of the environment officials. Their goal was to select locations that best provided safety and convenience for the public. It is a difficult balancing act that is best shielded from political interference: if one councillor succeeds in stopping a dumpsite, others will surely feel pressured to follow suit.
Yes, people living near these sites endured bad smells, unsightly conditions and, in some places, picket line noise and traffic congestion. But the disruptions were temporary. Former dumpsites are now being cleaned and restored to their original condition.
Allowing a neighbourhood's special interests to trump the broader needs of the city during the special conditions of a strike would create an even bigger mess.
No comments:
Post a Comment