City
Morning Brew: January 28th, 2009
Photo: "train passing" by veryscary, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
The feds have delivered a budget designed to please everyone, but Mayor Miller doesn't appear to be entirely convinced that Toronto infrastructure projects (like Transit City) will be funded with the ease required.
A Greyhound bus driver is being hailed a hero after he subdued a violent passenger en route to Toronto, while driving at top speed. No charges were laid - it turns out the passenger was Diabetic, missed an insulin shot, and went a little berserk.
More anti-smoking law will soon come into effect in Toronto. Council voted 31-6 to make smoking within 9m of a playground punishable by a $305 fine. This will also apply to the Toronto Zoo and Riverdale Farm.
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You may be able to have your submarine sandwich with the toppings and condiments of your choosing, and some will even give you pickles on the side. But a dime bag of wacky tabacky is not something authorities will allow be served from a Mr. Sub.
Ontario is getting back into the business of toll highways. The planned expansion of the 407 northeast of Toronto, will be owned by the province. The highway was sold at a bargain price to a private foreign company years ago. Hopefully we don't see public funding go into the expansion project, and then see this new portion also sold off in desperation shortly thereafter.
In related news, the 407 continued to send bills to a widowed man, for charges his late wife allegedly accrued 7 years ago. The Sun got involved, and the 407 suggest that they've corrected the problem.
Discussion
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$305! Can the city post a map showing all the city parks with playgrounds, so I don't accidentally get fined when I'm out walking the dog?
It looks like the province will be separately tolling the extension. madness. Better to own the extension but let ETR extend the tolling system while forcing them to make it work better.
I can't wait to stumble over the piles of discarded cigarette butts accumulating 9m from park entrances, in the same way that the city's prohibition of smoking within that distance of business entrances has resulted in ashcans being removed and butts strewn on the surrounding sidewalks and gutters.
Bravo, Toronto!
Or perhaps smokers could learn not to be so disrespectful and deal with their butts - much like dog owners are expected to pick up after their dogs......
Thank goodness the little ones in playgrounds won't ever get a wiff of secondhand cigarette smoke, which we enlightened folk now know to be far more deadly than sarin or mustard gas. Mutual back-patting all around!
Regarding the 407, it seems the gov't feels that if you can't beat them, join them. No doubt they will price the tolls on their section "to market", i.e. matching the current highway-robbery rates. And the revenues STILL won't be put into public transit or green initiatives any more that the billions in gas taxes collected so far.
Is putting ashcans where people aren't allowed to smoke a better idea? Unfortunately it's the that people decide to litter.
Ashcans would condone the smoking, and unfortunately it seems there are no bylaw officers to fine offender.
@Diane, you have a future ahead of you as a republican blogtroll. I suggest aiming some of that fine sarcasm toward Obama and post it on Foxnews forums where you can get more traction
I think that half the reason the province is getting back into the toll roads business is due to the federal government buying up all the land on that front for the eventual Pearson 2 that's been floating about.
gog, how did you get "republican" out of that? Most folks would read that and think "libertarian".
Too subtle?
Ashcans don't condone smoking, they condone safe and tidy disposal of spent butts. You have a choice: this or ashcans. I know what I choose, and I'm a nonsmoker.
People smoke.
You aren't going to change that.
And you can't just throw out a smoke into a garbage can because you may end up starting a fire. Putting proper disposal options where you *are* allowed to smoke would both show people who do want to obey the rules where they're allowed to smoke and cut down on the amount of littering of butts.
I wish people would work with smokers more often. I think it would cut down on a lot of hassle.
Until it is illegal people are going to smoke. When they are done smoking they will inevitably dispose of the butt. So instead of ignoring the litter problem and condemning all smokers as disrespectful why not place ashcans throughout the city? I don't see how this encourages or condones smoking, it just addresses a litter problem.
In the UK thay have ashtrays on the top of all garbage bins and there is a hefty fine for littering cigarette butts. This seems to take care of the problem quite effectively.
As a non-smoker, I say raise the taxes on cigarettes to cover the clean up - create jobs, and re-direct funds spent on this trivial pleasure towards solving the problem it creates.
(Yes, my smoking friends hate me)
I know, we should have city employees follow behind smokers and pick up their butts after them! I can't believe the selfishness here.
It is easy - easier then picking up dog crap even:
Step 1) Finish Butt.
Step 2) Stub Butt Out.
Step 3) Carry Butt until you find the approprate place to put it.
Is that so hard? It isn't asking any more than we do of dog owners, but apparently that is beyond most smokers. I mean, smoke if you want to, but don't whine that evil city is making it too hard to dispose your waste.
they should ban smoking right outside entrance to buildings, esp office buildings
This smoking ban is RIDiCULOUS! And i'm not a smoker!
But hey, if the city can make more money and put it towards more pressing issues(*ie. transit, housing) i'm all for it.
Speaking of transit, looks like we're not continuing on Transit City. GREAT! I'm one step closer to moving to CHICAGO!
Sorry, but when did I demand that city employees follow around smokers and pick up their butts? I suggested that ashtrays be placed on garbage cans which city employees are already emptying. I also suggested a fine for littering butts to deter the problem.
I am a non smoker and I hate the site of cigarette butts littered everywhere as much as you do. Unlike you though, I suggested something to help everyone rather your the self-righteous high horse BS. That just makes many smokers resentful and quite happy to flick their butts on you lawn.
Smokers, please don't follow davedavedave's advice - it's very dangerous to throw a freshly-stubbed-out cigarette into the trash. Even though you may think it's extinguished, it's probably still smouldering and can easily start a fire.
He didn't suggest that.
"Step 3) Carry Butt until you find the approprate place to put it."
Once you've carried your butt around looking one of the city's virtually non-existent garbage cans, it's not going to be a "freshly-stubbed-out" cigarette, now is it?
I put mine in my pocket and throw them at out home. It's pretty damn simple.
Lovestosmoke: You put your butt in your pocket till you find a place to dispose of it???!!
WHERE DID YOU COME FROM??? AND WHERE CAN WE ORDER MORE OF YOU????(haha)
Really? I'd be afraid of my pants catching fire.
Was my last comment on here deleted by the moderator?
Was letting one know that their idea of butting-out in the pocket offensive? I mean really, he means well, but who puts their butts in their pockets.... honestly.
Should we conduct a poll?
The comment was mistakenly marked as spam but has now been restored.
Smoking Ban. What a waste of time and tax dollars. Passing another ByLaw that won't be enforced, making it look like their doing something. Is this a real issue? Please. You know how many hours, meetings and dollars were spent to create such a feeble law. How about passing some laws that are actually needed!
"Heather: People smoke.
You aren't going to change that."
Dear Heather - see last 30 years of increasingly effective anti-smoking regulations and decreasing smoker rates. Change much?
fine. Lets get semantical shall we?
People smoke. You aren't going to eliminate that.
Not far enough? Short of outlawing smoking, and then providing chemical fixes to those of us who are nicotine dependent, you aren't going to eliminate that.