Morning Brew: Lafarge cement rejects Port Lands plan, contracting out TTC jobs, talking streetcar track injuries, Gardiner ramps closed, radio trouble, and the Leafs suck

Lafarge cement - an 80-year resident of the Port Lands - says it isn't satisfied with the latest plans for the area and has no intention of moving out. The latest version of the revitalization project calls for a re-worked Don River mouth, two new public parks, and provisions for shipping to existing industrial sites. The city's executive committee will consider the plan today.

TTC chair Karen Stintz says contracting out cleaning jobs would save millions of dollars. The perennially cash-strapped organization has already awarded contracts for garbage collection and bathroom cleaning and will consider bids for bus cleaning. In a letter to city councillors, Stintz says there will be no lay-offs as a result.

Two weeks ago, I took a look at some of the options the city might consider to cut the number of injuries and deaths caused by bike wheels getting trapped in streetcar tracks. This weekend, Star reporter Katie Daubs told the gory story of her trip over the handlebars. The city's public works committee will discuss the issue and several other cycling related matters at this week's meeting.

Plan your journeys motorists - two downtown Gardiner Expressway ramps will be closed for six weeks starting today. The feeder from Bay Street to the eastbound lanes and the exit road to Jarvis Street are being shut down for planned structural maintenance.

Proud FM could be a surprising victim of Toronto's condo boom. The station says its low-powered transmitter at Yonge and Eglinton can't reach parts of downtown because of the increasingly dense cluster of high-rise buildings. The coverage issues mean the station is losing money, and staff.

According to ESPN, the Maple Leafs are the worst team in North America. The sports network annually ranks teams using a number of criteria such as value for money, coaching, fan relations, management, and, perhaps most importantly, success. Don't take it too seriously, though - the Phoenix Coyotes came out on top. The Leafs haven't hoisted the cup since 1967, but you knew that already.

Finally, it's the 80s at the Eaton Centre again thanks to Retrontario. Yum! (I think...)

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Omar Vizquel lifts Blue Jays over Red Sox in series finale [CBC]
• Mother of suspect in body-parts murder found dead at Scarborough home [The Star]
• Good Samaritan's purse stolen while trying to save stabbing victim's life [The Star]
• Police probe 2 fatal weekend shootings in Toronto [CBC]

FROM THE WEEKEND:

• Is the Dupont bike lane next on the chopping block?
• TIFF Style: at the official opening night party
• A brief history of the S.S. Noronic disaster
• Grateful Head vets open up their own hair salon
• Toronto restaurants hope Takeover beats Makeover
• Leaside graced by froyo shop imported from Montreal
• Get to know a Toronto startup: Resurva
• Sunday Supplement: Ford Fest 2012 stats, more Rob Fords, and a Toronto quiz
• TIFF Style: at the tweet-up at the Ritz Carlton
• 6 Toronto mayors who behaved badly before Ford
• TIFF Style: at TORO After Dark at the Hoxton
• This Week In Comedy
• This Week in Theatre

Photo: "Queen Street" by gdquerubin in the blogTO Flickr pool.