Morning Brew: June 16th, 2008

Re: Hearn - Ouch! Anybody know who the guy was?

I wonder how long it will take after the City spends all this money to build a more pedestrian friendly Bloor Street, for Toronto's hydro, gas, or telecommunication companies to spoil the completed work, with claims that they "need to do something vital for their network"?

I'm glad they had the foresight to tear up the sewers now and get them replaced before they laid down the nice stone work.

Nothing bothers me more to see a nice, new brick pedestrian crosswalk with a big patch of dirty asphalt splotched in the middle. While I certainly don't expect the city to lay down new brick work after tearing up the old ones when a private company is responsible for the initial brick work, not replacing their own brickwork is just lazy and unacceptable.

Not criticising anyone here by any stretch, but does it seem bizarre to anyone else that we're talking of tearing up sewers here, when all these stabbings and shootings happened this weekend?

Are we that desensitized to this? I remember a time we would raise holy hell, now it just gets passing mention.

Sad. I keep getting reminded why this city becomes more of a hell hole.

I'd discuss the violence, but I think it's less of a city issue and more of a sociological one with no easy answer.

The city claims the murder rate is lower than last year, but I wonder if violent crime in it's entirity is going down as well. There could very well be more shootings and stabbings with people being less successful at them.

"Wider, granite-paved walkways, the removal of street parking, and lots of new trees will be welcome changes." And the bike lane, don't forget the bike lane. Oh wait. They did.

It was only a matter of time before one of those urbex peabrains got killed or seriously injured, not including those that in 20 years will develop mesothelioma or lung cancer from respirable silica exposure. I hope the city sues his ass (provided he survives) to pay for the costs of the rescue.

That's right, Mark. The city proved once again that it loves to talk about bike lanes, but hates to actually put them in.

Chester, I think one of the 'founders' of urban exploration, ninjasomethingorother ended up contracting a fatal disease. While family and friends has kept quiet about it, I wouldn't be shocked if it was related to his life of treking through sewers and asbestos-lined buildings.

You're thinking of Ninjalicous (Jeff Chapman) he died of Bile Duct Cancer secondary to an ongoing liver disease that had nothing to do with his urbex activities.

Jay

If you enter Richard L Hearn into Wikipedia, you'll get a brief biography of one of the pioneers of electricity in
Ontario.

Thanks, David. I know all about R.L. Hearn - I was wondering if anyone knows who the guy was who fell three floors.