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Canadian Urbanism Uncovered

Thursday’s Headlines

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SPACING BUTTONS
• Pinko buttons/magnets now in our e-store! [Spacing]

CITY HALL
• Ford’s picks named to police board [The Star]
• Ford fires back at Boardwalk libel suit [The Star]
• On day 1 Ford gets his way, shuns downtown foes [Globe & Mail]
• Mayor Ford’s first meeting: ‘We got everything we wanted’ [National Post]
• Ford wins buffet battle [The Sun]
• With Rob Ford as Mayor, Toronto Artists Play Hard Wrecking Ball [Torontoist]

DON CHERRY
• Cherry’s comments spur city council pink brigade [The Star]
• Pinko ladies: Councillors dress to protest Cherry [Globe & Mail]
• What the #!%*?: Don Cherry seeing red on pinkos [National Post]
• Councillors wear pink in playful Don Cherry protest [National Post]
• Ford fizzles, Cherry pops [Now Weekly]

TRANSIT
• Toronto-area transit policy: Big mo for the Big Move? [Globe & Mail]
• Ford cast three votes in favour of LRT strategy [Globe & Mail]
• Rob Ford’s newly declared War on the Streetcar is pure political theatre [Eye Weekly]

CITY STRATEGIZING
• James: City-builders adopt new name, renewed focus [The Star]
• Back to the mothership: what Toronto can learn from London, England [Eye Weekly]

G20 AFTERMATH
• Baton-wielding officer seen in new photo [The Star]
• The buck stops here, Chief Blair says [The Star]
• Feds on secret G20 fence law: Wasn’t us! [The Star]
• No rush to fix G20 law, says McGuinty [The Star]
• Unlike Toronto, Ottawa cops admit there’s a problem [The Star]
• DiManno: How long can Blair stay shackled? [The Star]
• Five officers identified in G20 beating: police chief [National Post]
• Chris Selley: Little reason to believe G20 excesses wouldn’t happen again [National Post]
• Toronto police chief will not resign, says officers identified in G20 beating case [Globe & Mail]
• Take a deep breath over calls for Blair’s head [Globe & Mail]
• Opposition has field day after McGuinty admits security law kept Ontarians in the dark [Globe & Mail]
• Chief Blair says he won’t go [The Sun]

OTHER NEWS
• Recount proves ‘beyond a doubt’ Mississauga election was honest: McCallion [National Post]

10 comments

  1. Ford: How did this Tea Party wannabee get elected??

    Cherry: Why is Don Cherry still relevant.

    CBC: Why are my tax dollars subsidizing Cherry’s racist rants on CBC Hockey??

  2. Re: Back to the mothership: Toronto vs. London, England

    Shawn –

    Very well done article. I moved from Toronto to London UK in March/10 and you’ve wonderfully articulated many of the same observations I’ve had.

    – London certianly is a stylish city, and the sound of leather-soled shoes on paving stones is everywhere. Toronto’s sidewalks are smoother and it’s easier to trip on the cobbles in London. And the suit-wearing, bicycle riding bankers – I’m one of the many.
    – A conservative mayor does not have to be a death sentance for a vibrant city
    – London’s Boris, and NYC’s Bloomberg, understand the role of arts, pedestrian design, transit, even cycling
    – London’s Essex/Kent is Toronto’s Etobicoke/Scarborough. The similarities are extreme.
    – Shoreditch is almost fully gentrified; you’re right that the movement is migrating north towards Dalston. Large pockets of council housing seem to slow gentrification in London more than Toronto (which only has a few mega-social housing project areas). Mile End is quite near the Financial District, but stubbornly resists gentrification.
    – I’ve heard you use the term “messy urbanism” to describe Toronto before. Same applies to London.
    – Rent is much more expensive in London (about 30% more than Toronto) because the state competes against private landlords for rentals (about 40% of all rentals are paid for by the state – Economist article – http://econ.st/arrNj4 )
    – Apart from rent though, I’m surprized you found London that expensive. Groceries and beer is cheaper (pints about C$5 all day long).

    Again, thanks for writing this article. I think you nailed it.

  3. Re: Toronto Artists Play Hard Wrecking Ball

    Maybe ‘The Theatre Centre’ is worried Mayor Ford will double their rent. That would translate into a whopping $4 per year.

  4. Ah, Glen you’re again having fun with selected numbers and quotes to spin your point of view (whatever that is). Thanks for the link, though. Right below the paragraph you quote are a few more wee conditions:

    Net Lease:
    The Lease shall be entirely Net to the Landlord. The Tenant shall be responsible for all applicable realty taxes, building insurance, utilities, operating costs and maintenance.

    Tenant’s Work:
    The Tenant will inspect the Property and will accept the Property in its present condition. The Tenant, as of the Commencement Date, shall, at its sole expense, repair, improve, or renovate the Property to suit its intended use subject to the prior written approval of the Chief Corporate Officer or his/her designate, which consent may be unreasonably withheld. The Tenant shall not install any signage or perform any work or repair, renovation, improvement, decoration, or redecoration
    without first submitting detailed plans and specifications and
    construction methods/procedures along with a cost estimate to the Chief
    Corporate Officer or his/her designate for prior written approval, if applicable. All work shall be performed by qualified and reputable contractors and subject to the Landlord’s fair wage policies.

    Funding Requirement:
    The lease is conditional upon the Tenant providing evidence satisfactory to the Landlord (the City) that it has raised sufficient funding to complete all necessary renovations to the Premises, on or before the Commencement Date. If the Tenant fails to satisfy this condition on or before the Commencement Date, any lease entered into between both parties will be null and void.

    Use:
    The Leased Premises shall be used and shall continually be operated throughout the term as a performing arts centre as set out in its Service Contract with the Landlord’s Economic Development, Culture & Tourism Division.

  5. ED,

    What spin are you talking about? I was merely pointing out that the group was a recipient of financial support from the city. As such, it should have been disclosed in the article, so that readers can judge for themselves whether there is a bias. I read the conditions. So what? Is their anything special or unusual in there that you can point out?

    PS.
    The Province has made all Theatres under 1,000 seats exempt from property tax.