City
Saturday Brew: Chaos in Court, Milk Feud Not Over, TTC Customer Service Proposal, Weekend Subway Closure, Family Day Info
Photo: "28/365 - Feb 2 - Into The Light" by SasiShan, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.
What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):
Dairy farmer, Michael Schmidt, may have won the first round of his fight to continue his raw milk co-operative, but he'll now have to return to court. The Ontario government is appealing a Jan. 21 ruling that Schmidt's cow-share program doesn't break any laws regarding the sale of unpasteurized milk. Though it seems to be a pretty specific issue, the precedence set with this ruling could likely apply to loads of cases in which an individual believes his free choice is being unfairly denied by the government. If I remember correctly, Gore Vidal wrote about a similar issue some time ago...
Chaos ensued after a sentencing hearing in Newmarket yesterday. Trevor Middleton, 26, of Sutton was sentenced to two years less a day in jail for a racist attack on Asian anglers, which some refer to as "nip tipping." The judge cited Middleton's lack of criminal record prior to the incident in handing out the sentence. But his leniency incited one of the victims, Ruohang Liu, so much that he had to be removed in handcuffs. Given that the attack was an obvious hate crime and left his friend, Shayne Berwick, in a wheel chair, I can understand his frustration.
The TTC's initial customer service plans will be discussed on Wednesday, and in anticipation of that, a report has been released outlining some of the proposed changes. Notable ideas are adding TTC ambassadors (does that mean someone tasked with customer service?) at busier stations, video screens with detailed information about delays, increasing notification efforts on Twitter and Facebook, and the utilization of "secret shoppers" to provide service feedback.
And, on the subject of the the TTC, be sure to note that there's an early subway closure tonight and tomorrow due to scheduled track repairs. Starting at midnight, subways will not be running between Bloor/Yonge and St. Andrew Station (although the rest of the line should operate as usual). Shuttle buses will fill in for the subway. So, if you've never experienced a ride on the Blue Night as it makes its late, boozy run up and down Yonge, now's your chance! The closure will also be in effect February 20 and 21.
And, given that Family Day is just around the corner, here's a reminder of what's opened and closed.
OPEN
CLOSED
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Like a scene right out of the racist 50s, Trevor Middleton and his gang of KKK-worthy buddies not only assault and toss these poor guys into the lake because of their race, but then also chases them down in his Ford F-150 until they crash into a tree -after which he repeadetly rams his truck into their car 20 times???
This vicious and racist assault resulted in one of the occupants of the victims' car ending up with irreparable brain damage, causing him to be in a coma for 3 months, and now he's confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
And his punishment as handed down by Stone, 2 years in prison...
Way-to-go Justice Stone! You truly have shown that though we in Canada have the most multicultural population in the world, we still have Leaders that Condone - and unfortunately indirectly promote - Racism.
--jackandcokewithalime
It's racist, pure and simple, and it's giving these areas a bad reputation.
A bit of a digression, but a senior executive at a major insurance company explained that to me a few years ago: the Toronto area pays the highest auto insurance in North America because there are too many recent 'new Canadians' who can't drive or who come from countries where road signs are 'suggestions' and cause an inordinate number of accidents. Since race-related statistics are forbidden, EVERYONE pays the higher rates. (Or smart insurance companies get around it by refusing anyone with less than a year's Canadian driving experience.)
He went psychotic and tried to kill them.
You guys amaze me when you try to justify things.
Two years less a day for attempted murder and a hate crime? And then you commenters begin with your racial stereotypes? So 'new Canadians' are the problem and not you racist white people with a chip on your shoulder? And you wonder why us 'new immigrants' hold on to hyphenated titles like Jamaican-Canadian, Chinese-Canadian, etc.
you're insane.