Police Officer Arrested, Busker Booted, Balsillie Challenged

Photo: "You've got the touch" by Lyndsay Jobe, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

What does it take to get fired from Toronto's police force? Apparently armed robbery charges stemming from an alleged drug problem weren't enough in 2007. Coupled with new impaired driving charges [Star], does a former officer turned police fitness trainer still get to be part of the club, or does she need to kill someone before they let her go completely?

Pepper spray and fireworks were the weapons of choice in a bizarre, violent incident in Etobicoke [City]. Police are looking for two suspects who assaulted employees of an adult video store with pepper spray, before leaving a bag full of fireworks to explode in the doorway. If this is what people are doing for fun, they have serious issues.

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Are the authorities too strict about busking and noise in the downtown core? Apparently a popular busking musician has been told to take a hike, prompting fans to call to Keep Shibaten in Toronto . Sometimes I do think this city needs to take the pickle out of its ass.

Green roofs are one step closer to becoming mandatory in Toronto [NP]. It makes reasonable sense from an environmental perspective - for some buildings. But much like any green shift, there are questions and concerns about how effective the move would be, whether or not it's the best choice, and how costs will be mitigated.

And while the Canadian press are running wild on the news that the Phoenix Coyotes might be moving to Southern Ontario, the NHL and commissioner Gary Bettman seem to have other ideas [Sun], and are willing to let legal barriers make it an uphill battle for Balsillie.