From Avoid.net

[edit] Background from the TPSC

The City is about to embark on a process called the Coordinated Street Furniture Program. Inspired by good intentions to beautify our streets, the project has turned into the biggest public space sell-off we've seen so far and might as well be called the Sidewalk Privatisation Program.

Here is the rhyming deputation I made at city council on May 3rd, 2006 Version two, delivered at the executive committee, April 30th, 2007 can nbe found @ publicspaceinvasion

Good Morning Councillors and Madam Chair, Thank you for allowing me to speak on this affair.

I’m here because I live in this great town And I’m concerned with what is going down

A quick caution before ye embark To sell our streets to corporate sharks

For if this deal it doth proceed I fear it might give way to greed

You aim to grow the city’s coffer But understand exactly what’s on offer

A deal that lasts for 20 years Is a bold and profitable frontier

Quite a rich and glimmering prize If our streets we privatise

However

This fat and lucrative contract May turn into a binding pact Leaving Toronto’s citizens To face off ‘gainst scads of Monster Bins

Or some other sad disgrace Whose primary goal is more ad space

With form and function both pathetic Clashing with our smooth aesthetic

Why must our street furniture all be the same? A boring monoculture would be a shame For a city so diverse A uniform solution seems averse

Here’s an idea: why not start To reserve some space for public art Breathe new life unto our streets For more than advertisings’ elite

Another thing to be unhid Our furniture shouldn’t drain our grid It seems like an idiotic scam To plug in a garbage can It seems quite odd, just not quite right To outfit our furniture with lights But if the goal is just to sell Lets plug in our hydrants as well

The city should cover this type of thing New gear to make our streets go bling To celebrate our urban space And elevate our streets to a new place

Don’t pull the wool over our eyes Invest in shinny new supplies For we do pay municipal tax Don’t sell us out to corporate hacks