Actual Results of May 2002 Artscape Feasibility Study Survey obtained through Freedom of Information Act

pdf file here
Subsequent to Artscape's release of its delayed feasibility study, Mihevc & City Staff distributed a survey to determine community support for the options outlined in the report. The questions provided did not allow for a NO ARTSCAPE option. Clearly it was yet another junk poll providing the illusion of consultation, but actually meant to support a foregone conclusion. Accordingly residents organised a write-in campaign rejecting Artscape's involvement outright

The results published in the City Staff analysis of the Feasibility Study were completely not credible. A freedom of information request was therefore filed on July 2'02 to gain access to the surveys. The subsequent bureaucratic response was sufficiently glacial that pertinent information was witheld from 2 Midtown Meetings & 1 Council Meeting. Full compliance was achieved when copies of the surveys were delivered on Dec 27 '02.

Analysis of the survey information utterly discredits the conclusions published in the Staff report analysing Artscape's Feasibility Study..

The surveys released by the City excised personal identifiers but contained Postal Codes & Street names which allowed for tracking the origins of support for the various options in the junk poll.

Opposition to Artscape was strongest in the immediate neighbourhood.
Support for Artscape was weakest in the immediate neighbourhood.
Support for Artscape was strongest in the outlying areas of the catchment area, (specifically North of St Clair in Councillor Mihevc's old York Bailiwick & south of Davenport.)
Support for Artscape was also vigorous outside the Ward, in the Annex, Queen St & of all things 905

NO ARTSCAPE 1 Barn 2 Barns 3 Barns 4 Barns 5 Barns TOTAL
Total in City's Catchment* 278 57 13 67 68 272 755
35 Incomplete
Results in City Report† 239 48 21 41 67 429 845
88 Incomplete
OUTSIDE OF "CATCHMENT"Ø 18 5 3 7 23 181 237
24% of the surveys counted by City Staff came from outside the stated boundaries. Ballot Box Stuffing?
September 2002 - The City says ALL survey forms tabulated in its June 2002 †Report on the
Artscape Feasibility Study came from this "catchment area":
*Winona to the west, CPR tracks to the south , Bathurst to the east, Vaughan Rd to the north.

December 2002 - Citizens obtain copies of the survey forms through Freedom of Information.

January 2003 - Citizens report to the City that almost 25% of the survey forms
came from outside the "catchment area"*.

February 2003 - The City says that survey forms from OUTSIDE the "catchment area"*
were included in the survey numbers tabulated in the report†.

Ø 237 survey forms from outside the area, including forms filled out by residents of Maple,
Vaughan, Mississauga, Oro Station, Markham, Richmond Hill, Etobicoke, Parkdale,
Scarborough, North York, as well as other Toronto wards
were used by the City as a
means of "gauging public opinion in the neighbourhood"(Chief Administrative Officer
of the City of Toronto, Shirley Hoy, Feb.11/03).

COUNCIL & CITIZENS WERE NOT TOLD THIS!
IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURHOOD RESULTS
NO ARTSCAPE 1 BARN 2 BARNS 3 BARNS 4 BARNS 5 BARNS TOTAL
ALCINA 48 9 ------ ------- ------- 6 63
BENSON 7 4 1 3 2 7 24
CHRISTIE 20 2 ------ 2 1 14 39
ELLSWORTH 13 6 ------ 5 3 10 37
HELENA 57 9 3 7 7 21 104
HOCKEN 8 ---- ----- ---- ---- 1 9
SLADE 3 1 2 1 ---- 2 9
TYRREL 20 3 ---- --- 6 4 33
WYCHWOOD 18 2 ---- 1 2 3 26
WYCHWOOD PARK 45 6 3 2 ---- 4 60
TOTAL FROM LOCAL STREETS 239 42 9 21 21 72 404