This week, Toronto city councilors will meet for the final meeting of the year to discuss renaming Dundes Street.

One of the members of the council raised the question that considering the budget deficit of the municipality, is the decision to change the name of the street appropriate or not?

Stephen Halliday has commented: "Is it reasonable to spend this much to change metal signs when the municipality is running a budget deficit?"

The cost of renaming Dundes Street has increased from $8.6 million to $12.7 million. Meanwhile, the city council will face a budget deficit of 46.5 billion dollars in the next decade.

The council initially voted in favor of renaming the 23-kilometer east-west route and other municipally-owned properties that bear the Dundes name. After consulting with academic experts, the municipality concluded that Dundee's artistic actions continued to help the city.

Mayor Olivia Chow previously announced that she is in favor of renaming this street. Former mayors David Crumbie, John Sewell, and Art Eggleton also sent a letter to Chow and the council earlier this year asking them to reconsider their decision to rename the street.

news source