Morning Brew: Ford likes Di Giorgio for budget chief, audit may not remove the mayor, the Eglinton LRT gets shorter, GO gets quiet, and Toronto is the city of love
Rob Ford could be about to back councillor Frank Di Giorgio for budget chief. The mayor said on his weekly radio show that the York South-Weston councillor, who has been on the budget committee for the duration of the current term of office, is "doing a great job." The position was vacated in Jan. by councillor Mike Del Grande.
If he's selected, Di Giorgio says he'll defer more of the work to city staff and avoid focusing on the "line by line" detail like his predecessor. In the Star, another former budget committee chair councillor Shelley Carroll said delegation would result in impossible cuts that "strangle the baby." Do you back Di Giorgio?
At least one lawyer believes Rob Ford is unlikely to lose his job over his election finance audit. Speaking to the CBC, John Mascarin, a municipal law specialist, said the mayor should expect to be "rapped on the wrist" for his overspend. Do you agree? Could Ford get away with a fine?
The Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown just became one stop shorter. Metrolinx announced yesterday it was scrapping its plan to build a stop for the LRT line at Leslie Street due to high constructions costs and low ridership predictions. Another threatened station at Ferrand Drive is safe for now.
Speaking of Metrolinx, the upper level of GO trains on the Barrie line will become "quiet zones" where laptops and ringing cellphones are banned. The scheme will run for three months and is being implemented at the request of riders, the transit agency says. Good idea?
Parkdale is about to get Toronto's first tool library, a place where expensive power tools are loaned out for short periods. The rental cost will be tailored to the person's income and come with training. Ryan Dyment and Lawrence Alvarez, the founders, say the project was inspired by similar start-ups in Vancouver.
Toronto gets called a lot of things but "romantic" isn't usually one of them. Nevertheless, Hogtown is apparently Canada's city of love, according to a Valentines Day survey by dating website Match.com that rated people's excitement for Feb. 14. Winnipeg is home to the fewest romantics.
Finally, here's one-time mayoral candidate turned audited councillor Giorgio Mammoliti making a pitch for the city's top job back in 2010. Mammoliti briefly considered running against Rob Ford but soon switched his focus. That change seems to be part of the reason why his campaign team had such a hard time keeping track of spending (h/t: @benspurr.)
IN BRIEF:
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "Toronto - The 'Coolest' City!" by SnapHappyExpat/blogTO Flickr pool.
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