#GraphicMatt
Toronto's Mayor Chow suggested removing Teslas from their grant program for zero-emission taxis and limos. The city council voted to approve it, 20-4. #tesla #canpoli #cdnpoli https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/113988236373609234
Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt@mastodon.social)
Attached: 1 image Chow's motion to restrict new Teslas from the grant program for zero-emission taxis and limos CARRIES 20-4.
mastodon.social
February 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Working on an archive project for my past council coverage and some of these old quotes from Councillor Brad Bradford are wild in retrospect. This was April 2022! Not that long ago!
June 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
A Toronto City Councillor, Rachel Chernos, attended Council by video conference while driving.

The topic of discussion: road safety.

x.com/GraphicMatt/...
Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt) on X
Quick video of Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin's driving-while-talking-about-road-safety moment at Council. https://t.co/SVe6gep8px
x.com
June 26, 2026 at 2:52 AM
I’m no arborist — merely a tree enthusiast — but by my count, 25 of the 41 trees are alive (61%), or at least clinging to life. Ten are definitely dead. Six remain of unknown status.

That's a decline from my last thread, five years ago, when I counted 27 living. threadreaderapp.com/thread/12816...
Thread by @GraphicMatt on Thread Reader App
@GraphicMatt: Five years ago today, Toronto kicked off the 2015 Pan Am Games. To mark the event, 41 trees were planted along a section of Front Street East — one for each participating country or terr...
threadreaderapp.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A thoughtful piece in the Toronto Star today by @GraphicMatt on why “when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT finally opens, they should offer us an apology, not a party.” www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
February 3, 2026 at 11:53 AM
An excellent review of the various ways you can measure city spending, and the receipts on why Brad Bradford is lying about the city's budget too.

https://open.substack.com/pub/graphicmatt/p/all-the-wrong-ways-to-talk-about?r=bqtf&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

#topoli #voteto
All the wrong ways to talk about Toronto’s budget
City Hall Watcher #403: A look at the complex and confusing nature of Toronto’s annual spending plan, plus campaign chaos considers missing councillors, robots, and karaoke
toronto.cityhallwatcher.com
September 28, 2026 at 9:40 PM
1/For #topoli watchers: I've created a Posts about Graphicmatt feed, which makes it easier to follow not just @graphicmatt.bsky.social's liveposting of City Council, but also quote-posts with further commentary. bsky.app/profile/mich...
November 14, 2024 at 7:56 PM
What a wonderful treat to feast on @GraphicMatt #TOCouncil thread as a catch up on today’s local democracy. Uplifted by Denise A-C’s much deserved appointment & boost to school food program. Endlessly amused by some of the hilarious colour commentary. Thank you Matt!
March 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Call for artists: with City Hall Watcher #400 coming this Sept, I am looking for local artists interested in drawing a cover. Paid gig. You’d be part of the grand tradition of @blamb.bsky.social (#100), @jaketobin.bsky.social (#200) and @eggygo.bsky.social (#300). Contact: graphicmatt at gmail
March 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I’m happy to give councillors a pay increase. You get what you pay for. If you are only willing to pay for people who don’t need a competitive salary, you’ll get people who are beholden to some other source of income. #topoli

RE: https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/114237171054596347
Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt@mastodon.social)
Attached: 1 image Councillor Moise's motion to increase councillor salaries to $170,588.60 (from $137,537.40) CARRIES 15-8.
mastodon.social
March 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Hey! Sorry for the late response — I’ve been out of town. Definitely interested, if the scheduling works. Can you email me any details? You can get me at graphicmatt at gmail dot com.
July 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Morning all, it's another Toronto City Council meeting today!

* Agenda (text-friendly version)
* Livestream

I am running errands so will only be able to check in periodically, but check @GraphicMatt for real-time updates!

#tocouncil #topoli
May 20, 2026 at 1:57 PM
This is a pretty impressive change! It’s nice to see #toronto getting things right. #topoli

RE: https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/113149092513430553
September 16, 2024 at 9:16 PM
I rage a little inside every time it comes up. Municipal services aren't manufacturing, but I digress.

Exhibits:
mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt...

mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt...

mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt...
March 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
“That problem is simple: this wide street, with sidewalks generally on just one side and long stretches between traffic lights, is designed too much like a highway. The layout encourages drivers to go faster than its 40 km/h speed limit.” - @graphicmatt.com #VisionZero
September 2, 2025 at 11:41 AM
"Most great cities around the world, in fact, have decided not to put big airports on their waterfronts and instead have opted for things such as public spaces and housing." - @GraphicMatt

🎁 https://www.thestar.com/gift-redeem?t=aab1b57a-3e90-46fb-beca-f656d1509c46

#giftlink #topoli #onpoli […]
Original post on mstdn.ca
mstdn.ca
June 16, 2026 at 1:11 PM
"🏆 Meeting MVP: Transportation GM Barbara Gray, who came prepared for the extended debate on speed cameras and provided some much-needed facts on how the program works." Agree. And not just because I was quoted that risk of speeding is "quadratic". From @graphicmatt.com www.substack.com/@graphicmatt
Matt Elliott | Substack
A City Hall Watcher — columnist, journalist and analyst
www.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
As if baseless attacks against city councillors wasn't enough, Daniel Tate's (lack of) IntegrityTO has resorted to attacking @graphicmatt.com over his recent column showing the city has been getting better. This is why we progressives must organize to stop far right folks like Tate! 🤮 #shame #TOpoli
December 30, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Nice to have a mayor that understands transit

I hope that leads to real improvements to have bus lane priority

#topoli #ttc https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/114388107496174228
Matt Elliott (@GraphicMatt@mastodon.social)
"If a bus is carrying 30 people, I think that bus should have priority over a car or two cars that are carrying two people. Would I give priority to 30 people versus two people? Yes, I would," says Mayor Olivia Chow.
mastodon.social
April 23, 2025 at 4:31 PM
mastodon.social
July 29, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Doug Ford didn't even give @GraphicMatt 15 minutes...

#onpoli
March 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
🦋 RT @GraphicMatt:

Is the Esplanade not, like, the canonical ideal of the “side street” where the anti-bike crowd say bike lanes should go? There’s no appeasing these people.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lanes-the-esplanade-community-controversy-1.7546339

#topoli #biketo #cycleto
May 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
2/Here's an example Toronto City Council live view for @deck.blue with a column for @graphicmatt.bsky.social himself, Posts About Graphicmatt, and the #topoli hashtag. So you don't have to miss any of the conversation!
November 14, 2024 at 7:59 PM
Why not follow him on mastodon? That’s where I read him. mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt
November 8, 2023 at 4:25 PM
RE: https://mastodon.social/@GraphicMatt/117003649557836058

He could've been your Mayor #toronto. Instead we got John Tory and SMRT Track!

#topoli
mastodon.social
July 29, 2026 at 2:21 PM