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Newsstand: September 15, 2011
Welcome to Thursday, the day of Thurs. And news! Today: Rob Ford ally plans to vote against him, a rat roams City Hall, George W. appearance cancelled, and condo dwellers beware.
There’s a rat in City Hall. And that’s not a bad metaphor or anything. An actual beady-eyed, long tailed rodent was spotted in budget chair Mike Del Grande’s (Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt) office on Wednesday. A staffer was bit on the hand while trying to trap the pest, which was eventually caught and taken away in a plastic bag. Though Del Grande insists the rat thing is not newsworthy, Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), whose father was also a city councillor, says he’s heard of mice scurrying around City Hall but never rats. Vaughan blames the visitor on nearby construction that must have displaced the rat.
Rob Ford isn’t worried about recent poll results showing support for him is fading fast. No, siree. Because the mayor still hears from “literally hundreds of people everyday” that tell him to keep on keepin’ on. Counted among Ford’s brain trust are a bunch of teenagers, because they “get it,” according to Ford.
One formerly staunch ally doesn’t get it anymore. Executive Committee member Jaye Robinson (Ward 25, Don Valley West) is speaking out against the mayor’s plan for the waterfront. Robinson said the plan is too light on details like, say, a business plan or anyone else’s opinion except the mayor, his brother, and this guy. She says she’s received more emails from constituents on this issue than anything else so far. Behold the power of email.
Hey, did you hear George W. Bush was coming to town? Oh you didn’t? No big deal, since he’s not coming anymore. Bush was scheduled to deliver a speech at an invitation-only event at Tyndale University, a non-denominational Christian university. Some members of the school’s student body, alumni, and faculty were opposed to the visit, citing the actions of the former U.S. president’s administration as contrary to the Christian values taught at the school.
Condo owners beware. Residents at four condo buildings around the city are worried they may have to step up to pay off the money their property manager borrowed against the buildings. Manzoor Moorshed Khan is the president of Channel Property Management and apparently has a lot of nice cars. The mortgage lender allegedly bilked by Khan estimate Khan borrowed up to $14 million by forging documents in the name of condo board members. His former employees say Khan is in Bangladesh these days.
Did you know that February 7 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance on Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation? So do some second-graders at a Bathurst and Lawrence school. The date appears in the kids’ school planner in a list of notable dates along with references to sex workers’ rights and Palestinian solidarity. A parent of one of the kids is none too happy. The school board agrees, but hasn’t made moves to apologize or get rid of the planners.