news
Newsstand: July 28, 2011
Thursday’s news has far to go, or something. Happening: almost 300 people are set to tell today’s executive committee meeting what they think of proposed cuts, and you may have heard of some them; no charges laid for the mayor’s bad driving; trainspotting; and Margaret Atwood.
Looking for something to do today? Got 20 hours to spare? Of course you do! Then head on down to City Hall where the mayor and his executive committee will be hearing from a list of deputants longer than Rob Ford’s finger. Way longer than Rob Ford’s finger. Of course. More than 280 people have signed up to tell the committee what they think of recently proposed cuts including scaling down the police force, selling the zoo, ending grants for HIV/AIDS prevention, and the infamous library cutbacks. On the defensive already, Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) proclaimed no Ford supporters would be lining up to sing the mayor’s praises at the meeting because they’ll be at work. And then he basically said he won’t be paying much attention to whoever does speak because he’s already heard from them and he thinks “a lot of them are being paid to be here.”
Giorgio’s right about that one, some people are paid to say their piece at the executive committee. By Rob Ford. Jeff Melanson, the mayor’s cultural adviser (who maybe isn’t technically paid to do that advising, but just go with it for the dramatic tension), plans to advise the mayor about culture at the meeting. Melanson says reducing arts grants would be a “misdirection,” and every $1 saved in cuts could end up costing the City $17.
Toronto police announced they will not be laying charges on the mayor for talking on his cellphone while driving. A police spokesman said “after-the-fact” incidents of phoning while driving are only pursued in extreme cases, like life-threateningly extreme. So, just to be sure he couldn’t get charged unless he was even super closer to causing a traffic accident, the mayor answered a call from a morning radio show, while driving, and admitted, “I can’t drive.” Got it.
Like the movie Trainspotting, but without the Scottish guys and the scary baby on the ceiling (and the heroin), some transitphiles are skulking around in tunnels trying to hitch a ride on the new subway train.
And an amendment to a Doug Ford quote from earlier in the week. He totally does know who Margaret Atwood is, guys.