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Weekend Newsstand: November 20, 2010
Illustration by Jeremy Kai/Torontoist.
You say it’s the weekend? So it is. In the news: Rob Ford is set to appoint a bunch of his pals to top City Hall spots, and they may mutiny over parking spots and swimming pools; something’s up at the TTC; and Santa Claus is coming!
Rob Ford’s City Hall is beginning to take shape, as his choices for top administrative roles are revealed. Anyone expecting a Lincoln-esque Team of Rivals will be sorely disappointed. Ford will, unsurprisingly, surround himself with right-wing councillors and his most vocal supporters. Doug Holyday (Ward 3, Etobicoke-Centre) will be deputy-mayor, conservative councillor Karen Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence) is the choice for TTC chair, Frances Nunziata (Ward 11, York South-Weston) will be appointed council speaker, and accountant Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt) for budget chief. All but Stintz endorsed Ford for mayor, so at least her appointment displays Ford’s willingness to “to reach out to ideological allies who refused to endorse him.” Abe would be so proud.
Hockey coach Pat Burns has died after a long battle with cancer. The fifty-eight-year-old coached several teams around the NHL, including the Maple Leafs in the early ’90s. He earned one of his three coach of the year awards during his time spent with Toronto. Burns went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2003 with the New Jersey Devils. Condolences are pouring in from the sports world, and the nation, in memory of this hockey legend. Though he passed away before being inducted into The Hockey Hall of Fame, Burns was at the groundbreaking ceremony for an arena in his honour six weeks ago in Quebec’s eastern townships.
Almost seven hundred appeals have been filed against a giant bylaw passed by council last August. The five-thousand-page harmonized bylaw included controversial legislation—like restrictions on how many cars can park in a driveway and how big a pool can be—that has garnered a lot of attention. So much attention, in fact, that the representative for several appellants predicts the appeals will mark “quite likely the largest and most expensive [Ontario Municipal Board] hearing in the history of the province of Ontario.” Rob Ford has vowed to stop the gravy train amend the bylaw, and not soon enough for new budget chief Mike Del Grande, who admits he made one of the complaints.
Santa Claus is coming to town! And with him, the road closures. The annual Santa Claus Parade will march through town for its 106th turn on Sunday. And unless you don’t mind driving through police horse poop in the pursuit of upside-down clowns, we suggest you avoid bringing a car anywhere near the downtown core on Sunday. Instead, gather your loved ones, pull up a folding chair, unscrew a flask, and track Santa with your iPad.
Outgoing councillor Adam Giambrone (Ward 18, Davenport) kept the TTC chair nice and warm for new chief, Karen Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence): rider complaints are up 15% from last year. The transit authority was sharply focused on customer service this year, especially after an employee was YouTubed sleeping on the job. And apparently some customer service initiatives are working, because formal rider compliments are also up more than 30% from last year. Even so, we think Stintz should start fresh and throw out any and all chairs and couches left by Giambrone.