Clarification on the Boycott
There has been some criticism in the blogosphere that BStC may end up harming some businesses that are truly for the ROW through promoting a wide-scale boycott of the street. As indicated in the first post:
1) The Right Way Businesses
Forgive me for not thinking of a more creative name for the time being. I encourage all business owners along St Clair Avenue to email us with your support and we'll list you on here as the Streetcar-Friendly businesses we will keep off the blacklist.
Furthermore, supportive businesses may be the subject of future blog posts featuring it, and the services/products it provides.
2) The Stores Of Silliness
There was another word I'd love to have used as the second "s", but I feel it is more of the buying into the silliness, not stupidity, and thinking that defeating the ROW is a means to save themselves. I know it would technically be a violation of the Boycott to travel on the street to find the SOS-supportive businesses and list them, but that's a necessary evil.
3) The Online Petition
The idea may be somewhat overdone, but an online petition will be created for you to sign to show your support. Any letters or activities in informing businesses about the boycott will have a link to show the majority of Torontonians who support the right of way and won't stand up to this "silliness".
"We recognize there are businesses on the street who support the right-of-way. We're now encouraging them to be as vocal as the opposition groups. Display signs showing your support of public transit that brings more people onto the street than cars do, and therefore, more potential shoppers."To help with this, BStC would like to launch three initiatives:
1) The Right Way Businesses
Forgive me for not thinking of a more creative name for the time being. I encourage all business owners along St Clair Avenue to email us with your support and we'll list you on here as the Streetcar-Friendly businesses we will keep off the blacklist.
Furthermore, supportive businesses may be the subject of future blog posts featuring it, and the services/products it provides.
2) The Stores Of Silliness
There was another word I'd love to have used as the second "s", but I feel it is more of the buying into the silliness, not stupidity, and thinking that defeating the ROW is a means to save themselves. I know it would technically be a violation of the Boycott to travel on the street to find the SOS-supportive businesses and list them, but that's a necessary evil.
3) The Online Petition
The idea may be somewhat overdone, but an online petition will be created for you to sign to show your support. Any letters or activities in informing businesses about the boycott will have a link to show the majority of Torontonians who support the right of way and won't stand up to this "silliness".
posted by TTCtoken at 5:09 PM
12 Comments:
It may be easier to just call them "pro-ROW" and "anti-ROW", but your names are creative! :)
Holy overreaction.
I appreciated the fact that the campaign here clarified things to support those businesses which backed SCRIPT and supported the right-of-way. I agree that the initial post was too broad with its paintbrush.
However, an overreaction? I don't think so. SOS used fearmongering and falsehoods to oppose a transit project that was supported by most of the residents in the area. The response from the community at the 56 public meetings on the project was overwhelmingly in favour. The City has bent over backwards to try and accommodate the naysayers, and SOS has remained obstinantely opposed, finally stalling this project on the basis of a legal technicality.
SOS would seem not to value the opinion of the majority of residents which backed this project. Perhaps a boycott may remind them who actually lives and shops on St. Clair, and that these people need to be served as well.
There seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding those opposed vs those who support the dedicated ROW.
How about a binding referrendum for residents and businesses within 500 metres of the entire length of the strip. After all, it can't be argued that these are the citizens who will be most affected by the proposal. This group probably represent 95% of the TTC ridership for the line as well as those who have the closest ties to the neighbourhoods. I think this will capture the true "local" opinion.
Sure there's likely a benefit to the City as a whole in the Transit upgrade but isn't the potential impact to the cohesion of the neighbourhoods also of concern to the City. I don't think that the benefits of the ROW are without some negative impact.
In my opinion a general Boycott of the entire St Clair area is a childish reaction to a challenge that obviously has some merit.
Hello,
I was so enraged by the idiot letter against the ROW on the letters page of Toronto Star on Wed. that I called my councillor, Joe Mihevc, (who was mentioned in said letter) to ask what I could do to help get the ROW back on track. His assistant said we should all write, call in, or in some way contact the local media, since there was zero word from residents who support ROW on the evening news on Tues. I called City Online telling them that SOS doesn't speak for me, as well as some other forceful words in favour of this project and a boycott. Their evening news producer left me a phone message wanting to speak to me. I don't know if it's going to lead anywhere, but start doing it. Call the other city councillors, call CBC Radio, CFRB, ROGERS Goldhawk Live, Hour Town, the Town Crier, GO ON SPEAKERS CORNER! Spread the word as wide and fast as possible. We need to find out the reason for the court injunction asap!
You can put World Class Bakers at the top of the blacklist, as they displayed SOS signage in their windows before the city council vote.
You can also count Eden Trattoria, since they hosted the SOS victory party, according to mystclair.com.
More to come.
grow up kids
What a bunch of whiners! The folks at SOS did us all a big favours and exposed loophole to this poorly thought out plan. It just shows the level of incompetenece and arrogance at city hall and the TTC that could just ram this down the folks on St.Claire, they could'nt even word the document probably. Can you imagine them trying to build this thing. Do you smell cost over-runs? I'm sure thats exactly what the overpaid construction companies hoped for. Thank goodness there are people you make those ídiots at city hall accountable. Excuse me now, I'm want to enjoy my Cap at this wonderful establishment World Class Bakers.
This petition is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of....you really expect the actual people who live in the St.Clair neighbourhoods to not pick up a movie, a bite of pizza, groceries or a cup of coffee? Do you really believe it was the business owners who put a stop to the ROW? Thousands and thousands and thousands of residents signed a petition opposing the ROW. All five BIA's on St. Clair OPPOSED the ROW. They did, however, support the Brown & Storey concept that allowed for transit improvements, wider sidewalks, and bike lanes. So the idea that there were "lots" of businesses that supported your cause is a complete falsehood, as their elected Boards opposed it! Ask yourselves why 3 of the 4 Councillors on St. Clair opposed and voted against this plan....because their constituents, who are residents, overwhelmingly told them to reject the plan put forward by the TTC. Why would you put at risk the property values of any of the residents, whether they support the ROW or oppose it....short sighted and mean spirited come to my mind. I for one ALWAYS shop local, and intend to continue to do so.
WOW its incredible to see all you whiners cry. YOU LOST LIVE WITH IT. The idea was stupid and if three judges couldnt convince you then keep your mouth shut and dont single out a few businesses. Why dont all you people who appose the businesses open similar businesses and go into competition with those who you say supported the SOS committee (Rightfully supported SOS). Oh wait you whiners clearly dont have the brains or work ethics to ever do so.
Notice how insulting so many of these anti-ROW comments are?
Notice in Big fat hairy daves profile what he says under "My dream Job" shows how credible anything he says really is
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