[bearcat]

I heard from Hydro. The pole is NOT theirs but the equipment on it belongs to the police!

"I can confirm that the pole located on Front St. E. and York St. cannot be found in Toronto Hydro’s records, however we did make significant efforts to determine the ownership and attached equipment. According the City of Toronto’s records, Toronto Police Services (TPS) confirmed that they own the equipment on the pole and it supports critical emergency services. Previously, we did advise TPS of the community’s request to have the pole removed, but they were not able to do so at that time.

We have also engaged the City of Toronto on this matter and request, so please free feel to follow up with pedestrianstreetlighting@toronto.ca for further assistance."

I have now passed this to Ausma Malik's office.....

I did my usual Google streetview investigation. The equipment on the pole belonging to the police appears to be the white box that is presumably the communications/control box for a CCTV camera. Back in 2011 on the old old pole it (the yellow arrow) it appears to be connected to a camera (red arrow). See the zoomed in photo below. The green sign (green arrow) is likely the Notice sign for CCTV cameras (I added an example). In 2012 the camera and sign were gone. Then this very important box was moved to the new pole and has remained there since. Of note, it does not have a camera attached, so to me it seems it's not functional. Perhaps it has some role without a camera....

 

[nfitz]

Of note, it does not have a camera attached, so to me it seems it's not functional. Perhaps it has some role without a camera....

With the wires going in various directions, perhaps it's a hub of some kind. Looking at the NW corner, there's some device on the pole in the August 2024 shot.

The pole isn't a great location - but there's a large area there. I've seen far more obstructive recently installed hydro poles, that make passing them with a wheelchair (or sidewalk plow) very difficult if not impossible. What's the issue with it? Where are the new barriers in relation to this?

 

[bearcat]

With the wires going in various directions, perhaps it's a hub of some kind. Looking at the NW corner, there's some device on the pole in the August 2024 shot.

The pole isn't a great location - but there's a large area there. I've seen far more obstructive recently installed hydro poles, that make passing them with a wheelchair (or sidewalk plow) very difficult if not impossible. What's the issue with it? Where are the new barriers in relation to this?

View attachment 639045

There is no obvious reason why this pole needs to exist when in the past all the infrastructure that is visibly present on it was accommodated on the old version of the pole on the same corner just to the North and East of it, which since has been replaced, but for whatever reason the infrastructure that's on this pole has not been moved back. It's right in the middle of a corner that's busy with pedestrians, and it's simply ugly as it's wooden and looks different from the new poles near it, and has a very temporary appearance.

That is, it seem this box is the only thing on this pole, why does it need its own pole? It can just share the pole with the streetlights and traffic lights like it did in 2011.

 

[nfitz]

Diversity is out strength!

 

[mburrrrr]

Shouldn’t this pole be removed as the new concrete barriers won’t protect this emergency service?

 

[nightstreak]

Shouldn’t this pole be removed as the new concrete barriers won’t protection this emergency service?

I would bet real money that if a car were to crash into that wooden pole and knock it over, they'd replace it within 24 hours even though it's taken years of pulling teeth waiting for them to relocate it. Bureaucracy moves slowly until someone's role in the bureaucracy is directly affected. Then they move mountains.

 

[Amare]

Shouldn’t this pole be removed as the new concrete barriers won’t protect this emergency service?

Maybe the pole is heritage protected? Just like the dank Bush Shed.

Or the city could be conducting a deep 6 year assessment to see how it can be removed, just like with the jersey barriers.

 

[DSCToronto]

Maybe the pole is heritage protected? Just like the dank Bush Shed.

Or the city could be conducting a deep 6 year assessment to see how it can be removed, just like with the jersey barriers.

I think it should be surrounded by hand-crafted Jersey Barriers.

 

[nightstreak]

I think it should be surrounded by hand-crafted Jersey Barriers.

Already been done:

 

[Admiral Beez]

What’s Union’s policy on vagrancy? I took the subway and UPE today and there’s people with piles of crap sleeping in corners of the station between the UPE and main hall, and more, plus beggars in the doorway between the subway and main hall. What’s the point in making a new station if we let it become a squat? Though I suppose I’m spoiled from having recently visited Singapore, China and Taiwan, where there’s seemingly zero tolerance for vagrancy in train stations or transit overall.

 

[nstuch]

I think it should be surrounded by hand-crafted Jersey Barriers.

maybe they can move a few of these and put them around the pole

 

[Amare]

What’s Union’s policy on vagrancy? I took the subway and UPE today and there’s people with piles of crap sleeping in corners of the station between the UPE and main hall, and more, plus beggars in the doorway between the subway and main hall. What’s the point in making a new station if we let it become a squat? Though I suppose I’m spoiled from having recently visited Singapore, China and Taiwan, where there’s seemingly zero tolerance for vagrancy in train stations or transit overall.

Unfortunately the security company that the city contracted clearly doesn't give a S*@* and let's people around there do whatever they want. And the city seems to not care, by not pressing the security company to do better.

 

[crs1026]

Unfortunately the security company that the city contracted clearly doesn't give a S*@* and let's people around there do whatever they want. And the city seems to not care, by not pressing the security company to do better.

My observation has been that security responds quickly but discreetly to issues - they will appear promptly if someone is making loud noises or otherwise creates a disturbance or appears to be in distress.... but if the individual is quiet, calm, and not bothering others they will not intervene. Have seen lots of people doing laundry or washing themselves in the mens rooms... the washroom off the Great Hall in the west corridor pretty much reeks of homelessness.

We can debate whether this protocol is appropriate, but I would not say it's managed loosely.

On a similar vein, try taking photographs in the Great Hall..... you won't be stopped, but someone will be nearby and give you a smile or a "hello".... just so you know they are around.....

- Paul

 

[WB62]

if the individual is quiet, calm, and not bothering others they will not intervene

Union also has community support employees that work closely with Union security. They’re easily identifiable by they’re lime green shirts and wander all areas of the station checking in with anyone that is sleeping or in distress

 

[nightstreak]

Union also has community support employees that work closely with Union security. They’re easily identifiable by they’re lime green shirts and wander all areas of the station checking in with anyone that is sleeping or in distress

That's good to know and I'm glad there are these community support workers, but to @Admiral Beez 's point, if the station is open 24/7, what is to stop it from becoming a makeshift shelter if people are just allowed to sleep in corridors and wash up in the bathrooms?