Calls to action sweep across the city on a regular basis, prompting (we hope) politicians to take notice and neighbours to make a difference. But, a recent plea posted by a local legend and media giant is asking for Torontonians to help clean up the city in an easy way that only requires a cell phone. Reporting graffiti and potholes across the city, she says, can make a big difference across Toronto.

A look into the Instagram post

According to data sent by the city of Toronto, a total of 3919 potholes and graffiti complaints were received by city officials in March 2022, and worked into a total of 20,088 recorded complaints across the city in 2022.

So, local media giant Amy Rosen, the CEO of Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns and a Cityline expert, urged Toronto residents to file 311 reports reporting graffiti and potholes across the city, be it on the Gardiner Expressway to on stop signs and bike racks.

“When taking the lifeguard course you learn, after locating a victim, to point at a bystander and say, “You! Call 911!” By giving someone direct instructions you knew help was on the way,” she wrote in the post. “I thought of this as I walked home on Dovercourt tonight, past a yellow speed bump sign that had been graffitied with a racist caricature weeks ago. I assumed it would have been taken care of by now, but this is Toronto. So tonight I thought, “You! Email 311!” And then I thought, if we all filed one 311 report for a pothole or graffiti, this whole damn town could be cleaned up in no time!”

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A post shared by Amy R (@amyrrosen)

Rosen’s original complaint, reporting a case at Dovercourt Road and Argyle Street, saw the offending graffiti removed from the area within five days.

How to report graffiti and potholes

Rosen even provided instructions about how to report incidences of graffiti and potholes in her post. “When you see something wrong, take a photo and remember where it is (the closest intersection is fine, an address is better.) It takes five minutes to file a request. Here’s how you do it. Go to Toronto.ca. Scroll down and click on 311. Click on Create a Service Request. Browse categories and click on graffiti removal, or road services for things like potholes and bike lane repairs. Then just follow the steps to complete the form. Spring cleaning baby!”

Lets help make the city a cleaner place.

Erica Commisso

Erica Commisso is falling in love with the city of Toronto again, after returning from a stint in New York City. Her interests cover everything from hockey to fashion to music to classic literature and everything in between. If there’s something to be learned, Erica needs to know everything there is to know about it. You can catch her out for dinner in some trendy hotspots or on her couch during game nights cheering for the Colorado Avalanche as if they can hear her through the TV.