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TPA Can't Clear Their Sidewalks but have $12,000 to spend on their Christmas Party!
Last year The Toronto Tribune visited and photographed several Toronto Parking Authority sidewalks because the TPA does not clear the snow and ice from their sidewalks within 12 hours of snowfall as required under a Toronto city by-law. This year isn't any different. The photograph pictured about was taken on Tuesday December 23, 2008. The sidewalk had not been cleared since the snow began falling one week earlier on Tuesday December 16, 2008. Note that there is a large pile of snow dumped on the sidewalk who dumped that snow on the sidewalk? According to a resident who spoke with The Toronto Tribune, the Toronto Parking Authority moved the snow from their parking lot and dumped it on the sidewalk. Like last year, every TPA parking lot The Toronto Tribune checked, had not bothered to clear their snow and ice from their sidewalks.
The Toronto Tribune spoke with Gwyn Thomas, President of the Toronto Parking Authority. Thomas said, "We are cleaning them as effectively as we can, the same as we did last year." They didn't do an effective job at all last year as we pointed out. We asked has there been an improvement over last year, Thomas responded, "yes I think there has." The Toronto Tribune's images taken one week after the snow began to fall proves otherwise. No effort was made at the one parking lot we pictured. We realized very quickly last year that when we mentioned parking lots by name those were the ones that were cleared. We have other photographs but elected to run images of only one parking lot this year. Thomas was then informed of our findings and, "I don't know where you are talking about I've been out of the office for a few days so I'm not sure what lot you're at." Asked when will all of the lots be cleared Thomas replied, "Well to my knowledge there are a few lots that we've had some problems with where snow has been piled up on the sidewalks and we're getting a bobcat around to it. Three that I know of." Three? There should be zero! Let's take another look at that by-law: "Moving Snow onto Streets (1)No property owner, occupant, or other person shall move or permit to be moved snow or ice from private property onto a highway, sidewalk or laneway." Ultimately it doesn't really matter who dumped that snow on the sidewalk next to a TPA parking lot. It was the TPA's responsibility to clear it and it should have been done within 12 hours of snowfall. Prior to our call with Thomas, thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures nature had reduced the pile by half - the TPA doesn't get credited for work it legally should do but couldn't be bothered to do. Of interest, after our conversation with Thomas, the TPA finally got around to clearing that pile of snow in the pictured sidewalk next to a TPA parking lot. After The Toronto Tribune had our photographs we began to call the TPA to get in touch with someone to explain our findings. The TPA's phone number wasn't much use at all. Each time we called we received a message we were being sent to a receptionist, no matter which menu option we selected. Every single time instead of a receptionist all we heard was a busy signal.. We contacted Michael Feldman's office, he was on vacation, but they promised us a call back by Friday, which happened to be Boxing Day December 26th. Lorne Persiko of the TPA left a message on Boxing Day. We also contacted the TPA Board Secretary Teresa Toigo. Everyone we spoke with Feldman's office, Toigo and Persiko told us the person responsible was Gwyn Thomas. He was on vacation during this time as he told us during our conversation. So who else is responsible Toigo and Persiko were asked and they said Thomas. Wait a minute Thomas goes on vacation and can't be bothered to ensure that someone is responsible to make certain that the TPA conforms with city of Toronto by-laws? Those sidewalks need to be cleared to enable people to walk on them without fear of slipping and falling. Perhaps Thomas and the TPA aren't aware or don't care that not every single person who uses a sidewalk is able bodied. Snow and ice-covered sidewalks are a huge problem for the disabled, for the elderly, for those pushing children in strollers. What occupied the TPA's board meeting when the thought of December arose? Snow? Ice? Not being embarrassed again like last year when The Toronto Tribune held them accountable for failing to clear their snow and ice in our article: Kyle Rae and Michael Feldman: Above the Law? No. The TPA in October 2008 approved $12,000.00 to be spent on the Staff Christmas Party and other non-snow removal activities such as flowers and fruit baskets for notable events in employees lives. Perhaps before they splurge on flowers they could clear their sidewalks! |
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