Making Reggae Lane a Vibrant & Safe Public Space
For far too many years, Reggae Lane has been neglected. It became unsightly, unsafe and left in an unacceptable condition. However, since I became your local representative, I’ve been working closing with nearby residents, small business owners, commercial property owners, the York-Eglinton BIA, Toronto Police Services and City Staff on a number of improvements including implementing a garbage and litter clean-up strategy, erecting a new fence, developing a resurfacing plan, addressing safety concerns and so much more. Although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed some of the initiatives we began, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve secured section 37 funds to retrofit/rebuild the existing retaining wall and fence along Reggae Lane as well as any other existing concerns raised by the local community. We’ll continue to provide you with updates as we make progress on our initiatives.
Supporting the Future of Little Jamaica
On behalf of the community, I submitted a letter in response to the City’s status report regarding the importance of supporting the future of Little Jamaica- and a respectful, but candid, reflection of concerns we’ve heard from the community about the slow pace of progress. I’ll continue to work closely with City Staff and community stakeholders like BlackUrbanismTO, CP Planning and elders such as Kojo Rakanwu Geb and his wife, Debra to ensure that we move forward with preserving the past and protecting the future of Little Jamaica. To review the letter, please click below
Advocating for Affordable Housing in Little Jamaica
Thanks to our community’s advocacy, the City will take a further look at whether Little Jamaica will be added to the Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) map, which will require developers to include affordable housing units in any new development in Little Jamaica. To review my letter and recommendations sent to Planning & Housing Committee, please click below
Little Jamaica Community Conversation: Meeting Highlights & Next Steps
On Monday May 31st, BlackUrbanismTO, Kojo Rakanwu Geb and I co-hosted a town hall to hear directly from community members on how Little Jamaica’s local neighborhoods and businesses can flourish now and into the future. With over 100+ community members in attendance, the evening was filled with honest, fruitful and helpful feedback. To review the meeting highlights and next steps, please click below.
City Council Unanimously Votes in Favour of Protecting & Preserving Little Jamaica
I’m happy to announce that my motion to explore heritage designation for Little Jamaica was unanimously approved during April’s City Council meeting. This is truly a historic moment for members of Toronto’s Little Jamaica and African, Black and Caribbean communities as the motion ensures that Black voices are driving the process of exploring and protecting the past and future of their community. I’m grateful for the support from my colleagues on Council, in particular, Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, who seconded the motion, Mayor Tory, City staff, and key community stakeholders such as Black Urbanism TO (BUTO) and CP Planning.
How to Make Your Voice Heard at City Council
Interested in sending a support letter to City Council about an item? Check out City Council’s agenda here. Click the button below to learn more about what you need to include in your letter and send an email to: councilmeeting@toronto.ca
Watch City Council Live
All City Council meetings are livestreamed and recorded on YouTube. To tune in, click the link below
BlackUrbanismTO’s Community Check In with Little Jamaica: Instagram Live with Councillor Josh Matlow
Watch BlackUrbanismTO interview me on their Instagram Live about my motion to preserve and protect Little Jamaica, break down the short and long term plans and much more!
Supporting Black-Owned and Operated Businesses and Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Eglinton Avenue West’s “Little Jamaica”
With significant inputs from BlackUrbanismTO, CP Planning, Reclaim, Rebuild Eglinton West and other community partners, I moved a motion in September 2020, seconded by Deputy Mayor Thompson and supported by Mayor Tory, at City Council to comprehensively and holistically address the past, present and future short-term and long-term challenges facing Little Jamaica
City of Toronto Study: Little Jamaica and the Eglinton West Neighbourhoods
The Eglinton West corridor / Little Jamaica is a community of great cultural heritage significance. The City of Toronto is undertaking a study of the area, intended to support and celebrate this cultural corridor.
Current News Updates
Little Jamaica Community Conversation: Meeting Highlights & Next Steps
Memory Sharing Segment: Guiding Questions: How regular do you frequent [...]
Preserving the Past, and Protecting the Future of Little Jamaica
Preserving the Past, and Protecting the Future of Little Jamaica– [...]
My Motion Supporting Black-Owned and Operated Businesses & Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Eglinton Avenue West’s “Little Jamaica”
Supporting Black-Owned and Operated Businesses & Preserving the Cultural Heritage [...]
Renewing a Call to Preserve Little Jamaica
Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the traffic congestion, noise, lack [...]
