Damien Moule
@damienmoule.bsky.social
Toronto municipal policy wonk, engineer, urbanist, father.
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Damien Moule
@damienmoule.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Hello to everyone who found me from a starter pack. For those who don't me, I write (mostly) about housing, urbanism, and Toronto municipal government policy. Here's a thread of some of my longer form writing over the last two years.
I am fairly objectively both a YIMBY keyboard warrior and a data-driven dad.
Turns out the real political spectrum is just how people feel about free parking 😂
Tag yourself!
Tag yourself!
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I am fairly objectively both a YIMBY keyboard warrior and a data-driven dad.
3 councillors opposing 6 storeys near Islington station. Time for all three to go.
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 AM
3 councillors opposing 6 storeys near Islington station. Time for all three to go.
Happy to see it come to a vote now rather than wait a year. I will say instead of ward by ward I'd prefer the motion to attach to the R and RM zones. Would bring us a step closer conceptually to Japanese zoning which I prefer.
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Happy to see it come to a vote now rather than wait a year. I will say instead of ward by ward I'd prefer the motion to attach to the R and RM zones. Would bring us a step closer conceptually to Japanese zoning which I prefer.
To me there's a surprisingly large amount of subtext here. Mayor Chow is speaking from Willowdale. She's saying to suburban voters this isn't scary and new. She's saying to suburban councillors this isn't some downtown thing. She's saying councillor Cheng pick whether you're on the team or not.
November 10, 2025 at 5:23 PM
To me there's a surprisingly large amount of subtext here. Mayor Chow is speaking from Willowdale. She's saying to suburban voters this isn't scary and new. She's saying to suburban councillors this isn't some downtown thing. She's saying councillor Cheng pick whether you're on the team or not.
Reposted by Damien Moule
Some random group of NIMBYs, claiming to speak for all of Toronto, is deeply concerned about neighbourhood stores.
The spokesperson (frequent activist vs planning reform) lives in a wealthy, deeply suburban part of Etobicoke.
These people speak for no one, and ought to be ignored.
cot-ra.org
The spokesperson (frequent activist vs planning reform) lives in a wealthy, deeply suburban part of Etobicoke.
These people speak for no one, and ought to be ignored.
cot-ra.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Some random group of NIMBYs, claiming to speak for all of Toronto, is deeply concerned about neighbourhood stores.
The spokesperson (frequent activist vs planning reform) lives in a wealthy, deeply suburban part of Etobicoke.
These people speak for no one, and ought to be ignored.
cot-ra.org
The spokesperson (frequent activist vs planning reform) lives in a wealthy, deeply suburban part of Etobicoke.
These people speak for no one, and ought to be ignored.
cot-ra.org
Daughter won this bluey themed mat at a kid's birthday party. Every park and school surrounded by wide roads, dead ended sidewalks making trips by foot dangerous and unpleasant. It's just like the real world.
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Daughter won this bluey themed mat at a kid's birthday party. Every park and school surrounded by wide roads, dead ended sidewalks making trips by foot dangerous and unpleasant. It's just like the real world.
Reposted by Damien Moule
I guess we're at the part of the business cycle where rental providers are less greedy (said very sarcastically).
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I guess we're at the part of the business cycle where rental providers are less greedy (said very sarcastically).
Reposted by Damien Moule
Anyway, going into elections next year, please consider:
-suburban councillors are typically the votes needed for citywide change
-some wards (Willowdale, SSW) have organizations on-the-ground
-consider supporting suburban councillors who took bold stances instead of/in addition to focusing downtown
-suburban councillors are typically the votes needed for citywide change
-some wards (Willowdale, SSW) have organizations on-the-ground
-consider supporting suburban councillors who took bold stances instead of/in addition to focusing downtown
November 9, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Anyway, going into elections next year, please consider:
-suburban councillors are typically the votes needed for citywide change
-some wards (Willowdale, SSW) have organizations on-the-ground
-consider supporting suburban councillors who took bold stances instead of/in addition to focusing downtown
-suburban councillors are typically the votes needed for citywide change
-some wards (Willowdale, SSW) have organizations on-the-ground
-consider supporting suburban councillors who took bold stances instead of/in addition to focusing downtown
Reposted by Damien Moule
How Toronto killed Sesame Street. My column on the retreat from allowing shops in neighbourhoods
& other watering down of good ideas.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
& other watering down of good ideas.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Shawn Micallef: How Toronto killed ‘Sesame Street’ with its heritage rules — and how we can bring it back
In the face of opposition from even small groups, the city ends up watering down even the best ideas.
www.thestar.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
How Toronto killed Sesame Street. My column on the retreat from allowing shops in neighbourhoods
& other watering down of good ideas.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
& other watering down of good ideas.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Behold the HORROR of neighbourhood retail. These STRANGERS are lined up for pizza. STEALING business from our main streets. And who knows what DANGER they present to YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?!?!?
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Behold the HORROR of neighbourhood retail. These STRANGERS are lined up for pizza. STEALING business from our main streets. And who knows what DANGER they present to YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?!?!?
I think if I'm looking to optimize this I'm re-allocating those stands north of the 401 to the east end and then coming back north of the 401 in a few years with a different allocation strategy.
Yesterday there were approximately 21,384 Toronto Bikeshare bikeshare trips
Most used station: 144 Harrison St (214 trips)
Least used station: Scarborough Soccer Centre and 178 others (0 trips)
Active stations: 985
#bikeTO
Most used station: 144 Harrison St (214 trips)
Least used station: Scarborough Soccer Centre and 178 others (0 trips)
Active stations: 985
#bikeTO
November 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I think if I'm looking to optimize this I'm re-allocating those stands north of the 401 to the east end and then coming back north of the 401 in a few years with a different allocation strategy.
It's always interesting how little in cities comes down to ideology and how much is up to the planning zeitgeist. Thomas Kuhn in everything.
And for Bologna, it is totally a cultural change rather than a political one: the city was governed by a coalition of Communists and Socialists uninterruptedly from 1948 to the 1990s, but there was a generational change in the 1960s, matching a shift in the broader society and national politics.
November 7, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's always interesting how little in cities comes down to ideology and how much is up to the planning zeitgeist. Thomas Kuhn in everything.
This hits the Toronto sweet spot of embarassing, expensive, and clearly ineffective next to obvious alternatives.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
TTC rolling out system to 'call out' bad behaviour over station speakers
Pilot project will be starting at Union and Dundas stations
www.torontotoday.ca
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
This hits the Toronto sweet spot of embarassing, expensive, and clearly ineffective next to obvious alternatives.
www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
Whatever else you want to say about electricity production methods, the moral of the 90s Ontario Hydro debt and subsequent breakup was it's much better for everyone if the public feels the cost of electricity directly and it appears we have to learn it again and again
www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
Ontario nearly doubles household electricity rebates to cover surging hydro prices
While the net result on residential hydro bills is minimal, the increase in the rebate will cost taxpayers an estimated $2 billion more per year — meaning power subsidies will
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Whatever else you want to say about electricity production methods, the moral of the 90s Ontario Hydro debt and subsequent breakup was it's much better for everyone if the public feels the cost of electricity directly and it appears we have to learn it again and again
www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
Reposted by Damien Moule
The province just lowered its housing forecast again in the Fall Economic Statement (FES). There will be 17,000 fewer homes by 2028, leaving Ontario 390,000 homes short of its goal.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
November 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The province just lowered its housing forecast again in the Fall Economic Statement (FES). There will be 17,000 fewer homes by 2028, leaving Ontario 390,000 homes short of its goal.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
The crisis isn’t slowing. It’s accelerating because all levels of gov still can't act with cohesion or conviction.
Reposted by Damien Moule
On the agenda for Council next week: Councillor Pasternak wants the City to officially back the province on a Ministerial Zoning Order to stop housing from being built. Not quite in line with either government's claim that housing is their top priority. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
November 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
On the agenda for Council next week: Councillor Pasternak wants the City to officially back the province on a Ministerial Zoning Order to stop housing from being built. Not quite in line with either government's claim that housing is their top priority. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Data issues aside, bikeshare doing quite well in fall 2025.
Yesterday there were approximately 24,765 Toronto Bikeshare bikeshare trips
Most used station: 144 Harrison St (403 trips)
Least used station: 95 Beecroft Rd and 178 others (0 trips)
Active stations: 983
#bikeTO
Most used station: 144 Harrison St (403 trips)
Least used station: 95 Beecroft Rd and 178 others (0 trips)
Active stations: 983
#bikeTO
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Data issues aside, bikeshare doing quite well in fall 2025.
Reposted by Damien Moule
City of Toronto Financial Planning Division has obviously abandoned its open sourcing of City of Toronto budgets.
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
City of Toronto Financial Planning Division has obviously abandoned its open sourcing of City of Toronto budgets.
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Cheating cause Toronto only:
-End the TTC cost spiral (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw263)
-Courtyard apartments (impossibletoronto.ca)
-Quiet Streets (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw293 paywalled sorry)
-End the TTC cost spiral (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw263)
-Courtyard apartments (impossibletoronto.ca)
-Quiet Streets (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw293 paywalled sorry)
November 6, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Cheating cause Toronto only:
-End the TTC cost spiral (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw263)
-Courtyard apartments (impossibletoronto.ca)
-Quiet Streets (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw293 paywalled sorry)
-End the TTC cost spiral (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw263)
-Courtyard apartments (impossibletoronto.ca)
-Quiet Streets (toronto.cityhallwatcher.com/p/chw293 paywalled sorry)
Everything Marco is saying doesn't apply to ALTO but also to Metrolinx, the TTC, STM, etc. despite already existing and having alignments they want for projects. If premiers in Ontario and Quebec want HSR it would be helpful to have even one organization you could point to as a good example.
I've done something that I don't do very often. I wrote a short, quick polemic post. It was prompted by a discussion in here.
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
It's about why I'm still skeptical about ALTO's HSR project and why there is no way around transparency in public projects.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Why I’m still skeptical about ALTO’s HSR project
A reality check and a plea for transparency.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Everything Marco is saying doesn't apply to ALTO but also to Metrolinx, the TTC, STM, etc. despite already existing and having alignments they want for projects. If premiers in Ontario and Quebec want HSR it would be helpful to have even one organization you could point to as a good example.
So these are the last two items from the Housing Action Plan that I feel confident City Planning will get to before the election/HAP is cast aside (other than MTSA implementation which they have to do). And I think what that tells me is not to expect much of anything out of them.
November 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
So these are the last two items from the Housing Action Plan that I feel confident City Planning will get to before the election/HAP is cast aside (other than MTSA implementation which they have to do). And I think what that tells me is not to expect much of anything out of them.
A good reminder that press coverage from outside your city is often nonsense (actually the inside coverage is often bad too). I was rooting for Projet Montreal and didn't understand why people would be mad with Plante but I don't live there to understand the dynamics
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Why Zohran Mamdani May Want to Look to Toronto
Canada’s most prominent mayor is a fan — and she has some advice for the potential next mayor of New York.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
A good reminder that press coverage from outside your city is often nonsense (actually the inside coverage is often bad too). I was rooting for Projet Montreal and didn't understand why people would be mad with Plante but I don't live there to understand the dynamics
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Damien Moule
Whenever I'm running in the area I like to take the Baldwin steps (and run down Baldwin Street) as a little tribute to the Canadian tradition of democratic reform.
November 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Whenever I'm running in the area I like to take the Baldwin steps (and run down Baldwin Street) as a little tribute to the Canadian tradition of democratic reform.
Let us all worship at the temple of the sun goddess. May her light always shine on the roof of single family homes.
November 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Let us all worship at the temple of the sun goddess. May her light always shine on the roof of single family homes.