Author | Lightnews

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · 17h

Moments of togetherness are often improvised...spilling into intersections or private plazas that were never meant to hold them.

Because in the end, the design of a city is always political, and the right to assemble, to celebrate, or to dissent depends on how we shape our public spaces.

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · 17h

Many North American cities lack these ingredients. We built for cars and commerce, not citizens.

In Toronto, we have some walkability and density in downtown core, but not much of a civic heart.

Sankofa Square and Nathan Phillips Square aren't cutting it.

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · 17h

Places like Athens’ Syntagma Square, Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Tehran’s Azadi Square, Istanbul’s Taksim Square, and Beijing’s Tiananmen Square have each witnessed defining moments of collective expression, both protest and joy.

Their geometry makes gathering inevitable.

They are stages for democracy.

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · 17h

I've been fascinated by and researching what makes a city “protest-friendly.”
Walkability, a critical mass of people, and streets that converge on civic focal points. The architecture of democracy.

The same qualities that sustain protest also sustain celebration.

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · 17h

If the Blue Jays win tonight, Toronto will pour into the streets.
People will improvise their own public realm: intersections, sidewalks, parking lots... because the city gives them nowhere else to go. A reminder that we’ve designed our cities to manage people, not to hold them.

1

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Brian Doucet @briandoucet.bsky.social · Sep 26

Schools!
Never forget that most speed cameras are around schools.
Whatever else they tell you, always remember that the cameras are near schools. They lower speeds near schools.
Schools.
www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...

Speed camera ban: Ford government moves to ban automated cameras in Waterloo Region and across Ontario

Without a formal directive or legislative change from the province, Waterloo Region’s speed-camera program will continue to operate “focusing on improving road safety in school zones.”

www.therecord.com

1 3 18

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · Sep 18

Toronto sends it support to the Kimmels.

6 35 270

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 19

Ford’s logic: no need for speed cameras, there are “other ways” to slow down traffic. Yeah let's try traffic jams, potholes, and bad policy. Whatever you do, just never punish bad drivers.

P.S. I love watching my news on the big CBC screen

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 15

The level of effort that goes into the process >>>>> the effort that goes into the outcome.

If the outcome is a 100-page document, there will be tens of thousands of pages submitted along the way just to meet made-up requirements, half of which no one will ever read.

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 15

I wish we could spend some of that time on conducting deeper research, doing more peer review with SMEs, etc. With tight budget and timeline, there should be a discussion about priorities and where we want to spend most of the available time/budget on...

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 15

Working on some municipal projects, sometimes up to 75% of our time/budget/resources go towards planning and preparing for engagement, analyzing feedback, and creating engagement summary reports (the last one I created was 360 pages long which will be an internal document for th City).

1 2

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 15

As someone who always advocates for bringing those impacted by our design to the design table, I'm seeing a lot of over engagement in municipal projects. Where we, the designers, can benefit the most from community input is the visioning stage.

1 1 1

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Lanrick Bennett @lanrickbennett.bsky.social · Sep 11

The Media is always quick to blame the “cyclist” for riding on a side walk, not coming to a complete stop at stop sign, but a driver injuring or killing vulnerable road users, the “car/truck/SUV” did it.

We must protect the driver at all costs!

Why?

The Globe and Mail 1
@globeandmail • 11h
Toddler dead, six other children injured after car crashes into Ontario daycare
Toddler dead, six other children injured after car cras...
From theglobeandmail.com

4 10 43

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Toronto Star @thestar.com · Sep 9

Doug Ford’s attack on speed cameras shows how good politics can make for lousy public policy

#Opinion from @shawnmicallef.bsky.social

Shawn Micallef: Doug Ford’s attack on speed cameras shows how good politics can make for lousy public policy

The premier’s comments on Tuesday should be a moment for Ontarians to think whether the province is a place of law and order or where vigilantes can influence government policy.

www.thestar.com

5 16 40

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 2

Ugh nonsense. 3 more weeks to go

1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Sep 2

White pants etiquette should follow the solar calendar. I propose we push the cut-off to the fall equinox.

1 1

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Moira Donegan @moiradonegan.bsky.social · Aug 31

Once there was a new lady at the dog park and when I started talking to her she was like “I’m actually just dog-sitting for this German Shepherd because the owner is at Burning Man. The dog’s name is Hegemony.” This is the story I tell when people ask me what San Francisco is like.

3 20 290

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · Aug 29

It’s taken forever (sewer work etc) but the new Harbord lanes are looking great. Planters! Green rides. Lay the concrete deep so the bastards will have a hellofa time ripping them out.

4 4 140

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Aug 29

Page 42 and 43 of Part 1, Guideline A
www.toronto.ca/city-governm...

The original diagram showed bidirectional bike lanes, but City's Transportation team suggested revising it to a multiuse trail since the City doesn’t want to promote bidirectional bike lanes.

1 1

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Aug 29

Does Wellington St., between Spadina and Portland qualify? Bidirectional bike lane and deciduous trees on the north side, garden bed and retail spill-out zone on the south.

We also promoted this idea as part of thermal comfort guidelines, for the same reasons you stated.

1 1 2

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Hafeez A. @trainguy89.bsky.social · Aug 28

🚨🚨 City of Toronto is going to resurface Eglinton Ave between Keele and Mt Pleasant without the already approved bike lanes.

We need to do something right now.

2 5 20

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Aug 21

Come join me at The Bentway's curators' tour today, at 6:30pm. It was wonderful to collaborate with the Bentway team as their Sun/Shade Season advisor.

thebentway.ca/event/sun-sh...

Sun/Shade Curators’ Tour: August 21 - The Bentway

Go behind the scenes of our Sun/Shade outdoor art exhibition by joining our August Curators’ Tour with The Bentway’s Programming team.

thebentway.ca

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Aug 19

👀Ooh London is getting a new museum all about brutalist architecture

1 1 5

Reposted by Dorsa Jalalian

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · Aug 19

Legendary Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau once said "Let Toronto become Milan. Montreal will always be Rome."

3 6 72

Dorsa Jalalian @dorsajalalian.bsky.social · Aug 17

100% - We’re now working with the City on updating the Western Beaches Public Realm Plan, and revisiting those contracts is a key recommendation. It’s also echoed strongly in community feedback. Continued advocacy will help build momentum.

5