news
Newsstand: November 4, 2009
Just in case the National Post‘s miraculous financial rescue made you think that times really aren’t so tough for newspapers, the Toronto Star may lay off a third of its newsroom. And, did we mention that this was announced to staff yesterday afternoon, on the paper’s 117th birthday? We hope this cheery letter from HR [PDF] didn’t put too much of a damper on the festivities when it informed staff that they have until November 30 to apply for voluntary severance packages of three weeks’ pay per year of service. Hey, remember how the National Post called everyone who said they were going out of business an uninformed, reactionary, communist? Surely their editorial pages will now be crammed with pleas urging readers to give the Star the benefit of the doubt.
There’s a reason we gave you that news first—we wanted to make sure you were sitting down for this next bit. Are you ready? The TTC’s November meeting, originally set for the end of the month, has been rescheduled to November 17! No, no, we promise, this really is news, because it indicates that the TTC is probably going to bring in another fare hike soon. Of course, all the traditional omens of a fare hike have been cropping up as well—sun rising in the morning, cats walking about on four legs, winter feeling chilly, and so on.
Did we just mention the TTC without talking about Adam Giambrone’s bid for mayor? Well, even though the race hasn’t officially kicked off, he’s in third place according to a “representative” survey of 503 Torontonians conducted by Angus Reid. Nearly half of those polled weren’t quite sure who they would vote for next year (and, wouldn’t you know it, neither do we) but half of the half that thinks they know who they want for mayor is pretty sure they’ll vote for John Tory, with George Smitherman a second-place favourite even though he might not even run. It’s a ridiculously early poll that mostly tests which politicians the respondents have even heard of, but the full results [PDF] are kind of fun! Giorgio Mammoliti tops the list if you turn it upside down (at 1%, he’s just a few points less popular than “Other”).
And police say that scam movers are primarily targetting people of South Asian descent in Toronto, carrying half their victims’ stuff outside and then raising the price to over a thousand bucks, threatening to leave the victim’s property on the sidewalk or impound it unless they get paid. Cops are warning people to hire reputable movers, insist on contracts, and not sign anything confusing, because if you get taken in by a shady operation, going to court is your only recourse.
This is where we usually tell you to have a good day and get a bit of air, but forget that—have you seen the city’s new open data site? If the CBC’s writeup is a little anemic and the full catalogue is just too fabulous to compute, check back later and we’ll give you the geeky highlights of this versatile new public information site—once we’re done figuring out which neighbourhoods get the most apartment complaints and how many upcoming classical concerts don’t require reservations and have bike parking. ‘Till then!