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,

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

Hi Friend,

I want to start this month's newsletter with a personal update. As you may have heard, I was in a serious accident on my bicycle a few weeks ago, when I was hit by a motorist in a pickup truck on my way to coaching soccer. I will be in recovery for a while, and appreciate all the love and well wishes.

Despite this, our work continues: the community office remains open (thanks to our tireless volunteers) and York South-Weston tenants have stepped up their fight against greedy corporate landlords. More on that below.

Also, congratulations to our new mayor, Olivia Chow, who cycled to City Hall today for her first day on the job! I’m looking forward to the progressive change she’ll bring to the city we love 💜

Take care, stay safe, and wear your helmet. Mine saved my life.

Chiara

YSW Community: July Newsletter

1. YSW Community News
   • 22 John joins rent strike
2. Take Action
   • Rally for fair rent & BBQ
3. YSW Community Hub
   • July Family Movie Night
   • Volunteer with us!

YSW Community News

22 John Joins Rent Strike in Solidarity

22 John St. tenants join their neighbours at 33 King St in rent strike against corporate landlord Dream. 

33 King tenants have been on strike since June 1st against rent increases 3 times higher than the guideline.
22 John St is also owned by Dream, and it is not rent controlled. Tenants have received increases from 7 to 10% year-over-year since the building opened in 2018.

With over 300 tenants in two neighbouring buildings on strike, we demand Dream to give concrete responses to the striking tenants, drop the AGIs at 33 King St, and respect rent control at 22 John St. 

Their courage and resilience are inspiring. You can show your support by donating to their solidarity fund or sending an encouraging message to [email protected]. 

Take Action

Rally for Fair Rent & Free BBQ

Join us in a march to demand fair rents!

On Saturday, July 15, at 11.30am we are going to march down Weston Road to our MPPs and MPs offices, to demand that they enforce Fair Rents for all of us. We will follow the march with a free community bbq in support of the rent strikes. 

RSVP so we know you're coming! 

YSW Community Hub Updates

Family Movie Night: Turning Red

Join us for a fun-filled family movie night on Friday, July 28th at 6:30pm at YSW Community Hub! We'll be screening the vibrant animation set in Toronto 2002, Turning Red (2022). Our community hub is located at 2575 Eglinton Ave W, and we'll be serving fresh and hot pizza and popcorns for all attendees.

Toronto, Canada, 2002. Meilin (voice of Rosalie Chiang) is a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), is never far from her daughter - an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren't enough, whenever she gets too excited (which is practically ALWAYS), she "poofs" into a giant red panda. 

Bring your kids and join us for an enchanting evening filled with laughter, adventure, and heartwarming moments. Your presence will make it even more special. See you there! -- RSVP so we know how much pizza and popcorn to order!

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!