💻 Write to City Staff

When 311 doesn't cover it — find the right staff contact and get a response.

because change doesn’t wait for voting age.

What is Writing to City Staff?

Sometimes 311 fails, a request is delayed, or an issue isn’t covered. Don’t give up. Use the City of Toronto Staff Directory to find the best division and write to a specific person — one at a time. In my experience, this yields replies 100% of the time.

Examples from my work

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Bike Lanes — Traffic Signal Timing

Emailed Transportation Services about a bike signal phase that caused conflict with turning cars. Included location, photos, and peak-hour times. Staff acknowledged and adjusted timing.

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Sidewalk Encroachment

Contacted Right-of-Way Management about private planters narrowing a sidewalk. Provided measurements and accessibility concerns. Encroachment removed following inspection.

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Park Benches — Repair / New Install

Wrote to Parks, Forestry & Recreation requesting repairs and an additional bench near seniors’ paths. Staff logged a work order and added to the capital list.

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EV Charging Machines on Sidewalks — Safety

Flagged tripping hazards and cable routing on a pilot installation. Reached out to Transportation, Energy, and Accessibility offices. The site was modified to improve safety.

How you can do it too

  1. Find the right staff contact using the City directory.
  2. Write a short, factual, respectful message with photos if helpful.
  3. Track responses and thank teams when issues are resolved.