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Newsstand: November 2, 2011
It's the first Wednesday in November, which means it's totally fine to start lamenting every leaf that falls to the ground. But before you get too existential, here's the news: Toronto Hydro has been spared from sale for now, Rob Ford is still figuring out how to deal with Occupy Toronto, library branches will not be cut, and police charge the guy who stole that truck the other day.
We can all start getting ready to wave goodbye to the 43 per cent of energy company Enwave owned by the City, as the executive committee yesterday voted in favour of selling it off for quick cash to pay back some municipal debt. In better news, Toronto Hydro has been spared from the committee’s icy death grip, at least for now. City staff had suggested selling 10 per cent of Toronto Hydro, which, along with the Enwave sale, would have brought in about $600 million. But the problem, councillors learned, is that you can only sell something once, whereas the energy companies make money for the City every year. So the Toronto Hydro sale has been deferred, which should, if nothing else, make sunshine list enthusiasts everywhere very happy.
When Mayor Rob Ford makes specific, concrete promises, they’re often not fulfilled. So we don’t really know what to make of his occasional vague, general statements, such as his recent assertion that he is “working on a plan” with staff on how the City should deal with the Occupy Toronto protests. Something tells us we’re not going to like it, but you never know. Maybe he’ll have his company make the protesters fancy new signs or something. Either way, Ford says the plan will be ready in a few days, which means it should arrive just in time for Guy Fawkes Day.
In what will almost certainly never be called a Movember miracle, the library budget committee has voted unanimously not to close any branches. The committee voted against suggestions from individual members of the library board that branches be closed, computers be removed from branches, a charge be added for library cards, and more. It’s good news, but it also means the new library board is clearly stacked with people who hate libraries, or maybe just who hate people.
Sorry, Toronto Star. Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) tried to stop the mayor from snubbing you just because he has a beef with some of the articles you’ve written about him. But Vaughan’s “free press and democracy” motion, which would have prevented city politicians from doing just that, has been voted down by Ford’s executive committee. Instead, the committee has suggested Ford and the Star solve their problems once and for all with a sword fight atop an active volcano. Or an arm wrestling competition. Or just hug it out, bitches.
Let this be a lesson to anyone who think it’s a good idea to steal a truck and lead police on a five-hour chase highway stroll: eventually you’re going to get arrested, and you’re going to be charged. In the case of Jason Meadus, who did precisely that on Monday, the man has been charged with flight from police and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, among others.