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Newsstand: August 13, 2010
Illustration by Matt Daley/Torontoist.
Friday! Friday! Friday! Today, still more Ford news, some subway slowdowns, and an alleged G20 mischief-maker is out on bail.
Call him irresponsible… Mayor Miller has fired back at Rob Ford’s musings earlier this week that the untendered award of a twenty-year lease to Tuggs restaurant is evidence of rampant “corruption and skullduggery” at City Hall. Miller responded yesterday by calling the statements “disgusting” and “irresponsible” and suggesting that if Ford had any actual evidence of misbehaviour he should take it to the city ombudsman. Ford was also lambasted by (in alphabetical order) Joe Pantalone, Rocco Rossi, George Smitherman, and Sarah Thomson, as well as the Loyal Order of Skulldiggers, who denied any involvement.
Tough journalist-style questions are being asked about poll results released yesterday which indicate Rob Ford is well on his way to becoming the next winner of So You Think You Can Dance Canada mayor of Toronto. The numbers give Ford a substantial nine point lead over George Smitheman, his closest challenger in the mayoral race. Pollstra Research, which conducted the survey, is relatively unknown in the polling biz, and has declined to reveal who commissioned it (although they have stated that it’s no one involved with the Toronto mayoral election.) Could there be some skullduggery at work?
If your plans this weekend include taking the Bloor-Danforth subway, you may experience some disruption. From Saturday morning through Monday morning, trains will bypass Bay Station and passengers travelling on the line will have to debark at Museum and reboard a train to continue their trip. Bay Station is being closed down for the annual C.H.U.D. spraying.
A woman charged with multiple offences around G20 vandalism has been released on bail. Kelly Pflug-Back is out of jail on eighty-thousand-dollar bail, but is required to live with her parents under house arrest and to avoid contact with her activist friends. She’s also banned from using Facebook, including Farmville. Pflug-Back faces thirteen charges including mischief over five thousand dollars, conspiracy, and wearing a disguise.
A thirty-nine-year-old man from Aurora was arrested for impaired driving last night after spending a good fifteen minutes heading east in the westbound lanes of the 401 near Highway 427. The rugged individualist was finally stopped by police, but not before almost hitting a police car trying to get his attention.