Morning Brew: March 11th, 2008

Photo: "Urban Wisdom" by blogTO Flickr pooler ebw1979.

Your morning news roundup for Tuesday March 11th, 2008:

The city and the TTC union are already at odds as contract negotiations for the transit workers get underway, with a legal strike possible on April 1st (no joke). The union wants higher wages and more off-time for drivers who are assaulted, and are launching a $500,000 ad campaign to get their message out. The thing is, even a $5million campaign won't change public perception that TTC workers are already overpaid, have little regard for the needs of Torontonians (we haven't forgotten the illegal strike), and are generally miserable people that have small, personal rain clouds over their heads that follow them around all the time.

Ryerson University is making itself look like a pea-brained dinosaur. The student who ran a homework study group on Facebook is facing an expulsion hearing for his actions, which in my opinion, is not academic misconduct. Students have been getting together in the cafeteria and tackling homework assignments since students first got homework.

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Here's a great idea. Implementing a cash deposit system the purchase of batteries, CF light bulbs, and paint cans would have a positive effect on the environment and draw in city revenue from those too lazy or too stupid to care about the environment. I say they implement this on a national level. Why not?

40,000 potholes in Toronto roads have been filled this winter, which is double the norm. It's looking like we might even need to allocate more money to the initiative if we plan to be able to fix potholes in November/December 2008. The city needs your help locating problem potholes. If you know one that's been swallowing your wheels and making you curse, CALL THEM at 416-599-9090 to report it.

96 people were arrested and $30,000 worth of narcotics were seized in a drug sweep west of the downtown core. Something is wrong with these numbers. Either drugs have gotten really cheap, they arrested a whole lot of users instead of traffickers, the drugs are really well-hidden, or a whole lot of police officers are getting really high this weekend.