Scroll down to find out more about:

• Willowdale Skate Party Invitation

• Storm Watch

• Sidewalk Clearing

• 415 Food Hub 

• Mitchel Field Warming Centre with FAQ

• TTC Safety

• Vacant Home Tax

• Bill 23 & 39

• Round Table Sign Ups

• Connect With Me on Social

SIDEWALK CLEARING

As winter weather settles in, a reminder that property owners are responsible for clearing ice and snow from private property – including driveways, parking spaces, steps, ramps and landings – within 24 hours after snowfall ends to provide safe access for people and vehicles. If you spot only sidewalks that appear unsafe and should be cleared after 24 hours, you can contact 311 to report a property owner who did not clear their sidewalk or private property.

415 FOOD HUB

While the holidays can be a magical time for many, for others it can be a difficult time to put food on the table. Willowdale has its own food bank, the 415 Food Hub, operated by NeighbourLink North York. To donate to the food bank or volunteer please visit: https://www.neighbourlink.org/foodhub 

MITCHELL FIELD WARMING CENTRE

I am receiving a growing number of calls and emails from residents concerned about the warming centre currently situated at Mitchell Field.  Some are upset we have lost our community centre use for over two years which is an important gathering place for physical and mental health. Others are worried about the proximity to a primary school and placement within a family oriented community.
 

I’ve been having ongoing meetings with the Shelter Supportive Housing Authority (SSHA) in charge of all the shelters, the Real Estate Division, and Parks and Recreation to determine a best path forward to better support our homeless neighbours during the winter months.
 

I’ve been advocating that the people of Willowdale have been extremely gracious and patient while Mitchell Field has been used as a mass vaccination clinic for the past 2 years. We are the only community in Toronto that has made this sacrifice. However, we would very much like to have our community centre back, especially in consideration that we currently only have one fully operational community centre (Edithvale) because Goulding is currently undergoing renovations. This means 120,000 residents of Willowdale only have one community centre.  Seniors and families living in the area need community centre space for physical and mental health.
 

I am also strongly advocating that any future decisions be made with community involvement to ensure best outcomes. My team and I are looking for alternative sites to ensure that those experiencing homelessness have a safe and warm place during the winter months. 
 

If you have any ideas of spaces in Willowdale that are close to bus or subway lines, please let us know.
 

To learn more about the warming centre and get answers to your questions, please visit our Mitchell Field Warming Centre Q & A.

TTC SAFETY

There have been a number of violent incidents on the TTC recently and many residents have reached out concerned for their safety. As a regular TTC rider, I understand these concerns deeply. I am looking into how we can collectively best address these safety concerns and what solutions can be made to create a safer rider experience for all.

VACANT HOME TAX

All Toronto residential property owners must submit a declaration of their property’s 2022 occupancy status by February 2, 2023. The online declaration portal is now open here.
 

An annual tax will be levied on vacant Toronto residences, payable beginning in 2023. A property is considered vacant if it has been unoccupied for a total of six months during the previous calendar year or is otherwise deemed to be vacant under the bylaw. The goal of the City of Toronto’s Vacant Home Tax (VHT) is to increase the supply of housing by discouraging owners from leaving their residential properties unoccupied. Homeowners who choose to keep their properties vacant will be subject to this tax. Revenues collected from the Vacant Home Tax will be allocated towards affordable housing initiatives.
 

If required, homeowners can download and submit a paper declaration form. The paper form must be completed in full and received by the City of Toronto before the deadline. Please be aware of Canada Post delivery times.

Submit your completed and signed declaration along with the supporting documentation (if applicable) by:
 

Mail: City of Toronto, Revenue Services, Vacant Home Tax, 5100 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M2N 5V7
 

In person: At City Hall and Civic Centres Inquiry and Payment Counters, for location information visit: www.toronto.ca/inquirypaymentcounters 

Bill 39 & 23

Bill 39, the Better Municipal Governance Act, is a threat to our democracy and could potentially threaten the future of our great city. Majority decision making is a basic tenant of democracy which would be compromised by this bill.  While I do not foresee our current Mayor abusing this power, we do not know who could be elected in the future, and this bill creates unnecessary risk. 
 

I ran on a platform of engaging and empowering residents to participate in shaping our community. This act would diminish my ability to represent my constituents and will greatly multiply the cynicism and apathy I encountered at the door. For democracy to work, people need to know their voices matter. 
 

The diversity of city councillors in this term is unprecedented. I have invited Mayor Tory to give us a chance to work with him in good faith. The best leadership comes from a place of mutual trust and respect. I am excited for what can happen when we collaborate and learn from each other. 
 

Further, Bill 39 has been pitched as supporting "Provincial Priorities." If Bill 23 is a reflection of provincial priorities, I think we are in trouble. We must prioritize building a diversity of housing including affordable rentals, as well as growing infrastructure including adequate community centers, daycares and park space alongside housing growth for the City of Toronto to be the world class city we aspire to be.  Unfortunately, none of these are priorities of the province and Bill 23 works against these important goals.
 

We all have a shared vision of a better future for Toronto and certainly the addition of more housing is a priority. But we do not just want more physical structures, we also want complete communities to thrive. In order to do this, we need to work together. I will continue to advocate against Bill 39 and Bill 23.
 

If you share in my concern about these Bills, please write letters to:

Premier Doug Ford: Premier@ontario.ca 

MP Stan Cho: stan.cho@pc.ola.org  

COMMUNITY ROUND TABLE OPPORTUNITIES

I’m creating 3 Community Round Table working groups that cover Safety, Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change. If you would like to take part and share in the shaping of these initiatives in Willowdale, please sign up on my website www.lilycheng.ca. These will commence in the New Year and more details will be announced then.

If this email was forwarded to you and you’d like to sign up for future newsletters, you can do so at www.lilycheng.ca 

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Building a Connected Community in Willowdale.