news
Newsstand: August 19, 2010
Illustration by Matt Daley/Torontoist.
Today: Rob Ford is the subject of anti-rallies, Kurt Browning should stick to cold things, and some news on Scarborough schools.
Because Rob Ford decided to hate on immigrants, the other candidates jumped at the opportunity to hate on him. What he said at the debate on Tuesday: “We can’t even deal with the 2.5 million people in this city. I think it’s more important that we take care of the people now before we start bringing in more.” How the other candidates responded: “Apologize! Quit! Both!” So yesterday, Ford decided to hold a presser to try to explain himself, and the others came to hold anti-Ford rallies. Now, whether there will be an influx of a million people in the coming decade or sixty thousand (which TO’s plan for growth indicates) remains to be seen, but whoever ends up mayor won’t have anything to say about it anyway.
As most people know, fire and ice aren’t meant to co-exist peacefully, and unfortunately for one star skater, neither are certain types of machinery. Kurt Browning’s mansion in Forest Hill went up in a three-alarm blaze yesterday, after someone (likely Browning himself), attempted to dry a car with a leaf blower. Firefighters got the fire under control after a few hours, but not before it caused some serious damage to the house and part of the roof collapsed. The damage could cost a million bucks. Officials aren’t sure exactly how the fire started, but said that the man (probably Browning) was trying to dry out the seats of his convertible, left, and returned to a car in flames. Apparently the fire started in the garage, but everyone’s okay, folks.
Another fire, but this time there were casualties. Twenty-one cats and a dog were killed in a blaze near Ossington Avenue and Dupont Street. The culprit: lint in the dryer. A father and son escaped the fire unharmed, and four cats made it, too, but neighbours were distraught at the site of “bags of dead animals” brought out by firefighters. You’re wondering why so many cats in the house? The family works with animal rescue groups, which, yes, is a tad ironic, but mostly just sad.
Talk about setting an example for the wee ones. The Scarborough principal of an elementary school has been charged with assaulting a teacher and will appear in court today. Prince Duah of Golf Road Public School was placed on home assignment after the incident occurred in June. The victim’s name has not been released. The school board will undertake an investigation after the court stuff is settled.
And speaking of Scarborough schools, councillor Norm Kelly (Ward 40, Scarborough Agincourt) wants to see photo radars installed on a stretch of Pharmacy Avenue frequented by students. The works committee agreed to ask the province for a pilot project for the section of street south of Finch Avenue. Many aren’t too fond of photo areas since their trial on Ontario highways in the ’90s, calling them a “cash grab.” Full council will vote on whether to ask for the go ahead from the transportation minister next week.
But wait! There’s more! And even though it’s less important, it’s probably more interesting to most. Ford will hold another press conference today. It could be because he just likes being berated by the media, or more likely, it has to do with his arrest for having pot back in 1999 in Florida. Ford will discuss the bust for half an hour at his family’s business. Ford was arrested, booked, and fingerprinted after being pulled over by police. Ford never appeared in court and the charges were dropped, but he said, “They found one joint in my back pocket.” What will he do next?