Sidewalk Labs’ proposal for Waterfront Toronto is a brazen grab for Torontonians’ land and local democracy. Again and again, we have seen Google and its affiliates go to great lengths to subvert democratic practices in our cities. Sidewalk’s overreach in Toronto is no anomaly; it’s how Alphabet does business. Instead of engaging the community, Google demanded 18 elected officials and city staff sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), including the mayor and multiple council members. In San José, residents, tech service workers, and even Google employees are organizing to hold Google to account and make sure families have the freedom to stay and thrive in the communities they’ve built.

Source: thestar July 03, 2019 20:37 UTC