Even though Sunday's Ride for Heart raised almost $4-million dollars for the Heart and Stroke foundation, councillor Doug Ford says there has to be a "better way" of running charity events without shutting down Toronto's major expressways. Ford would like organizers of the ride and other big events to meet with city officials to figure out if there is a way to move them to a park or other large venue. Ford would like to see a new policy set for next year. He also suggested that the 100 kilometres of proposed bike paths throughout the city might be a good alternative.

Mayor Rob Ford already has too many audits going around, so apparently he doesn't need another one. A city committee unanimously rejected another rejection for an audit review because they already have ordered a generous review. The latest accusation basically mirrored those made by other Toronto residents that have made requests. The committee has assured a thorough review if passed — that is if the mayor doesn't get his appeal to halt the process.

I think this was overdue. Toronto Health says it wants to license the city's spas and tattoo parlours, which have been self-regulating up until now. Public Health has decided that by licensing tattoo and piercing studios, it will help reduce the spread of diseases such as Hepatitis. The problem is they can only inspect known spas and tattoo parlours, and as we know, there are a lot "underground" parlours that aren't known to the City. The new rules will be discussed at the next Toronto Public Health meeting on Tuesday.

The Globe and Mail has an article on our furry friends (foes?) and apparently Toronto is the raccoon capital of the world and that you can find 50 times as many of them here as you would in an area of the same size in the country. Toronto raccoons love our backyards for shelter, our green bins for food, and they don't even have to compete with any other predators--except for shovel-wielding residents. And contrary to popular myth, raccoons don't transmit rabies or other diseases, they won't attack your children, and they're not Satan incarnate.

IN BRIEF:

• McGuinty is second least popular premier in the country
• Canada Post rejects union's latest offer
• Royals beat Jays

Photo by awl61 in the blogTO Flickr pool.