‘SHAME ON ALL OF YOU’
PROMINENT TORONTO BUSINESSMAN DECRIES CITY’S OVERALL DECLINE
One of Toronto’s most prominent businessmen has issued an open letter decrying the city’s decline into violence and disorder — and calling out civic leaders for letting it happen.
Thomas Caldwell, chairperson of Caldwell Investment Management Ltd., bought a full-page ad in the National Post headlined “Cry for Toronto.”
Caldwell, a past chairperson of the Canadian Securities Exchange and a former governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange, gave an account of the past two weeks. He says he was verbally and physically assaulted in the streets. “I assume for the arrogance of wearing a suit and tie,” he writes.
There were also what he calls “shouter” incidents on the subway. “I love the vacant TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) announcement ‘If you see something, say something.’ To whom? The woman sitting next to me?”
He called his advertisement an open letter to new Mayor Olivia Chow and other civic leaders, and also decried the state of transit and the friction between cyclists, pedestrians and traffic.
“They probably think they’re doing a great job. And somebody’s got to say, ‘No, no, you’re not connected with what people really need in any functioning city,’” said Caldwell in an interview Monday.
The mayor’s spokesperson, Shirven Rezvany, said in a statement that Chow is committed to making the city safer.
“The mayor understands that people across Toronto are facing difficult times, thanks in large part to our housing crisis and underinvestment in public services over the past decade or more,” he said. “After only nine weeks in office, the mayor has acted with urgency, convening city council multiple times over the summer to move faster on transit, service improvements and the city’s financial challenges. She is committed to building a more caring, safe and affordable city, and that work continues.”
In recent years, Toronto has seen a substantial rise in crime. While the city’s crime severity index, a Statistics Canada measure of prevalence of crime and its seriousness, remains lower than its peak in 2019, both violent and non-violent crimes are increasing.
The overall crime severity index for Toronto in 2022 was 51.2; that’s up about six points since 2021.
In the past couple of years, Toronto has seen an increase in the number of random, seemingly unprovoked acts of violence. In July, Karolina Huebner-makurat was killed by a stray bullet during a daylight shooting in Leslieville. Michael Finlay, a longtime CBC producer, was attacked randomly by a stranger earlier this year and killed, while walking along Danforth Avenue. Shortly before Christmas last year, Kenneth Lee was randomly swarmed, allegedly by a group of teen girls, and killed in a Toronto park. Also last December, Vanessa Kurpiewska and another woman were stabbed on the subway; Kurpiewska later died at age 31. In July 2022, Nyima Dolma died after being set on fire on a bus. Still more have been stabbed and shot dead. Others have been pushed onto the tracks or mugged.
Toronto’s crime severity index remains far below the national average of 78.1, and police, at various times this year, have tried to reassure the public that it remains a safe city. Still, for many, it doesn’t feel that way.
“My staff dread riding on public transit,” Caldwell writes.
In addition to the problems on transit and safety on the sidewalks, Caldwell also writes in his letter that there’s a “war on cars” and that he’s experienced “three near misses” with people on scooters and bicycles.
“No laws protect us walkers, as our local politicians will do anything not to offend cyclists,” he writes.
“Driving is also not an option with numerous short tempered confrontations resulting from Toronto’s war on cars and the city’s constant, unco-ordinated construction. Driving is a nightmare,” he writes.
In his view, local politicians have not been focused on what people actually need to live, commute and work in a big city, they are preoccupied with other things, such as pilot projects allowing alcohol in city parks, or working to rename Dundas Street. He also decries the city’s financial state, and the idea that council must raise taxes.
“My job is to articulate the problem, get people thinking about it, and have people starting to discuss it and have our politicians realize that maybe, just maybe, they’re going down the wrong road,” Caldwell said. “I’m just saying, asking, almost pleading with city council to smarten up. Realize what your job is. Your job is to serve the citizen, not to impose your view of the world, which is not one that many of us share.”
“Shame on all of you for destroying our great city!”