Our count of letters from concerned citizens registered on the City Council website is growing. You too can write today and make the difference to save the Dwight Avenue trees. Every letter counts because it shows that there are local people who care enough to write. All you have to do is send the below email (or your own words) before tomorrow, 15 December. Make sure to include your name and address! Note: if you already wrote to the IEC before 2 December, please write again! Your letter will be distributed to the entire council this time.
To: councilmeeting@toronto.ca, councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, mayor_tory@toronto.ca
Cc: councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca, councillor_pasternak@toronto.ca, councillor_layton@toronto.ca, councillor_colle8@toronto.ca, councillor_perruzza@toronto.ca, councillor_perks@toronto.ca, councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca, councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
Subject: Missing Link Sidewalk Program - Dwight Avenue Sidewalk Installation
I am submitting these comments for distribution to City Council regarding the agenda item IE26.14, Missing Link Sidewalk Program - Dwight Avenue Sidewalk Installation, to be considered on 15 Dec 2021, and also available here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.IE26.14
Dear Mayor Tory and Councillors,
I am a resident of Toronto and a signatory on the online petition https://www.change.org/dwighttrees
Today, you will reaffirm a longstanding target of 40% tree canopy cover by 2050 to align with the TransformTO NetZero Strategy. Yet, recommendation IE26.14 proposes to remove an entire block of mature trees beside a schoolyard to install a sidewalk, even though it could be installed alongside the trees, in a neighbourhood with only 15% tree canopy cover.
The city staff report attached does not adequately justify the recommendation. It represents an unacceptable level of diligence in exploring tree-preserving solutions. The petition clearly outlines five different alternatives, supported by an arborist and other experts, for installing a sidewalk along Dwight Avenue while preserving its mature trees.
If the City of Toronto is serious about its tree canopy target, please, in this meeting, vote against this recommendation, and direct city staff to return with a plan that includes both sidewalk and the existing trees.
Thank you for considering this matter.
Sincerely,
<Your Name>
<Your Address>