Posted by John Michael McGrath, OpenFile Toronto
Here’s an item from the weekend that shouldn’t be missed: the Toronto Star/Angus Reid survey on Rob Ford’s approval rating, subways, and who Torontonians trust on these issues. But before we dive in to the numbers, why does a poll like this matter three years before an election? Because the Mayor and his brother Doug Ford (Ward 2, Etoicoke North) think they’ve got re-election in the bag. From Marcus Gee’s Saturday column in the Globe and Mail:
Councillor Ford said …

Posted by John Michael McGrath, OpenFile Toronto
The Toronto Star has an important point in its latest article over the chaos that is Toronto’s transit planning, since yesterday’s TTC meeting torpedoed Karen Stintz’ (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence) attempt to get some answers from staff. From the Star:
The vote prompted some city councillors to suggest it’s more important than ever to put the mayor’s transit plans before city council even if it means calling a special council meeting.
“It’s clear that a majority of council doesn’t think this administration and its few …

Bike City [ 1:35 - 1:55 ] :
” In Toronto we’ve actually, now about to lose cycling infrastructure. Despite the spin that comes from our municipal level of government, we are actually going to be losing bike lanes and increasing the expenditure in this area. ” — HiMY SYeD

By Edward Keenan

The GRID TO

Former mayoral candidate Himy Syed recently joked on Twitter that Doug Ford needs more security protection than Rob since, if anything were to happen to Doug, Rob would become mayor.

Pantalone showed himself to be out of step with where much of the progressive, left of centre is at the moment. Perhaps if the wider voting public had been allowed to see more of Himy Syed, the city would be in the throes of the same deliberation we here in ward 19 are currently in the midst of between Mike Layton and Karen Sun, but Pantalone simply is not in step with the wider progressive movement.

By Jamie Bradburn, Torontoist
Cheered on by supporters as he filed his papers, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) officially entered the mayor’s race this morning.
Pantalone is positioning himself as the candidate to carry on the work of the Miller administration in a non-flashy, down-to-business manner—as he told the Globe and Mail’s Marcus Gee, “you want someone who will do the job, not someone who is going to entertain you.”
So far two hopefuls (Karen Sun and Himy Syed) have submitted their papers to fill …

By JENNIFER LEWINGTON, The Globe and Mail
As soon as the bell rang yesterday to kick off the Toronto election race, a contingent of fresh and familiar faces quickly put their names on the ballot for Oct. 25.
First among the 40 who signed up on day one of the municipal campaign, up from 24 on the first day of the 2006 contest, was former Liberal Party national director Rocco Rossi, bidding to succeed Mayor David Miller.
“I will be able to put the team and the money in place to put a …

From IMDB, A Moment of Noise
The Boxing Day shooting of 15 year old Jane Creba raised many questions about gun control and safety in the city of Toronto.
A Moment of Noise investigates these issues, as well as speaks to a group of mothers who banded together following the murder of their children.
While the events were devastating and tragic, the film inspires hope and asks that citizens take a look around them, and fight to make a difference.

Featuring

Kassandra Cutting

Marilyn Ortega

Audette Sheppard

Himy Syed

Toronto Mayor David Miller

Directed by
Breann Thordarson
Writing …

By Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler, Spacing Toronto
Last updated: 12:25AM, Tuesday, October 23.
Today Toronto City Council will be debating and voting on a land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee. The debate promises to be a spirited one and given what’s on the line, it’s safe to say that there will be plenty of fireworks to see.
I encourage people to go down to City Hall in person to see Council at work but for those who have daytime obligations, you can also follow along online.
I’ll also provide …

By Jennifer Lewington, The Globe and Mail, page A13
Some fresh political faces with ambitions to pack off a few city hall lifers this Nov. 13 election day dropped by the clamshell this week.
With a Toronto protocol official as guide, candidates in the City Idol talent contest — the non-profit grassroots group formed to liven up local politics — got the cook’s tour.
On Thursday, about 15 of the 43 political wannabes dropped by the mayor’s office, checked in with election services and sat in briefly on a live session of council. …

By Joshua Errett, Torontoist
On Yonge Street just north of Elm Street, in front of the store in which 15-year-old Jane Creba killed by an errant bullet, a group of about 200 gathered to mourn the deaths of all those killed by guns in 2005. There was a moment of silence before each candle was dedicated to a shooting victim; one candle for any one of the 52 victims. Organizer Himy Syed placed his candle down for Jane Creba.
Around 5 pm, one lane of traffic on Yonge …