June 29, 2009, 10 e-mails

M. M. wrote:

MSDS sheets for all 3 products.

R. A. wrote:

Further to our discussion yesterday, I am forwarding to you the MSDS information for all three products being used at the temporary garbage storage sites.

With regards to the deodorizing agent, I was incorrect in saying that it did not require an MSDS and it is included in the attachments. This product apparently has anti-bacterial and anti- fungal properties.

I will be following up with Toronto Solid Waste regarding the timing of treatments at the temporary garbage collection sites.

Dragnet, OCS, Generation, Site

B. S. wrote:

FYI, here the City has kindly forwarded me the MSDS sheets, some of you had asked about them. I haven't had time yet to look at this, will get back to you later today. Warm regards,

Dragnet, OCS, Generation, Site

C. L. wrote:

Hey neighbours,

Even though I would have preferred to be at the park for pretty much any other reason yesterday morning, I have to say that I was glad to participate in trying to change people's decision to dump their garbage in parks and informing them of other options. I believe that many "customers" were feeling badly (still dumping,of course, but sorry!) and perhaps will consider another way to deal with their waste in the future. I believe that the "customers", upon arrival, were very surprised and a little scared to see us there picketing. Too many times, when I asked them to call Joe Pantalone's office or their own councillor's office to oppose using our beautiful parks as dumps, the response was "Bah! No one listens", "Are you nuts? They don't care" or " I've tried and never get anywhere". The cynicism and hopelessness was overwhelming.

So, Mr. Pantalone, now that you've joined our group here, I would invite you to take a couple of hours as we did on Sunday and greet the people coming to add their trash to the quickly growing heap. Perhaps you could even conduct a tour of the dump to show how well it's working.

Let's not give up fighting and think up more creative ways to shine a light on this despicable mess.

S. S. wrote:

Hello all, Thank you for your collective efforts to stop the dumping at Christie Pits. We are all impacted by the strike in different ways... it is shocking how selfish some members of our communities are being. Many of us have experienced their rudeness first hand by now. Shame on them.

Some of you already know me from various protests, our home backs onto the rink directly, our back bedroom windows catch the breeze directly off the rink, our front bedroom windows are exposed to the cacophony of dumpers, media, picketer's and striker's discourse, our driveway is blocked by dumpers from 7am -7 pm daily. Many of you Crawforders share our experience.

Yesterday I watched as a uniformed police officer stood by, hands in pockets, while some rude, selfish, yahoo in a pickup truck loaded with garbage (how do you accumulate so much garbage in one week?) drove the wrong way down Crawford (a one-way street), in order to jump the line of cars waiting to dump their garbage in our park. He parked on our driveway and then began shouting for the green clad garbage collectors to help him unload his truck (and to our amazement they actually began to unload his truck!) I engaged the officer directly, who tried to placate me but was still unwilling to take action. At my urging, he eventually sauntered over to the pick-up truck and suggested he go around the right way on the street. (the yahoo actually cursed at me as he left)

Some of us watched another fella trying to dump his propane gas tank yesterday... because clearly that's too perishable to keep on his property for another week or two until the strike resolves itself... much better to dump it in our city parks. I'm certain people are just clearing out their homes of junk, taking advantage of the free dump. Sigh.

My latest concerns are around what's been happening from 7 pm-7 am. The illegal dumping is pretty much constant. People drive up, drop their bags on or near the city trucks in the parking lot and drive away. Yesterday evening, I engaged the security guard who didn't seem to be doing anything about this... I was surprised when he said he has no authority to actually do anything and unless they are frightened off by his uniformed presence, he really can't take any action. I wondered aloud at the fines for illegal dumping that our mayor was blustering about... how do they get applied if not activated by the security guard on point duty? There doesn't seem to be a sign posting the hours for legal dumping.

My understanding is that the garbage heap is treated at the end of the dumping day... but garbage left lying at the side of the road will obviously not be dealt with. I can only imagine what kind of vermin that will bring to our front yard and the stench when the bags get ripped open by the racoons, the flies that will be let loose...

Mr Pantalone, if you have any jurisdiction here, we sure could use some help monitoring the dump sites.

Thank you all for your concerns and efforts.

J. M. wrote:

Hi Everyone

Please carefully examine the list attached. It has a list of all the parks that the City of Toronto plans to dump in once Christie Pits is filled up in about two days. You can see from the list that Dufferin Grove and (the amazing) Campbell Playground are next. Please send this list to your friends and neighbours who live in by the parks on the list.

A resident near Christie Pits wanted to mention that you can expect constant traffic that mounts the sidewalk, and health and stench concerns from the garbage itself.

I guess with drop-in centres and pools closed, it just makes sense to take parks and playgrounds away from children as well.

Thank you City of Toronto, Local 416 and Local 79. Great job in ruining summer for everyone.

Well, friends - what else can we do? Organize a road block? I've emailed both the mayor and Joe Pantalone, attended the protest on Friday evening, and did a little guerilla gardening at the corner of Barton and Christie, where I "planted" a sign that says "This is a park, not a dump". I am disgusted at the state of this city. Our parks and schools are filthy. What a mess! Any ideas about what we can do next?

T. F. wrote:

Time to close the street.

I agree. I'm a resident at Crawford. Me and my kitty sit in disdain and disgust as cars lines up before us. I hold my tongue sometimes. But I would be happy to help close the street down. Organize a roadblock. Whatever it takes. Keep the dialogue coming.

C. S. wrote:

The behaviour of these people makes me sick. They have the means to take their garbage to the transfer stations - but dump in a park instead!?! You have a car, drive to Bermundsey. Classic Not-In-My-Back-Yard mentality.

Anyway, roadblock sounds good to me.

M. N. wrote:

Protests are in Process!Come down this supper time and show your support. For several hours we've been blocking off the street, and long lines of cars are leaving with their garbage. The news has been out, cops are down here, residents are on their porches, and people with a false sense of entitlement are screaming about being locked up in a traffic jam on a one way street with a trunk full of garbage.

A. K. wrote:

Indeed our patience and ability to stand by and watch everyone (including Atom Egoyan) dump their garbage in our park has reached a boiling point. Waiting until tomorrow to meet and talk about a sit-in may be too late. All he media are at the Christie Pits dump site now taking pictures of the cesspool of garbage floating in today's rains.

Let's all meet at the Christie Pits dump site on Crawford Street today between 5 and 7pm. News goes on at 6pm so as close to 5pm as you can is best.

Remember, your parks are next!

See you there.