MISCONDUCT PENALTY

T.O. orders kids’ basketball, hockey nets removed – but encampments OK

If this family had let drug abusers set up tents on the boulevard in front of their house instead of a basketball and hockey net, there’d be no issue.

But Toronto, it seems likes drug addicts more than regular kids shooting hoops or playing some shinny.

After six years of free-throws being sunk in front of their house, a Scarborough family has suddenly had a foul called on them by the City of Toronto that could end the fun and games for the neighbourhood kids.

Toronto’s Transportation, Services, Permits and Enforcement department has given the Cacciatore family a summons to move their “basketball and hockey nets on right of way (ROW),” which effectively is the front part of their lawn.

“Please remove nets,” said an official summons signed by Provincial Offenses Officer Tony Leitao. “ Interfering with solid waste / snow removal.”

“Failure to comply with this notice within three days will result in further enforcement measures, including an inspection fee… including HST being charged to you and which may be collected by process of law or in like manner as municipal taxes for every subsequent inspection.”

Mayor Olivia Chow and her world-travelling companions don’t get a letter like that when they spend thousands of tax dollars on an unnecessary summer trip to London and Ireland under the guise of promoting Toronto’s film industry. Instead, this threat goes to a good family that’s raising three kids and always pay their taxes to help Chow take her pals on a foreign summer adventure.

“My main thing is the nets are positioned in a way purposely to not interfere with garbage collection and snow removal,” said Tony Cacciatore, father to 10-12 and 14 year old kids.

And the basketball net has been anchored in the same spot since they moved to Holmcrest Trail in 2019 without complaints. His kids have been out playing basketball and hockey the whole time. And when they were smaller, it was perfect because the way it was positioned, they were on their own driveway, which makes it safer for them and drivers.

“This day and age when we are struggling getting kids off of devices, I’m getting ticketed for having equipment out front that encourages my kids to get out and play,” said Tony. “The kids do use it quite often, and it isn’t just sitting there unused.”

While by the letter of the law, the nets on his front lawn are technically considered on city property, it seems petty to nitpick about that, when there so many worse violations. It’s effectively their own lawn and theses nets are hurting nobody.

“The City of Toronto reminds residents that the boulevard, the space between the sidewalk and road, is part of the municipal right-of-way and must remain clear to support essential services like waste collection, snow removal and utility maintenance,” said Toronto spokesperson Laura McQuillian, “Sports nets are permitted on the curb when in use but must be removed or set back on private property when not in use. Only waste bins should be placed in this area on collection days. Unauthorized items can obstruct operations, pose safety risks and cause damage. Violations may result in notices being issued, item removal or cost recovery under Municipal Code Chapter 743.”

The city lets a lot of bylaw stuff go if its someone from their constituency like people sleeping on the TTC or the time an artist scrawled on City Hall about the “love revolution.” Most believe that if this was a homeless encampment with tents or a harm reduction site for people to shoot up or freebase drugs, there would be less fuss. If it was a program walk through a neigbourhood harassing Jewish Torontonians , there’d be a shrug of the shoulders by authorities as well.