Some Politicians Have Their Priorities Right

They know they have a duty to go to the people not the other way around. The local councilor should have attended the meeting organized by the taxpayers not the other way around. The real tragedy is that voters have such short memories when it comes to election time.

'All of you people should feel ashamed'

by JENNY YUEN, SUN MEDIA

Downsview residents put the city in the hot seat last night.

The torrid temperatures in the basement of St. Norbert Catholic Church nearly matched the rage of over 350 residents crammed in there to get answers about the Downsview blast. Organized by the Ancaster Ratepayers Association, this meeting was to voice safety concerns from the blast to city officials.

"All of you people should feel ashamed," said resident Edgardo Prieto to cheers from the crowd. "You're running companies with 1952 bylaws and charging us 2008 taxes!"

"Why are you misleading people?" resident Frank DeFazio shouted after Toronto public health downplayed asbestos dangers. "It only takes one single fibre and it can kill you."

Dr. Howard Shapiro of public health told residents they should not worry about asbestos in the neighbourhood.

"It's a relatively small amount," Shapiro said. "Usually it takes a high amount over a longer period of time."

Although this was not the official city meeting, Councillors Rob Ford and Mike Del Grande, York Centre MPP Monte Kwinter as well as members of Toronto's police and fire departments and the Ontario Safety League were there.

The local councillor, Maria Augimeri, was at a meeting she described as the official city meeting at the Montecassino Hotel on Sheppard Ave.

"She's not listening to us, she's not even here," one man shouted.

Ford said he will put forward a motion at the next council meeting to set up a disaster relief fund and look at rezoning the area.