'Bubble legislation' back on the ballot: Two Toronto councillors explain what's changed since May

The CJN Daily with Ellin Bessner

On Dec. 17, Toronto's city council will consider a report on a new package of measures aimed at better protecting vulnerable community spaces—including schools, houses of worship, hospitals and community centres—that have become targeted by hateful demonstrations in the last year. And while the report doesn't specifically mention the Jewish community, the package does include $2.5 million to install protective traffic bollards and other street furniture to deter violent car-ramming attacks, which sources say was a specific request to help the downtown Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Toronto police have responded to nearly 2,000 demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza war, with more than 160 people charged for more than 400 hate crimes. Many Jewish leaders have expressed frustration that the authorities and the City haven't done more to stop these protests, where participants routinely harass and intimidate Jewish residents, business owners and passersby in Jewish neighbourhoods and elsewhere. Back in May, city council was asked to approach the province to bring in this so-called bubble legislation, which would establish a no-go zone around vulnerable spaces, but 13 councillors, along with Mayor Olivia Chow, voted it down and instead, council adopted a motion to draw up an action framework, and that is what's coming back to council on Dec 17.

So what's changed between May and today? On The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner is joined by councillors James Pasternak, who has been prodding city staff to move, and Josh Matlow, who voted against bubble legislation back in May—but will be on side this time, even though he still thinks the bylaw doesn't solve the bigger problem.

What we talked about:

• Read more on the proposed anti-hate measures and renewed effort to bring in so-called bubble bylaws at Toronto city council this coming week, in The CJN.
• Learn more about the proposed safety measures by reading the city council documents yourself, on the toronto.ca website.
• Why the new bubble legislation bylaw enacted by the City of Vaughan failed its first big test outside the BAYT synagogue on Dec. 9, in The CJN.

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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