Modest Mouse

Photos by Ryan Bigge.

As the city workers' strike lurches into its third week, there's been a lot of talk about who is and isn't benefiting from it. Suffering? The reputations of David Miller, the striking unions, and their members; some, but not all, residents; some, but not all, neighbourhoods; our collective fear that tourists will think us unclean; and the expanses of concrete currently doing time as temporary dumping grounds. Doing just swell? Private garbage pick-up companies; the City's wallet (well, maybe?); people who like photos of garbage; people who like over-reacting to said garbage, and, oh, rats.

Ryan Bigge discovered the sign above on Dundas Street West, on the the door beside the Press Club, not too far east of Trinity Bellwoods. Signed "Madame Hair 2009," who we assume is, sadly, human, it thanks Mayor Miller and the unions on behalf of a genial-looking rat for "inviting me & my family & friends to your beautiful city"—probably not the kind of tourist trap the City intended to engineer this summer.