Toronto City Council is starting their debate on steps to address gun violence. You can watch live here:
Big part of the debate is likely to be the purchase of ShotSpotter technology — a bunch of microphones that listen and are supposed to alert police when there’s gunfire.
Per Forbes, there is reason to be skeptical about how well this works. forbes.com/sites/mattdran…
Per Forbes, there is reason to be skeptical about how well this works. forbes.com/sites/mattdran…
Mayor Tory moved an on-the-fly motion at the last police board meeting to buy ShotSpotter. Purchase would cost the city about $1.3 million this year, then $600K per year going forward.
Councillor John Campbell to Police Chief Mark Saunders: “Do you feel that gang members are more brazen since council and since the province sort of handicapped you by making restrictions on on-the-streets checks?” Oh god.
Chief Saunders equates carding to a herring net. “A herring net does its job and it does it very effectively. It catches hundreds of thousands of herring. But it also catches the seat turtles, it also catches the dolphins. Those were the beacon points that caused the social cost”
Mayor John Tory says Premier Doug Ford’s comments yesterday about devoting provincial mental health funding toward the police were taken out of context. “That’s not what he meant.”
Councillors have started introducing motions on the Gun Violence item. This, by Councillor Josh Matlow, would stop the purchase of the ShotSpotter tech.
This motion by Councillor Joe Cressy asks the federal government to ban the sale of hand guns in Toronto, and the provincial government to ban the sale of ammo.
And then there are six motions by a councillor who, earlier this week, dared people to call him racist.
Worth comparing this very thorough 2008 city report on gun violence in Toronto with the meagre bits of information councillors have in front of them today. toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2…
Councillor Karygiannis has a motion to ask the federal government to develop a “private-public partnership” for gun repositories where people would store their handguns and rifles.
Wouldn’t be totally shocked if a councillor today moved to sign a deal with Omni Consumer Products.
Council votes 43-2 to adopt Councillor Joe Cressy’s motion to increase the 2018 budget for youth violence prevention programs.
Motion by Councillor Josh Matlow to request Ontario gov fulfill their campaign promise to spend additional $1.9 billion on mental health CARRIES 44-1. Weird, Palacio.
Councillor Matlow’s motion to eliminate money for CCTV and the ShotSpotter tech from anti-violence plan FAILS 12-33.
Mihevc motion that police board report to exec committee on ShotSpotter tech (effectiveness, privacy, etc.) prior to buying it FAILS 15-30.
Cressy motion urging the feds to ban handgun sales in Toronto and the province to ban ammo sales CARRIES 41-4.
Cressy motion asking Ontario coroner to hold inquest into gun deaths CARRIES 38-7.
Mammoliti motion to establish gun amnesty/buyback program CARRIES 42-3.
Mammoliti motion to request province provide more tools to evict people for criminal behaviour CARRIES 42-3.
Mammoliti motion for a report on the feasibility of a citywide curfew for people under 15 FAILS 8-37.
(“Councillor Ford, you’d have to get home early,” Nunziata joked, before the curfew vote. Pretty good.)
Mammoliti motion requesting the police board immediately hire 100 new cops CARRIES 24-21.
Mammoliti motion requesting a report on a “lack of parenting” and its connection to gun violence FAILS 11-34.
Mammoliti motion to request province review Police Services Act to consider providing police with more tools to gather evidence (like carding) FAILS 22-23.
Mammoliti’s motion was originally a straight-up call to bring back carding. He later withdrew and altered it to be significantly more vague.
Wong-Tam motion requesting federal government strengthen gun control laws CARRIES 40-5.
Wong-Tam motion for a report on a zoning bylaw that’d regulate the storage of guns and ammo in Toronto CARRIES 41-4.
Wong-Tam motion to develop intersectional gender-based analysis and approach to gun violence CARRIES 44-1.
Davis motion to investigate Toronto gun clubs and determine whether they are operating legally CARRIES 38-6.
Davis motion to investigate feasibility of the city acquiring and repurposing Toronto gun clubs with shooting ranges CARRIES 23-21.
Bailao motion to consult with Ontario Privacy Commissioner before awarding contract for ShotSpotter CARRIES 33-12.
Tory motion to request the Attorney General of Canada pass legislation that enacts tougher penalties for gun traffickers, directs more resources to gun trafficking CARRIES 44-1.
Palacio says he voted wrong on the Matlow motion requesting the province fulfill campaign promise to spend an additional $1.9 billion on mental health. On re-vote, carries unanimously. 45-0.
And the “Immediate Steps to Address Gun Violence” item carries unanimously, 45-0.
This is the only amendment that carried re: ShotSpotter. I think the intent is that police wouldn’t buy if the privacy commissioner identified issues that couldn’t be resolved, but language leaves some wiggle room.
