City
Morning Brew: Bonehead Burglar, Baird's Blunder, Balsillie's Bid
Photo: "Delicious farm eggs" by unfamiliar_tide, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
Toronto's Dumbest Criminals isn't a TV show, but if it were, we'd see a segment that depicts a man trying to break into the Greek social club in the Bloor & Ossington area, by entering a basement window too small to fit through. The accused would-be thief was stuck for hours before being discovered in the morning. Maybe there's video footage to sell to Fox TV.
While the number of transit riders in Toronto is reaching record highs, Federal Transport Minister John Baird has a message for Toronto and our failing quest for federal funding for new streetcars. Apparently we should "fuck off". It's embarrassing. Remember Baird at the Bali conference on climate change? Enough said.
Mississauga, on the other hand, is seeing a significant (6%) drop in transit users in just 4 months, which is forcing the city to rethink its ambitious transit expansion plans. The recession is partially to blame, with some industrial bus routes seeing 25% decreases in ridership. It's amazing how fast things can change.
Whether you love or hate the 27km of underground tunnels that make up the PATH pedestrian system, one thing is certain - it has the potential to expand quite a bit. And as condo development and commuter traffic continue to grow in this city, it makes sense to connect new buildings to the system.
The fate of RIM CEO Jim Balsillie's attempt to bring the Phoenix Coyotes to the GTA may be closer to sealed today. The CBC has a reporter in the Phoenix courthouse, and will be live blogging the proceedings.
The University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa is one of 17 schools across North America participating in a really neat competition - to make the earth-friendliest SUV possible. They're starting with a hybrid Saturn Vue and aiming to make it fully electric and still efficient.
Discussion
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What's that? We've already done that? Oh well, I'm sure we'll think of something...
Here's the government offering cash for any number of projects to create jobs. They're literally waving the cash around for all municipalities. Everyone else submits a bunch of projects. Toronto submits ONE. One project (granted it's an expensive one).
But the ONE thing the government asked for that cash to do was to create jobs within the city the cash goes to.... The request made by Toronto doesn't do that. So WTF? Yes, it's great that Toronto cares about jobs in Thunder Bay - spectacular. But that's not what this cash was for. Council could have suggested anything that would have had even the loosest, most far fetched connection to creating jobs in Ontario (waterfront revitalization, repair/demolish the Gardener, etc.) It's clear that the city didn't put much thought into this, and that's why they almost deserve to be cursed at.
It's called Bay Street.
Crosby!!!!
Your article notes that Mississauga's ridership is down a small percentage, however in my area, I can confirm as a commuter into the 'saug that ridership on GO Transit is up. When I first began coming out here I too took Miss Transit's system and hated every minute of it. Rusty, leaking, unheated buses barreling up the 427/401 full of riders like myself fearing for my life. No thanks. I switched to GO, which although is more expensive, is far safer and more comfortable and I'm not alone. When I first began taking the green limo, ridership on each bus was at half capacity. Today, it's almost standing room only.
Also Let's Go Red Wings!
Anyway the report is trying to make the TTC look good, cause they didn't hike the fares to $3 and ridership is up. Thats probably more because people and companies are using Transit more than taking frivolous $10-$20 cabs right now...
so retarded
a transit pass instead? If he visits another city
let him use transit and taxis on his own dime.
That's my two cents.
It's an embarrasment seeing tourists wandering around it on the weekend wondering why hallways of closed drycleaners and food-courts are touted as a destination by the city and in guidebooks.
The PATH concept should be abandoned and the city should remove itself from any involvement.
http://partypm.com/blogs/Torontos_First_Outdoor_Wine_and_Spirits_Festival_Coming_To_Toronto_June_19_and_20_at_The_Distillery/0028b168-a159-4ecc-bbe9-58f5fee838fc
TAXES FTW!