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Morning Brew: TTC responds to Ford's bus antics, an ARL update, arrest in plate-throwing brawl, local hydro workers go south, rapid bridge work, and streetcar snaps
Rob Ford's latest goof - apparently playing a role in pulling a packed TTC bus from service to collect his football team - is still making waves. Ford called TTC CEO Andy Byford's cell, which he didn't answer (and I don't blame him), to request a second vehicle when the first got lost en route. It's still not clear why the original request for a shelter bus - something the TTC regularly provides in an emergency - was called for here. Last night, the TTC released a statement on the topic.
In the mayor's defense, this likely marks the first time he's ever ridden a TTC bus. I wouldn't be surprised if this is how he thinks public transit works. Should the TTC scrutinize its calls for shelter busses or is it the police's responsibility?
Toronto's air-rail link is quite an engineering project. Metrolinx is currently welding together elevated sections of rail track that will eventually connect Union Station with Pearson airport. The Globe and Mail has an update, if you're a subscriber. Fares for the new line could be at least $15. Is that too much?
Police have made an arrest related to last week's plate-throwing incident in a Chinatown restaurant. The fight at Pho Xe Lua near Dundas and Spadina was filmed and uploaded to YouTube where it attracted more than 500,000 views. A woman in her 20s received cuts to her face in the incident.
More GTA hydro workers are heading to the States to help with the Hurricane Sandy clean-up effort. Roughly 157 Hydro One workers are in New York and other parts of the east coast to help restore power to areas hardest hit by the storm. More than 1.5 million people are still without electricity in New York and New Jersey.
If you're using the 401 off ramp near Yorkdale Mall this morning you've got some nifty construction work to thank. A portion of bridge was removed and replaced over the weekend using new technology that allowed workers to complete the task in a fraction of the normal time. More projects like this, please.
Finally, CTV News has photos of the TTC's new streetcars being moved on the back of a special flatbed vehicle near the Hillcrest Yards. Surely not long now before we see the longer, more accessible vehicles taking a test spin on the road.
IN BRIEF:
- Raptors cruise past Timberwolves [Toronto Sun]
- New hope in fight to save historic Yonge Street post office [The Star]
- Could Toronto's elephant saga finally be over? [The Star]
- TTC head Andy Byford to launch customer charter [National Post]
FROM THE WEEKEND:
- Sunday Supplement: Rainbow tunnels, sign rules, and rejected names for the Raptors
- 2012 Grange Prize draws a crowd to the AGO
- The Weeknd puts on a show at the Sound Academy
- First Canadian Place gets a major overhaul
- What to expect at Everything to do with Sex Show 2012
- Parkdale faces restaurant and bar moratorium
- A brief history of destructive weather in Toronto
- New menswear boutique mixes high and low fashion
- Spoken word events in Toronto, November 2012
- This Week In Comedy
- This Week in Theatre
Photo: "Downtown-Toronto-YTZ" by quistian from the blogTO Flickr pool.
Discussion
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http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects_and_initiatives/New_Streetcars/index.jsp
2) Are Hydro One workers being paid extra, or is Hydro One, or is this a 'humanitarian aid expense?' Just wondering.
3) 15 bucks for a ride to city centre from an airport is pretty standard if you're taking a dedicated express route.
The sense of entitlement on Ford's part is stunning, though. So is the attitude of police and TTC who now absolved themselves of any say in the matter.
It's laughable to watch them try to completely wash their hands of this. It's nice to know that Toronto's transit authority and law enforcement brainlessly do what they're told like a bunch of drones.
Blob Ford is clearly a buffoon!
Any of his supporters who still support him clearly do not have a clue.
I have no idea how this idiot is still in office?
He says he made a commitment to his football team as a coach?
How about his much more important commitment to the city of Toronto as Mayor?
Im sorry but a few dozen kids playing football is not as important then running a city of millions.
Skipping meetings to go to a football game where the decisions could impact millions of people in this city is totally unacceptable.
On another note, the new Streetcars looks great! Cannot wait to see these on the road!
http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=189506
"Ford slipped out of the presser Monday, October 29, about Hurricane Sandy preparedness without taking questions from the media. On his radio show this week, he suggested he might miss council’s meeting later this month to attend to his high school football coaching hobby. He was only kidding, of course."
except he wasn't kidding.
He *did* request the bus. Although we haven't seen the police report yet, I assume it was Mayor Ford who was pressuring the police officer to follow-up on the missing TTC bus with unnecessary urgency.
I have no idea why 2 or more people would pay to get to union and then pay $15.00 each, when a taxi would be just as easy.
And if you're flying for business reasons, many will not care about the cost of a taxi or private car anyways.
Maybe if I was staying right near union and traveling by myself it would be great.
Miss the days of living in London and taking the tube back and fourth between Heathrow & town.
This claim is not true. Mayor Ford notably rode the Eglinton west bus back in february...
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1128405--ford-takes-a-midnight-ride-on-the-ttc
They definitely do... but it's pretty hard to shift all of the blame onto them... if Ford had nothing to do with the situation and the police that were there made a decision... why was he the one calling the TTC asking about the buses?
... and the POLICE didn't make the follow up call because?