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Fake-ass Adam Vaughan does fake-ass interview with blogTO

What a bunch of spewed bullcrap.

The interviewer is a dumb ass too. Ask him why if he loves Toronto and it's neighbourhoods so much why is he intent on killing them.



[START]
Toronto's first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, stares down at Adam Vaughan whenever the Councillor for Trinity-Spadina works in his sunny City Hall office. Like the never-say-die reformer, Vaughan seems uncomfortable in the trappings of political office, and reluctant to let go of his reporter's training - a neat row of black notebooks lines one side of his desk, the dates of use neatly scribbled in silver on the front.

There's only one reason why Vaughan chose politics - he's hopelessly, romantically and unapologetically in love with Toronto. I met up with the long-time Queen & Bathurst resident to get the dirt on his love affair.

Tell me what it was like growing up in Toronto?

I grew up in a really magical little neighborhood. At a time when a lot of middle-class families were leaving the downtown my parents chose a house in Wychwood Park. Back then it was largely university professors, not that different from the Annex.

So I grew up in a ravine with a pond and played hockey on the ice in the winter like every other kid in the Prairies probably. I was surrounded by nature, and beautiful architecture and in a family that was really engaged in building cities. My Dad was an architect, my mother was part of the neighborhood association and they were really engaged in things like the anti-expressway fight. I was really amazed by it all - as much fun as anything else in my life was going to the rallies and listening to the speeches and working on political campaigns.

When you think of Toronto, what three words come to mind?

Neighborhoods. Art. Young; the best parts of Toronto still haven't been built in some ways.

What's your favourite building in the City?

City Hall. It's an extraordinarily beautiful building. It's not been kept well, it badly needs almost a curator to sustain it's heritage components but the sense of adventure that it speaks to back in the sixties, what modernity means to a city in terms of the fact that it still looks like a space-age building in a space-age time...

The detailing in the building is just phenomenal, the front doors... the curved wood banisters... Everything from the marble floors to the metal cladding in the elevators, there are so many elements of this building that are just so precisely, wonderfully rendered and detailed. And there's parts of it which I wish the public could see more of, like the roof patio on the East Tower has a great view of the downtown.

How do you get around the city?

I'll walk to work or take the streetcar, when it's warmer I start to cycle because it's the fastest way around the Ward. I do drive the odd time to pick up my daughter.

What do you do in the city after dark?

Sleep usually if I'm lucky. But I like the boulevard life; it's the small bars, the small restaurants, the small sort of events that happen. Being on the street late at night in Toronto especially when you get into the market, or along Queen Street or along Bloor Street, it's just these little sweet spots that you find.

If you could tell your fellow councillors to do one thing right now, what would it be?

When you hear some of the people stand up on the floor of Council, I don't think they actually love Toronto. And I think that's a problem. You couldn't get elected in the States if you didn't love the jurisdiction in which you're running. And somehow we've allowed it to become a civic pastime; we just run the city down all the time... For council, that would be the one thing: it's to fall in love with the city all over again on a romantic level, not on a patriotic level, on a romantic level.

The part about this city that's easiest to love is that all of our social advancements have led to economic booms. When we stopped harassing immigrants from Italy hanging out on College Street and allowed them to have caf�s a whole new way of providing food and celebrating our street culture came to life. When Caribana was allowed to birth itself on our city streets and celebrate the diversity of our Caribbean community a whole new economic model emerged out of nowhere. PRIDE and same sex marriage - the little chapel at City Hall has probably performed more same sex marriages than any other chapel in the world.

Do you have a favourite place to eat in the City?

Yeah, at home.

Describe how you would spend an ideal Sunday afternoon in Toronto?

Boom! OK. Well I have a five-year-old and an eleven-year-old, so it would start with Clafouti, some croissants and espresso, time in the Park, probably walk along Queen Street and the galleries, lunch at Chippys. And then it would be back home, read have a bit of dinner, maybe stopping by the market to pick up the food. A movie and a drink at night--and away you go.

How do you find out what's going on in the city?

If you stop and listen to the lived experience of people in the city you'll find out what the problems are very quickly and you'll also find out where the potential solutions lie.

What's the one place in Toronto that people should know about?

It's Alexandra Park. It's a neighborhood just south of Kensington Market. We all wonder what downtown neighborhoods without cars would look like and this is one of them. It's a housing project and a co-op that's had a bit of a struggle. But when you walk through Alex Park and you see kids of all the different backgrounds playing together and having fun... and you look at the potential that lies inside a neighborhood like this with such a strong sense of community and some really engaged activists and kids that are doing great in school... Alexandra Park is going to create a road map for the new economy that is going to have to emerge out of the current crisis. I think Alex Park is about to really blossom and it's a place that everyone in the city should walk through and get to understand.

Where do you go for inspiration?

One of my favorite things to do is to take my five-year-old and my eleven-year-old to the AGO and see who can walk through the quickest. It's like a cathedral for inspiration, it's a wonderful building, a wonderful collection and a wonderful place to go with kids because they look at it with fresh eyes every time.

What about the Greater Toronto Area, what's your favourite spot?

Never been there. With no apology and without the slightest bit of shame, I am a Torontonian and the GTA is the rest of Canada. The reality is that there's Toronto and there's the rest of Canada and I don't mean to offend anyone, but I won't apologize for this city, I like it too much.

[/END]

http://www.blogto.com/people/2009/0...f_adam_vaughan/



That is an awesome picture in the back tho.

Also, I know that this is a month old but I just saw it now. And it made me upset.

quote:

Boom! OK. Well I have a five-year-old and an eleven-year-old, so it would start with Clafouti, some croissants and espresso, time in the Park, probably walk along Queen Street and the galleries, lunch at Chippys. And then it would be back home, read have a bit of dinner, maybe stopping by the market to pick up the food.

Douchebag yuppie.

Ultra-wanker 2010.

quote:

What about the Greater Toronto Area, what's your favourite spot? Never been there. With no apology and without the slightest bit of shame, I am a Torontonian and the GTA is the rest of Canada. The reality is that there's Toronto and there's the rest of Canada and I don't mean to offend anyone, but I won't apologize for this city, I like it too much.

I think that tells us just about everything we need to know.... sorry, Adam, there is more to Toronto then downtown and the kind of Toronto you want only works between Spadina and Jarvis from Lakeshore to St. Clair. Honestly, how anyone can profess to have all the answers and then completely write off the rest of the country is beyond me. What an elitist asshole!

Edit... I meant Jarvis, not Finch... sorry

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard I think that tells us just about everything we need to know.... sorry, Adam, there is more to Toronto then downtown and the kind of Toronto you want only works between Spadina and Finch from Lakeshore to St. Clair. Honestly, how anyone can profess to have all the answers and then completely write off the rest of the country is beyond me. What an elitist asshole!

i mean, if he was all for a nice downtown TO, that would be one thing. but the idiot does everything to make downtown suck. like the loser is trying to close patios along bloor and all he wants is condos instead of bars/clubs.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard I think that tells us just about everything we need to know.... sorry, Adam, there is more to Toronto then downtown and the kind of Toronto you want only works between Spadina and Finch from Lakeshore to St. Clair. Honestly, how anyone can profess to have all the answers and then completely write off the rest of the country is beyond me. What an elitist asshole!

I was just thinking that
what a douche! I'm embarrassed to know we have someone like that for the head of our City

What an asshole... honestly save for a small handful of councillors its time to clean out city hall on election day.

No more elitest champagne socialists please!

My post on blog TO

Adam Vaughan is probably the worst council member ive ever seen. And thats saying a lot for Toronto! From his tax this and regulate that mentality (which is killing the city) to his war on clubs and bars, he wont rest until Toronto is one gigantic vertical suburb with nothing but art galleries and small over priced restaurants for him and his buddies.

Im sick and tired of these types who think that Toronto should be as quiet and boring as some small town and then in the same breath turn those noses up at those small towns. You are right Vaughan, there is Toronto and the rest of Canada... And the rest of Canada is where we Torontonians go when we finally get fed up of a city run by elitest left wing fools.

Thanks to Vaughan, Miller and others of the same ilk, Toronto has quickly become a city that isnt worth the high cost of living in.

Ottawa is known as the city that fun forgot and ill say that toronto is the city that fun left.

Remember 2010 folks.. your only chance to make things right. Lets take a water cannon and clean out city hall on election day!

I can happily say that, without doubt or question, unequivocally, truthfully, completely;

ADAM VAUGHAN IS A PRICK

And if he does get reelected it will reflect on the city of toronto as a whole. At least in his area anyways..

What the hell is a clafouti? Is that like a clubfoot?

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard I think that tells us just about everything we need to know.... sorry, Adam, there is more to Toronto then downtown and the kind of Toronto you want only works between Spadina and Jarvis from Lakeshore to St. Clair. Honestly, how anyone can profess to have all the answers and then completely write off the rest of the country is beyond me. What an elitist asshole!

Wouldn't you agree that Toronto, and the areas which lie within GTA yet without Toronto are different?

Why would you expect solutions that work in the downtown core to function outside of the core?

Adam Vaughan is the city councillor for Trinity-Spadina which is the downtown core. Implementing policies appropriate for the suburbs in the core would destroy Toronto, and Adam Vaughan has no business recommending policy for areas outside Ward 20.

I agree that politicians should be criticized when they're wrong, but I haven't read an example of Adam Vaughan acting inappropriately given his specific job, in this thread.

He's going after clubland, yet the majority of those on this board (EDM fans) wouldn't set foot in clubland on a Friday or Saturday night. I certainly have no interest in being there (I would argue that Footy, Guv, Basement, CZ, etc. are outside clubland - the notable exception being Vola I think).

In the light of other world-class cities (if Toronto can even be considered such) like Paris, New York, London, etc., the reason people love those cities are many of the same reasons and directions Adam Vaughan wants to take Toronto. Small independent restaurants, bars, and cafes. A strong (classical) cultural community i.e. art galleries, theatre, etc. A strong sense of local community like Little Italy and The Danforth.

You won't find a politician that you agree with 100%. At least Vaughan is working toward putting Toronto on the Globe, and he seems to truly appreciate what makes this city great and unique.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers In the light of other world-class cities (if Toronto can even be considered such) like Paris, New York, London, etc., the reason people love those cities are many of the same reasons and directions Adam Vaughan wants to take Toronto. Small independent restaurants, bars, and cafes. A strong (classical) cultural community i.e. art galleries, theatre, etc. A strong sense of local community like Little Italy and The Danforth.

Ridiculous. Those things are the reason tourists love those cities. They're great if you're in town for maybe a week. What makes them good places to live (except maybe Paris, which is kind of a shitty place to live) is economic activity, night life, and major urban infrastructure. All things that Adam Vaughan rails against nonstop. And without those things, you can't have your quaint little caf�s and community events, at least not with any sort of authenticity.

What you've described is a really warped view of those other cities. It's a description of what they were like and what Toronto was like more than 50 years ago, and maybe what a few walled-off (figuratively) touristy areas still try to be like. The world has changed. Downtown Toronto, and downtown anything, can't support or even survive that vision. It's the heart of commerce and entertainment in Toronto, some would say in Ontario or even in all of Canada. Hell, that's where Canada's main stock exchange is. Downtown is about business.

If you want colonialism, do it in the suburbs. In fact, a lot of the things you're describing already exist out here. Lots of independent restaurants and boutiques, strong sense of community. What we don't have is clubs and bars.

Adam Vaughan isn't merely an asshole, he's a fossil. He's still living in the past, and anything that reminds him of the present infuriates him to the extent that he feels he has to destroy it.

Until these arrogant fools (residents included) realize that the GTA and downtown need each other and need to be symbiotic with each other, our whole city will continue its rotting decay. Look at cities that work like London, Hong Kong, Paris, etc. There is no such thing as a border when it comes to common service like transit and police. Its all within the greater metropolitan area that overlaps borders.

If Adam Vaughan wants to be the mayor of a small town, then he should go there and do it. But please stop trying to turn toronto into a compact vertical ARROGANT small town with homeless people. Its a city and should be treated like one.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers Wouldn't you agree that Toronto, and the areas which lie within GTA yet without Toronto are different? Why would you expect solutions that work in the downtown core to function outside of the core? Adam Vaughan is the city councillor for Trinity-Spadina which is the downtown core. Implementing policies appropriate for the suburbs in the core would destroy Toronto, and Adam Vaughan has no business recommending policy for areas outside Ward 20.

Of course parts of Toronto vary greatly from parts of the larger GTA. The problem with Vaughn is that he is pushing for city policies to shape the ENTIRE CITY in ways that may work for the downtown core but do not work for the rest of the city. For example; tearing down the Gardner may be great for the people who live downtown but it has potential to be a nightmare for everyone else. Creating street car right of ways will be good for people who live and work along the street car line but will be terrible for anyone that is not properly serviced by transit and therefore elects to drive. The long and short of it is that this joker has a frame of referrence that only includes a 10 block radius from city hall and thinks that what works in that radius can be imposed on the rest of the city and will benefit same... it simply won't work... the kind of Toronto Vaughn wants only works for people who have the luxury of enjoying it... which is to say people with large amounts of disposable income... which is to say a very small percentage of people.... honestly, do you believe many people in the city have the luxury of starting off their day with esspresso and fresh pastries at a french bakery followed by a liesurly stroll and a tour of the art gallery (I'll not bother to bring Chippys into this because I simply don't believe that Vaughn would eat fish and chips out of a paper cup, nor do I believe that he was anything but fearful when walking through Alexandra park).

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers Small independent restaurants, bars, and cafes. A strong (classical) cultural community i.e. art galleries, theatre, etc.

sounds like a douchebag's heaven.

whatever happened to balance? plus i think he is just a hypocrite. why did the development of Ossington South stop? that was a perfect place to put a whole bunch of different types of cultural spots.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard Of course parts of Toronto vary greatly from parts of the larger GTA. The problem with Vaughn is that he is pushing for city policies to shape the ENTIRE CITY in ways that may work for the downtown core but do not work for the rest of the city. For example; tearing down the Gardner may be great for the people who live downtown but it has potential to be a nightmare for everyone else. Creating street car right of ways will be good for people who live and work along the street car line but will be terrible for anyone that is not properly serviced by transit and therefore elects to drive.

The two examples you mentioned are issues that lie within or very close to Adam Vaughan's ward. So, how about examples of him imposing his downtown core will upon the suburbs as you are attempting the reverse in the above quoted text.

I don't think many architects and city planners will disagree about tearing down the Gardner. It is an awful eyesore and cuts off the downtown core from our beautiful waterfront. Admittedly, tearing it down will be trying on the city, but it was a mistake to begin with and it needs to be rectified.

As far as street car lanes, again a sticky problem. Toronto was not built to be the monstrous city that it has become. I drive to and from the suburbs directly into the core three times per week. Cities like Brampton and Mississauga were made for drivers. Toronto streets were originally layed out when Toronto was a lot smaller. We have inherited these problems from city planners with awful foresight many many years ago.

Fixing a bad transit system does not mean abandoning it. The city must evolve.

You're seeing the problem from the perspective of someone who lives outside the city. I don't claim to understand the needs of those in the suburbs, but I interact with the core's streets nearly every single day.

Try and see the problems from the perspective of those who live, work AND pay taxes within those areas.

quote:

Originally posted by StereoPrincess sounds like a douchebag's heaven. whatever happened to balance? plus i think he is just a hypocrite. why did the development of Ossington South stop? that was a perfect place to put a whole bunch of different types of cultural spots.

Douchbag heaven? Despite your marginalizing subsequent comments based on this one, tell us about another world class city that is void of galleries, restaurants and cafes, cultural heritage, etc. One good example would be good.

New York, London, Paris, etc. are very well known for all of these things, plus their great night life (clubs and bars).

Ossington South had a 1-year moratorium placed upon new restaurants as the city decided the area was growing too rapidly. Local residents were complaining of noise and crowds at all hours.

It seems that the rapid growth in that area took the city planners off guard and they hadn't come up with hard rules about what was allowed where. Reasonable and sustained growth builds a strong area. The brightest candle burns the quickest.

I don't see the moratorium destroying that area. It will continue to grow once the city decides on some rules which allow the residents to continue to enjoy their community.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers The two examples you mentioned are issues that lie within or very close to Adam Vaughan's ward. So, how about examples of him imposing his downtown core will upon the suburbs as you are attempting the reverse in the above quoted text. You're seeing the problem from the perspective of someone who lives outside the city. I don't claim to understand the needs of those in the suburbs, but I interact with the core's streets nearly every single day. Try and see the problems from the perspective of those who live, work AND pay taxes within those areas.

What... those two issues DO effect the entire city, not just the core. BTW, I also interact with the cores streets nearly every single day (or at least I did until recently) so I do understand. Additionally... people who live in Rexdale, North York, Scarborough, etc. are just as much part of the city as those that live in the privileged world of Adam Vaughn.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers Despite your marginalizing subsequent comments based on this one, tell us about another world class city that is void of galleries, restaurants and cafes, cultural heritage, etc. One good example would be good.

You're repeating yourself without acknowledging other people's responses. Those things are all fine and dandy in moderation. Vaughan wants ONLY those things, which is neither desirable nor sustainable. Anything that impinges on his quaint little colonial daydream makes him angry.

quote:

Reasonable and sustained growth builds a strong area. The brightest candle burns the quickest.

Nice little clich� there, but unfortunately vague analogies do not comprise a proof. Economy is not a zero-sum game. In reality, artificially-limited growth is vastly inferior to ordinary slow growth because it prevents a natural equilibrium of supply and demand.

Cities can easily prosper in the long-term from short-term explosive growth as long as the infrastructure is expanded to keep up. If it grows faster than expected, you expand the infrastructure on a faster timeline than originally planned, you don't pull the rug out from under the residents, businesses, developers and consumers. Unless you want a half-functioning city, that is.

quote:

Originally posted by Moral Hazard The problem with Vaughn is that he is pushing for city policies to shape the ENTIRE CITY in ways that may work for the downtown core but do not work for the rest of the city.

I would abandon this line of reasoning. Rest assured that the policies he pushes for are/would be every bit as damaging to downtown as they would be to other parts of the GTA.

Here's a stellar post off of blogTO that I read. It captures the essence of what is going on underneath him. Good read for those unaware of the situation.

Posted by "EpicFail" on blogTO

"I use to like Adam Vaughan, but not anymore. I live in the Annex and manage a club in the Entertainment District. Toronto has worked very hard to have a fantastic night life. I think that we have a great one, and next to London and New York, I believe that we rank number three in theatre plays in the world.

Just because Adam Vaughan was brought up in Toronto, was a reporter and his father was a councilor for City of Toronto, does not mean he understands the mechanics of Toronto.

AV wanted to gate the lane ways. I thought that was a joke.

Regarding the Entertainment District, the city gave them an entire area and ever since the condos came up Adam Vaughan has taken the side of the residents and is constantly bashing the clubs and bars in that area. People need to take ownership of where they decide to live. Take responsibility for your decision otherwise move. Adam may not be aware, but he is actually enemy number one in the Entertainment District.

He is also involved in taking a personal vendetta in a club (Comfort Zone) and as a result there is a law suit pending on the City of Toronto and the club has gone as far as suing AV personally.

Then there�s the Annex. Futures and the Labyrinth late night patios are the main reason that made the Annex successful and are considered holy grounds. Those patios are not some ordinary patios but the pride and joy of the Annex. Due to a patio transfer in the ownership, a committee was formed to discuss patio hours. All was going well until a small group of residents decided to go against the committee and approach Adam V. about their concerns. As a result, he did the same thing as for the Entertainment District and took the side of the residents. Now, Futures patio is only open until 11pm and no patio for the Labyrinth. Everyone is pissed off at Adam V. for listening to a small group of people as opposed to the overwhelming support for those late night patios. Now, Adam is becoming enemy number one in the Annex.

The other issue is when he chewed out a reporter on the subject of the infestation in China Town; I don�t think many people appreciated his brash way of speaking.

I also don�t like his take on having the City of Toronto setting aside funds for defamation. My view is that if you are a politician, you need to be aware of the harsh criticism that comes along with it. Especially, if you are like AV and make silly comments, then you should be prepared to have people on your back. The underlying reason people criticize is because they are passionate. AV is slowly becoming enemy number one in Toronto

The above items are surely a sore point for him and the reason he gets bashed a lot.

He is losing the respect of a lot of Torontonians due to his own accord, his comments, his lack of diplomacy or finesse, and for being a hypocrite. I hope he continues to do what he�s doing so he will have a short political career. So, looking at Toronto through the eyes of AV is not that spectacular."

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut You're repeating yourself without acknowledging other people's responses. Those things are all fine and dandy in moderation. Vaughan wants ONLY those things, which is neither desirable nor sustainable.

that's exactly what i was trying to say. the city needs a balance of different things for different people.

i am all for having little cafes and galleries throughout the city especially when they celebrate the diversity of toronto. but i also need a grocery store, a drug store, a dollar store, a dive bar, a patio, a club, a park, easy way to get around... the list goes on.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers Douchbag heaven? Despite your marginalizing subsequent comments based on this one, tell us about another world class city that is void of galleries, restaurants and cafes, cultural heritage, etc. One good example would be good. New York, London, Paris, etc. are very well known for all of these things, plus their great night life (clubs and bars).

i don't know what you were trying to say with these statements but you are contradicting yourself. all those cities have all the cultural things plus the other things that cities need. New York = good transit system which Toronto doesn't have, London = great nightlife which AV wants to shut down in Toronto, Paris = great restaurants with patios which AV wants to get rid of too.


trust me. i never said that i want no galleries, little restaurants, or any of these things. i enjoy them a lot throughout the city. i love going to the opera. i live beside 2 galleries. but there are other things that make a city work.

quote:

Originally posted by DeleteFromUsers I don't think many architects and city planners will disagree about tearing down the Gardner. It is an awful eyesore and cuts off the downtown core from our beautiful waterfront. Admittedly, tearing it down will be trying on the city, but it was a mistake to begin with and it needs to be rectified.

I stopped reading when I got this far.

Anyone who would tear down a huge boon to the city's economy for no better reason than "It's an eyesore" is probably the same type of person who votes for douchebags like Adam Vaughn.

Tearing it down is a horrible idea, if anything, it should be extended to seamlessly connect with the DVP. And then it should be used as the boundary beyond which no tall-ass buildings should be built, so as to keep the lake shore useable, and not simply filled with expensive condo units.

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