City
Morning Brew: Matt Galloway to Host Metro Morning, TTC Boss Admonishes Staff, TTC Staff Fight Back, Racism at Ryerson, "Curious George" Opens Office, It's the Budget Stupid, Oprah Pitches In, Argos Ownership to Change, Raptors Keep Winning
Photo: "Lights" by jamonation, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
TTC chief general manager Gary Webster adds his voice to the continual damage control efforts of the beleaguered transit agency with a sharply worded message to staff over the weekend. But with a steady stream of "gotcha" photos - distributed widely by the media - TTC staff have responded by creating a mostly private Facebook page, "Toronto Transit Operators against public harassment." The page's purpose is to "fight back" against the "harassment" and to post photos of riders breaking the rules. Is a "work to rule" effort to be expected? With everybody pointing the finger another direction, will the TTC experience finally improve? Inquiring minds want to know.
Matt Galloway has been tapped to take the helm of Metro Morning, starting March 1st. The question of who would fill the host's chair after 15 years under Andy Barrie's watch has been a popular topic since Barrie announced he would retire from the top rated morning show. Galloway got a few minutes of practice after 8:15 this morning, but he's an old hand in the time slot, having filled in many times and serving as the Friday host for months now. No doubt Galloway was the favourite of armchair oddsmakers, but I wondered if the 39 year old who often talks about mornings with his children wanted to commit to 4am wake-ups. This, of course, opens up the question of who will take over Here and Now, the afternoon show often considered synonymous with Matt Galloway. Is Kevin Sylvester ready to switch from CBC utility man and jack of all trades to full time host?
Egads! Racism at Ryerson! A new 118 page report finds a diverse student body with many people from minority groups feeling harassed or otherwise excluded. Senior staff are to undergo special training, more courses on diversity are to be offered and progress will be tracked. I find it hard to believe a university - and a university in downtown Toronto - wouldn't be on the cutting edge of accepting and embracing diversity.
Now dubbing himself "curious George," mayoral candidate George Smitherman opened his campaign headquarters with a rousing speech and attacks on fellow candidate Adam Giambrone. Sounds like we can expect to meet George in a neighbourhood near us. Maybe then we'll get some details on his plans as mayor.
In other mayoral news, a message to candidates: expect budget chaos. OK, that sounds like old news. But a new study also points out that it's not just a matter of trying to balance the budget, but that with increasing debt it will get harder - and more expensive - for the city to borrow money. So candidates will have to take a stance on this question: Are Torontonians under-taxed or over-serviced?
Oprah Winfrey interrupted a taping of her show to usher Toronto resident Lori McCrindle to an ambulance when McCrindle's water broke. Baby Justin - born premature but healthy, it seems - will be happy to know his mom will still get to watch an Oprah taping, with the talk show megastar flying her into town whenever she wants.
Toronto's sports news isn't exactly getting us to dance in the streets (gotta be a New Orleans fan for that), but:
- the Argos are expected to announce new ownership today;
- the Raptors keep winning at home, and are getting a swagger in their step; and
- Giguere may have insider knowledge on the Sharks to hel propel the Leafs tonight.
Discussion
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Only the idiot TTC workers would try and justify their uselessness by saying the customers are no better!! As if customer behaviour should impact their job performance...
Customers come in all shapes and forms... They don't get interviewed and approved by a Union in order to ride the bus... They're not getting paid to ride the bus. They're the one's who are paying!!!
Their complaints make as much sense as Prison Guards complaining that they have to deal with criminals all day. When you sign up for a job, you are taking on that job and everything it entails.
Somewhere along the line, the TTC Employees got so spoiled that they decided they were above the implications of dealing with the public.
And if they have even the slightest notion that posting pictures of Customers putting their feet on the seats, or taking pictures/video of them violating their policies, will gather any kind of sympathy for them, then they truly must be lost little babies in a cold cold world that's soon gonna spank the reality into them.
http://jackandcokewithalime.blogspot.com/
Does TTC allow drivers to take pictures of their passengers? I thought this is why TTC installed camera's in buses and street cars if there was any problems.
I actually feel bad for those in the union who do a great job and are nice to everyone. They should not be punished. I would be angry if I was one of these people and everyone else around me continued to trash the good work I did. I'm surprised none of these employees have come out to criticize their fellow members. Maybe they are quiet for fear of retaliation?
If service were better and more reliable, would the
amount of littering and vandalism go down?
Or is the social fabric wearing thin and people
just no longer care about responsibility in public?
Collective indifference, perhaps on the part of the
public and transit workers?
As it looks now, we're in a cobra-mongoose standoff.
For customer serive, the TTC just needs increase signage w/better maps, create a better info line and webpage and install more kiosks at tourist hotspots.
The point is, the TTC is now under the microscope. The city is watching. If management says they will make changes, they'd better damn well do it because people WILL notice if they don't and things will be much worse off for them.
The same will go for the mayoral candidates. The TTC is a hot issue right now and everyone will be promising to overhaul it. They too will be held accountable if they fail to follow through.
The TTC union is just digging their own grave with talks of job action. They can't scare people with threats anymore.
One of two things will happen.
1) The TTC will make changes whether the employees like it or not. They'll kick and scream, but it won't help them because the more they kick and scream the more supportive of the changes the public will be.
2) The next mayor will have made promises and completely renege on them. They will not get reelected and will generally be despised by the public and other opponents in city hall. The TTC will still face scorn, but without the support of the mayor, little will change. Perhaps in a few years when the next election comes the issue will be raised again, or perhaps we'll forget.
So, the Canadian-born whites are complaining then?
I urge everyone to read the comments posted on the Star site...this report sounds like a total load of bollocks...the type of report where the outcome is already decided upon before the "study" begins.
GO JOE!
However, I think Matt asks the questions of his guests that most want to hear the answers to. He speaks for those that don't have a chance to ask the obvious, and sometimes not so obvious questions to those that have the answers.
What I disagree with is the time allotted to these guests in general. I find it irritating that when they finally have a decent dialogue going about the subject, they 'run out of time' and need to stop. Maybe it's 'the dance' they do getting to the topic but it's still irritating. Most of us have more than a 4 minute drive to work in the AM or to home at night and would like to hear some good discussion instead of 'we're out of time' and cut off the guest.
As well, 'the telephone machine' is a CBC thing, not just his. It's a term used by most CBC radio hosts for a long time now.
As for how he pronounces 'Toronto', he's a proud Torontonian and an outspoken supporter of the city and it's people. I don't care how he says it, he does good things when he's saying it.
Good luck with the 4am wake-ups Matt.
Thank you for many great years Andy!
"Others longed for teachers who look like them, especially aboriginal and black students."
So who's the racist in this scenario? Imagine if it was reversed, and white students complained that there weren't enough white teachers... people would rightly denounce them as racist jerks. But when it's in the other direction, then it's considered a valid complaint AGAINST racism? Come on people, give your head a shake.
Some complaints are obviously very valid, like the incident where an African students' club bulletin board was burned, that kind of thing needs to be dealt with severely. But others are basically minority students complaining that the staff don't look and act more like them, which smacks of racism itself.