MB Toronto
Morning Brew: Rob Ford's road repair issues continue, TTC won't subsidize Eglinton LRT, an olympic parade, talking a Casa Loma museum, and a DeLorean sighting
Rob Ford's controversy du jour - the expediting of road repairs outside his family's business in time for a 50th anniversary celebration - continues to rumble on. According to The Globe and Mail, the mayor met with city staff at Deco Labels and Tags on Greensboro Drive and his office at city hall to push for the unscheduled repairs. The Star speaks to locals who have had calls for road repairs fall on deaf ears.
Let the war of words begin. Toronto Transit Commission chair Karen Stintz told Metrolinx yesterday that the TTC will not subsidize the operating costs of the new Eglinton LRT now the provincial transit agency has decided to seek an independent operator for the line. Stintz's remarks came after Ontario Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli said Metrolinx and the TTC were discussing sharing the costs. Expect this one to run on.
In related news. The Star is discussing the effect of having two separate operators might work in Toronto. Bottom line, the humble TTC token could be headed for the deadpool.
Toronto officially welcomes home Canada's olympians with a short parade today. The event starts at 11:30 on Bay Street north of Queen and will head south to Maple Leaf Square by the ACC via Wellington Street and York Street for 12:15. The TTC (them again!) is offering a special $5 half-day pass for between 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Could Casa Loma make a comeback as a museum? The city is currently seeking an operator for the historic mansion after it was reclaimed from the Kiwanis Club in 2011. In an open letter published in the National Post, councillors Josh Matlow and Joe Mihevc say repurposing the property would create "a new cultural institution that will protect and share our city's heritage."
Finally, speculation is flying on Reddit over a Back to the Future-style DeLorean spotted with a film crew near the Church of the Holy Trinity behind Old City Hall. Is it Back to the Future 4? Kick Ass 2? Robocop? Something else? All we know is it looks functional and there's no sign of the Doc.
But before you go, here's a slightly unnerving 1985 advert for Snuggle Bear laundry detergent from Retrontario. There's something off about the way that bear's mouth moves...
ALSO HAPPENING:
- Suspected Galloway Boy arrested, charged with attempted murder [CBC]
- Yankees sweep Blue Jays, open 1-game lead in AL East [CBC]
- U.S. war resister deported from Canada, arrested at border [Globe and Mail]
- Police made arrest in string of downtown sexual assaults [The Star]
- $38M arts centre opens in Toronto's Regent Park [National Post]
Photo: "Union" by Ben Roffelsen in the blogTO Flickr pool.


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(just getting it out of the way)
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=rob+ford+nazi&hl=en&sa=X&biw=883&bih=770&tbs=isz:m&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=NgsmqekOlkxu4M:&imgrefurl=http://windowintopalestine.blogspot.com/2012/07/whats-toronto-jewish-community-thinking.html&docid=NZ9ktYhOQOeYgM&imgurl=http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/ford-neo-nazi.jpg%253Fw%253D620&w=620&h=465&ei=bnJcUOruF-6B0AHHqYGoDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=267&vpy=177&dur=324&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=143&ty=105&sig=112693001152032238975&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=163&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75
In the end, the regional agency takes over and runs the show for the whole commuting catchment area, which is how it should be. The TTC will, like GO, ferries, the suburban systems and toll roads, eventually become an agency of Metrolinx. There is no other possible outcome in 2012.
You didn't actually say how that would be better either. GO and YRT already use Presto, and soon TTC will too. TTC and YRT already work together to run combined routes. TTC, MiWay(Mississauga), YRT, and Brampton already work together to provide the GTA Weekly pass. There's no point to making Metrolinx larger (which would cost a lot more money) when these agencies have already shown they can communicate and work together.
SEPTA, MTA, MBTA, RTA, WMATA, LAMTA, TriMet, TransLink etc. all have lessons, good and bad, to learn from for how to structure the future Metrolinx-TTC relationship. (For example, the TTC will certainly continue to exist and focus on what it does now, but under Metrolinx authority and Metrolinx budget and Metrolinx capital planning). It's going to happen, so best to learn from other cities how to do it right.