May 22, 2009, 3 e-mails

M. D. wrote:

Hello, can a request be made to the City of Toronto to have Street washing trucks employed daily to clean the streets surrounding the GO construction site, in an attempt to keep the dust/dirt down from the site? Since the beginning of the construction process the streets in our neighbourhood, our verandas and our cars have been covered in sooty grime, regular washing of the streets will help to minimize these issues.

Your help in making this happen would be greatly appreciated.

SRA wrote:

Suggest that this request can most effectively be made by individuals to their municipal councillors.

They are

Ward 18: Davenport
Adam Giambrone
City Hall 100 Queen Street West, Suite C42
Toronto, M5H 2N2
416-392-7012
Fax: 416-392-7957
councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca

Ward 17: Davenport
Cesar Palacio
91 Via Italia
416-392-0399
councillor_palacio@toronto.ca

Ward 14 : Parkdale – High Park
Gordon Perks
City Hall 100 Queen Street West, Suite A14
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
416-392-7919
Fax: 416-392-0398
councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Ward 13: Parkdale – High Park
Bill Saundercook
17 St. John's Road
Toronto, ON M6P 1T7
416-338-5165
Fax: 416-338-5211
councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca

H. W. wrote:

Quality of Life.

I don't think this issue has been addressed fully.

Let me ask you, which would you choose: 1) to have some work done on the roof of your house, for $5,000, causing the neighbor lots of aggravation, damage to his garden, etc. 2) to have the work done for $20,000 with minimal disturbance to the neighbor. It's 1), pretty clearly.

Now, re examine the question, with the following added to 1*), you know for certain that the neighbor will sue you for $50,000 for ruining the rare plants, whose condition and value is documented, in his garden, with the likelihood of collecting one half that.

I have serious doubts that 'humanitarian' appeals to the Transportation commission are going to trump 'hard cash.'

I think the "bottom line" has to be fundamentally altered, as the example above suggests. Monetary costs must be brought into the picture.

The quality of life and life expectancy are altered. Loss of years of life is grounds for law suit (by the surviving family.) This has been quantified, as in the 9-11 victims' families.

The life of structures and dwellings is affected. Bricks loosen; plumbing is stressed. Cement work and foundations may weaken and crack, or simply weaken without obvious sign.

I think a combined lawsuit from dozens if not hundreds of people could range into the millions of dollars. I might add that many consequences may not be obvious for years, so continuing lawsuits based on events up to ten years from now, should be envisioned.

When you go to sell your house, in a couple years, you may find offers diminished because of then evident structural problems, *or merely their increased probability*.

The prospective costs would fundamentally alter the equation that GO and the Transportation people are dealing with. The envisioned "saving" of a few thousand dollars per pile, could easily vanish. (This is a very old story in economics; which production costs, esp. related to the environment can be ignored.)

For the above, we need documentation, and particularly to establish a 'base rate', for after all, all persons get sick, all buildings deteriorate.

1) The hours of pile driving and serious noise (thuds) should be documented, e.g. in the hours each day.

2) All illnesses should be documented, esp. those related to stress, dust inhalation, anxiety, etc.

3) The states of the houses should be documented into a common database sorted by category, e.g. plumbing. Only the *prevalence* of certain events gives basis for a legal action.

4) Work related loss of income should be documented. This includes becoming too sick and/or anxious to work.

Multiply claims in the tens of thousands by hundreds of people and there is a non negligeable sum. $20,000 dollars times 200 claimaints is 4 million. And remember each family member may have a claim (children affected).

The general quality of life has deteriorated, e.g. my dog will not leave the house at night for his walk, which i used to enjoy. For that matter, his health generally may be affected. Is anyone documenting pets' health and veterinary services.?

Right now, for instance my hot water heater moved at least 3 inches and will need to be reconnected to its vent. Is that common? Is it due to 'excessive vibration'. NO CLAIM can succeed without base rate material. Out of a hundred foundations, one may crack in the normal course of things over 5 years. If 10 do, then something is affecting the situation.

I think, in short we should take the approach of those who live next to a chemical factory or a nuclear plant. All life and health events should be monitored and catalogued. The 'other side' should be made aware of the process in place independent of their efforts to control it through PR or "inspections" whose documentation is only available to them, etc.

I am willing to join others in the necessary tasks to accomplish the above.