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Josh in the Community
My Staff and I are here to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about your neighbourhood and/or your home. We’re working every day to make our community safer while improving Midtown’s parks, main streets, and the many valued services we rely on including recreation, childcare, and waste collection. I hope to see you out in our community soon!
Josh at City Hall
On your behalf, I am advocating for a more thoughtful, creative, and responsible approach to policy issues at City Hall. I take very seriously the responsibility to make informed decisions that are based on evidence, community consultation, and the merits of arguments – rather than partisanship. I will continue representing our community at Council meetings on transit, tenant concerns, childcare, green space, and other issues that matter most to Midtown residents. Or, you can reach us by phone at 416 392-7906.
Current News Updates
The Star: Call for Toronto auditor-general to oversee police
May 22, 2015
The Toronto Star
David Rider
Toronto’s police, libraries and public health, funded by city taxpayers to the tune of $1.6 billion this year, should not be able to avoid the auditor-general’s microscope, city councillors said Friday.
Members of the audit committee want the Ontario government to amend the City of Toronto Act to put the agencies under the auditor-general’s purview, just like the TTC and other city-funded bodies, and in the meantime for those agencies to voluntarily submit to audits.
The vote came after Beverly Romeo-Beehler told them that, since becoming auditor-general in December, she asked the chairs of the boards overseeing police libraries and Toronto Public Health to let her office look at their operations to identify “risk” areas that might need auditing.
Torontoist: Development Signs Could Become Less Boring, More Readable
May 20, 2015
Torontoist
Leah Jensen
The current signage for Toronto’s development proposals are anything but inviting: the language is boring, the images uninspiring or difficult to decipher, and consequently the offer to become involved seems disingenuous.
This could soon change. The drab-looking boards could be phased out, as the planning and growth management committee received a report from City staff last Thursday about how and why Toronto is reforming its development signage. New signs are already being piloted by the City, with the first one appearing on-site at 250 Lawrence Avenue West. Passersby will notice some very obvious design changes, beginning with less text, more icons and imagery, and clearer instruction on how residents can become involved.
Toronto city councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22, St. Paul) brought this concern to council after hearing that the planning process, in general, is not easy to understand for the average resident.
Post City: Lois Lillenstein remembered for her devotion to childrens’ charities
May 6, 2015
Post City Toronto
Karolyne Ellacott
Generations of Canadians have grown up with Sharon, Lois & Bram. On April 22, Lois Lilienstein passed away at age 78 due to a rare form of cancer. Kids and parents alike have been delighted by the musicians’ tunes since the group formed in 1978 and helped instill a love of music in many. Throughout her long career, Lilienstein scooped up various Junos and Gemini awards and, in 2002, received the Order of Canada along with her bandmates.
The cheery trio earned themselves Canadian icon status among the preschool crowd when they launched “Skinnamarink” upon the world. Several seasons of mid-’80s TVO success followed (does The Elephant Show ring a bell, anyone?), and the family-favoured threesome eventually found a home for their act on CBC-TV.
Community Update for May 20, 2015
Dear residents, I hope you enjoyed a wonderful long weekend. [...]
