Latest news with #Danley
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bikeway construction on The Esplanade draws community controversy
Some downtown residents say they are opposed to a bikeway on The Esplanade but the city of Toronto says more than half of respondents it consulted four years ago said they supported the project. At a news conference Wednesday, resident Sharon Danley said the city must keep the needs of all residents in mind when it comes to its bike lane plans. The news conference was organized by the Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization, which says it represents 58,000 residents in three wards. "Bike lanes restrict road space," Danley said. "Bike lanes have turned streets into parking lots, with residents unable to shop, get their kids to events, and seriously impact emergency services and Wheel-Trans." Danley said the bike lanes are also having an impact on seniors and people with disabilities, forcing those who take the bus to walk further than before and making Wheels-Trans pickup "unduly risky." Vehicles cannot park close enough to the curb to extend their ramps over the sidewalk due to the bikeway and people in wheelchairs are affected, she said. "Bike lanes prioritize able-bodied young male cyclists while ignoring seniors and the disabled who can't cycle. Yet we are supposed to be an accessible city," Danley said. Bikeway being constructed as part of road work, city says In a news release on Wednesday, the city said it awarded a contract in March 2024 to build a bikeway on The Esplanade between east of Yonge Street and Market Street as part of water main, sewer and road work. Public consultation on the project took place from October 2019 to March 2021, the city said. The consultation introduced the project to the community and helped the city to identify needs and priorities, it added. A total of 74 per cent of respondents said they agree or strongly agree that the bikeway would meet the goals of the project, which were to improve safety for everyone, make walking, cycling and taking transit more attractive and maintain access to local and citywide destinations, according to the city. The city said crews are continuing to work on The Esplanade and Mill Street Connection Project. Once completed, a two-way cycle track on The Esplanade will run from Bayview to Lower Sherbourne Street, from Lower Sherbourne Street to Lower Jarvis, and west of George Street to west of Scott Street. The city says it will then upgrade the bikeways on The Esplanade, from west of George Street to Berkeley Street, to ensure they "more seamlessly integrate with the streetscape." In a March 10 construction notice, the city said there will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the work zone but: "Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times." The city said the contractor will notify residents of any temporary restrictions to their driveway access, and if a property has two entrances, one will be kept open at all times. Margaret Samuel, a resident of the ward and a lawyer, said The Esplanade between Yonge and Jarvis streets is a "vital" secondary artery in the city, but the "economic viability" of many nearby businesses, including St. Lawrence Market, is being affected by the bikeway construction. Samuel questioned whether the city can proceed with the bikeway given Ontario's Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which came into effect in 2024, says cities need provincial government approval for new bike lanes that remove a lane of traffic. According to the city, projects with contracts awarded before the new rules kicked in can continue without restrictions. "Because this contract was awarded before the rules took effect, the City can move forward with the Esplanade-Mill Street Connection project as approved by Toronto City Council," the city said. The Esplanade connects with existing network: advocate Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, a charity that says it works to make Toronto a healthier cycling city, said he does not agree with the residents' assessment of the bikeway. "This is the kind of secondary road that in theory Bill 212 would be supporting," he said. "The Esplanade is technically classified as a collector. So again, if we can't put a bikeway on the collector, or on the Esplanade, which is beside a park that has lots of destinations, lots of apartments, lots of people who live there, I kind of question where can the city put bikeways?" he said. "When we're looking at bikes as part of a city's transportation network, you want to make sure that bike lanes are connecting to destinations," Longfield said, adding The Esplanade is an example of just that. "You do need a network of connected bikeways to make cycling a better option for more people."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bikeway construction on The Esplanade draws community controversy
Some downtown residents say they are opposed to a bikeway on The Esplanade but the city of Toronto says more than half of respondents it consulted four years ago said they supported the project. At a news conference Wednesday, resident Sharon Danley said the city must keep the needs of all residents in mind when it comes to its bike lane plans. The news conference was organized by the Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization, which says it represents 58,000 residents in three wards. "Bike lanes restrict road space," Danley said. "Bike lanes have turned streets into parking lots, with residents unable to shop, get their kids to events, and seriously impact emergency services and Wheel-Trans." Danley said the bike lanes are also having an impact on seniors and people with disabilities, forcing those who take the bus to walk further than before and making Wheels-Trans pickup "unduly risky." Vehicles cannot park close enough to the curb to extend their ramps over the sidewalk due to the bikeway and people in wheelchairs are affected, she said. "Bike lanes prioritize able-bodied young male cyclists while ignoring seniors and the disabled who can't cycle. Yet we are supposed to be an accessible city," Danley said. Bikeway being constructed as part of road work, city says In a news release on Wednesday, the city said it awarded a contract in March 2024 to build a bikeway on The Esplanade between east of Yonge Street and Market Street as part of water main, sewer and road work. Public consultation on the project took place from October 2019 to March 2021, the city said. The consultation introduced the project to the community and helped the city to identify needs and priorities, it added. A total of 74 per cent of respondents said they agree or strongly agree that the bikeway would meet the goals of the project, which were to improve safety for everyone, make walking, cycling and taking transit more attractive and maintain access to local and citywide destinations, according to the city. The city said crews are continuing to work on The Esplanade and Mill Street Connection Project. Once completed, a two-way cycle track on The Esplanade will run from Bayview to Lower Sherbourne Street, from Lower Sherbourne Street to Lower Jarvis, and west of George Street to west of Scott Street. The city says it will then upgrade the bikeways on The Esplanade, from west of George Street to Berkeley Street, to ensure they "more seamlessly integrate with the streetscape." In a March 10 construction notice, the city said there will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the work zone but: "Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times." The city said the contractor will notify residents of any temporary restrictions to their driveway access, and if a property has two entrances, one will be kept open at all times. Margaret Samuel, a resident of the ward and a lawyer, said The Esplanade between Yonge and Jarvis streets is a "vital" secondary artery in the city, but the "economic viability" of many nearby businesses, including St. Lawrence Market, is being affected by the bikeway construction. Samuel questioned whether the city can proceed with the bikeway given Ontario's Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which came into effect in 2024, says cities need provincial government approval for new bike lanes that remove a lane of traffic. According to the city, projects with contracts awarded before the new rules kicked in can continue without restrictions. "Because this contract was awarded before the rules took effect, the City can move forward with the Esplanade-Mill Street Connection project as approved by Toronto City Council," the city said. The Esplanade connects with existing network: advocate Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, a charity that says it works to make Toronto a healthier cycling city, said he does not agree with the residents' assessment of the bikeway. "This is the kind of secondary road that in theory Bill 212 would be supporting," he said. "The Esplanade is technically classified as a collector. So again, if we can't put a bikeway on the collector, or on the Esplanade, which is beside a park that has lots of destinations, lots of apartments, lots of people who live there, I kind of question where can the city put bikeways?" he said. "When we're looking at bikes as part of a city's transportation network, you want to make sure that bike lanes are connecting to destinations," Longfield said, adding The Esplanade is an example of just that. "You do need a network of connected bikeways to make cycling a better option for more people."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
City of Huntsville facing another discrimination lawsuit from second former police dispatcher
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A second former Huntsville Police dispatcher is suing the city, claiming they faced workplace discrimination. Court records show Allison Ellis, a former dispatcher, is suing the city. Ellis's lawsuit said she also faced discrimination based on her gender and religious affiliation. Records show Ellis is also suing Michael Danley, a lieutenant at the Huntsville Police Department. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday, two days after former Huntsville Dispatcher Katrina Brady filed suit alleging race and gender based discrimination by the department. Both women are represented by the Huntsville Attorney Richard Newton. According to the complaint, Ellis was working part-time as a dispatcher at the Huntsville Police Department in 2023 when she became pregnant with her third child. Documents show that Ellis informed her supervisor that she needed to leave work early to make midwife appointments for prenatal care, but was instead yelled at by her supervisor, saying she needed to schedule the appointments on different days. The complaint said an HPD dispatch sergeant also threatened Ellis's job a few months later, saying: 'You know, Allison, I might not let you come back [to work following maternity leave]once you pop out that baby.' Records show that Ellis made an internal complaint against the sergeant because of the comment, and she met with two Huntsville Human Resources staff members about the issue in July 2024. Court records show that Ellis began her maternity leave in October 2024. The complaint said that Ellis had previously discussed her religious beliefs with Danley when she began working part-time in 2023. Documents said Ellis is a Seventh Day Sabbath Keeper and observes the Sabbath from Friday at sundown through Saturday. Ellis' attorney said that Danley had previously said he understood Ellis' religious observance and would not have a problem making a faith-based accommodation for her. According to the complaint, when Ellis was set to return to work in late December 2024 and early January 2025, Danley said that the only times she could work were Friday evenings and Saturday. The complaint said this happened despite Danley knowing about her religious beliefs. 'Danley had actual knowledge of Plaintiff's religious beliefs and that Friday evenings and Saturdays were the only two (2) days she couldn't work,' the document said. The complaint alleges this was done as retaliation for Ellis's previous complaints about her supervisor before her maternity leave. Ultimately, Ellis said she could not return to work on that schedule, and she was not able to return to work. 'After Plaintiff re-notified Danley of her faith-based work schedule needs, opposing the discriminatory demand he made on Plaintiff regarding same, Danley refused to reinstate Plaintiff and effectively fired her for that opposing workplace discrimination,' the complaint said. Records show Ellis is asking for compensatory and punitive damages in the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Intel stock pulls back from record rally as analysts note barriers to potential deals with TSMC, Broadcom
Intel (INTC) stock fell 6% Wednesday, ending a massive upswing in which shares notched their biggest five-day gain in its history as a publicly traded company. The decline came as analysts expressed skepticism over recent reports of potential deals with TSMC (TSM) and Broadcom (AVGO) to break up the storied US chipmaker. Shares of Intel had surged 16% Tuesday following a Wall Street Journal report over the weekend that its rival, Taiwan's contract chip manufacturer TSMC, has looked at controlling some or all of Intel's semiconductor factories, potentially as part of an investor consortium. The Journal, citing people familiar with the discussions, also reported that Broadcom (AVGO) is considering making a bid for Intel's product business, which designs semiconductors for computers and servers. A news report the the prior week had indicated that the US was floating proposals to TSMC to support Intel's turnaround. One of the proposals would reportedly establish a joint venture between TSMC and Intel, in which TSMC would send engineers to Intel to ensure its manufacturing business is viable. Investors cheered the reports, with Intel gaining 38.5% over the five days ended Tuesday. But Wall Street analysts have voiced concerns over a potential breakup of Intel. Citi analyst Christopher Danley noted that TSMC and Intel use separate manufacturing processes. Because Intel's chips are specifically designed using its own manufacturing processes, it wouldn't make sense for TSMC to take control of its manufacturing facilities, he said. 'Just because two companies are making the same type of chip, they have completely separate software tools, processes, methodologies, all kinds of stuff,' he told Yahoo Finance in an interview Wednesday. 'These guys that have worked at Intel for 10, 20, 30 years would have to learn completely new processes. It would just be a fiasco.' A TSMC-Intel deal could also face scrutiny from regulators at home and abroad. That's because global regulators, including Chinese authorities would need to approve the deal, and they may have antitrust concerns, Wall Street analysts said. And the Trump administration "could be wary of a foreign entity completely taking over an iconic US-firm," Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya wrote in a note to investors Tuesday. Intel has long designed and manufactured semiconductors for itself, but the company opened up its manufacturing business to external customers — launching what's called a foundry — in 2022. The foundry has failed to take on external customers, analysts say, and its product business has lost market share to rivals. Those struggles have made Intel an acquisition target in recent months. As far as a potential Broadcom bid for that product business goes, Danley said the company would need to buy Intel in its entirety, not just part of it, for such an acquisition to be successful. 'There's a lot of synergies between the manufacturing side and the design side,' Danley said. 'I don't think that breaking up their core business makes sense.' Instead, Danley said, Broadcom could buy the product business and divest Intel's merchant foundry, but keep the company's internal manufacturing division. But Intel isn't likely to favor such deals, Danley, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon and Moor Insights & Strategy's Anshel Sag told Yahoo Finance. That's partly because Intel has insisted that its manufacturing process, which is set to be competitive with TSMC's, is on track for production by the end of 2025. 'I actually don't think it's [Intel's] desperate for cash right now. They've got a few years of runway,' Rasgon said. Analysts also said it wouldn't make competitive sense for TSMC to enter into a joint venture with Intel. 'Why would TSMC help its competitor gain share versus itself? To me that just makes absolutely zero sense whatsoever,' Danley said. Laura Bratton is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Bluesky @ Email her at Sign in to access your portfolio
