Local Toronto Music Promoter Vs Councilor Janet Davis

It all began at Stan Wadlow Park (Woodbine and Cosburn) on Labour Day Weekend, 2003, where The 10th Annual Beaches Blues Fest was being held.  Such artists as Cathy Wells, from Colona BC, who had incurred the cost of both her travel, and of hiring Downchild’s Rhythm section, were scheduled to perform.  As per the original agreement between the organizers and the city, the event was to be held until 9pm, but the city deemed it appropriate to change this at the last minute, insisting the sound be shut down at 6pm. David Miller, mayoral candidate was invited to speak, and as it’s hard for even the city to cut off a city councilor mid-sentence, organizers were able to stick with the original plan.  This was a saving grace for the vendors, and considering the many thousands of dollars that had already been paid to the city to staff the event.  Despite the fact that the event when past suppertime, they received many compliments from passers-by and residents about their obvious consideration and thoughtfulness in comparison with similar festivals.

Earlier that year, the creator of the Danforth Music Festival, Leroy St.Germaine, who is currently serving a life-sentence as an event planner, requested two permits. The first was to hold the Annual Beaches Blues Festival on the beach, with bands lined up along the boardwalk pointing their music towards the water as to not disturb residents. The second was for the East York Music Festival, to be held at the aforementioned Stan Wadlow Park. The application was presented in March, but received no response from Parks and Recreation by May.  As the dates of the festivals neared, Leroy enlisted local Councilor, Janet Davis (Ward 31; Beaches/East York) to enquire about the slow response from Parks and Recreation, as Stan Wadlow Park is in her Ward.  Davis still hadn’t contacted Leroy by June, when he encountered her while he was volunteering for “BBQ For The Cure”.  Davis told him she owed him a phone call, and weeks later, her promise to contact him ASAP seemed pretty empty.

Pressed for time, Leroy decided to go directly to the city.  To enquire if it was legal to have  amplified music on private property. He was told he would not need a permit and could allow the music to run from 11 am straight through 11 pm.  Pleased, he proceeded, and the first festival boasted 25 bands.The 2nd Annual Featured 75 Bands at 25 locations between Victoria Park and Coxwell along the Danforth.   Happy Ending?

Following the 2nd Annual Danforth Music Festival, Councilor Janet Davis sent a letter to all of the businesses in the area telling them that the event took place without a permit, that it was not approved by the city, and that any business who got involved the following year would be CHARGED.  Not surprisingly, the already struggling proprietors who are not members of a BIA (Business Improvement Association), who participated previously, and any who were considering joining are, at best, reluctant to do so.

In order for people to be charged for having live music on their property, the music has to exceed 85 decibels, not to be measured on the property, but AT THE PROPERTY LINE – this is not impossible by any means, but it is highly unlikely that even one quarter of the bands involved even came close to this limit.  Unfortunately, many of the business owners are unaware of this, and all of them have now been warned-officially-and said warning is a very strong deterrent.  Also note that the offense is not a criminal charge issued by a police officer, but a by-law citation, issued by one of the few By-law officers unfortunate enough to be working the long weekend.  For the protection of the business owners, and to ensure that everyone adheres to this law, Leroy has recently purchased a decibel meter from Long and McQuade’s, who, by the way, were kind enough to write off $2000 of equipment stolen from the 2nd Annual Danforth Music Festival.
The only way Councilor Davis would be willing to allow even one folk band on the Danforth is with a BIA (Business Improvement Association), which would be necessary for, and require, such practically unattainable permits as the ones for which Leroy had previously applied.  A BIA, with the promise of improving business in the area with beautification, promotion and increased policing, is now being formed for the strip of Danforth Ave. between Dawes and Main. In order for the neighborhood to have a BIA, the majority of the businesses have to agree to join and then all the businesses have to pay additional taxes.  Many areas are opposed to the idea of a BIA; In part, because they would be paying additional taxes for policing, that not only are they entitled to, but to which they have already contributed tax dollars.  Furthermore, there is no guarantee of any improvements to the area at all, especially if those governing the association don’t have the neighborhood’s best interests at heart.

According to the head of the Residents Association for Main Square, Theresa Bowers, the 1st Annual Danforth Music Festival was, “fantastic”, “phenomenal”; “It Brought the neighborhood together, broke the age, cultural barriers” and the commercial residents thrived.  She reported that there was no incidence of violence or other increase in crime, and that the event was planned remarkably well between the organizers and businesses, right down to ensuring that there wouldn’t be an issue with garbage-a problem countless festivals battle year after year.  In terms of noise complaints- there was one, after the fact, and that was why the subsequent festival was moved further east.  In response to the 85 decibel noise law, she laughingly estimated a decibel rate of about 104 caused by the loud participants of countless weekend bar brawls taking place at 3, 4, and 5 am on the north side of the street.
Some businesses participating in the festival insisted the bands got right out on the sidewalk to attract more attention. Others, without enough private property to fit a band, were so disappointed at being excluded, that they even took the risk of a penalty for encroaching on city property sans permit, and hired their own bands to play out front.

The Danforth Music Festival takes place at no cost to the taxpayers or businesses.  Organizers of other festivals that take place in neighborhoods with no BIA can apply for a grant, which DOES come out of tax-payers money.  The Yonge Street music festival, for example, costs taxpayers $1 million for each year the grant is approved, and the cost remains even if the festival is cancelled.

Taking into consideration the positive reaction and feedback of the vast majority of residents and businesses in the area, it may be difficult to understand Councilor Davis’ reluctance to participate or to even co-operate with the organizers of the Danforth Music Festival.  If you would like to show your support, please feel free to call her directly as she appears unaware of how welcome the festival really is; (416) 392-4035.

Currently there is a petition circulating, signed by over 5000 people, and Leroy et al. have barely even gotten started.  In a nutshell, people seem to agree that there is no problem with having a few bands perform on the Danforth.  Councilor Janet Davis claims there have been numerous complaints about the previous events.  The very few glitches Leroy was actually privy to were quickly rectified, if at all possible, with solutions such as quieter music at the location of concern.  Councilor Davis has refused to provide names and numbers of alleged complainants so they can be addressed, and after knocking on hundreds of doors, Leroy and his assistants have failed to reveal any thus far.  If you DO have a complaint, comment or suggestion, please feel free to contact, Leroy, from 2-10pm, 7 days a week at (416) 693-6325

This publication is owned by Mr. Paul Murton who has been blackballed on the Danforth by Davis supporters, who told businesses not to advertise with this paper, as the owner (incorrectly assumed to be Leroy) was deemed less than honorable (Councilor Davis is aware of this).  A new publication will be released shortly, which will explore such issues as the crime problem in the area, and the abundance of half-way houses, homeless shelters and “Rub and Tugs” in Janet Davis’s Ward 31 in comparison to other Wards.  Has the Councilor had an opportunity to address these important issues, or is she focusing all of her time and effort on writing misleading letters to businesses about a little music festival?  Here, the logical step would be to insert the name of the publication so readers could look out for it, but after what happened to Mr. Murton, it probably wouldn’t be wise.  ;)