{"id":21563,"date":"2011-07-25T15:32:39","date_gmt":"2011-07-25T19:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingtoronto.ca\/?p=21563"},"modified":"2011-07-25T15:32:39","modified_gmt":"2011-07-25T19:32:39","slug":"lorinc-feedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2011\/07\/25\/lorinc-feedback\/","title":{"rendered":"LORINC: Feedback"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dear Mayor Ford,<\/p>\n

You invited Torontonians on Friday to let you know how they feel about the proposals arising from the Core Service Review. Here are some thoughts, for your consideration.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with some principles upon which to base the discussion.<\/p>\n

1. <\/strong>I am more than happy to acknowledge that some of the residents of this city value services that I personally use less frequently \u2014 for example, the care and maintenance of large arterials and the city\u2019s two highways. I would ask you, in turn, to resist the temptation to dismiss your critics as members of special interest groups. Let\u2019s agree that the city consists of many different perspectives.
\n2. <\/strong>I expect council to manage its infrastructure as would the CFO of a private corporation, i.e., maintaining hard assets rather than deferring repairs; and recognizing that borrowing as a means of amortizing the cost of the upkeep of physical assets (e.g., rolling stock) is an investment, not a cost.
\n3. <\/strong>I am happy to engage in a debate about outsourcing, but as a taxpayer, I want to be assured of a key detail: with every outsourcing proposal, the private proponents must<\/em> demonstrate that any administrative or process savings (i) exceed the premium they will charge in order to meet their profit margins; and (ii) don\u2019t result in poorer service or unsafe working conditions.
\n4.<\/strong> I would like us to differentiate between waste (\u201cgravy\u201d) and services that you consider to be extraneous. Again, I invite you to consider (1) above.
\n5.<\/strong> I ask that all decisions be based on facts rather than impressions.
\n6.<\/strong> I expect you to implement budget cuts that are commensurate with this year\u2019s financial pressures instead of deliberately over-shooting the target. I am well aware that you promised to eliminate the land transfer tax during the election, but this, as far as I know, is not yet a position adopted by council. If council votes to eliminate $250 million in annual revenues, then we can have a subsequent discussion about further savings. But let\u2019s not confuse one with the other in the context of the core service review.
\n7. <\/strong>As a homeowner and a professional who earns a comfortable living, I do not want to benefit from budget cuts that will negatively affect the 50% of the city\u2019s residents who are tenants, as well as low-income families and individuals.
\n8. <\/strong>If we intend to expand user fees on the principle of cost recovery, then let\u2019s not forget that the City\u2019s road network represents a costly service to drivers, and should be priced accordingly.<\/p>\n

As I reviewed the KPMG core service review proposals, I can certainly say, in the spirit of compromise, that some of the ideas struck me as valid. Yes, let\u2019s sell the Toronto Zoo. The city doesn\u2019t need to own the CNE, and should ask an agency like Waterfront Toronto to come up with a self-financing redevelopment plan.<\/p>\n

Subject to (3) above, I am prepared to consider outsourcing back-office administrative functions (bill processing, etc.), custodial services and the 311 call centre. And I would be interested to see what kind of savings could be had from combining fire and EMS, on the proviso that safety isn\u2019t compromised.<\/p>\n

Lastly, there are many not-for-profit nursing home operators associated with ethno-cultural organizations or other charities, and I would be interested in the City investigating the transfer the long-term care homes to these entities. I draw the line at private retirement home\/LTC chains.<\/p>\n

On the subject of City-subsidized daycare services, my philosophy of government is that social services be funded through a progressive tax base. If you embark on a serious effort to obtain an agreement with Queen\u2019s Park and Ottawa to upload daycare costs, and can deliver such a result, I would support that shift in responsibilities, but with the proviso that the City freeze its service levels until such time as an agreement is in place. Let\u2019s not play chicken with tens of thousands of low-income families and their children.<\/p>\n

In terms of no-go zones, I would not endorse the sale of operations that generate net revenues for the city, even if they are relatively small. Such a move seems like cutting off our noses to spite our faces. Also, I do not want council, in my name, to turn its back on the priority neighbourhoods. Investment in those communities, especially through services for young people, is incredibly important for the future health of the city as a whole.<\/p>\n

I do not support closing reducing Toronto\u2019s public health services or closing library branches. The city\u2019s library network is recognized internationally and patronized locally. I don\u2019t see any sense in crippling it. Finally, I can not support reducing transit service. The city\u2019s congestion is, as you\u2019ve said on many occasions, a big problem. But reducing transit, or allowing the service to deteriorate, makes congestion an even bigger problem. Let\u2019s say it plainly: if you cut back on transit funding, you will be exacerbating the war on the car.<\/p>\n

These are some of my suggestions, and I hope you see in them an attempt at finding some middle ground. I encourage you to adopt the same approach, and wish you well in your deliberations.<\/p>\n

Photo by Benson Kua<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Mayor Ford, You invited Torontonians on Friday to let you know how they feel about the proposals arising from the Core Service Review. Here are some thoughts, for your consideration. Let\u2019s start with some principles upon which to base the discussion. 1. 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