Morning Brew: Council OKs protections for non-status migrants, coun. Perks gets a GIF, graffiti squad targets councillor's yard, and more bendy buses for the TTC
City council has agreed to investigate measures that will make it easier for undocumented workers to access vital civic resources. A staff report is due back later this year on whether Toronto could make non-status migrants feel comfortable accessing schools, shelters, food banks, and reporting crime without fear of deportation. Coun. Joe Mihevc told the National Post it was a "historic moment" for Toronto.
Coun. Gord Perks isn't so good at hiding his feelings about coun. Norm Kelly's opinions on climate change. Kelly has said in the past a drastically warmer climate would be good for Toronto. Metro's Matt Elliott, ever watchful at council meetings, made an animated GIF so we can all enjoy the moment over and over and over again. Nice one.
A judge has ruled that councillors are not city employees and as a result their work schedules, emails, and conversations with lobbyists are private. The Toronto Star had been fighting documents from coun. Doug Ford's office related to speculation he was planning to bring an NFL franchise to Toronto. The judge said that even though Ford and other councillors receive taxpayer-funded salaries, they are not employees of the city. Should this information be available to those who request it?
Toronto's graffiti police have made a powerful enemy in coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon. Municipal Licensing and Standards contacted the Beaches-East York councillor over a fish mural her children painted on the back fence of the family home. The city decided the art, which faces into an alley, falls in the realm of prohibited graffiti. Should graffiti squad use more discretion?
Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion wants a banner at Pearson to tell travelers exactly where the airport is located. Despite having Toronto in its name, the site is belongs to our neighbors to the west. McCallion wants visitors welcomed to her city first. Does she have a point?
The TTC's first new "bendy-buses" haven't arrived in service yet but the Commission is already ordering 126 more of the flexible, articulated vehicles. The buses have a much higher capacity than current standard TTC road vehicles. The first of the new fleet will arrive in the Fall. Here's what they'll look like.
IN BRIEF:
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "F80 // 01" by Christie Photography/blogTO Flickr pool.
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