Quiet down, Toronto
Thanks to the Star for reporting on the difficult process of managing noise in the city. It looks like noise is becoming a hot topic of debate, the way banning smoking in public places was once a hot topic. One piece of the puzzle is how best to measure noise. The city currently measures noise with dBA decibels, which do not measure bass noise. A better way to measure noise is with dBZ decibels, which include bass in the noise report. An example of why this important is the island airport, which uses dBA in its noise reports, yet half the noise the airport makes is bass noise. The airport is only reporting half the noise it makes. It’s the same problem with nightclubs, festivals and outdoor concerts, some of which under-report their noise, by using treble-biased dBA. The city has to measure the full noise with dBZ if noise is to be managed effectively.
Max Moore, Toronto
It’s time to recognize that noise has wide-reaching impacts. It is a health issue causing hearing damage, even if you like it (e.g., as from a rock concert you paid to attend), and contributing significantly to high blood pressure, stress and sleep issues all of which exacerbate heart disease, diabetes, mental illness and learning problems. It’s an equity issue with the poor enduring the greatest amount of noise and the blind unable to discern cues in noise-saturated surroundings. It’s an environmental issue, driving people away from noisy verandas and balconies to air-conditioned indoor spaces. It is a crime issue, with rowdy parties sometimes ending in violence. In short, noise is costing us big time.
Anita Dermer, Toronto
Ontario Liberals, Tories responsible for cuts
Welfare rates now $200 a month below the Harris cuts of 1995, Jan. 5
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Star contributor John Stapleton is right. Those who have to access Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are far worse off today than the were in 1995. The Harris Conservatives slashed support payments and the Ford Conservatives are on track to follow suit. But we had a Liberal government for many years between Harris and Ford. What did they do to rectify the mistakes of their predecessors?
John Zvanitajs, Innisfil, Ont.
College must think of staff
If George Brown College is truly concerned about the housing affordability crisis and its impact on staff, it ought to examine its employment practices before it starts building homes for staff. George Brown is an institution that bases its academic staffing model on precarious employment. Over 70 per cent of faculty at the college are employed on short-term contracts and have no job security whatsoever. Precarious employment undermines the economic stability required to buy a home (or even rent) in Toronto. You can’t think about purchasing a home when you don’t even know if you will have a job in the coming semester. Joe Cressy, the college’s senior vice-president of external relations, communications and real estate development, says that they “need to ensure workers can afford to live in this city.” This can only begin with ensuring that more of their staff have secure, well-paying jobs. It’s nice to consider building homes for staff, but right now George Brown’s practices would prevent most employees from being able to buy them.
Jeff Brown
Professor, George Brown College
Chief Steward, OPSEU Local 556
Women belong in hockey
The most joyous thing I've seen this year, and hopefully for many years to come, is the PWHL games where the women are playing hockey at a very high level and having so much fun doing it, much more fun than the "leave no prisoners" attitude of the NHL. When was the last time you saw two hockey players crashing into the boards and coming up smiling and laughing with each other? I wish the league many years of success. Thank you ladies!
Gregg Derrett, Guelph, Ont.
Women's professional hockey? Long overdue. As a teenager, I followed the audacity of Abigail "Abby" Hoffman, the ultimate "tomboy," who in the mid-1950s cut her hair and played in an all-boys minor hockey league in Toronto. The revelation of her gender meant exclusion from the league, and the brouhaha reflected society's view that girls' physical activities should be restricted to figure skating, skipping and hopscotch. Abby later found her forte in track and field. Her grit and determination were evident in her challenge: "People don't think running 15 miles a week is a good idea for girls? Guess what? I'm going to run 60." An amazing competitor, she competed in the Olympics and was Canada's flag-bearer at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
Abby faced any perceived injustice head on. Once refused the privilege of training at a University of Toronto facility, her efforts ended an entrenched chauvinist barrier. A plaque in her honour bears the quote, "Only she who attempts the absurd will achieve the impossible." No doubt Hoffman is giving a thumbs up to the overwhelming success of the fledgling PWHL.
Garry Burke, Oro-Medonte, Ont.
Idea for Old City Hall
If Coun. Josh Matlow's vision of turning Old City Hall into a museum comes to fruition, it would be great if part of the museum could focus on Toronto's music scene. From our symphonies and choirs to Yorkville in the 60s and 70s to Queen West to the Toronto jazz scene, we have a rich musical history to be remembered and celebrated.
Brian O'Sullivan, Stouffville, Ont.
Toronto the good
I had a minor fall when I was biking to Yorkdale the other day. Two cars stopped within seconds, with people asking if I was OK and if I needed help. Fortunately, I was fine. I will be paying it forward. As singer Luke Bryan sings, "I believe most people are good."
John Simonton, Toronto
