The rent strikes in York South-Weston are front-page news today in Maclean’s December issue.

This is a defining moment for the struggle that people in our community and across the city face against real estate corporations who push sky-high rent increases while making enormous profits, and risk forcing families, children and seniors out of their homes. 

[Read the story] 

In June, local residents at 33 King Street banded together to tell Dream Unlimited that increasing rent three times rent control over five years is indefensible and they demand better. 

In July, their neighbours at 22 John Street joined them, because how can any family plan for wildly ranging rent increases, from 7-10% in one year?

In October, people at 1440 & 1442 Lawrence Avenue West decided to let Barney River Investments know they’re fed up with bedbugs and overflowing garbage chutes, and a building so unsafe that Canada Post won’t step inside to deliver mail.

Nobody should be forced to struggle to put a roof over their heads or to live in uninhabitable buildings while corporate owners rake in 50% profit from rent. 

Putting people through this is a choice driven by the bottom line – and it’s wrong. 

Our neighbours are fighting for the heart of Toronto, a city where half of us rent, for renters to be treated with dignity and respect and not as cash cows for investors and shareholders. Read their story here.

Home is where we build our lives. Where our children return from school to do their homework, where we look after our aging parents, where we help our neighbours if they’re too ill to go outside. 

It’s where we create resilient communities that take care of each other through difficult times and make our city stronger.

This story is about standing up for this vision of home and for each other. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it. 

With hope,

Chiara

PS: Our community hub has been supporting our neighbours through their rent strikes, from organizing legal representation and meetings with the Mayor to fighting evictions to amplifying their struggle through press and solidarity actions. If you can chip in to support this essential work, every dollar helps us hold strong until Dream Unlimited and Barney River Investments come to the table to negotiate a way forward in good faith. Click here to donate to our strike fund: https://chiarapadovani.ca/strikefund

Hi Friend,

As we approach National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, I'm taking time to reflect on my responsibility to the agreements made on this land, including the Dish with One Spoon agreement which describes our collective responsibility to protect and share resources.

I'm also taking time to review the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and reflecting on how I can incorporate these calls to action in my work and community. 

If you're looking for an orange shirt for orange shirt day, check out local artist Star Nahwegahbo!

In some personal news, my cast has been removed and I am slowly getting back on my feet. My concussion is still limiting my ability to use screens, so please be patient when waiting for me to respond to emails.

Take care,

Chiara

PS: My community office is located at 2575 Eglinton Ave W (near Keele) open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 10am - 7pm.

YSW Community: August Newsletter

1. YSW Community News
   • Mayor Olivia Chow Visits Rent Strike
   • Help elect Kevin Rupasinghe in Scarborough Southwest
   • Help Devon Fowlin Continue his Recovery
   • Free Hockey Program Returns to Keelesdale
2. YSW Community Hub
   • Movie Night: Future History
   • Property Tax Clinic 
   • Volunteer with us!
3. What's on in YSW this Month

YSW Community News

Mayor Olivia Chow visits Rent Strike

In an effort to resolve the four-month long rent strike at 33 King St and 22 John St, Mayor Olivia Chow convened a meeting between the York South-Weston Tenant Union and Dream Unlimited. With standing room only, tenants filed into the basement of the Weston King Neighbourhood Centre ready to negotiate a settlement. However, Dream Unlimited failed to attend, opting instead to continue filing evictions against tenants on strike rather than participate in mediation.

“We want to thank Mayor Chow for stepping in and trying to bring Dream Unlimited to the table, something we’ve been trying to do for more than four months. It’s an outright shame that Dream would rather kick us out of our homes than sit down and negotiate with us, not even at the Mayor’s request. But we are not going to let this stop us and we’re stronger than ever.” says Sharlene Henry, a tenant at 33 King St and Co-chair of the York South Weston Tenant Union.

Help elect Kevin Rupasinghe in Scarborough Southwest!

There is a by-election happening in Scarborough Southwest for a new City Councillor, which is a rare chance to help bring the change we need to City Hall, and which is why I'm thrilled to be helping Kevin Rupasinghe get elected!

Kevin has been a road safety champion for Scarborough and all over this city. He was the first person to visit me after my collision, and I know having him on City Council will help prevent collisions like mine and save lives in our city. You can help elect Kevin by joining me as a volunteer or donor on his campaign!

Help Devon Fowlin continue his recovery

Back in February, Devon Fowlin was shot several times by police in York South-Weston in Trethewey Park. This week the Ontario Special Investigation Unit announced they will be charging one of the officers with aggravated assault. Thankfully Devon survived the shooting and is asking for help to aid him in his recovery. You can donate to Devon's recovery in a fundraiser organized by Desmond Cole here.  

Free Hockey Program Returns to Keelesdale

The Grassroots Original Hockey League (GOHL) provides access to free ice time, coaching and equipment to encourage participation of youth ages 6-12 and promote diversity in the game. The registration deadline has been extended to Monday September 18. Register online here. 

YSW Community Hub

TV Documentaries for Orange Shirt Day

This month for movie night, we are showing the documentaries Future History, where Sarrain and Kris visit places in Ontario and Quebec, tracing evidence and the impact of residential schools and colonization, while highlighting and celebrating Indigenous resistance and resilience. Join us for the movie, snacks and pizza on this Friday night! 

Property Tax Clinic

The property tax clinic is back! If you are a low-income senior or a low-income person living with a disability (household income under $55,000), you may be eligible for a rebate on your water, solid waste and property tax bill. If you are a person undergoing home dialysis treatment you may also qualify for a water rebate under the Home Dialysis Water Rebate Program. You can submit the application online or by mail or contact us to book an appointment to complete the application at our office. The deadline to apply is October 31. Here's what you'll need to bring with you: 

• 2022 Notice of Assessment
• Proof of Age (Driver's License, Birth Certificate) or Disability (ODSP, CPP, WISB statements, etc.) 
• Copy of your property tax bill
• Copy of your utility bill

Volunteer with us!

The YSW Community Hub is run for this community by this community! There's something for everyone to help with at the hub. Sign up to volunteer or help us keep the lights on by chipping in a few bucks a month!

WHAT'S ON IN YSW THIS MONTH?

September 23: Humber River Clean up

September 23: Shakespeare in Action: Undocumented Stories (7pm to 7am)

September 23: Immersive Sonic River Journey

September 23: Weston Farmers Market Featuring Adam Solomon

September 23: Little Jamaica Rising Stars

September 24: Mount Dennis 5K Fun Run

September 25: Mass Protest for Public Healthcare at Queen's Park

September 27: March for the Land

September 29: Movie Night: Future History

September 30: Truth and Reconciliation Day

September 30: Weston Farmers Market Featuring Alex Shaw

Organizing something for the community? Let me know!

Hi Friend,

August is Emancipation Month in Toronto to acknowledge the abolition of slavery in Canada. To mark Emancipation Month, the East York Historical Society is putting on a free exhibit, Exploring Emancipation.

As we commemorate the historical struggles for racial justice this month, let us continue to demand an end to all forms of racism in our community. 

Until next time, 

Chiara

PS: My old campaign office at 2575 Eglinton Ave W (near Keele) continues to be open to the community on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 10am - 7pm! 

YSW Community: August Newsletter

1. YSW Community News
   • Rent strike enters third month
   • Shakespeare in Action: in solidarity with YSW Tenant Union
   • Urban Arts' Culture Shock is back
2. YSW Community Hub
   • Property Tax Clinic
   • August Movie Night
   • Volunteer with us!
3. What's on in YSW this Month

YSW Community News

Rent Strike Enters Third Month

Hundreds of tenants and supporting groups marched down Weston Road calling for fair rent for all in solidarity with the 33 King and 22 John rent strike. 

Later, nineteen climate groups delivered an open letter to corporate landlord Dream Unlimited calling them out for “greenwashing” corporate greed and excessive rent increases.

On August 1st, Dream Unlimited issued notice of rent increases as high as 17% causing many more of their tenants to join the rent strike. That same day, tenants on strike returned hundreds of eviction notices, issuing a notice of their own: the rent strike continues for its third month and will continue as long as Dream Unlimited refuses to negotiate their excessive rent increases. 

You can show your support by donating to their solidarity fund or contacting the York South-Weston Tenant Union to volunteer. 

Shakespeare in Action: Solidarity with YSW Tenant Union

Throughout this month, Shakespeare in Action is presenting free showings of the play Otîhêw - a Métis-Cree reimagining of Shakespeare’s Othello, at Little Ave Memorial Park (22 Little Avenue). You can find the event calendar here. 

As a special collaboration, this Sunday August 13th at 2pm, the YSW Tenant Union will co-present the event. Join us to hear from tenants on rent strike and information on tenant rights. Come early (1pm-2pm) to enjoy some free ice cream before the show!

Urban Arts' Culture Shock is Back! 

Embrace the Magic of UrbanArts' CultureShock 2023! From captivating performances to immersive experiences, this community arts festival promises to ignite your creativity and uplift your spirits. This August 16-19, join Urban Arts in being a part of this vibrant event that celebrates culture, unity, and the power of art. Check out all the details here.

YSW Community Hub Updates

Property Tax Clinic

The property tax clinic is back! If you are a low-income senior or a low-income person living with a disability (household income under $55,000), you may be eligible for a rebate on your water, solid waste and property tax bill. If you are a person undergoing home dialysis treatment you may also qualify for a water rebate under the Home Dialysis Water Rebate Program. You can submit the application online or by mail or contact us to book an appointment to complete the application at our office. The deadline to apply is October 31. Here's what you'll need to bring with you: 

• 2022 Notice of Assessment
• Proof of Age (Driver's License, Birth Certificate) or Disability (ODSP, CPP, WISB statements, etc.) 
• Copy of your property tax bill
• Copy of your utility bill

August Movie Night: Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee

Join us for the August Movie Night on Friday, August 25 at 6:00pm at YSW Community Hub! We'll be screening Do The Right Thing (1989) by Spike Lee, who was freshly honoured with TIFF Ebert Director Award. 

On the hottest day of Summer, pizza-deliver boy Mookie (Spike Lee) wanders around a black and Puerto Rican neighborhood in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. His boss, Salvatore "Sal" Frangione (Danny Aiello) has owned this pizzeria for 25 years. Sal's two sons work in the kitchen, and the older one, Pino (John Turturro) holds racial contempt for all the neighbourhood blacks, trying to persuade his father to relocate to a white neighbourhood. As the day goes on, what begins as a simple complaint by one of his customers, Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito) - who wonders why he has only pictures of famous Italian-Americans on the wall when most of his customers are black - eventually disintegrates into violence as police brutality brings all the neighbours' outrage towards the local businesses. 

• CA-14A – 14 Accompaniment – Persons under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteer with us!

The YSW Community Hub is run for this community by this community! There's something for everyone to help with at the hub, including weekly Tuesday outreach canvasses.

Join us on Tuesday to talk to our neighbours and connect with the issues that matter in our community.

If you're not able to join us on Tuesday, sign up to volunteer or help us keep the lights on by chipping in a few bucks a month!

WHAT'S ON IN YSW THIS MONTH?

August 4 - 20: Shakespeare in Action: Otîhêw

August 12: Weston Farmers Market Featuring Gary Does

August 13: Shakespeare in Action: Solidarity with YSW Tenant Union

August 13: Weston ACORN's Beat the Heat

August 16-19: Urban Arts' Culture Shock

August 18: Summer Live Music Night: Elisa Malatesta

August 18 - 19: Tween Fest in Eglinton West

August 19: Weston Farmers' Market Featuring Dan Clark

August 19: Where the Wild Things are in Smythe Park

August 20: Humber River clean up

August 25: Movie Night: Do The Right Thing