Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
I announced a new initiative this week that I think other cities will emulate. From now on, the city of Toledo will only purchase guns and ammunition for our police officers from responsible manufacturers. Congress won’t take action to stop mass shootings in the United States, so it is up to cities like Toledo to put pressure on gun companies to make that happen. My executive directive on weapons and ammunition purchasing comes in the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time in Pittsburgh where 11 people were gunned down in a Synagogue.

Every year, the city of Toledo spends about $150,000 on ammunition, firearms, and firearm replacement parts. When we find vendors from whom to buy guns and ammunition, we are going to take steps to make sure the companies are responsible. Responsible gun companies will be determined through six questions that companies must answer before contracts are established. If other large cities in Ohio adopt the same policy – and I think there is a good chance they will – the financial impact could be north of $1 million. What we did this week was a small step, but I could not stand by and do nothing.

Also this week, I was joined by a diverse group of 50 community leaders, labor leaders, and current and former politicians to support Issue 15 - a city charter amendment that would establish a regional water commission. The commission will be made up of utility experts, not politicians, from all of the communities that purchase water from Toledo. This is a true regional water system that will equalize rates for all customers; maintain low-income and senior citizen affordability plans, and oversee a lead-line replacement program. Please join me in voting yes on Issue 15.
Police

The latest installment of the Toledo Police VLOG was released this week. It introduces everyone to Unit 92 - Sgt. Don Comes and K9 Luke.

Toledo Police Social Media Team member Sgt. Gabe Greenwalt takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes tour as Sgt. Comes answers questions about being a K9 handler while Luke shows off his skills.
Members of the part-time Toledo Police "Social Media Team" create the VLOGs to increase community engagement through social media.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes! The Toledo Police Swat Team/superheros rappelled down ProMedica Toledo Hospital before Halloween for the children there.
Leaf Collection
The 2018 Toledo leaf collection program starts Nov. 12.

The city will be using street sweeping maps rather than performing collection in order of zip codes like previous years.
We made this change to improve tracking locations where crews are collecting leaves and to provide residents with more accurate locations and times of the work.

Crews will work together in larger groups this year to complete each map before moving onto the next area. The schedule may change daily due to weather conditions and crew movements. Maps are listed on the schedule in the order they will be worked. To find your street sweeping map that will be used for your leaf collection pick up, please input your address in the interactive map in the “find address or place” box. The area will be in red font and may be displayed under the search result box.

Residents should pile leaves along the curb line of residential streets no more than two days prior to the scheduled leaf pick up date; keep storm inlets clear of leaves to prevent flooding and clogging of sewers, and consider mulching leaves to add nutrients to your lawn. Brown paper biodegradable bags of leaves may be left at the curb.

Residents should NOT mix branches, twigs, or garbage with leaves. Do NOT dump leaves in ditches or creeks.
Streets

The 2018 mill and fill program, the residential resurfacing program, and the matches and planning resurfacing program has concluded.

The list of completed streets can be found here and here.
Correct Recycling Awareness Month Wraps Up

Correct Recycling Awareness Month wrapped up this week with many people learning how to recycle correctly.

Remember: no plastic bags at all in your blue containers, no food waste in your blue containers, no yard waste in your blue containers.

More info on the correct way to recycle is here .
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Mark Your Calendars
Lights Before Christmas
KeyBank and The Toledo Zoo invite everyone to kick off the 2018 holiday season at the Lights Before Christmas Opening Night on Friday, Nov. 23 . Join the zoo for the much-anticipated tunnel entrance re-opening ceremony at 5 p.m. and stay for the annual tree-lighting ceremony at approximately 6:10 p.m.
Toledo International Film Festival
The Toledo International Film Festival, Nov. 16-18 at The Ohio Theatre, is a community-driven event that celebrates cultural diversity and international understanding. More than 900 people attended last year. # TIFF2018 will again be a must-see event!

Every year, TIFF brings a one-of-a-kind international experience to the Ohio Theatre & Event Center, packing the three-day schedule with great films, performances, and food. Join us Nov. 16-18 as we enjoy films spanning the globe from China to Ethiopia to El Salvador. Tickets for each film include food samples and exciting programming—all for about the same price as a regular movie ticket. Presented by the Ohio Theatre & Event Center in partnership with Welcome TLC and a host of local community partners and restaurants. Visit  www.ohiotheatretoledo.org/tiff  to learn more and to buy tickets.
 
By The Numbers
( year-to-date )
59,835 potholes filled
347 water main breaks repaired
1.34 million feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
90,181 feet of storm sewers cleaned
6.8 million pounds of debris removed with street sweepers
2.1 million pounds of debris removed from alleys
4,325 tires picked up
2,011 trees trimmed
7,696 vehicles towed
5,475 fire runs
45,889 EMS runs
8,810 building inspections completed
3,027 contractor licenses issued
Honors this Week
Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center Burn Center 50th Anniversary.

The City of Toledo recognized Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center for its continued service to our community and for its commitment to provide innovative and comprehensive healthcare services. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Burn Center on Oct. 25. The hospital identified a need for a specialized burn-treatment facility in 1961 after a devastating gasoline fire on the Anthony Wayne Trail seriously injured 14 people. Just six years later, on Dec. 7, 1967, the Burn Center opened its doors with Dr. James G. Sullivan as its medical director. At the time, it was one of only five formal burn centers in the United States.
Eighty years ago this week, Owens Corning officially became a company! Congratulations and thank you for being an amazing part of Toledo.

Owens Corning manufactures insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites that make the world a better place.
Toledo In The News

Toledo keeps getting better Toledo’s unofficial slogan, “You will do better in Toledo,” is a little awkward. But I returned to the town I once called home after an absence of five years and discovered that it is true. Even the city of Toledo is doing better in Toledo.

Toledo-built Jeep truck unveiled in LA later this month Jeep is set to show off its new pickup truck in Los Angeles later this year. According to a news release for the LA Auto Show, several vehicles will make their world premiere, including "a pickup truck from Jeep", which 13abc has confirmed with Fiat-Chrysler. Jeep also unveiled its new Wrangler at last year's LA Auto Show.

School Leaders Announce Plan for Pre-Med Magnet High School Toledo school officials have announced plans for a new high school aimed at preparing students for medical careers. The district is joining with health care system ProMedica and the University of Toledo to create what school officials are calling The PreMed High School of Toledo.

Revitalization on its way to Summit Street and Jefferson Avenue It may seem as if progress has stopped, but county leaders say that’s not the case for the corner of Summit and Jefferson in Downtown Toledo. While you might not see much activity at the former Hotel SeaGate now, soon you’ll see a lot of it. Commissioners say they have been working to streamline construction on three projects so the hotel, ballroom and SeaGate Convention Centre will be completed together.

Zoo to reopen historic tunnel under Anthony Wayne Trail Children will soon be able to yell animal sounds and make a racket jumping on a metal plate just as their parents and grandparents did in a tunnel at the Toledo Zoo. A $3 million renovation project to restore and update the Works Progress Administration-built pedestrian tunnel under the Anthony Wayne Trail is approaching the final stretch. The tunnel, which closed in 1997 with the opening of the zoo’s footbridge over the Trail, will reopen Nov. 23 with the beginning of the annual Lights Before Christmas display.
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