Councillor Chris Moise's Regent Park Neighbourhood Town Hall – September 2023

By Dimitrije Martinivic
Dimitrije is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDA ATS CENTRE

In his fourth Town Hall meeting in Regent Park since being elected as Toronto City Councillor for Ward 13, Chris Moise began with an update on the key initiatives currently underway by his office. The meeting took place at the Regent Park Community Centre on September 28, 2023 and acted as an information sharing platform for Councillor Moise in which he addressed in-person the concerns of the community.              

One of Councillor Moise's first points was to address the issue of security in the neighbourhood. Councillor Moise emphasized  that everyone had a right to feel safe in their neighbourhood and matters of security were taken by his office seriously.

Councillor Moise discussed the progress of Phases 4 & 5 in Regent Park's revitalization which includes a new public library, a civic square, 35,000 square feet of community spaces, and 600 affordable rental units. These additions result from recent rezoning efforts by Toronto Community Housing and Tridel Builders Inc, promising a more dynamic and enriched community.

The councillor also addressed traffic concerns, mentioning new traffic signals at Shuter and Sumach, a review of Dundas and Sackville areas, and safety issues at Southbound Bayview Ave, including driveways and walkways due to traffic concerns.

Following the traffic issues, The councillor introduced the Beauty Builders Award, designed to honor community heroes and advocates who dedicate their time and energy to support their communities. It will be an annual award recognizing accomplished individuals making a difference in the community.

At this point Tyler Johnson, Chief of Staff, led a Q&A session, addressing questions on issues including illegal parking, snow removal, and jurisdiction. Additionally, various less common community concerns were raised by Regent Park residents, reflecting the diverse range of issues they face.

The first questions came from area resident Miguel Avila Valarde, they included several important points: 1) he discussed the establishment of a land trust for the property at 500 Dundas St East,  2) he inquired about the completion of Terms of Reference for an advisory committee to address Indigenous issues, 3) Miguel questioned the absence of Indigenous representation in the Toronto Police Service, 4) he highlighted the need for more Rent Geared to Income (RGI) units due to high rents, proposing a potential solution to create an Indigenous cooperative housing site in Regent Park.

MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam interjected at this point by emphasizing the impact of the housing crisis, where one-bedroom apartments can cost up to $3,000 per month. She stressed the importance of voicing concerns and noted that the Premier and the new Housing Minister are not effectively addressing the issue. She encouraged those interested in Rent Geared to Income (RGI) to reach out to her office for support.

Next, Gail Lynch, a prominent resident, expressed concerns about the untidy state of Regent Park Boulevard. She questioned the city's lack of action in addressing this issue. Additionally, she pointed out the unfairness of police cars parking in pedestrian areas for breaks and raised similar concerns about FedEx drivers and their trucks.

Walied Khogali Ali followed Gail Lynch by highlighting that as Regent Park's revitalization nears completion, the Social Development Plan (SDP) remains vital. An area resident, Walied Khogali Ali highlighted that the city's $2.5 million allocation to the SDP, although significant, is essential for supporting the area's programs throughout the remaining 10 to 13 years of revitalization.

Walied's final point had to do with the creation of more affordable housing for Phases 4 & 5, and requested a meeting with Councillor Moise to address these concerns and to try to come up with concrete solutions to the lack of affordable housing and RGI units.

Councillor Moise responded by saying, that there were other areas of the city that also needed attention in regards to housing, and that it seemed unfair that the City be asked to bare the cost of subsidizing RGI units at $8,000.00 a year per unit when the City is facing a $1.5 billion deficit.

Another member of the audience, Peter Newel of All Saints Church praised the City's strong support for their RGI housing efforts, citing collaboration with government grants for property improvements.

Neighbourhood security at the Dundas and Sherbourne intersection was a top concern for Regent Park residents. Sergeant Henry Dyck, head of the Neighbourhood Community Officer program at 51 Division, noted that the intersection had a history of issues. However, there are currently eight officers assigned to the area, and the number of shootings has decreased from 22 in four months in 2017 to zero now. Sergeant Dyck credited this achievement to collaborative efforts between the police and various community organizations.

A passionate Regent Park resident, who is also a TCHC tenant, expressed frustration with the lack of respect for long-term tenants. They emphasized their contributions to the community over more than 20 years and highlighted the challenges they face, including issues with garbage collection, parking, and safety. They called for respect and support, as they have worked hard to raise their family, pay taxes, and feel that their concerns have been overlooked, especially in comparison to newcomers.

Another TCHC resident, a single mother, expressed her need for a transfer to a two-bedroom unit. She questioned the criteria for special priority, typically reserved for those facing abuse or harassment by neighbours. She shared her bond with the community and the families within it and questioned the allocation of vacant two-bedroom units to others instead of those who have been part of the community for a longer time. She highlighted the importance of keeping families together and retaining stability for children who have grown up in the area.

Ibrahim Afrah, Co-Chair for Employment and Economic Development in the area, raised concerns about Regent Park Boulevard and its potential uses. He asked how to reclaim and optimize these spaces while promoting an entrepreneurial path to help individuals escape poverty in phases four and five of development.

Fatima Saya, Senior Manager, Social Impact at Daniels Corporation, discussed efforts to make Regent Park Boulevard more accessible for community activities. She highlighted their partnership with the City to overcome permitting and insurance challenges. They are working on a standing license agreement with a community organization to increase accessibility for community groups. Additionally, Daniels has a Community Commercial Program offering retail space to local businesses and entrepreneurs at rates below the market, with support for setup. They currently have a call for proposals for this program.

Sureya Ibrahim, a Regent Park resident and Community Relations Specialist, expressed concerns about gun violence and homelessness. She emphasized the need to hold condo builders accountable for affordable housing in the rapidly developing area. She urged the city and business owners to work together to make homeless individuals visible and provide more compassionate support. She stressed the importance of community centers and encouraged the city to use available resources to address homelessness. She also called for greater compassion in building more affordable housing in Regent Park during phases four and five.

Walied Khogali Ali thanked Soraya for her critical point and proposed a solution, emphasizing the importance of including Rent Geared to Income (RGI) units in future developments. He highlighted the unaffordability of housing units defined as "affordable" at 80% of market rates, calling for proper funding to make them RGI. He also addressed the international attention to the housing crisis and the importance of RGI units for vulnerable communities, particularly African refugees. Ali expressed concerns about the lack of commitment to the pathway to homeownership in the rezoning application and called on the council to secure funding to prevent resident displacement.

In the last speech of the night, Shahan urged the council to address the issues of jobs for youth and rent-to-own housing. He expressed concern about the lack of job opportunities for many young residents in Regent Park and mentioned that his three sons were among those affected. He called for action to create job opportunities for the youth. Shahan also mentioned a petition he made to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the need for rent-to-own housing and emphasized that the community is not seeking free housing but rather the opportunity for ownership.

The meeting addressed a range of community concerns in Regent Park, including safety, affordable housing, and job opportunities for youth. While some issues received well-informed responses from Councillor Moise, there were also several challenging questions that did not receive satisfactory answers, leaving certain community members feeling unheard or underserved. The dialogue sought to identify solutions and improvements for the community, but some concerns remained unresolved.