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Weekend Newsstand: August 11, 2012
Oh, summer weekends, is there anything you can't do? You're the best, even when wet. In today's soggy news: Mayor Ford just says no to a pay hike; an unlikely Olympic alliance; changes at the Bay and Dundas bus terminal; Toronto's weather is nothing if not extreme; and road closures in effect this weekend.
For the first time in more than 18 months, Toronto’s city councillors are getting a pay raise. That is, those who actually choose to accept the three per cent bump. Mayor Rob Ford, known for his tough stance on government spending, seems to view what would amount to about a $5,000 annual increase as gravy, and has personally rejected the raise. Although the councillors’ pay will rise to $102,608 from $99,620, Mayor Ford will stick to his annual salary of $167,770, thankyouverymuch, even though it does seem surprising that someone who works harder than 99 per cent of the population doesn’t feel entitled to a little salary increase, which only seems fair.
Buffalo’s mayor has gotten wind of Councillor James Pasternak’s (Ward 10, York Centre) suggestion to partner up with Buffalo for an Olympic bid, and he likes what he hears. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in an interview Friday that “with the closeness of our two nations, it potentially raises the opportunity.” We believe that it also raises the opportunity for making chicken wing eating an Olympic sport—fastest time, most wings eaten, highest tolerance for heat are just a few examples that come to mind. Hey, we can dream, too, right? Why should Councillor Pasternak have all the fun?
Did you know that the TTC has owned and operated the bus station at Bay and Dundas since the 1990s? No? Well, don’t worry, it doesn’t matter now anyhow, those days are behind us. Why fill your head with outdated information? What you really need to know is that as of now, the TTC has contracted out operation of the Toronto intercity coach terminal to Coach Canada and Greyhound. Twenty-four TTC ticket sellers and other staff have retired or been absorbed into other transit jobs. There. Now you are all up-to-date with the latest information about the bus terminal.
It seems that Toronto weather just can’t get it right. From nearly unbearable record-breaking heat to rain so intense it has led to flooding and tree toppling, extreme weather is wreaking havoc. With storms expected throughout the weekend, this might be a simple case of “be careful what you wish for” when hoping for a reprieve from the heat. However, the news from the skies is not all bad. On Sunday, we can expect showers of a different kind as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak.
Speaking of crummy, rainy weather that makes one wish to take shelter indoors, there are a few festivals, including the perennially popular Taste of the Danforth and other outdoor events, that will lead to road closures this weekend. Here’s what you need to know before you go (out in your car).
