March 03 2011

Deputation to Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Dear Members of the T.C.H.C Board:

My name is Miguel Avila, a proud Latino Canadian and a T.C.H.C tenant. My OUC is
located at Islington and Finch Ave . I reside at 121 Kendleton Dr the “R.J Smith
Buildings” in Ward 1. On Monday Feb 28th the day the report of the A.G was released
our ,”OUC” office was closed to the tenants. Notices of office closure were posted in my
building. One may wonder what reason had Management to close the office to the
tenants? I will appreciate if you Mrs. Nakamura could find out the reasoning for the
office closure and get back to me, please.

It is my second deputation as a tenant of the T.C.H.C to the Board. In June 2010 had the
opportunity to speak on the recommendations from the LeSague review, to help the
eviction problems at the T.C.H.C and find ways to addressed the issues with tenant’s
recommendations . It is a “slow” work in progress.

On that opportunity I stress out the importance ,how tenants can contribute to the
T.C.H.C via a “ Tenant Advisory Group”. I believe very strongly that more tenant
involvement in the business of the T.C.H.C , it would benefit the organization in the
short run. In view of the Auditor Findings made in the recent days there is no doubt that
our Mayor should put real power back in the hands of the tenants.

In Jan 2011 I had expressed my concerns to the T.P.S Board about the irregular presence
of “seasonal” TAVIS officers in our building that does not address the problems by a few
bad apples like any other T.C.H.C buildings. We need Security.

My building is housed by seniors (70 percent) , Today, I suggest to this Board to

implement immediately SECURITY to the benefit of the seniors not Policing at a high
price tag for Toronto taxpayers. My Tenant Representative had told me that he had
given up requesting additional CCTV cameras for the “R.J Smith Apartment Buildings”
Today I demand this board CCTV cameras to provide “Security and Safety to our tenant
seniors” the current ones does not provide a total coverage of the three (3) buildings
entrance and exit doors as well as the parking lot. I demand immediately hiring Security
Officers, to provide 24/7 patrol to the buildings and adjacent areas. Can’t afford it? As I
understand the misused money is going to be restituted, as I understand on the report by
Staff. T.P.S can be call in strenuous circumstances, therefore saving money to Toronto
Taxpayers, and reducing the $985 Million Dollars Toronto Police Budget the largest by
far in the City Budget. Respect for Taxpayers Please.
A year has not passed yet and here we are again meeting to discuss on a new scandal as a
result of a investigation by the office of the Auditor General concerning
PROCUREMENT-Contract & Purchasing and The SOLE-SOURCING No other Bidders
allowed to Bid On TCH-Projects.

Tenants I have spoken to in my building have expressed to me their dissatisfaction and

anger, The City is disappointed and our Mayor is right to say that the current Board must
act upon the recommendations of the Auditor General report to restore trust and
confidence.

In regards the calls of resignation of the C.E.O Mrs. Nakamura and the Chairman of the
Board Mr. Mitchel I cannot pass judgment on them. Only City Council can determine
what is the best course of action needs to be implemented. I would however request that
former board members Mr. Mammolitti, Mr. Peruzza, Mrs. Fletcher and Former
Councilor Mrs. Hall respond to the Mayor, the Auditor General, City Council and
T.C.H.C tenants my question, How much they did to help implement the
recommendations of the Bellamy report as former board members of the T.C.H.C? I
would very much like to hear their answers. Currently some former board members are
currently in a scheme of things to distance themselves from any responsibility
whatsoever.

I don’t agree that the current “Citizens of the board” should resign just yet. They could
very well leave on their own accord passing the board control to a new one if necessary
to appease the Mayor’s demand for resignation. I am hoping that the “Tenant Board
Members” either get to stay or replaced by new Members, hopefully Young Tenants that
have always being left out, unconsidered and denied their input and help. You would be
surprise how much they can help our City Boards, Agencies and Commissions.

In closing you have to make some “drastic” changes in your organization in the weeks,
months and years to come to restore the trust and confidence lost. I personally don’t
believe that the T.C.H.C should be sold or/and be managed by a Private Company.
Privatization has cost double and created “additional” problems down the road. I
reiterate again the idea to add a “Tenant Advisory Group” to the Board to help to
implement the recommendation of the A.G and for future support and advise. It’s going
to be a challenge ahead and we need everyone help to overcome this unfortunate
difficulties.

I am willing to lend a hand, wouldn’t you also?

Thanks for the opportunity to allow me to speak. I will monitor the decisions of the
Board with great interest.

Miguel Avila
Ward 1