July 22, 2009, 4 e-mails

D. M. wrote:

Hello everyone,

The dump has not been expanded yet…but as yesterday’s Toronto Star reported, Moss Park has the largest capacity for garbage in the entire city.

So, the plan remains to use the whole soccer field, we just don’t know when….

That is why we need to keep a presence at the site, to encourage and educate people, and offer them a viable option for their garbage.

Here is the Tuesday update:

Thanks to H., P., H., for joining me at Moss Park.

Thanks to M. C., for pursuing the Salvation Army hostel (they are dropping off large loads of garbage each day)

And, thanks to everyone who responded and offered to help when they could, and to those who continue to email Mayor Miller, and Kyle Rae….

We were on site from 4:30 to 7:00 yesterday.

City TV was there, and although I did speak with Francis de Souza, he did not interview us.

It was fairly quiet, probably because it was raining.

Any ideas as to better identify our group as local residents, rather than part of the CUPE picketers?

My feeling is, if we don’t have a sign identifying us, it will be assumed we are part of CUPE

I will have a large sign done today, which will show the map to Villiers Street and it will say “Friends of Moss Park”.

P. has offered to work on the information sheet, which we will then send out to all of you, should you wish to use it or edit it.

I will be at the parking lot, at the south east corner of Sherbourne and Queen, at 5:00 today.

I did speak with staff at Villiers Street yesterday at 4pm. They are aware of our action at Moss Park. There is no bag limit, and they will not stop cars from dropping off garbage.

The paved roadway is not at all full, which is great news for us! They were very supportive at both sites, and I have found most people to be supportive once they have the information.

ANY ideas, suggestions, comments and of course help are welcomed…..

Hoping to see you today at 5, take good care,

H. S. wrote:

Good Morning Friends of All Toronto Parks,

If the Exhibition Grounds remain dump free, and Moss Park has the largest capacity, it is most likely only a matter of "when" the dump there will be expanded, accordian style, over the entire grass lands.

Examples like the Villiers Street dump location confirm that parks need not be the first choice for any future temporary dump sites.

There is a weariness, dump/protest fatigue in many of us. It is understandable. I feel that way too.

This TOStrike many of us thought of as a sprint, has become a marathon.

We, the regular residents of the city, have become the baton being passed back and forth between other decision makers and in a word:

It Sucks.

S. wrote:

Private garbage pickup. There's a lot of that going on right now. And, the temporary dump at Bayview and Yorkmills in the parking lot of the arena is smack dab in the heart of Bridle Path country.

B. S. wrote:

To: Rod Adams
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
CC: "Access Toronto" | City of Toronto | Spills Action Centre| Strike Command Centre

Wednesday, July 22. 2009

Dear Rod Adams,

This is an update on last week's correspondence regarding apparent leachate run-off from several temporary dump sites of the City of Toronto. (Images attached).

The Strike Command Centre has informed me this morning by e-mail that the City is monitoring the situation at all sites and taking whatever action is deemed appropriate. No further details were given.

As you are aware, we had a little over 4mm of rainfall yesterday and more showers are anticipated over the next days.

Sunnyside

Please find attached images of the dump site taken yesterday afternoon at approximately 8:30 p.m., regarding the storm grille I had pointed out to you on several occasions. A conservative estimate can be made that this grille drains rainwater from two swaths of piled garbage that are each about 6m wide and - depending on the distance to the next grille beneath the garbage bags, at least 20m long. On this area of 240sqm, yesterdays rainfall would have deposited a total of 960L of precipitation, or about three bathtubs. As can be seen from my first image, virtually none of yesterday's precipitation has been held back. My second image shows that there is no appreciable pooling on the surface of the hard-top, i.e. the precipitation has drained somewhere. An inquiry at the site confirmed that no liquids were removed by a suck truck. My third image shows some pooling of leachate in an exposed gap between the garbage bags.

Christie Pits

I have attached a number of images taken this morning at approximately 10:00 am of effluents escaping from the ice-rink into the ground. The booms that have been placed around the rink were as I have found and documented them previously. I have collected a pooled sample of the effluents from several locations around the rink.

Once again, if you need high-resolution images or any other information, just let me know.

As previously, I would be interested in your assessment regarding the suitability of the sites and the adequacy of the measures that are being taken, both in response to my alerts, and in response to your own monitoring.

Kind regards,

Images:

Sunnyside, Tuesday July 22 2009 around 8:30 p.m.
Hardtop shows no appreciable pooling,
precipitation has run off

Sunnyside, Tuesday July 22 2009 around 8:30 p.m. Some
pooling visible between garbage bags.

Christie Pits, Wednesday, July 22. 2009, morning,
west side of rink - the situation of the booms is exactly
as I have documented it in my previous mails.

Christie Pits, Wednesday, July 22. 2009, morning,
northwest corner of ice rink. Run-off and residual pooling on
concrete skirt.

Christie Pits, Wednesday, July 22. 2009, morning,
pooled sample of effluents

Christie Pits, Wednesday, July 22. 2009, morning,
north side of ice rink. Compare with images in my previous
mail: this is a spot where effluents appeared throughout the
dry period, the liquids are now seeping beneath the booms
into the ground. The storm sewer there is covered with a
rubber mat but there was no retention of precipitation
or effluents whatsoever.

Christie Pits, Wednesday, July 22. 2009, morning,
detail of above.

C. L. wrote:

we did our pop art installation and thank you to monica there was CTV television waiting for us at the park. they shot the art work interviewed a few kids and i think it was very positive. As much as the kids have been ignored through all this cnflict, they had a voice today. it will air on the news at 6:00. CBC also was there and will do a story at 6:00.

thank you also to one of the friend of christie pits that came and took some pictures to eventually put the story on the blog.