news
Newsstand: August 25, 2010
Illustration by Matt Daley/Torontoist.
In today’s news: Miller is looking better and better, that YouTube-famous church group claims they aren’t haters, and underwater sex is coming to Toronto.
The backlog of G20 charges is diminishing rapidly, with seventy-three of 304 cases settled or dismissed as of yesterday. Of that number, fifty-eight had their charges withdrawn or stayed, six pleaded guilty, and nine, including Deputy Dawg and Sir Winston Churchill, were listed in error.
More insight into the rather puzzling Ipsos Reid poll that gave Rob Ford a commanding lead in the mayoral race but also indicated Mayor David Miller would easily keep his job if he changed his mind and decided to run again. Pollsters say the results indicate both the power of incumbency and the fact that pollees tend to view candidates more favourably if they aren’t actually running, so it’s by no means certain that Miller would do that well if he actually jumped back in. Either way, sucks to be Joe Pantalone, who now polls behind Sarah Thomson and as Miller’s heir-apparent is basically being told by the voting public: “It’s not your politics, it’s just you.”
Howard Moscoe (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence) will introduce a motion in City Council that would require all candidates for office to undergo a criminal record check and have the results posted on the internet. Moscoe says it has nothing to do with the recent Rob Ford DUI revelation, but he just thinks it’s a good idea.
Where would Jesus preach? The church group that got YouTube-famous after allegedly targeting a same-sex couple’s home in Leslieville with street preaching says they’re just misunderstood. Members of the Highfield Road Gospel Hall denied homophobia, and said that they weren’t looking to single out any home in particular, but rather trying to annoy the whole street equally with their holy shouting. Local residents are sceptical, with one telling the National Post that he’s seen the group do their thing four times in eight years, and always in front of the same house.
Bored with all the sex clubs you go to now? Mike Strobel in the Sun writes about a new establishment
opening up on Mutual Street next month that will let you get wet while you’re getting it wet. The Oasis Aqualounge is a sex club aimed at open-minded heterosexuals, and features an indoor-outdoor pool, a hot tub, and wet and dry saunas. “See, honey, don’t say I never take you anywhere!”
Headline of the day, from the Globe: “Giorgio Mammoliti to join zoo staff in China for panda negotiations.” He may not be mayoral material, but we definitely like his chances if he’s negotiating with pandas.