The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty says it will take over Metro Hall unless council acts on what it says is a shelter bed crisis in Toronto. Last week the group picketed Rob Ford's office and several members were at city hall yesterday where coun. Adam Vaughan unsuccessfully lobbied for the group's concerns to be placed on the agenda. A staff report hinted at a disconnect between the number of available beds and the number of homeless being turned away from shelters.

Also at city hall yesterday, Ford supporters coun. Vince Crisanti and coun. Frances Nunziata were approved for spots on the executive committee and budget committee respectively. Coun. Adam Vaughan's half-hearted attempt to join Ford's executive committee was easily defeated.

Vice isn't exactly crazy about Rob Ford's photographer. The magazine ran a post yesterday critiquing some of the mayor's worst shots, many of which were taken at recent trade shows. Ford isn't exactly photogenic at the best of times but the examples shown here really don't help.

Looks like Toronto will be one of the last cities in North America to cling to its transit tokens. Philadelphia's SEPTA system has announced its ditching its coins in favour of an Presto-type electronic fare card. Still, at least the TTC isn't the slowest transit agency adopting the new system. New York's MTA says it won't have a fare card before 2016. Read the history of TTC tokens here.

It's official - the Don Jail Roadway on the Bridgepoint Health grounds will be renamed Jack Layton Way after the late NDP leader and former Toronto councillor. Council voted to approve the change yesterday. Coun. Mike Layton, Jack Layton's son, will unveil the new signs Sunday.

An electrical fire at the Spadina line construction site near Jane and Hwy. 407 in York Region was a spectacularly smoky affair that forced emergency crews to close Jane St. for several blocks due to poor visibility. According to the Toronto Star, the fire started on a conveyor belt. No injuries were reported.

IN BRIEF:

• Man stabbed at Dundas West subway station [Toronto Star]
• Sunnybrook veterans not neglected, hospital review finds [Toronto Star]
• Lower speeds, separated lanes lower risk of cyclist injuries; study [CP24]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: "Dogs" by PhotoMke/blogTO Flickr pool.