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Local activist Margaret Samuel, who emceed the event, said the coalition had gathered to expose the “insanities” caused by the city’s “mismanagement” of a range of issues since Chow was elected two years ago, including “encampments, methadone clinics, bike lanes, exclusive bus lanes, vending machines (giving out) drug paraphernalia, the 16.4 per cent property tax increases over the past two years and the dropping of 24/7 homeless shelters on neighbourhoods.” 

Samuel predicted those “hot buttons” would be election issues in next October’s municipal race.

The residents were joined by Anthony Furey, who came fourth to Chow in the 2023 mayoral byelection and is considering running again, as well as ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservative MP Roman Baber. Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York), who placed eighth two years ago and is widely expected to challenge Chow again next year, was listed as a speaker but didn’t show. He told the Star he was tied up at a previously scheduled planning committee meeting.

As speaker after speaker criticized what they said was the city’s lack of consultation on plans for affecting their neighbourhoods, they were met with about 20 counterprotesters who shouted “Shame!”, “Shelters now!”, and The city belongs to everyone, not just you!” 

Paul Macchiusi of the Protect Bathurst Coalition spoke against plans for RapidTO bus lanes, which he called an attempt by the city and TTC to impose “permanent, radical change to our infrastructure.” Cody McCrae from Balance on Bloor inveighed against the “reckless” and “ideological” decision to install bike lanes on Bloor Street West. Baber, carrying a large map of a section of his York Centre riding, spoke against the proposed shelter at 1220 Wilson Ave. 

David Margulies, who opposes plans for a shelter on Third Street in his Etobicoke-Lakeshore community, demanded an end to “harm reduction practices in our neighbourhood.” He declared that anyone who thinks they can silence groups like his “by calling them NIMBYs” — a pejorative acronym for homeowners who oppose any change to their communities — “better think again.” 

Furey, who finished with less than five per cent of the vote in the 2023 mayoral byelection, said Tuesday’s rally represented the “silent majority of communities all across the city, from all walks of life, coming together to reclaim their city from the radical fringe who have dictated the terms at city hall for too long.” 

Counterprotester Marina Classen said she came out Tuesday to combat that narrative. “They’re trying to say they’re a citizens coalition that represents the many, when they represent the few,” she said.  

Classen, who works with the Harm Reduction Advocacy Collective, asserted that amid ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½’s housing and drug crisis “99 per cent” of residents “are in a vulnerable place,” and “need access to shelter, need access to safe consumption sites, need access to bike lanes to be able to transit, and want a greener future.”

The groups assembled Tuesday “don’t speak for all of us,” she said. 

The city has defended its implementation of bike and bus lanes as necessary to devote more road space to transportation modes more efficient than private cars, and to ensure the safety of cyclists. Staff recently scaled back plans for bus lanes after objections from local businesses.

On shelters, the city says more of them are needed as ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½’s homeless population surges. Council voted in 2017 to give staff, instead of council members, the authority to select shelter locations in an effort to depoliticize debate around the facilities, which are often met with pushback no matter where they’re built. 

While the residents and politicians at the rally appear to be gearing up to challenge Chow next year, the mayor said she’s not focused on the 2026 vote.

“We’re so far away from any election,” she said after an unrelated press conference at St. Lawrence Market before Tuesday’s event.

She acknowledged designs for bike or bus lanes can sometimes be improved, and said it was important to be “flexible” to protect small businesses that have concerns about their impact on commercial activity. But she said she recently visited London, England, where buses and cyclists have their own rights-of-way, and considers it a model ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ should emulate. 

“And yes, change is difficult, but once it gets going, I think it will work for everyone,” she said. 

The mayor said she was open to listening to residents of different backgrounds. “No matter what political stripe one has, I’m always open for different ideas.”