Public Commons

Part of Municipal Strike 2009

June 28, 2009

B. S. wrote:

I just got off the phone with Reg Ayre who is on call today for the City's Public Health Officer, regarding spraying of Christie Pits. Those of you who were there this morning know that concerned citizens prevented a Rentokil truck from entering the site. It seems that Rentokil was instructed to apply pesticides ONLY in the morning and/ or at night, when the site was closed to public traffic. However Reg Ayre was not sure whether the intent was to apply a deodorizer and that might be possible at all times. The driver of the truck had refused to inform us what he was going to spray, telling me that this information was available - in his words - only to the City, not to "common citizens".

According to the Health Office, the pesticide that is being used is Permethrin, a contact insecticide with a short half-life (7 days) that rapidly degrades in sunlight and has no documented embryotoxic (poisonous to the developing embryo) or teratogenic (leading to birth defects) potential for humans. Its cancer inducing potential is low in most application scenarios. Permethrin is generally safe for most mammals, not however for cats. In cats it can lead to seizures.

Permethrin is registered for many uses in the agricultural or food processing industry and Public Health. In case you are interested, here is a factsheet from the US EPA (2006). http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm

Regarding the "deodorant", I am waiting to hear back what precisely is being used here, but according to Reg Ayre this substance is so non-toxic that "it does not even have an MSDS". I'll keep you posted when I hear more.

--- In my opinion, even though the final balance indicates the risk from the insecticide may be lower than the risk from flies if no insecticide would be used, this does not justify the choice of a park as a garbage dump. Not using the City's parks as dumps would not have created risk in the first place.</opinion>

S. wrote:

We showed up late this morning after you'd left. I gotta tell you, I was shocked and saddened by what I saw. Recently a couple of us pondered whether surrounding affluent areas would dump in CP Park. I'm here to tell you that I saw it. BMW SUV's, Escalades, people obviously not from around here (do you have those cars parked on your street?) who made the drive to dump in our neighborhood. They weren't all, but there were many. One guy even had on a Forest Hill golf shirt. Our park is being used as a dump by people who wouldn't ever tolerate such a thing in their neighborhood. And the way in which they were so able to ignore community members just *talking* to them was an eye-opener. It was as if they had a lot of practice. Okay, enough cynicism...

I was so proud of people standing up for parks there. The volunteers made flyers, and handed out alternative non-park garbage station lists, and also a really well done flyer on how to manage your home waste so you can keep it longer. A particularly proud moment (for me) came when the picketers actually blocked an Orkin truck until they could get word on what they would be spraying there (already!). It's so tragic what could trickle down to the community garden when it rains, and the playground.

While I was there, a volunteer told me that 19 dump sites are in only 10 (or was it 11?) wards. That's of 44 wards. So some have two and some have none. He said if you do a search for "target areas" of key social improvement programs by the city (read: struggling neighborhoods) you find the dump sites. It's pretty well known that struggling communities are less politically organized and savvy, so they get taken advantage of. How are we doing on that front?

Oh, and it stinks. From three blocks away.

G. R. wrote:

Hi all, We received this message from Chris at Sunnyside beach. Is there anyone who would be willing to contact and meet with him to see if our groups can coordinate? If so, please email him directly, and let Monica and me know.

K. H. wrote:

Hey Guys:

Today I chased a guy out of the park who was going to dump his garbage there. He told me that in China they just dump garbage in the river....so I told him this is Canada and in Canada we need our parks for children. He then told me he didn't care about the children.....that did it ....myself and some others using the park....were sucessful in forcing him to take his garbage and go!

A City Park is not a City Dump! Citizens get active!

---

June 29, 2009

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.

---

[+June 30, 2009+], 13 e-mails

M. E. wrote:

You can accuse me of being NIMBY if you want, but I am really scared by seeing the Dufferin Grove info on the list. If I understand it correctly, Christie Pits got garbage in the skating rink (495 tonnes). Dufferin Grove is scheduled to get 1,670 tonnes (4 times as much) in the baseball diamond & soccer field. This is an open soil area where children play, directly adjacent to the playground and immediately behind houses. I lived in Little Italy during the last garbage strike and people dumped garbage in the laneway behind my house. I ended up with rats tunnelling into my basement. It took me nearly a year to get rid of them.

While I don't support dumping in parks, I would be slightly less opposed to using the Dufferin Grove skating rink than the soccer field and baseball diamond. This should not be permitted.

Let me know if I misunderstood this document. It seems almost unbelievable that this could happen.

Please confirm the plan for Dufferin Grove park. My house backs onto the park. I have young children. Dumping in close proximity to houses is not acceptable from a health and safety point of view.

From: Councillor Giambrone

Thank you for your email.

As you know, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the City announced 19 drop-off sites for residents to dispose of their garbage. These sites are located at parking lots, arenas or parks throughout Toronto.

Drop-off sites have been chosen through careful consideration and by using specific criteria, such as being located on city-owned properties which are paved to control leeching issues, have easy access to residents and vehicles, offer reasonable buffer zones between the site and nearby residences, and are acceptable to both the Ministry of the Environment and the Medical Officer of Health. The City considered a list of 200 possible sites and, based on the criteria, chose an initial 19 to meet the needs of residents during the first weeks of the labour disruption.

Let me be clear that none of us want to see garbage drop-off locations in our city's parks. However, the current labour disruption has created extraordinary circumstances that requires measures to be taken to ensure the health and safety of Toronto residents. Centralized drop-off locations allow the City to take appropriate pest-control measures and to keep the garbage isolated from residences. They will also help ensure the garbage is removed rapidly once the strike has ended. The alternative is for more and more garbage to end up in our laneways, streets, sidewalks, yards and homes, without the means to take appropriate health precautions.

Current sites are continuing to adequately address this situation and no additional sites are being considered at this time. If and when additional sites are necessary, the City will provide public updates on alternative arrangements. Public information is also updated regularly on the City's website, through advertising and through the media. Residents can also call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338.

M. E. wrote:

Adam,

Thank you for your response. The attached document seems to indicate that the soccer field in Dufferin Grove park is designated as a secondary garbage drop off location once the primary locations have reached capacity. However, below you state that only paved areas of parks are being considered. Please confirm where in Dufferin Grove the dump is planned.

The friends if Dufferin Grove group (cc'd here) is understandably confused and concerned about the exact planned location. While many are opposed to using parks at all, I think there would be even more opposition to using the soccer field (vs. a paved area).

Thank you,

C. R. wrote:

Hear Hear! We are fortunate to have this listserve already in place. We should consider using it as a tool to organize opposition to garbage dumping in the park. I, too, would be slightly less opposed to dumping on the (paved) skating rink, but it is incomprehensible that dumping should be permitted on the greenspace, thereby poisoning it for the rest of the summer!

Indeed, as K. suggests below, now that school is out for the summer, why not use the school parking lots? There is a school directly across the street from the park, with a huge parking lot. That seems like a much more logical dump site, and much more easily cleaned up, once the strike is eventually over.

J. W. wrote:

Is it possible that the city is reluctant to use school parking lots for fear the strike won't be over before school starts?

From a negotiating position, this makes sense, as all the CUPE would have to do to gain significant advantage is point this out over and over again. In fact, doing so might prolong the strike (since CUPE would have a very strong position in early September).

I'm not a labor negotiator, so I could well be wrong about this. If I am not, it may mean it will be very, very difficult to get the city to use school parking lots rather than parks.

M. E. wrote:

The issue with school parking lots might be that the school boards own the land, not the city. Not using Green P parking lots is likely a simple economic decision – not wanting to lose the revenue.

M. C.

I wonder if somebody should contact the mall? Maybe they have a spare corner that they would be willing to allow the city to use. Imagine all the extra shoppers that would bring into the mall parking lot!

At the very least the ice rink is a better solution I agree. M

V. S. wrote:

I don't understand either why they would not use the skating rink area the way they have at Christie Pits or use the School parking lot. It makes no sense whatsoever to pile the garbage on the football field of such a well used park. It could ruin the field for play not only for the short term. I had a shed built in my back garden and had the building materials sitting on the grass for quite a few weeks while it was being built. The whole area subsided and the grass became mud. The next year I had to build up the area and re-turf as it was just a muddy patch and it has taken a couple of years to settle. That is aside from the toxicity of some of the garbage leaching into the ground which is a very scary thought indeed. If they are willing to put garbage onto grass, they would be better off putting it in the centre of High Park where at least the smell and the sight would not be immediately obvious. Or use the parking lots in High Park.

Another option could be to use part of the Dufferin Mall Parking lot like they do with the re-cycling weekend. I'm sure the stores wouldn't be too happy about that, but then again, no-one is.

M. S. wrote:

i believe there'll be another rally outside the christie dump entrance (crawford, north of bloor) today, between 5 and 7, if anyone wants to go strategize with the christie pits folks around this.

D. A.wrote:

Help, he said, hand in the air waving wildly! Clay and Paper Theatre rehearses right where the dumping in DGP is planned. Artists in DGP are, arguably at least, a hell of a lot poorer than the artists of the Dream in HP. And we employ 10 people to make our summer show happen. This plan could destroy Clay and Paper Theatre. Interesting result, eh?

We fell like crying. And fighting.

P. G. wrote:

Hello Councillor Giambrone,

It is my understanding that Dufferin Grove is one of the secondary dump locations once Christie Pits is full.

Talk has been circulating that the garbage will be dumped onto the soccer/baseball field.

Can you confirm this?

Also, can I offer up a suggestion that they use the rink pad instead- as they have at Christie Pits?

Garbage leaching into the grassy area possess a greater risk to humans and animals that use this area year round.

The concrete pad will contain the liquid far better and avoid resurfacing of the grassy area once the strike is resolved.

I would like you to forward my note to Joe Pennachetti City Manager, Geoff Rathbone, Solid Waste Management and Richard Butts, Deputy City Manager.

I do not have their email addresses.

Please cc me in the correspondence.

Also, is it possible to organize a "bin" on behalf of you constituents?

I would be willing to pay a fee to avoid the garbage in the park.

J. B. wrote:

I'd happily pay a fee for a bin to keep Dufferin Grove free of trash being transported from other neighbourhoods so our farmer's and children cannot use the facility. This unsanitary method of storing trash is beyond comprehension. Contaminate the soil and ignore any long term implications that has.....expropriate some parking lots for dump sites.

Toxic Waste and Frolicking Rats. Come visit our lovely city.

B. K. wrote:

I'd pay for a bin, too but I'm told it won't last more than 2 days as opposed to a couple of weeks for a tennis court. When asked if I would object to the park at the end of my street with a tennis court being used for garbage, I say no I would not object. I don't know what the alternatives are if picketers are keeping us from fully using the transfer stations. Also people without cars can access the emergency sites better. That is very important.

I also saw the news wherein a striking spokesperson comfirmed that the sick day issue is one of the biggest ones, even if it's not the only one.

I'm sorry to not sympathize when I have three unemployed people in my house with no options, sick days or extra money for a big bin.

Also I believe that when part time people take part time jobs one hopes they realize becoming full time is not necessarily in the cards.

It's the same viewpoint I take with those who buy a house by the airport and then are surprised there are airplanes disturbing them.

One of the reasons many people won't work in parks is because they know most jobs are not full time and have no benefits. (Like Wal- Mart, Sobeys, No Frills - no different)

However, as far as the harassment and abuse by the picketers goes, I think city councillors should not allow this to happen. Why are they?

---

July 2nd, 2009, 15 e-mails

J. M. wrote:

Just wanted to pass along a note that there are some great people out there... as I was passing by Susan Tibaldi Parkette yesterday, I saw a white pick-up truck pull up and a man and woman get out. I'm pretty sure the truck had a City of Toronto logo on the door covered up, and the man was wearing a construction/city-worker type of vest with a reflector, and white tshirt underneath (could've sworn I saw a logo there too?). The woman seemed to be his girlfriend from observing their interactions...

... anyways, these fine people went to the garbage bins in the park, pulled them up, tied them close, threw them into the pickup truck and put new bags in the bins. I didn't want to ask questions about who he was/if he was a strikebreaker... so I just said "thanks very much" and he replied "you're welcome."

So, I don't know if it was a strikebreaker, decent citizens, city management, or a combination of those, but they are awesome and it was really nice to see!

B. S. wrote:

I learned a new word on Monday and it is Leachate. I actually had to look it up on Wikipedia, one of their better articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leachate

This is what is currently collecting in the Christie Pits dump, you might have seen the picture of my bottled sample yesterday. It contains whatever is dripping out of the multiply perforated bags, whatever the rain water has leached from the piles and whatever has been directly added, as bags have broken open after being thrown over the fence, stepped on or driven over. Dissolved and suspended, we have: organic waste, human feces from diapers, and all the usual toxins, hormones and heavy metals - even estrogens[2] - that make solid waste management difficult even in normal times.

I've been trying to review the literature regarding health and environmental concerns - there is not very much available that is relevant for us: first of all, it is of course difficult to define what exactly is in the leachate, secondly, much of that has known toxic, teratogenic, carcinogenic etc. potential that is well known anyway, and thirdly, in the industrialized world, contact of humans with leachate is not that much of a problem since leachate is more of an issue for regulated landfill site management. For obvious reasons, illegal and temporary dumps in high-population density locations are not that well studied.

The state of the art to assess leachate toxicity is bioassays: to quote a recent review [1]:

"Landfill leachate is a complex mixture of chemicals; [...]

it is clear that toxicity testing, using species that represent the different trophic levels, is a superior way to predict the risk posed by discharge than chemical analysis. [...] Studies showed that leachate exhibits a wide range of toxicities to the species tested. Ammonia, alkalinity, heavy metals, and recalcitrant organics were identified to be the cause of adverse responses from the test organisms. Concentrations of these chemicals were found to depend upon the types of waste landfilled."[1]

Assessing our particular "leachate" is of course made much more complicated by the toxins that have been added through spraying. If a bioassay population of Fairy shrimp is killed by the leachate, was that due to the benzalkonium chloride that the City sprayed as a disinfectant, or was it due to other toxins that have come out of the black bags?

How relevant is this for the park - or for all other parks for that matter? I can't tell and I'm not getting a sense that anybody really can, although I'd hope to be wrong on that. Case control studies in Texas have not consistently shown increased risks from mere proximity to waste-sites; but again: these cases did not have the dump next door, and these were regulated dumps to begin with.[3]

It will rain today. We have an open site. Raindrops will create aerosols, they will be dispersed. If it rains heavily, the leachate may spill over, down into the Pit.

PS. I have pdf's of the cited articles, in case you need a copy, you are welcome to contact me off-list.

1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19117211
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18501951
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16722192

B. S. wrote:

(From the Christie Pits dump site.)

at about 10:00 tonight, Orkin (the company who applies the pest- control toxins in the parks) wanted to enter the site to resume spraying, accompanied by City staff. CUPE prevented access however. The police was called to mediate and the discussions became interesting.

Apparently, the City has a permit from the Ministry of Environment to operate this as a temporary dump, on the condition of regular pest control. We learned that "regular" in this case means spraying in 24h intervals, with a 24h window in case an application is missed. The City's manager confirmed that the last time Orkin sprayed was on Monday morning, i.e. more than 60h ago.

As CUPE and police were negotiating, CUPE made clear that their agreement with their liaison officer had called for spraying tomorrow morning, not now. But the police reached an agreement with CUPE to permit access, under conditions.

However, at that point neighbors who live right next to the "dump" demanded to know what exactly was being sprayed and whether it could be guaranteed that they would not be exposed to health risks. Even though the City staff had a copy of the MSDS sheets with him, he obviously was not in a position to comment on health risks. The police sergeant proposed that the citizens should call their counselor - but as we know, there has been no response to requests for information. The police than determined that neither the City representative nor the Orkin employee could be certain of imminent risks if spraying was delayed. Thus the police sent the City and Orkin away for the night, to give everyone - the citizens and CUPE - time until tomorrow to clarify their positions regarding potential health risks and risk management.

So far the facts. Some questions are going through my mind: Is the City now falling behind its obligations under their permit? And what does that mean for the permit? Why is the city not actively engaging with residents to clarify the health and environmental issues? Who can the residents turn to? And finally, even though I have read and posted about the risks from Permethrin and OCS, how toxic is the leachate that will enter the soil and groundwater after tomorrow's rainstorm. And how toxic are the gases and aerosols that are now rising from the dump?

I walked around the park after everybody had gone their way, the stench wafting up across Barton street from the former ice rink is nearly unbearable. In fact, I have a headache now - and I certainly didn't linger. Is this a mere inconvenience?

G. R. wrote:

I think the issues you point out are extremely important.

1. The city has approval from the Ministry of the Environment for temporary dump sites, _contingent_ on meeting the stipulations of their permit. i.e. spraying and applying toxins.

2. The city is now in violation (by 12hours, and soon to be 24hours) of its permit.

3. As neighbourhood residents, we have real concerns about what is being applied in our park and environment:

• poisons which kill bees, bumblebees, and other non-harmful, beneficial insects,
• poisons which can seriously injure or kill cats and other animals,
• poisons and other household waste which can kill birds,
• poisons which will kill fish and other aquatic animals for 30 days as they are swept into the sewer system.

I do not believe that the solution to the dangers of creating a dump in an entirely unsuitable location should be solved by an even greater danger of applying poisons in a park, and so close to houses.

Therefore, I think that CUPE has done the neighbourhood a real favour in refusing access to Orkin. I think we need to support them in this action, and make clear to the city that we reject these poisons in our neighbourhood and park.

And, I think that once the city is in violation of the terms of their permit for a temporary dump, we need to inform the province of this situation. The Ministry of the Environment, if it follows its own rules, will have to order the city to remove the dump.

For the sake of kids, adults, and animals in the area, we should not allow Orkin access to the rink to apply its poisons. CUPE is watching the dump at night, and after hours. Perhaps we can create a watch-list for during the day to make our case that when Orkin shows up that a member of the group is there to oppose the application of pesticides.

The idea would be to prevent Orkin access to the rink, together with the CUPE members present, through word or action to spray.

One action - and if I am incorrect please correct me Boris - is to be physically present close to the rink when Orkin is setting up to spray. Orkin cannot spray when anyone is on the property. Not everyone may be comfortable with taking this action, because it may result in the police being called to ask you to move from City property.

Hopefully, before this occurs, more people from the neighbourhood will be alerted and can come join you effectively making it somewhat more difficult for the police to respond. Or, at least the police may respond in the same manner that they did tonight: ask both Orkin and neighbourhood residents to leave the property.

I would also like to hear what everyone thinks of this proposed course of action. Is it something that people support? It is important, I think, that we have a good level of agreement from community members that this is a step we should take. If it is the will of most of the members of the group that Orkin should have access, then we should stop our actions after an initial two-day watch, or even in a shorter time-period.

In the meantime, we should organize people to fill slots for the next two days to ensure the city remains in violation of its permit.

I propose that those of us comfortable with acting in this capacity sign up for a two hour watch time over the next two days from 7am-7pm: (two people per timeslot would be perfect)

You may email me directly, and I can send out updates of the slots that still remain to be filled.

Thursday, July 2nd

7am-9am - G.

9am-11am -

11am-1pm -

1pm-3pm -

3pm-5pm -

5pm-7pm -

Friday, July 3rd

7am-9am -

9am-11am -

11am-1pm -

1pm-3pm -

3pm-5pm -

5pm-7pm -

S. M. wrote:

> I do not believe that the solution to the dangers of creating a dump > in an entirely unsuitable location should be solved by an even greater > danger of applying poisons in a park, and so close to houses.

I agree instinctually, but do we actually know if it's a greater danger, Govind (or Boris, or anyone who knows)? Not challenging, just asking, because I have no idea. ie. What's going to happen to the surrounding homes and the park if they don't spray? I realize spraying allows them to keep the waste there, but how long can it go without spraying before something awful occurs? Or is what might occur not so awful? I'd appreciate some insight.

G. R. wrote:

We don't know for certain that spraying pesticides is a greater danger. Boris made a good point in conversation with me this morning that he believes the household waste itself poses the bigger danger (i.e. detergents, diapers, etc.). However, none of the spraying will contain or neutralize that health hazard.

What we do know about the pesticides and chemical applications is that they are much more toxic than pesticides that have now been banned by the city for application in city parks. The city cited health risks when making that decision.

We do also know that the chemicals applied by Orkin are lethal to many beneficial insects, and small animals, especially cats. Orkin's spraying protocol is to spray at night because of the danger of the chemicals to people in the area, and their employees use full breathing apparatuses for protection. So, I am satisfied that spraying is a danger, and it shows the stupidity of putting a dump in an area that is not designed to take garbage.

I think the bottom line is that before something awful does occur, the Ministry of the Environment will have to order the city to remove the dump. And that step is the one that needs to occur to safeguard everyone's health in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Just some thoughts,

A. B. wrote:

Response from Mayor's office re: complaint for the Christie Pits dump site.

Thank you for your email letter. We appreciate you taking the time to write.

The City of Toronto has opened 19 temporary waste sites for disposal of residential and Yellow Bag garbage.

The 19 temporary drop-off locations were selected based on the following criteria: . the site is a City-owned property; . preference is given to existing paved or gravel areas to minimize environmental impacts; . is close to and reasonably accessible by the community; . has vehicular access; . there is reasonable distance away from residential buildings; and . has the capacity to hold a large volume of waste if necessary.

Garbage stored at the temporary sites will be contained within a fenced enclosure. The sites will have 24-hour security and will be monitored by City staff.

The locations will also be managed with professional pest and odour controls. All sites have received approval from the provincial Ministry of the Environment for use as temporary garbage storage sites. Inspectors from Toronto Public Health will monitor the sites to ensure public health is not compromised by the drop off sites.

Once again, thank you for sharing your concerns.

Karen Duffy
Office of Mayor Miller

G. R. wrote:

I wanted to let everyone know that I lodged an official complaint with the Ministry of the Environment about half an hour ago.

The basis of the complaint is that: a) the city is in violation of its permit to operate a temporary dump site, b) the leachate and toxins contained in the garbage pose an environmental hazard to people and animails in the area and in the watershed.

I encourage others to file a complaint as well. The number is: 1-866-MOE-TIPS (1-866-663-8477)

T. will be making a call to the "Reporting Spills and Environmental Emergencies" number today, "Call Toll Free: 1-800-268-6060", and I will do the same.

I think that by pursuing the environmental consequences of the dump through the responsible agencies possibly could result in an order by the Ministry to shut down the dump and remove the garbage.

As of this moment the city is operating an illegal dump site in Christie Pits.

D. V. wrote:

I just got off the phone with a very nice, and sympathetic, person at the MOE number below (1866-663-8477) and she recommended calling the Toronto MOE (416-326-6700). Her office, which is province wide and open 24hours, writes a report and sends it to the Toronto office, which is only open 8:30 - 5. Personally I think I'll be calling both. Let's all get on the phone - this might just work!

K. H. wrote:

Will do ...great.

L. wrote:

Wow--that is an excellent approach.

G. R. wrote:

A number of people have signed up for shifts to watch the dump. This is what we have so far: (Please email me if you can sign up for a shift.)

Thursday, July 2nd

7am-9am - G.

9am-11am -

11am-1pm -

1pm-3pm -

3pm-5pm - C.

5pm-7pm - L.

Friday, July 3rd

7am-9am -

9am-11am - C.

11am-1pm -

1pm-3pm -

3pm-5pm -

5pm-7pm -

T. has offered to watch the site after the kids are in bed one of the evenings for two hours.

In other matters…

We expect the Ministry of the Environment to show up at the dump any moment to survey the site and asses the city's compliance with the temporary dump permit.

The Ministry has clarified that the three chemicals need to be applied not every 24 hours, but "as necessary".

This clarification does not change the fact that keeping garbage in an ice rink that is overflowing with toxins does constitute a health risk.

K. H. wrote:

I am doing the Buddhist thing and doing a sit-in in the Park, except when I have to help clean and do childcare and ministering. Not only will I be watching the dump but observing the awful smell and stench in the air breathing in and out.

H. S. wrote:

Posted earlier this morning on T.

"Christie Pits Dump Site now a Hazardous Spill ?"

http://T.oronto.ca/dy5

http://Torontopedia.ca/ParksAreNotDumps

P. M. wrote

Dr. McKeown, on Tuesday June 30th at 16h30 an Orkin worker similar to the one in the attached picture (that was turned away by residents at Christie Pitts) entered Moss Park wearing the same gas mask and pulled a hose from his truck and began spraying the garbage. The park was not cleared at the time and there were many residents and dogs in the immediate area that were not provided masks or asked to leave, there was even a woman with a new born baby on the other side of the fence. You can confirm this Orkin visit as a fact by your entry logs at the park and no doubt by the invoice you will receive. As medical officer of health can you please provide the material safety data sheets for what was sprayed on that day? In addition, can you please provide a report from either yourself or your office that states the food harvested from the community garden and fruit orchard located a few meters from the temporary dump are safe for human consumption? Will a sign/information be posted by the city or board of health next to the garden?

Mr Rathbone, As solid waste manager I assume that the staff wearing the coloured shirts are your employees. I therefore ask you to have your employees remove their personal vehicles from the park (see licence plates on attached link). After several calls to parking enforcement they eventually told me that the park is 'private property' and that the city has to ask them to leave first. I approached one of the individuals an hour ago after he was finished talking to Deb Meredith and asked him if he had a car parked in the park and he said yes that he was given permission. If you gave them permission, then fine fair enough, but I would ask you to explain why they should have this privilege while anyone else that works downtown has to find a place to park. As a matter of fact, whenever we tax paying residents have visitors come to visit us they too must pay for parking. By you allowing your staff to park in our park it is a further disrespect to our neighbourhood and our park. In addition Mr Rathbone, can you please share with us your clean up plan/timetable? What will happen in Moss Park 24/48hrs after the strike is ended? When will the fencing come down? When will the garbage be removed? The cleaning of the baskeball court, the replacement of the field turf? How will the park be monitored for rodents afterward?

---

July 3rd, 2009, 23 e-mails

C. W. wrote:

Not sure if anybody else has noticed but I was hanging about the north end of the arena yesterday and noticed that there is a yellow sponge-like tubing placed around the outside of the rink. It says Hazmat on it. There is nothing placed around this tubing, meaning that it is exposed to the open air, to any child who doesn't understand what Hazmat means, and to any pet that might be wandering about. Also, there seems to be some leachate coming out through that and leaking into the grass and onto the pavement around the sponge thing. Personally I believe this is a terrible way to 'ensure' the 'safety' of a dump site. I called MOE today to inform them of this.

W. wrote:

A quote from this article...

''""As a group, we've lost faith in the medical officer of health," said Govind Rao, a member of Friends of Christie Pits, the community group that has co-ordinated the protests at the dump site."''

A strong statement. I was not aware that "as a group" we had come to the consensus that "we" had lost faith in the medical examiner. I have not seen any discussion as to the competence of the medical officer on this discussion group.

I get concerned when I see statements such as these achieving wide distribution, claiming to speak for the group, when no discourse on the matter has been had by the group.

I, for one, do not believe the competence of the medical officer of health is in question on this matter.

L. B. wrote:

Personally, as a resident, and someone not formally affiliated with the Friends of Christie Pits, I have lost faith in McKeown. The assessment conducted yesterday was a farce, in my opinion. I am attaching a photo of one of the many obvious points of leakage that has so far gone unaddressed, and I look forward to seeing the results of the water sample analysis. This isn't just a matter for those of us living next door - all of Toronto drinks water from the lake.

Consider this quote from the same Globe and Mail article: "Dr. McKeown insisted the pesticide workers must be given access to Christie Pits soon. If managed properly, Dr. McKeown said the temporary garbage sites could operate safely “for some time.”" How long does the city intend to keep this site operational? I have heard reports that suggest this strike may drag on for another 4-6 weeks. The managers working this site told me a week ago that they did not plan to have more than 100 tonnes of waste here. We've reached that now. On speaking further with them yesterday, I learned they were told by city officials that the site could take over 470 tonnes, and to simply pile the waste higher. Think about which is easier for the city to deal with - keeping the Christie Pits site open indefinitely, or closing it and opening new sites in High park, Trinity-Bellwoods, Woodbine Beach, etc. For the moment, for most Torontonians their garbage is out of sight and out of mind. What would happen if every major park in the city had a dump site?

If CUPE continues to deny Orkin access to the site, what does this mean? Will the city stop their game of chicken and close the site? Will the province consider the growing health concerns and legislate back to work? I'm not sure what the outcome will be but it's something to think about.

E. G. wrote:

There is talk that this strike lasting a long time. I don't know about you, but I am very impressed by how unified the friends of Christie Pits Park are.

It appears that their efforts are being heard and listened to. Is there anyone that wants to take on being a spokesperson or focus? We need to do something to prevent the use of our soccer field as a possible dump.

What do you think?

J. D. wrote:

Those of you who may feel a certain apathy towards the dumping of garbage in city parks may want to know the following.

The dumping of trash is supervised by a small handful of city management staff (non-unionized) who, at least at other sites, have not been stopping the dumping of improper waste, such as renovation waste, recycling, and compost.

Many of the cars that show up are large expensive luxury cars, not normally seen in the mostly working to middle class areas of the sites.

The federal ministry of the environment has given the go-ahead to the city to dump garbage in public parks as long as pesticides are administered every 24 hours. That is to say, you can dump what amounts to toxic materials, as long as more toxins are added. Every 24 hours.

Residents have been advised at Christie Pits to keep all pets, particularly cats, indoors for the duration of the strike, since the expected increase in the rat population will be heavily poisoned.

It is advised that cats who show signs of convulsions be taken to the vets immediately for treatment, as this is the first sign of pesticide poisoning.

It is expected that when the waste is cleared away, the increased rat population, which is likely because they breed like... well, you know, will move into the neighbouring houses creating a pest problem which will last months if not years. This has been the reported experience of the past.

Many of the Local 416 picketers say they feel that the city is trying to punish them, because this is their workplace, and they will most likely be the ones who will have to deal with the problem.

I certain that all of us on this list-serve feel pretty bad about the situation too. I hope we can stop this foolish and extremely harmful decision.

Does anyone, as E. mentioned, want to volunteer to be an organizer?

V. S. wrote:

One simple thing that I think everyone on this list could do is to send an email to Councillor Giambrone as Michael Edwards did. I thought it was an excellent email. I have just sent mine off, firstly questioning of the use of parks in general and then questioning the use of the soccer field rather than the skating rink at our own park. I don't think anyone needs to coordinate that, we just need to send the emails and keep them going. Spread the word to our neighbours who are not on the list and/or don't necessarily live in the immediate vicinity of the park but have some connection. If you're a dog walker let your fellow dog walkers know. I wouldn't want to walk my dog on soil that has been contaminated by garbage, and chemical spray used to keep rats away. Fellow parents at the children's playground should be made aware and so on.

C. wrote:

How about a creative protest... like a huge (Clay and Paper style) sculpture that fills the space meant to be for garbage? Or sends a clear message about how we feel about dumping on an area meant for play. I'm sure we could come up with something with a little brainstorming.

B. S. wrote:

As you probably have heard now, the pest control company was turned away again twice by CUPE, as part of their job action: "nothing in, nothing out". There has been a lot of media attention and since I unexpectedly found myself speaking into a half dozen cameras before my first cup of coffee, I thought I'd share with you some of what was said.

First, for the record, it is currently not the citizens and residents who are blocking the application of pesticides, it is CUPE as part of their job action. This is a question of strategy in a labour dispute, not the result of an environmental concern. CUPE is also blocking the sewage truck from pumping out leachate and most of you - me included - would prefer to see this toxic sludge removed. Since it is the City who certifies the efficiency of its own pest-control to the Ministry, blocking the spraying truck will not force closure of the site(1).

Second, are we worried about the toxic effects of Permethrin and Benzalkonium chloride? According to the literature I have looked at, these substances appear to pose comparatively little concern for humans. They are nevertheless potent toxins. It is their environmental hazards that we worry about. I am also worried about the leachate that is pooling in the pit, and I am worried about the safety of our non-unionized city employees who now have to handle the leaking garbage bag for bag, without proper protection, to pile it even higher.

Third, how do we feel about the medical officer, Dr. McKeown issuing a health hazard order to spray? Obviously he has a right to do that and neither CUPE nor any citizens and residents I know are planning actions that are not legal. But I wonder: how does he know? To our knowledge neither the City nor the Ministry of the Environment have tested the leachate and the dump, nor have they shared any of their reasoning with us. For that matter, they have shared precisely no information with the residents, and the information you have is what we were able to obtain after calling in for answers. To the best of my knowledge, the city has still not informed residents of the hazards that Permethrin poses to their cats. No flyers were handed out to warn us that dogs in the park should carefully avoid rodents that are dead or dying from rat poison. And no one has even commented about the stench. Why do we experience some smells as unpleasant? Generally speaking, because this is a warning signal.

Fourth, who do I think is responsible for this? This is a many layered question. I will not comment on a labour dispute - this is something between the City and the Unions. But there are many more groups involved: the non-unionized workers who are now exposed to the leaking bags, the residents, the environment, the media, the citizens - a _few_ of whom really do have no other option, the City who reportedly is saving a million dollars a day in wages; understand that everyone has their sub-agendas and not all of these agandas are informed with a sense of integrity and responsibility towards the common good. All we citizens and residents are doing is to point out that a garbage dump in a public park, any public park, seems a particularly cynical solution to what should be a manageable problem. Who is responsible for the dump? That is easier: it is Dr. McKeown himself, who signed off on these plans together with the other city managers.

Fifth, how long do we think this will last? I don't know and I have no parameters to speculate with. Apparently our Medical Officer believes these dumps could operate safely "for some time". How would he know how long that is? On Canada Day, on Nathan Philips square, a reporter told me off-camera how he believes the process goes: the city will balance the downstream costs of the union's demands with the money they are saving in wages. The moment that balance is reached, there will be a backroom deal and the strike is over. I myself find it hard to believe the system would really as cynical as that. Maybe I am just too much of an idealist. But in all honesty, I can't escape the feeling that we are being held hostage to political expediency.

(1)Apparently the required 24h intervals that we heard of are part of a City operating protocol, not a condition of the MOE.

M. T. wrote:

Thank you B. for your ongoing clear and thoughtful analyses of the Christie Pits dump situation. I've really appreciated how you've tackled this subject without being quick to point fingers, and accounting for the very real complexities of the strike and it's resultant environmental impacts (which I agree could have been dealt with much more logically). I was also interviewed this morning by CP24 before my first cup of coffee and found it very difficult to address the questions posed to me within the minute-long interview timeframe (and I'm afraid I probably didn't do much justice to the issues).

Perhaps I am more cynical but I do believe that we are being held hostage until the city balances its budget by not paying the striking workers. The clear losers in this situation you rightly identified. I might be alone in this sentiment, but I feel strongly that cities (and Toronto particularly) really get a raw deal in terms of funding. I am by no means condoning the Toronto's current method of balancing the budget but the problem really is tied up in years of the federal and provincial governments downloading services on municipalities without the corresponding budget requirements to provide those services. In Toronto, this situation has been made more acute during the last 10 years since the GTA amalgamation. How are cities realistically expected to improve social and environmental justice when they receive only a footnote in national spending?

I. N. wrote:

Hey I've been out since 7 talking with the news. the Poison man came at 7, then left. Will be coming ack. Please come out, I feel like I'm not the best spokesperson! they're doing live updates on CP24 every 15 min or half hour

T. F. wrote:

The cops where there at 6 a.m. today when I turned up to do an interview on 1010... Unfortunately, 'we' were introduced as Nymbies and the park was called a battleground - nice! :-( the two city workers told CUPE that they had a document (not sure from who) to allow spraying. The cops just stood by then spoke to the two City Manager guys. One even said to CUPE (cameras from CP24 rolling...) that they were "concerned for the residents".... I almost fell over. CUPE head man rolled up and confirmed to his guys that the protocols is "NOthing in, nothing out"... So the toxic sprayer guys are not getting past them. CUPE said Orkin tried to get in last night at 10:30 also.

Unfortunately I'm stuck at work.

I. N. wrote:

The news media this morning has done several interviews with B. and my roommate. There #1 question is, "How do you feel about the Cupe workers blocking the entrance to the Poison people at 7AM t his morning."

The poison people showed up and left again just as I was arriving at 7. The cops left shortly after.

The news people kept asking me, "Is G. here to speak to? Is G. home?" Go G.!

G. R. wrote:

Hi everyone, (and media), I was very happy to hear an interview on CBC Radio One this afternoon with Gideon Forman from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. He spoke out on the health risks of the spraying and the leaching from the site, and against the use of the ice rink as a temporary dump.

Contact Information for his association:
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
130 Spadina Avenue, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 2L4
Phone: 416-306-CAPE (2273)
Fax: 416-960-9392

gideon@cape.ca

Thank you to Gideon and CAPE!

T. F. wrote:

You may also have heard but CBC just reported that they are closing Christie Pits on Sunday when it's full and York Mills Arena as of end of business today.

More parks... Sunnybrooke Park and Centennial Arena are added... NOT a victory.

B. S. wrote:

actually not closing, right? Just stopping to add more I believe. What's there, stays there.

S. M. wrote:

We should absolutely join up with another park now to protest at that site. Ideas on where?

J. C. wrote:

Christie Pits is closing on Sunday.

S. M. wrote:

I really think we can use our experience organizing (and experience of having our park made a dump) in the service of other parks and communities now. Is there anyone web-savvy who can set up a website so that people can come and get support for their own park protests? I was really sad to read the article about the communities (contrasted with ours for dramatic effect) who just accepted their park dump as inevitable. It would be great to have public information out there, like the pictures of the leachate leaking, etc. I think if we create a space for activists to gather, share information, and organize, they will.

One thing I would love to see is an information sheet with some real suggestions for alternative sites on the public record. People always ask that, and lack of definitive answers feeds the hopelessness. Counselor Pantalone said he offered several other sites instead of Christie Pits, but they weren't chosen. Could we get a hold of that list? Do other counselors also have alternative site lists?

I also felt sad to see the footage of all the seagulls getting poisoned by eating from the dump. Yes, seagulls are annoying and plentiful, carry disease, etc. but it's still sad. And of course, I'm sure there are other birds in there, too. Now the workers have to wade through torn bags...It's all inhumane. I think we should lobby for the city to give our rink a facelift when the cleanup happens. Painting, resurfacing, the works. It just looks so ruined (and it carries such negative associations) now.

I'd be glad to join a team to help pick up trash in the park on Sunday if anyone's interested in doing that. I guess we'd need somewhere to cart it after we did, so someone with a truck to help?

Finally, I'd love to see an update from someone on Crawford Street. I saw a photo of a worker siphoning off the leachate. Did CUPE let them in? Are they letting them in now that the site is closing? Are the strikers still there? How about the spraying? Is traffic picking up because people know the site is closing?

Thanks to G., M. and B. for all you're doing, everyone who organized and attended the City Hall protest, the people who made the great Reduce Garbage flyers... I think it all made a difference.

B. S. wrote:

Around 8:30 tonight the pesticide company's truck rolled up Crawford street to the entrance of the Dump, anticipated by the CUPE picket line and eight police officers. The City's district collection manager was already there. As predicted by Dr. McKeown, the expected "health hazard order" was duly served. I am transcribing it here:

Date: July 3, 2009

ORDER
Made pursuant to Section 13 of the
Healt Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter H.7

To: City of Toronto
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario

M5H 2N2

Attention: The City Clerk

I, Reg Ayre, a Public Health Inspector for the City of Toronto Health Unit order you to take the following action:

1) Commence forthwith the removal and appropriate disposal of all standing water accumulating on the outdoor ice rink pad at the elevated northwest section of Christie Pits, located at 750 Bloor Street West.

2) Maintain this temporary garbage storage site free of fly and rodent infestation at all times by ensuring the daily assessment of the site by a licensed pest control contractor and treatment as indicated by this assessment.

THE REASONS FOR THIS ORDER ARE THAT:

1) I inspected the Christie Pits temporary garbage site on Friday July 3, 2009 at approximately 13H45 and observed that the site was littered in places with exposed putrescible garbage and the hardened surface contained standing water.

2) Evidence of an active fly infestation was detected in that fly larvae and adult flies were observed in the exposed putrescible garbage.

3) The standing water on the site is impeding the effective and safe application of fly control measures.

4) Attempts to undertake pest control measures and to remove the standing water have been prevented by ongoing community and labour picketing activities.

I am of the opinion on reasonable and probable grounds that:

1) A health hazard exists in the health unit served by me.

2) The requirement specified in the order are necessary in order to decrease the effect of or eliminate the health hazard.

NOTICE

TAKE NOTICE THAT you are entitled to a hearing by the Health Services Appeal and Review Board if you deliver to me [...] notice in writing, requesting a hearing within [some text obscured by thumb holding paper

on my photo] (15) days after service of this Order.

[obscured] FURTHER TAKE NOTICE THAT although a hearing may be requested, this Order takes effect [obsc.] it is served to you.

CUPE responded by stating their position: "Nothing gets in, nothing comes out." The city manager presented his Order to the police. But ...

... the police officer clarified that according to the Labour Act the workers have a right to strike and the police may not interfere in their job action. The Order was passed by a City Department. Unless an injunction were passed by a court of law, i.e. by an entity that is neutral in the labour conflict, the police would not order the workers to cede passage to the city and their contractor. They were present merely to keep the peace.

The City manager and the pesticide contractor left.

-- What I have learned today: 1) The City can Order itself to action. 2) The details of the law can be as surprising to municipalities as they are to us. 3) A city Public Health Inspector believes spraying and mopping will eliminate the health hazard.

What I have not seen, is that our public health officer is ordering (or even asking for permission) to clear the garbage out of this park and the other parks.

Attached: a reminder of what Reg Ayre is talking about, for those who haven't been there in a while, taken this evening around 8:00. (CC0)

P. A. wrote:

Dear Councillor Giambrone,

I received a copy of your email to Michael through the "Friends of Dufferin Grove" email list.

Is it only parks that were considered as drop-off sites? What other types of locations were on the list of 200 possible sites?

Was Nathan Phillips Square one of the sites considered? It would seem to meet all of the criteria you mentioned in your email to Michael.

From: Chris Gallop

Hello P.,

Thank you for your email. Councillor Giambrone asked me to respond on his behalf.

I believe the list you are referring to has been posted on the Dufferin Grove email list somewhere. Let me clarify that this list of 200 sites represents a preliminary assessment for contingency planning purposes done several months ago. It does not reflect the evaluative work that needs to be done against the criteria mentioned in the Councillor's email to Michael. It also does not