Is it really a way to reduce bureaucracy? Mayor Rob Ford's executive committee has voted to remove 21 citizen groups, including the Cycling Advisory Committee and the Task Force to Bring Back the Don. Executive members said their decision was based on a city report that suggested the panels were unnecessary and easily replaceable with other like-minded programs, like town halls and social-media strategies. However, the report did not spell out how much the city would end up saving by cutting the committees since its members do not receive any money. More than 40 people signed up to oppose the motion and their statements have persuaded city manager Joe Penachetti to revisit some recommendations. The report goes to council next month.

In a perfect example of stunt casting done right, actor Woody Harrelson tells NOW Magazine that he hopes to play Rob Ford one day on the big screen. Harrelson said, "I like playing anti-heroes, or in this case a stone cold villain. Being a method actor, I'll have to start eating meat, hating bicycles and enjoying censorship." He's already got a jump start by appearing on the front cover of the magazine, wearing nearly nothing, paying homage to the full-frontal Mayor Rob Ford controversial issue that was on newsstands (well, kind of) a few weeks ago. Speaking of which, the magazine filed a complaint with the city's integrity commissioner saying Ford abused his influence when a custodial supervisor instructed staff at city facilities to remove and dispose of all copies of the Mar. 31 issue.

One of the city's vendors from its failed A La Carte program is threatening to sue the city if she isn't reimbursed some of the money she invested into the venture. Kathy Bonivento is accusing the city of scamming vendors who shelled out tens of thousands of dollars in a program that was "doomed to fail".

Did you know that Prime Minister Stephen Harper was born and raised in Toronto? If you didn't, you're not alone. The PM shows no real love or nostalgia for his hometown and this week's EYE tries to get to the bottom of his apathy (and his "robot eyes") by tracing back his Toronto roots.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto man arrested in York U student's murder
• McGuinty says Ontario needs more control over immigration
• Blue Jays lose to Yanks

Photo by yedman in the blogTO Flickr pool.