I'm watching a town hall virtually hosted by Coun. Bailao for her Davenport ward. She's been challenged by her residents about her vote on the policing budget at the last council meeting, including a rally near her home and papering of her ward office

Bailao, in her opening speech, takes a long time to address the vote by talking about motions she did support. Says she thinks many are on the call to discuss this topic and says she voted the way she did because she thought it was the most "realistic pathway"

ICYM the earlier council debate: https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2020/06/29/toronto-city-council-votes-against-cutting-2021-police-budget-by-10-per-cent.html

First Q about dedicated transit corridors. Second question asks why Bailao and other councillors keep calling a 10% cut "arbitrary. "If you call those amounts arbitrary why aren't you making a tangible...financial commitment" to reallocating policing funds to community resources?

Question asker (I'm not getting spelling of names so I'm not going to try to guess and mangle them all) also challenging Bailao on her vote to support additional funds for body-worn cameras

Bailao says they don't know how a 10% or other cut would translate. Says want to look at the roles police do, create new model and then determine how to shift funding appropriately. "I want to have the conversation about what public safety is going to look like"

Teacher question Bailao's response to constituents on policing as it relates to police collaborations in schools and other institutions (I don't know that I've seen this particular email[?]), saying that money is much better spent on emotional and academic support of students

Worth noting this is billed as a general town hall that councillors sometimes hold to allow constituents to raise whatever issues. We're at 50% questions about her police budget vote right now by my count even with her staff moderating Qs

(I also can't see how many people have logged onto this call that is expected to end at 7:30PM)

After a Q about provincial bill on evictions, next caller also challenging Bailao about statement she wants structural change but voted against 10% police cut and increase in body-worn cameras. These callers are very informed. Asks what evidence Bailao based body cams decision on

Bailao says money for body-worn cameras already exists in this year's budget and full annual budget for 2021 still to be debated at budget time. Council asking police to have a camera for every officer by Jan. 1 and then denying them full funding for 2021 would be ... an issue

Next question is why she voted against part of a motion from Wong-Tam during police funding debate (below). She says she didn't think the timeline was doable

Next caller asks why she's ignored the rally that happened recently regarding her vote on the police debate and in support of calls to defund the police. Bailao said the rally happened around the time she had surgery and "the conversation will continue"

Next Q is how Bailao justifies prioritizing policing when there is massive shortfall as result of COVID-19. Bailao says they might have to cut money from police as a result of budget crisis created by the pandemic but says policing model still needs to be reviewed

Next Q also on policing, saying other U.S. cities have committed to cut funding. Notes 10% was to make it "palatable" to politicians and others actually wanted 50%. Says that's not "arbitrary."

Bailao says the way forces operate in the states is different than Toronto and then something gets messed up with her audio/video

After some connection issues, Bailao is back online. Next caller also asks about policing - why support body-worn cameras? I can't totally hear Bailao's answer

After two non-police questions, next caller about police response to mental health calls. And next caller asks Bailao to commit right now to never again increasing the TPS budget and second will she re-introduce the Wong-Tam motion to demilitarize the police

Bailao reiterating her feelings about disarming officers. Says in moving a motion, explains there are rules about voting on same thing again within a year. I don't hear her really directly respond to the first request

Next caller also saying they're surprised about the lack of response from Bailao to earlier organizing, calls her vote at best "lukewarm" acknowledgement or at worst "dismissal". This meeting has been dominated by questions about Bailao's actions related to the police budget.

Bailao responds she's aware of those who have reached out to her office and is relying on community and city organizations to learn more about demands for changes to policing, community safety

(I will be back later with more highlights from this meeting, which I am recording)

OK I'm back (The meeting is now over but I recorded it). The next Qs are all about policing. "We're going over the same question over and over again," Bailao says when asked again, specifically, whether she'll commit to reducing the 2021 budget. She does not specifically answer.

For the last half hour, every single question except two were about policing (and one that wasn't was on overpolicing of fare evasion on the TTC). Bailao ended by thanking everyone and that this will be a longer conversation. That was something to witness.