[ShonTron]

It's too bad Mandela will only get an honourary street name, while Ted friggin' Rogers got a full and complete street renaming (Jarvis Street between Bloor and Charles/Mount Pleasant).

Ed Mirvish Way is an official renaming of a block of Duncan Street. Blue Jays Way, same thing.

Moses Znaimer (Queen St West near John) and Paul Oberman Walk (Market Street) are completely honourary (as is Reitman Square).

We should do more honourary namings rather than full renamings, especially for major streets like Jarvis,

 

[Kat_YYZ]

I'm opposed to any major street being renamed.

Not because I oppose Nelson Mandela, but because I oppose precisely this sort of needless waste in government.

Street signs will need to be changed, etc.

Total waste of money.

Just work, eat... sleep; work, eat,... sleep; work, eat,... sleep.... rinse and repeat, right? Oh, and spend -- don't forget to spend -- gotta keep that economy humming, right?

God forbid there should be anything more to life except pure utilitarianism. Don't stop to look at a painting or a beautiful garden; that's 5 minutes you could have spent working and earning... or doing something to save $0.000001 of tax money! Just work like an animal, procreate like an animal, and then crawl off and die somewhere when you're no longer useful.

Or... maybe some people want something more out of this life. Maybe it's okay to care about things that are nice and bring about good feelings and enlightenment -- even if they don't contribute to the GDP. Even if they cost money.

"Street signs will need to be changed" -- Geez, if that's the kind of thing that keeps you up at night...

 

[JKDM]

"Street signs will need to be changed" -- Geez, if that's the kind of thing that keeps you up at night...

I'm a member of UT ... I LOVE this city (just as much as you do, I reckon) ... wonkish issues like how the City of Toronto spends my hard-earned money DOES keep me guessin' and up at night, actually.

Pet projects cost money ... I understand that. Some are considerably more valuable/worthy than others.

This one isn't, in my opinion.

Apparently, you think it is.

Whatever.

 

[ShonTron]

Had to edit a few posts here.

I was tempted to write something else between Ted and Rogers above but refrained. Please do the same.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I'm opposed to any major street being renamed.

Not because I oppose Nelson Mandela, but because I oppose precisely this sort of needless waste in government.

Street signs will need to be changed, etc.

Total waste of money.

And yet you voted for a mayor that has been nothing but a total waste of money during his tenure thus far. For example, I wonder how many street signs his recent "vacation" would have paid for, on a per rata basis against his annual salary. How about you spend your hard-earned money on that creeper, while we spend our tax dollars on signs. Deal?

AoD

 

[the lemur]

Streets with names like Richmond, Adelaide, Bloor are low-hanging fruit for more culturally relevant and colourful names.

They're low-hanging fruit with little cultural resonance or recognition in a historical context because the city has for so long done such a terrible job of being informative about its heritage. Long ago, these streets were named for people and things, but because the city neglected to provide any indication of the origin of the name, the connection to history was lost, the names sometimes became misspelled and they ceased to be anything more than just a name to most people.

Not to be 'that guy who just got back from Europe', but at least there they understand the idea of providing the historical background. So you would see something like

Chopin Street
Polish composer, 1810-49

I don't see why we couldn't have signs that explain Bloor St as being named for 'Joseph Bloor (or Bloore), founder of the Village of Yorkville'.

I definitely support the idea of naming something for Mandela; I just don't think we should assume that some of the current names are meaningless or unworthy of preservation.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

In New York City, the "Official" name of Sixth Avenue is "Avenue of the Americas". According to Wikipedia, New Yorkers call it Sixth Avenue. See link.

At least Toronto does better with the street signs.

 

[JKDM]

And yet you voted for a mayor that has been nothing but a total waste of money during his tenure thus far. For example, I wonder how many street signs his recent "vacation" would have paid for, on a per rata basis against his annual salary. How about you spend your hard-earned money on that creeper, while we spend our tax dollars on signs. Deal?

AoD

I'm probably more disappointed than all of you, but I'm going to have to disagree with your belief that he's been a "total waste of money" thus far.

Key people in his administration (not him, personally) secured labour peace when NO ONE thought it was possible.

Let's not forget that.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Key people in his administration (not him, personally) secured labour peace when NO ONE thought it was possible.

Let's not forget that.

Even McGunity's Liberals got favourable deals with the unions. Let's not forget that.

AoD

 

[junctionist]

They're low-hanging fruit with little cultural resonance or recognition in a historical context because the city has for so long done such a terrible job of being informative about its heritage. Long ago, these streets were named for people and things, but because the city neglected to provide any indication of the origin of the name, the connection to history was lost, the names sometimes became misspelled and they ceased to be anything more than just a name to most people.

Not to be 'that guy who just got back from Europe', but at least there they understand the idea of providing the historical background. So you would see something like

Chopin Street
Polish composer, 1810-49

I don't see why we couldn't have signs that explain Bloor St as being named for 'Joseph Bloor (or Bloore), founder of the Village of Yorkville'.

I definitely support the idea of naming something for Mandela; I just don't think we should assume that some of the current names are meaningless or unworthy of preservation.

Having a little note about the identity of the person after whom the street is named is a great idea.

Some street names are generic; while others could be renamed after more significant figures. As great as Yorkville is, Bloor Street could recognize someone connected with the city who changed the world and shaped our culture. Names for early local colonists make more sense for smaller neighbourhood streets where individuals like Joseph Bloor were most active.

In New York City, the "Official" name of Sixth Avenue is "Avenue of the Americas". According to Wikipedia, New Yorkers call it Sixth Avenue. See link.

You can't leave the old signs up permanently with the new ones for the name change to be successful. That's like the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway name for the 401. It didn't catch on since the province kept the easier 401 name intact. In fact, most signs only say 401--there's no reason to go with the longer name.

 

[Kat_YYZ]

Had to edit a few posts here.

I was tempted to write something else between Ted and Rogers above but refrained. Please do the same.

sorry!

 

[rbt]

Key people in his administration (not him, personally) secured labour peace when NO ONE thought it was possible.

Let's not forget that.

Right. They caved and effectively gave the union everything they wanted.

Ford's team did an excellent job of handling the press and pushing believable sound bytes. The actual numbers in the contracts were not so great for the city.