MAYOR ROB FORD
• Ford makes surprise vow to freeze taxes in 2011 [The Star]
• I do solemnly swear [The Star]
• Rob Ford vows to freeze Toronto property taxes next year [Globe & Mail]
• Ford sets tone with bold moves on first day as mayor [Globe & Mail]
• A mayor with a mandate and he’s not afraid to use it [Globe & Mail]
• Tax freeze, transit plan among Ford’s priorities [National Post]
• Responding to every phone call, e-mail a priority for new mayor [National Post]
• Peter Kuitenbrouwer: Gravy for Mayor Rob Ford [National Post]
• Downtown need not feel left out: experts [National Post]
• OCAP, immigration group protest Mayor Ford’s first day [National Post]
• For Rob Ford, a Zero’s Welcome at Nathan Phillips Square protest [Torontoist]
• Rob Ford: the illusionist [Eye Weekly]
TRANSIT
• Hume: Ford to Transit City: Drop dead [The Star]
• The Fixer: New bus shelter running behind schedule [The Star]
• Councillors insist they’ll have final say on transit plan [Globe & Mail]
• Where Toronto councillors sit on the future of Transit City [Globe & Mail]
• ‘The war on the car is over’…and so is Transit City: Rob Ford [National Post]
• Chris Selley: “Transit City is over.” Stay tuned for details… [National Post]
• Keep TTC’s special constables [The Sun]
• No more shelter for Gladstone, as a stray TTC bus stop finally leaves [Torontoist]
G20 AFTER-MATH
• Report on G20 secret law to be released next week [The Star]
• Ontario Ombudsman wrapping up probe into G20 ‘secret law’ [Globe & Mail]
CRIME
• Toronto police officer charged with manslaughter after fatal shooting [Globe & Mail]
• Can bricks and mortar really change behaviour? [Globe & Mail]
CULTURE & RECREATION
• Rogers held talks with Teachers on MLSE [Globe & Mail]
• The Rogers-Leafs deal explained [Globe & Mail]
• How about a giant squid for the Toronto Waterfront? [BlogTO]
• For Lake Ontario surfers, winter is no obstacle [Torontoist]
• Improve Toronto in four easy steps [Eye Weekly]
OTHER NEWS
• Sounds like Toronto [The Star]
• Airport limo drivers locked out [The Star]
• What the Annex was like in the 1950s and 60s [BlogTO]
3 comments
I heard the news last night that ford had “killed” Transit City while I sat in a brutal rushhour. It hit me right like I had been punched in the gut. Transit City wouldn’t have served my neighbourhood but I applauded the vision of David Miller and his colleagues that put this plan into motion. I dreaded this day would come when many of the shortsighted citizens voted rob ford into the mayors seat. Now, we will take a dramatic step back, one that has the potential to handcuff our economic growth and further isolate priority neighbourhoods many of which saw ford as their saviour. Now with millions wasted on engineering, construction and contracts the ford plans to turn to turn subway development, picking where our last suburban mayor left off extending the stubway eastward toward the Scarborough Town Centre. Based on the past it will likely be 2030 before it reaches its destination.
I really hope that the plan is not totally dead I plan and I hope others reach out to their respective counselor and voice their support for the continuation of Transit City. We cannot role over and let rob ford ruin this city!
Is this a sign of things to come ? Ford decides that he’s got “The Mandate” from the voters, so no need to go to Council, right ?
But he did not run on a single-issue platform (ie. Kill Transit City). Some voters chose him because he promised to end the vehicle tax or bring down property taxes. Others picked him on the issue of reining in Councillors’ spending. And, yes, some did choose him for standing against Transit City.
But it’s wrong to assume that everyone who voted Ford, did so for ‘all of the above’. Some may want to keep Transit City. If he wants to say this is a clear mandate and the people have spoken, then on what other issue can he also claim is ‘The People’s Choice’ ? Why does he need to go to Council after all ?
Not a big fan of Margaret Wente but she does have an article on the Regent Park Revitalization that I think is worth listing… My own view is that contrary to what many experts insist, it wasn’t necessarily the “design” of the old Regent Park that was the problem. The problem was that Toronto Housing allowed the place to become horribly rundown and was less than consistent regarding security.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/can-bricks-and-mortar-really-change-behaviour/article1821282/