wonderful idea eh!
It would be great to have Toronto neighbourhood councils made up of elected city council members as well as representatives from the police , fire authority, local city staff of the various services and members of local community groups, plus ordinary members of the public. Joint meetings on a regular base could very effectively inform and assist more people to become involved with little or a lot of effort as chosen by the individual.
This would effectively end self serving projects started by a a few people and pushed though simply of their stamina of effort. For example changes to a local roadway such as speed bumps or removal or placement of play equipment in parks would have to pass though the neighbourhood councils for input and in some cases approval. Of course professional city stuff in such areas are not to be ignored yet no longer would the community have so little say in their decisions.
If created as a resident-led approach they could be used to solve, at the local level, disparities attributable to differences in access to the social, economic and environmental resources necessary for individual and community happiness and growth with our local streets and in turn throughout the wards of the city. Major needs and directional directions could be given to such areas as health care, employment (a much forgotten about area the the current election in the Junction), education, affordable housing options and safe neighborhoods.
One person if elected, George Smitherman says he would create neighbourhood councils.
George Smitherman says he would create neighbourhood councils that could help make decisions on local issues. “I want to build a model of governance in Toronto that actually pushes power back to down to more of a neighbourhood level,”
Working with Regent Park residents as an MPP during the redevelopment process showed him the kind of input that community should have over local issues.
Wikipedia article on neighbourhood councils, Neighbourhood Councils are governmental or non-governmental bodies composed of local people who handle neighborhood problems
