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Newsstand: December 19, 2011
The countdown is on. Boxing Day is just a week away. Do you have your pepper spray ready? In the news: two councillors (one city, one town) may be brushing off their resumes, Sue-Ann Levy dishes on city councillor performance, Bob Barker's footing the bill for our 'phants, and good news for Southwestern Ontario commuters.
Fiscally conservative Toronto budget chief Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough-Agincourt) said Sunday that he may step down from this role in the New Year, citing the stress caused by 75-hour workweeks. He may also be unhappy about bumping horns heads with the mayor on major budget decisions. Del Grande opposes scratching the lucrative land transfer tax, which Mayor Rob Ford has claimed will be wiped out by the end of his term.
We know of at least one person who will be devastated if Del Grande does step down. Toronto Sun‘s City Hall columnist Sue-Ann Levy released her Toronto council report card, on which Del Grande scored an A+. There are more Fs than there are As on the report, but you can probably guess the political slant of those who are “failing” and those who are “winning.”
Markham town councillor Howard Shore has been living something of a Gemini life, according to a report from the Toronto Star. Mild-mannered politician and motivational speaker by day, and petty thief and harasser by… other days. In November, Shore was arrested and charged with theft after stealing an iPhone from the Thornhill Fitness Centre. Seemingly a fan of Apple products, Shore has been busted in the past for snatching an iPod (and a credit card, probably to buy more Apple products) from the Running Room. Other legal issues include harassment and stalking charges. Shore has spoken out about the news, and has revealed the fact that he suffers from mental illness as a result of childhood trauma. It remains to be seen if he’ll step down (or be asked to resign), but if so, we know a guy who may be looking for a new job – and he’s got council experience!
The price is right for Toronto elephants Toka, Thika, and Iringa, who will be making the move to California on long-time animal rights activist (and former game show host) Bob Barker’s dime. Barker has kept a keen eye fixed on our pachyderms, and earlier this year he visited Toronto to campaign against keeping the elephants in Canada. Barker will shell out approximately $200,000 to move the elephants to their new home at an elephant sanctuary in the Golden State. In Barker’s home country. Wait a second here… has this just been a long-term ivory importing ring?! Wow, Bob, wow. You really had us all fooled.
While people’s hate-on for YRT may be growing, GO transit may have just made some new friends with train service to Kitchener and Guelph starting today at 5:52 a.m. But just in case you were starting to get a little warm and fuzzy feeling about Toronto’s transit options, the TTC has announced that the 63 Ossington buses are diverting both ways via Dundas and Shaw because of a burst water main. Soooo close.