When Jane Jacobs’ DARK AGE AHEAD was published in 2004 critics said she was wrong. The ten per cent increase in property values will create untold havoc in this city. Many landlords will lose their properties. At the bottom those least able to survive won’t. Homelessness is going to go through the roof. I don’t need to be Nostradamus to see this. Get ready for what is coming. The rage already rampant on the streets will become an inferno. This happens when those in charge say, “Let the rich pay.” The rich are as poor as everyone.To survive this we must embrace voluntary poverty which very few will do. Restaurants will close. Businesses will shutter. Food theft in stores will increase. Dumpster diving will increase. Disease will increase. Rents will increase dramatically. Homelessness will go through the roof. In 1968 I read the Wilhelm/Baynes edition of THE I CHING. One of the things it teaches which I embraced at once is to live with little in times of plenty and thus prepare for times of want. That same year I met Jane Jacobs. We became friends for life. I read her books. I thought through her ideas. I am ready for this. This is a dying city. Writers in THE STAR, Ed Keenan and others, have observed this. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/what-happened-to-yonge-street-quashing-torontos-character-is-the-citys-mistake/article_8ccf071e-937d-11ee-8abc-939a927e9932.html , https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/500-per-cent-property-tax-increase-will-change-the-face-of-yonge-st-keenan/article_9beea0d9-d94c-5fd8-82b9-4adaca0cc1a8.html . At the top this city must do what I must do. That is to cut back on everything that is not bread. The way is strait and narrow. Strait means difficult, almost impossible. Narrow means alone. Live with less. There is not going to be more.–Reg Hartt
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