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Morning Brew: Low support for Ford re-election, closing streets for fun, a new Queen West arts space, city mulls George Street fire action, and Conrad Black on Quebec
Things aren't looking good for Rob Ford's approval rating. Just over a quarter of people (26 percent) questioned in a new Nanos Research telephone poll said they would vote to re-elect the mayor. 56 percent of those asked said it was time for a change. Does this sound about right?
How would you feel about the city closing some downtown streets on the weekend and during other quiet times in favour of walkers and cyclists? "Ciclovias," as they are known in other cities, promote physical activity and in many cases generate a boost for local businesses. John Lorinc discusses the idea further for the Globe and Mail.
West Queen West is getting a new arts hub in a former library building at Queen and Lisgar. The Theatre Centre, a charity that provides performance, studio, and development space, will officially start renovations on the 104-year-old property at a press event on Thursday scheduled to be attended by Rob Ford. Yep, that's right, Rob Ford is attending a vaguely arts-related event.
A large part of the GTA saw frost last night, which officially means summer's over. Hope you packed an extra layer of fat over the Thanksgiving weekend, you're going to need it this morning.
The owner of a historic George Street building gutted by fire last Thursday has told the CBC he blames squatters for the damage. Frank Mancini admits his buildings are in poor shape and local councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has indicated the city might be prepared to take him to court over the matter. Many of the homes on that portion of George Street are historically significant. Should the city take legal action over neglected heritage properties?
Is Toronto on the doorstep of greatness with the new Mirvish-Gehry development? Conrad Black seems to think so. In a comment piece for the National Post, Black says Hogtown is ready to become a major world city while Montreal (and Quebec in general) is shooting itself in the foot with its tax and language laws. Have a read. Do you agree?
Finally, here's a special long weekend edition of "Guess the Intersection." Can you place this location from the archival photograph? Answers below, please.
SOLVED! Northeast corner of Yonge and Shuter. Try the next image.
Can you place this laundry? Answers below.
IN OTHER NEWS:
- 1 dead in Hwy. 407 crash [CBC]
- Former Mob boss Rizzuto arrives in Toronto [CBC]
- Bus crash: Toronto bus owner cited for 5 fatigue-related violations in last 2 years [The Star]
Photo: "Waiting @ Dundas Square" by simon.carr in the blogTO Flickr pool.
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However, George Street is home to Seaton house, a shelter notorious for it's size, it's visible drug deals, and it's concentration of hardship and poverty in one area. No one just walks down George Street - unless you have business at Seaton House or one of the adjoining shelters. It acts as a depressant on the surrounding area, and no building on that street can be reasonably be expected to be invested in.
I believe the city must help the poor, and it's current level of assistance maintained and improved. I believe Seaton House needs to be closed, and much smaller shelters built around the city to replace it. Any street can handle one well-run shelter house. But a whole neighbourhood can't handle the impact of a place like Seaton House.
Until the city undoes Seaton House as it exists, I think they should tread lightly where prosecuting it's neighbours for negligence comes in.