[getsmart-l] Action Alert: U of T votes tomorrow to sell Dunlap Observatory & 189 acres

[Gloria Boxen]

The Governing Council of the U of Toronto will vote tomorrow to sell the 189 acre property housing the David Dunlap Observatory lands.  Under the terms of the will, the property would be returned to the heirs of David Dunlap if the University no longer used the site for astronomy.  However, the University has come to an agreement with the family to receive half the proceeds of a sale.  It will use funds to build a downtown astronomy centre and, I understand, to pay off some of its $80 million operating debt.  High energy costs and rising labour costs appear to be the source of the debt.

The DDO is an important historical site.  This is where astronomer Dr. Tom Bolton observed irrefutable evidence of the existence of a black hole.   

The property is a green oasis of quiet in the extremely urbanized south York Region.  It is located on a rise of hill just off Yonge Street in Richmond Hill. There are deer that graze on the property.  They use the adjoining railroad as a corridor to come off and on the grounds.    

This is what a local resident wrote in September:
 "Just this past Saturday at dusk, my wife and I travelled past the 
Observatory lands, and saw four deer feeding on the property, just inside the fence along Bayview Avenue. We thought to ourselves how wonderful it was to have this activity in the heart of our town. It gives Richmond Hill a unique point of difference, one that we treasure and hope to preserve."

Officials  would not think of selling High Park, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Earl Bales Park, Edwards Gardens, or Milnes Conservation Area.  The fact that the U of T would release it to be sold is very disturbing.    

We have been fed misinformation about the usefulness of the Observatory and the cost to the University.  The figure of $800,000 to operate it annually refers to an a time when the Observatory had a full complement of staff.  In reality, the current costs is a fraction of that. Light pollution has been reduced and overcome, with other parts of the spectrum being used for observations.   Because the University has a only a share in the large telescopes in Chile and Hawaii, it has to line up for a few days a year to make observations and collect data.  However, as the University has access to the Observatory on a full time basis, different types of studies are done requiring continuous observations.

I am asking that you make an appeal to the University to retain the site for scientific research and new educational uses.  If the debt has been accumulated partly because of rising energy costs, I suggest that the University should use its intellectual and creative resources to implement conservation and renewable energy solutions.  Selling assets to meet operating costs is an extremely short term measure that does not solve the problem.

Contact the Governing Council and give your heart-felt reasons for saving the DDO.   If you are are a U of T graduate, please indicate so.

If you can attend the meeting or make a deputation (in writing if you do not attend), there are some seats available on a first come, first service basis.

Meeting to vote on the David Dunlap Observatory
October 30,  4:30 P.M.
 Council Chambers
 Simcoe Hall
 St. George Campus
 To reserve a ticketed space call 416  978-6576
 There are 30 ticketed spaces and 30 first come  first served spaces

To make a deputation:
E-mail matthew.lafond at utoronto.ca  Matthew Lafond is the Recording Secretary for the Governing Council.  He will forward your request to the Chair, Jack Petch.  Matthew Lafond told me that the by-laws limit the deputations and  will probably be limited to three minutes.  The e-mail should include who you are representing and a summary of the points to make.

  
The contact information for the members of the Governing Council of U of Toronto.

http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Boards+and+Committees/Governing+Council/2.03.02.pdf


Thank you for your help.

Regards,
Gloria Boxen
117 Old Surrey Lane, Richmond Hill, L4C 6R8

Subject: RE: Fw: DDObservatory News Press Release Sept. 10/07       
   Dear  all:
    
   As a physicist, I have no doubt that historically David Dunlap Observatory is a significant scientific site where major contributions were made to the science of astrophysics and astronomy.  
    
   I support the idea that the Observatory and its surrounding land should be designated as a Richmond Hill/York Region Heritage site in the interest of all Canadians and in particulate the residents of Richmond Hill and York Region.  This site is a national asset and we should protect it.
    
   I would be pleased to assist in any way that I can.
    
   With kind regards
    
   Reza Moridi





Bruce Rhodes <Bruce at RespectForAll.info> wrote: Dear Dr. Moridi:
I would like to echo the comments of my colleague, Mr. Lloyd Helferty, and  offer to you congratulations on your election victory. You have a strong  mandate to represent the people of Richmond Hill electoral district.

Now that you have been elected to represent all of the residents of Richmond Hill, you will look to designate the David Dunlop Observatory and all of its surrounding land as a Richmond Hill/York Region "Heritage Site", which, as you indicated in an earlier email to many of us, is "in the interest of all 
Canadians and, in particular, the residents of Richmond Hill and York Region".


 I agree with you that "this site is a national asset and we should protect it". Please ask your leader, Dalton McGuinty, to make this a post-election priority in Richmond Hill, along with the protection and rehabilitation of other natural or degraded areas in York Region.

Regards,

Bruce Rhodes, MBA
3 Tollbar Court
Richmond Hill (Ward 4), ON  L4C 9J4
mailto: Bruce at Ward4.info
www.Ward4.info
Tel. 905-770-4132, Ext.  1
"To live locally is to live sustainably." 




             
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