City
Morning Brew: Advertising in Schools, Pimp City, Boosting Local Wine, Park Permits Questioned, Hazel McCallion's Third Arm
Photo: "Sunshine Girl" by -- brian cameron --, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
Ontario is making an effort to boost locally-made wine. Starting by dropping the totally misleading "Cellared in Canada" label would be the honest thing to do. Making knock-your-socks-off-delicious wine that could compete with wines made in other more suitable regions of the world would work too, but given that we can't control the weather, I'm not sure that can really ever happen.
"The city of Toronto right now is the biggest pimp in North America." While is sounds like something that former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman might say, these are in fact city councillor and potential mayoral candidate Giorgio Mammoliti's words. He's commissioned a study in light of concerns that sex trade laws are being challenged in the courts.
It's proven to be a losing battle, and advertising is pretty much everywhere. LCD screens are on the highway, in the subway, in taxis, and even on elevators in rental apartments. But should these same types of digital commercials be allowed in our high schools? There are some places that should be deemed ad-free, despite difficulties in securing no-strings-attached funding from private and government coffers.
Did you know that the City of Toronto pays people to harass seniors who use public parks to take group walks? A bylaw officer got all authoritative on a group of seniors who were warming up for a yoga class by strolling in Humber Bay Park. After cutting off their path and taking photos of them, he threatened to fine them because they didn't have a paid permit to use the park for classes. If my cute but feisty grandma was there, she would have told him to stick Municipal Code Chapter 608 where the sun doesn't shine.
And speaking of feisty seniors... over on Toronto Mike's blog, it's been revealed that Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has three arms, and possibly is hiding even more. Back on September 13th, the Toronto Star originally posted a photo but quickly changed it to the latter (see before and after photos below), presumably because they're trying to cover up the truth*. Maybe she should join those seniors in the park, so she can give silly bylaw officers the three-handed slap*.
*just joking!
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by Larry Perlman in the National Post blog
Oct 13 2009
Prostitution in Toronto has certainly gotten a great deal of attention lately, thanks in large part to George Mammoliti and his efforts to eradicate the "world's oldest profession" in Ward 7 and Toronto as a whole.
Will prostitution ever stop? No. Will unscrupulous massage parlours and hair salons end their illegal practices? No. Will a red-light district make Toronto a safer and cleaner City? No. Will the political rhetoric make any difference? No. Will a commissioned study do anything positive? No. Finally, will the sex trade become decriminalized in Canada? Nobody really knows until the verdict, but probably not.
The solution to problems associated with the sex trade must be solved by members within each community, both residents and businesses. Apathy and turning a blind eye to illegal activity allows the sex trade to infiltrate neighbourhoods, and THAT has to stop.
Residents and business owners must identify the problems themselves, approach the Police if need be and in the end take pride in their community. It will NOT be solved by politicians pandering to the media, making silly sound bites and ordering studies.
Is it not embarrassing to all Torontonians (let alone the people living and working in Ward 7) when Mr. Mammoliti calls Toronto "The biggest pimp in North America"? It certainly is to me.
And by-the-way, the writer's reference to "blaming the adult entertainment industry and strip clubs for shady dealings" brings up an interesting point. There is a close connection between Mr. Mammoliti and Tim Lambrinos, the head of the association of Canada's strip clubs. Mr. Lambrinos once worked for Mr. Mammoliti as an Executive Assistant, had a street named in the Ward after his Mother (Lambrinos Lane), invited Mr. Mammoliti and two other Councillors to a strip club to "inspect the establishment" (in front of the stage), and is currently a member of the Emery Village BIA Board of Management (one of Mr. Mammoliti's pet projects). Of course Mr. Mammoliti does not see a problem with strip clubs...of course not...
Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/13/city-of-toronto-is-biggest-pimp-in-north-america-city-councillor-says.aspx#ixzz0TuwMsUEy
Is that the purpose of his NOT needed study?
These guys on council should be required to present more justification before spending $$$ on any frivolous study they can imagine.
On the plus side, this candidate wannabee has just demonstrated how unsuitable he truly is. And as a councillor as well.
The officer request information and was denied. Should he stand there helplessly and forget about the violation? Was he just supposed to let it slide because they're old?
Age doesn't mean you can violate bylaws.
Would it be as satisfying to imagine a teenager who violated a bylaw telling a peace officer to stick it "where the sun doesn't shine"?
Say, guy, how long have you been a by-law officer for the city of Toronto?
Just like siding against them doesn't make me assume you're a (by)law breaking hooligan, dawg.
What he is trying to do is to pollute a decent public place by using his position power and a wicked contaminated mind. If he loves the naked island and prostitution so much then why didn't he move his family there?
This society is getting worse because there existing such a venomous garbage like him!