Toronto Star PLUS

The tree on our front lawn was cut down by the City on June 17, 2013. The City said the stump would be removed and a tree replanted in 4 months. Then 6 months. Then 9 months. Now 311 says the Fall of 2014 which will make that 15 or 16 months since the tree was cut down. Actually, they even showed up the morning of May 1st to our house and said they will be removing it the next day (May 2, 2014) which never happened. The stump takes up a huge portion of front yard and has even lifted our walkway. Also, we are unable to grow any grass because the stump is so large. We understand that because it is on a busy road and is so huge that it may be a difficult job but we are feeling exasperated that they keep breaking promises. We just want to be able to fix our front yard and do some landscaping.

Thanks in advance for any help on this matter.

This bus stop delays buses on routes 71a 71b 79a 79b because there's too many people getting on and it makes the bus too crowded and also when there's people waiting here it blocks the sidewalk seriously people get on the bus at the terminal that's 5 feet away!

We are attached to 132 Seaton which has been abandoned for a few years. We did not choose to live next to an abandonment building. When we first moved here, people were living at 132 Seaton, and now raccoon's infest this house. This home was purposely put in this state because of a landlord that does not care anymore.

This raccoon problem has gotten worse and continues to disrupt our lives on a daily basis. There are over a dozen racoons living in the neighbors roof which is attached to ours. Last night, a raccoon tried to come into my home from my screen door. We have complained to the owner and the city about the numerous holes in their home however both parties don't do anything. (I have emails from 2012 documenting the noise, feces, water damage, etc..)

I just want someone to fix the hole to prevent wild life from entering the neighbors home.

AT THESE BENCHES THERES GRAFFITI AND ALOT OF THEM ARE SNAPPED OR ARE ABOUT TO COLLAPSE AND THERES LOTS OF DRUG DEALERS ON THE BENCHES, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1 AND 4 IN THE AFTERNOON. THESE ARE BLEACHERS , LIKE IN STADIUMS. THE BENCHES IN THE PICTURE ARE NOT THE ACTUAL BENCHES BUT THE ONES HERE AT RAVINA PARK ARE IN SIMILAR CONDITION TO THE ONES IN THE PICTURE. THESE ARE THE WOODEN BENCHES.

every morning, between 8&9 o clock there are dozens of kids crossing Evelyn avenue. They are going to saint Cecilia's school, which is up the street. Every morning though, there is lots of cars going fast up Evelyn ( no stop sign for northbound cars here!)and they almost hit the kids crossing here. There is lots of cars coming past here between 8&9 am. There is even lots of s'cool buses coming past here that are going fast that almost hit kids because most school bus drivers are really dumb. ONE DAY VERY SOON THERE WILL BE A FATAL COLLISION BETWEEN A S'COOL BUS AND A LITTLE KID BECAUSE THERE IS NO DANG TRAFFIC LIGHT OR CROSSWALK HERE.P.S THE CROSSWALK IS NEEDED ON EVELYN AVE NEAR WOODSIDE

ON DUPONT A FEW FEET EAST OF EDWIN THERES A BUS STOP FOR ROUTE 26 AND ON GARBAGE DAY THERES ALL THESE GARBAGE AND RECYCLE BINS BLOCKING PEOPLE LEAVING THE BACK DOORS FROM THE BUS FORCING EVERYONE GETTING OFF THE BUS TO GET OFF THE FRONT DOOR BUT THERES ALWays LIKE 10 PEOPLE GETTING ON SO IT CAUSES A DELAY

On Evelyn crescent west of fairview there is this huge bush that is blocking the sidewalk for westbound pedestrians this is on the north side of the street the picture doesn't show how bad it is because its an old picture so if you walk west on Evelyn
Crescent from Fairview on the north side you will see how bad it really is

WHEN YOU LEAVE WAL*MART IF YOUR WALKING YOU GO DOWN A SMALL SLOPE TO GO TO ST CLAIR AVE. BESIDE THIS IS A SMALL GARDEN. THERE IS A DEAD PIGEON IN THE GARDEN, AS WELL AS GARBAGE. THEN, IF YOU GO EAST ON ST CLAIR, THERE IS A SHELTER OVER THE NEWER SECTION OF SIDEWALK. PIGEONS SIT ON THE BEAMS AND ROOF OF THIS SHELTER. ALSO, SIDE NOTE-DONT WALK ON THE NEWER SECTION OF SIDEWALK-ITS NOT EVEN. ANYWAYS THE NEWER SECTION OF SIDEWALK IS COVERED IN PIGEON POOP. THE PICTURE BELOW IS OF THE SMALL SLOPE AND THE GARDEN, THE PICTURE IN THE COMMENTS IS OF THE COVER OVER THE SIDEWALK.

AT MCDONALDS THE DOORS AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE SWING OPEN AND HIT PEOPLE WAITING TO CROSS THE STREET AND THERES USUALLY A HUGE CROWD OF PEOPLE WAITING TO CROSS THE STREET WHENEVER SOMEONE IS LEAVING IT ALMOST ALWAYS HITS SOMEONE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IS HAVE A SLIDING DOOR ON THE RUNNYMEDE RD SIDE OF THE BUILDING

This apartment building located at18 Gifford street and facing into Corn Chamomile Lane in Cabbagetown has been vacant since a fire wreaked havoc about 13 years ago and the owner was denied a new permit. The windows have never been boarded up and are caving in, the mortar has all fallen out of the top 10 feet of the Main 40 foot tall chimney backing into my backyard and I am fearful that during a good wind storm that it will topple down and harm someone or cause property damage. Rats and Raccoons have spiked and they are coming in and out of there like crazy, I called the city about 8 years ago and an inspector came out and investigated and met with me and told me that for sure the estate (the owner had died and the property was in probate in ASIA) should have had it boarded up as well because prostitution and drug dealing was occurring in the building entrance on Corn Chamomile lane. Nothing occurred after that and my calls to the city were not returned. My neighbour ended up buying boards and blocking the building alcove himself to prevent the criminal activity that was congregating there. A month ago I lodged another complaint using 311 and was advised that I would get a call after 7 days from the city. I never did, soI called 311 back and they gave me the file # 266-2281 and the name of the investigator : Jaan Peter Sepp 416.397.7262. My voicemail to him 2 weeks ago has not been returned....Please help get us answers to this13 year old plus problem.

Dear "The Fixer,"

Apologies if you've had this complaint/item before. I read you column often but not very day thus it's possible I may have missed an earlier concern about same.

I live near Jane & Bloor and travel to work daily along Bloor St. W. toward the city centre. In recent months due to the summer construction (again) on Bloor St. W. between Dundas St. W. and Christie St. my daughter and I have rerouted, travelling south on Parkside from Bloor St. W. and then along Howard Park/College St. Coming home we travel a similar route in reverse. Almost each day since May (and also occasionally in previous years), whether coming or going to work, we have encountered a horrible smell when approaching the corner of Parkdate/Keele St. and Bloor St. W. from any direction. It absolutely stinks!! We've been remarking each way, every day that we might/maybe should/definitely contact the Fixer. The citizens of Toronto who live near that corner and those who must travel through it regularly whether on foot, bicycle or via automobile, and including the unfortunate seniors who reside in the two senior' residences virtually at that corner, must be suffering terribly. Is this not something that should and can be fixed by the City of Toronto?

I understand that this corner, a prominent subway-served, walk-in access to the City of Toronto's glorious High Park, has in its bowels a cistern or large water-catchment facility and wonder if it is causing the horrendous smell that visitors to High Park and one of our city's major tourist attractions as well as the citizens of the City, must regularly endure.

Could you please investigate, report if anything is being done and, hopefully, get fixed? It would be greatly appreciated if you could do so.

Many, many thanks for anything you do and may be able to do.

Sincerely,

Sandra Langlands
339 Durie St.
Toronto, Ontario M6S 3G2 ( Please do not publish my address or association. Thank you.)

Recently RETIRED Director, Science Libraries & Director, Gerstein Science Information Centre
University of Toronto Libraries