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It should surprise no one that the views of Scarborough Community Councillors and local residents were completely ignored by downtown politicians last week when it came to a vote on an affordable housing plan on Birchmount Road.

Even though Scarborough councillors had unanimously voted against the proposal for a 10-storey, 153-unit building to be essentially built in the parking lot of another apartment building, downtown councillors apparently knew better and full council approved the plan for 544 Birchmount Rd.

And simply not content to trample the wishes of Scarborough residents, Ward 21 (St. Paul's) Councillor Joe Mihevc felt obliged to deliver yet another lecture on the need to build affordable housing in a riding he does not represent.

"If this was rejected we would look like fools before the Ontario Municipal Board and the province and the federal government," Mihevc said in supporting the Birchmount Road project.

At least in this case, unlike an earlier situation involving affordable housing at a Manse Road site in southeast Scarborough, Mihevc acknowledged the Birchmount proposal was not an ideal location.

That being said, he and the majority of council still approved the plan.

When it comes to Scarborough and the living conditions deemed acceptable for those who must reside in affordable housing projects, even if something is wrong it will be ruled right as long as it meets the political ideology of those running our city today.

That was also the case with Manse Road.

Local residents who think they will be able to make their case against the Birchmount Road proposal based on reason should talk to those Manse Road residents who were alternately insulted and bullied by the forces intent on having affordable housing built in that area.

Yet we'll give Ward 35 (Scarborough Southwest) Councillor Adrian Heaps credit for at least mentioning the quality of life that will be faced by those who will eventually make 544 Birchmount Rd. home.

He rightly wondered why it was acceptable to council to approve a sub-standard location for an affordable housing project.

"The comments I've heard is that this is the best we can do. Well why do we have to set the bar so low, just because it's lower-income people moving into the area? The people moving in to this building will not have the amenities they need," Heaps said.

At the end of the day, the fallout from this development will be dealt with by the residents of Heaps' ward. It's too bad city council ignored his words and chose instead to listen to the argument made by Mihevc, a downtown councillor who likely would only ever end up on Birchmount Road by accident - or to lecture others on affordable housing.