Toronto council approves anti-violence funding for police initiative and startup costs for community program
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

Council has endorsed $1.5 million in city funds for a policing initiative already underway to tackle gun crime while committing some start-up funds for a community program meant to directly intervene in neighbourhoods at risk of violence.But despite the $300,000 committed to TO WARDS Peace — a program that would see experts intervene directly with at-risk youth in priority areas — the actual implementation of that initiative now depends on council agreeing to add $1.5 million in annual spending to the 2020 budget. That debate, as part of what are expected to be difficult budget deliberations, will take place early next year.The votes Wednesday come after Mayor John Tory unilaterally pledged the policing funds in the face of an escalating number of shootings over the summer, something he does not have the authority to do. Police then announced an 11-week project involving the guns and gangs unit targeting problem areas with “intelligence-led� policing, providing few other details.The votes also come as some councillors and academics continue to insist that investment in community programs, not policing, is the only way to make meaningful, long-term change in the safety of communities.Tory said he believes there are three areas of focus to help curb gun violence: support for the police, law reform and investing in youth and their families.“In August of this year — and frankly it was not that much different in August of last year — there was a dramatic uptick in shooting incidents taking place in neighbourhoods across the city and I was hearing a lot about it,� Tory said. “People were anxious.�He said he felt it was inappropriate to tell those people that council would consider measures at a meeting not scheduled until October and took it upon himself to ask the police chief what help he needed. But several councillors questioned the mayor’s priorities.Councillor Gord Perks (Ward 4 Parkdale—Hig ...