June 24, 2009, 8 e-mails

N. W. wrote:

Who is the good Samaritan who last night removed all the garbage from the park and replaced the bags in all the bins??? The early morning dog walkers (and I'm sure everyone else) thank you. : )

Jutta Mason wrote:

Response to N. W.'s question: The people removing trash bags from the parks are not precisely good Samaritans, they are city managers with city trucks, picking up trash. They are doing that all over the city. They may as well stay busy!

And at Dufferin Grove there seems to be just normal amount of park trash so far, since all events are cancelled. The only exception I know of is a bin across from St.Mary's School, mounded up with paper plates and food scraps, and left behind after they had their school picnic in the park on Monday. I asked at the St.Mary's office if they could remove that one overflowing trash bag, so as not to attract more garbage, and they said maybe.

But they didn't.

So I squashed the stuff down and tied up the bag last night -- it was too full for me to lift out of the wire trash basket. Trying to lift those big bags and getting smelly garbage juice all over your hands is a good way to gain a fuller experience of park infrastructure.

V. S. wrote:

Just an aside about St. Mary's school. For many years the trash outside the school and in the park was pretty bad and very unsightly as well as always blowing into the front gardens next to the school. I went to see the Principle a few times and suggested that they have student monitors at lunch-time (old school I guess!) and I was told the parents wouldn't approve. So nothing happened. Then a couple of years ago I noticed very little garbage around. I like to compliment as well as complain so went into the school. I was told by the staff that there was a new Principle and he had informed the students that it was a privilege for them to use the park and it could easily be revoked, so it was to their advantage to keep it clean. Since then the caretaker is out almost every morning collecting garbage from around the school and the corner of the park where the students sit is far cleaner. So an individual Principle with a different approach can indeed make a difference. Hopefully Jutta's experience is a one-off!

M. G. wrote:

Hi all,

If anyone is interested in making "keep our park clean, take your garbage home" signs and place them around the park I think this would give people a message not to leave a footprint in the park.

Please put these signs around bins and tables!

We can see the difference a little community effort can make!

See you in the park,

M. A. wrote:

Hello all - If dumping is illegal, have we requested/is there some police presence there to fine people who are dumping? I heard reports that police were fining people who drove all the way out to transfer stations, but couldn't get in (blocked by pickters) left their garbage just outside the gate and were handed a $380 ticket! Seems like police presence may be warranted around Christie Pits to deter people from dumping in our park.

A. wrote:

Trapped here in my office - I am wondering what is and isn't happening at the park during the strike. I expected a meeting with a representative from Scadding Court to be postponed due to it, but to my surprise and pleasure they are from a different Local and it was business as usual!

Hence my curiosity.

Jutta Mason wrote:

The rec workers at Dufferin Grove and all other city parks and community centres are CUPE Local 79, so they're on strike.

Every rec worker you see at the wading pool, rink, Friday Night Supper, pizza days etc, is classified as a part-time worker, making from $9.75 (students) up to $16 (the coordinators) an hour. Their hours are currently capped at 30, to make sure that the city never has to pay them any benefits (e.g. they get zero sick days). Parks, Forestry and Recreation runs most of the actual programs, city-wide, using the approximately 10,000 part-time workers -- what a bargain! But not a bargain for these workers -- they live so close to the line that many will have big trouble paying their July rent. The wage differential within the city is huge, when you figure that the parks managers make more than city councillors (and the managers are paid six times what the long-time Dufferin Grove coordinators make).

I've heard that the City is proposing to cap all the part-time workers at 20 hours a week to make sure there is no talk, ever, about giving them benefits.

So the story is a lot more complicated than what you hear on the news. Some of the Dufferin Grove rec staff will be at the market this Thursday, willing to talk to anyone interested in the issues. If you like the wading pool, the park benches, the gardens, the ovens, the rink, etc., have a chat with those rec staff. Might as well get to know a bit more about the infrastructure, since the strike could go on for many weeks.

There will be a new newsletter on Thursday, with more information.

P. G. wrote:

Thanks for this Jutta.. Is the market still operating this Thursday(tomorrow)-vendors, rink house access etc..?