November 12th, 2006
Chasing Case
Posted by Tammy Thorne
“Please be advised that Councillor Ootes does not participate in election surveys.”
For someone who doesn’t do surveys, Case Ootes (Ward 29, Toronto-Danforth) sure doesn’t mind asking his constituents to participate in them.
At the last City Council meeting before the election, Ootes filed yet another motion — seconded by Deputy Mayor Michael Feldman (Ward 10, York Centre) — asking that area residents be polled as to whether they were in favour of, or opposed to, the bike lanes on Cosburn Avenue. Fortunately, Ootes did not get his way. (See page 187, item I(5).)
Oote’s previous attempts to get rid of the lanes on Cosburn created such uproar in the ward that he needed to send this letter to residents.
I tried to reach Ootes to talk about his passion for bikes surveys and to see if he would answer a few questions.
CASE LOG:
Sept. 28: emailed a two question “survey” on bike lanes to all candidates with wards along Bloor-Danforth. Many replied.
Oct. 10: emailed all Ward 29 candidates five questions — one was not bike-related. (Ootes could have answered that one.)
Oct. 14: emailed his assistant directly — got “out of office” autoreply telling me to call City Hall or email campaign office.
Oct. 14: emailed campaign office, with original five-question “survey,” but re-worked “What is your number one bike wish?” into: is Councillor Oote’s number one bike wish to remove the Cosburn lanes?
Curiously, there was still no reply.
Oct. 16: phoned City Hall and was given the campaign office number (which had not yet been posted on his website).
Oct. 16: called his assistant who told me that Mr. Ootes would respond to me soon.
Oct. 17: received email from assistant: “On behalf of Case Ootes, thank you for your email. Please be advised that Councillor Ootes does not participate in election surveys.”
THE RACE TO REPLACE CASE
So, now that the Mayor has publicly said Ootes’ blatant anti-bike behaviour is “appalling” and that Ootes has got to go — let’s take a look at the contenders. The main contender (well, the one running a “fully-financed” campaign) is 25-year area resident Diane Alexopoulos.
Alexopoulos entered her name in the race on May 7 and boasts a slew of progressive backers that includes neighbouring City Council incumbents Janet Davis (Ward 31 Beaches-East York), Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth) and Sandra Bussin (Ward 32 Beaches-East York.)
Her signage is blue and yellow, but she is not officially endorsed by the Mayor. However, she said that “many of the good things in his [Miller’s] vision were voted down by Ootes,” and that she looks forward to working with the existing progressive team in council.
Alexopoulos’ strategy is simple: to be accessible and responsive to her constituents. She said people are embracing her at the door because “they are so happy to have a progressive alternative, finally.”
Her signs were prominent in the southern part of the ward when I was there. Alexopoulos also champions environmental issues and paid some pretty savvy lipservice to cycling and pedestrian issues:
“Don’t get in the car. Let’s walk and see people on sidewalks. Buy locally and get to know your neighbours. When we talk about crime and safety issues…the best thing you can do is introduce yourself and your familly to neighbours. People on the street, strolling — that’s a safe neighbourhood.
“We can become a world class city for cycling…and removing a bike lane because it is holding up traffic and then saying it’s an environmental concern, because of the idling, well, that is not forward thinking.”
But, there is also a bonafide bike man running (spinning?) in the ward.
Hamish Wilson a long-time member of the Toronto Cycling Committee is one of the forces behind Take the Tooker, which recently won the title Best Activist Campaign in NOW magazine.
Wilson has SO many great bike ideas for this city, it is impossible for me to include them all here. This is just some of what he said:
The chief goal is to push ahead with the takethetooker idea of creating a bikeway beside the subway that goes right across the core of the old City… I would, at minimum, repaint the Danforth past Pape in the bike-friendlier pattern of the Danforth from Broadview to Pape, but also add bike sharrows onto the Danforth at the curb to highlight the presence of bikes…
There are many other things of course, but safer passage for commuters is a key to more bikes.
I’ve seen bikes as key to liveable and sustainable cities yet we’re falling behind, in part because of Mr. Ootes efforts to sabotage both the Dundas Street East bike lane and the Cosburn bike lane as staff time and energy have been spent trying to address his concerns. The climate carisis is most troubling, cars are leading our emissions growth, there are great benefits to local economies, public health,the environment and personal health and civic well-being from increased biking. We are very behind other parts of the world, when once we were almost leading North America.
…in more suburban areas, it gets relatively “necessary” to have car and use it, but in core areas, more bikes please.
Wilson is also a staunch opponent of the Front Street Extension and instead would like to see a major investment in transit along the waterfront. He was also a City Idol participant.
Despite having no signage and just getting his campaign literature printed Thursday, Wilson has still garnered some election-time press. An op-ed he wrote opposing the FSE was published in the Toronto Star on Oct. 6. He gets a mention in NOW’s voter’s guide and was featured on blogto, bikingtoronto.blogspot, the Beach-Riverdale Town Crier.
Darryl Smith told me he is an avid cyclist who wishes “for better understanding and enforcement of bike lanes.”
I was unable to contact Green-affiliated candidate Andrew James or self-proclaimed non-partisan candidate John Richardson.
Alexopoulos and Wilson have both completed a number of surveys, including the TCAT survey, without complaint.
“It just means that there are a whole lot of people concerned and motivated enough to spread the word, inform, and demand answers from candidates on what they will be doing if elected,” said Alexopoulos.
WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Right after election signs went up on Oct. 19, I asked people in the street (who never committed to serve the public and were busy shopping) questions about bikes and the election. Many were willing to answer.
Steve Koschuk, 30. Life-long Ward 29 dweller.
It is unlikely, but I’d like a dedicated lane on Danforth that connects to the viaduct. I was hit on my bike on Gerrard. We need more visual signage…and more driver education.
Ootes is an old hat with ties and sympathies with the Conservative party. My parents voted for Case last time. We had a huge falling out over it. They’re voting for Pitfield. This is kind of superficial but, Alexopoulos is squarely in the Miller camp right down to the colour of her signs, so maybe….
Jamie Osborne, 47. Eleven years in the ward. Former courier.
Across Bloor is a major route for cyclists. We need more bike lanes and more respect. The thing that bugs me the most is that the lanes that do exist are always compromised. Traffic is always blocking bike lanes. It is a parking lane, really.
I’m not a total fan of Ootes, he’s a bit too status quo.
I know what my number one wish is: Plow the Don Valley Trail! Also, there are also no garbage cans. No water fountains either. They DO have the access in the winter. I know it. I’ve seen it. So plow it.
Jeannette Dowson, 44. Three years in the ward. Wearing a bike helmet.
The cops don’t take cycling seriously, in general, and bike theft specifically… so, since having my bike stolen a number of times, my number one wish is for the police to take cyclists more seriously.
Riding on Bloor now, you are taking your life into your own hands.
I usually vote for the more progressive candidate.
Glennis Walsh, 35. Seven years in the ward.
More bike lanes, of course. Bloor is a major commute lane for bikes, but past Castle Frank you’re out of luck!
She also suggested we make it illegal to park in bike lanes. She looked genuinely surprised when I told her it already was, but quickly added, “then it should be enforced.”
John Wilson, 28. Nine years in the ward.
I wish they would follow through on their 10-year bike plan.
Karen Kates, 39. New to the ward, but lived in Riverdale for 15 years.
I stopped riding because it is too dangerous. So many drivers don’t respect cyclists and so many cyclists don’t respect drivers. Cyclists might be right, but they would be dead right. I don’t know if I would support more bike lanes without more education. My number one wish is for more education for cyclists and drivers.
Catherine Johnson, 39. Five years in ward.
I enjoy the convenience and economy of public transit and chose to purchase a house in a neighbourhood where pedestrians could serve their needs on foot…in fact, quite a few houses in my neighbourhood don’t even have driveways. However, I’m not as comfortable cycling around Pape and Danforth as I was in my previous location of Ossington at Bloor. My bike wish is a dedicated bike lane across the length of Bloor/Danforth.
Drivers here seem indifferent to the basic safety needs of cyclists…negotiating the sliver of space between traffic and the parked cars is not for the faint of heart. On the first — and last — occasion where I rode my bike along Danforth to my Bloor/Jarvis job, I felt overwhelmed and intimidated by the traffic; there are no bike lanes westbound from Pape until the bridge at Broadview and that trip is not fun. I tell myself I ride on side streets because they’re prettier but truth be told my reasons are a mixture of fear and paranoia.
Over the years, I’ve seen Case Ootes’ name on posters in the area, but didn’t even know how it was pronounced, let alone what his policies and beliefs are.
Gord Wahn, 53. Three years in ward. Has Alexopoulos sign on his lawn.
I don’t like Ootes. He says he has proven leadership. Well, what have you done? It is time for a change. I like what she [Alexopoulos] is saying.
Not everyone is anti-Ootes though. The Toronto Star just endorsed Ootes, twice. And, this is from Darren Stehr of Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists:
I love Ootes. As soon as he opens his mouth the cycling community unites against him. No other councillor can motivate cyclists like Ootes. I could only wish that my tongue was firmly planted in my cheek.
Point taken.
Check out Allderblob for a further look at Ward 29, and a tidbit on Miller’s lack of endorsement for Alexopoulos.
Permalink for Chasing Case
Posted by Tammy Thorne
Categories Toronto-2006, Traffic, Sustainable Development, Cycling
At a time when new condos and suburban subdivisions seem to be springing up in all parts of Toronto, Ward 44 candidate 
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