On his Newstalk 1010 show this week, Rob Ford signalled that he intends to fulfill his campaign pledge to outsource garbage collection across the city—but only if he is elected for another term. Ford gave himself kudos for contracting out garbage pick-up between Yonge Street and the Humber River last fall, but said privatizing the service for areas east of Yonge will be “part of the next part of my platform.” With more than two years to go before the 2014 election, Ford’s campaign platform is already remarkably well-defined—and, given his promises to revive the subway debate, and now to privatize garbage pick-up, it sounds like his run in 2014 will be a carbon copy of his first campaign (though hopefully minus the fake Twitter account). [Toronto Star]
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Tension between taxi drivers and other road users grows after longboarder Ralph Bissonette’s death
The battle for space and safety on city streets is making headlines again in light of the death of Ralph Bissonette, the longboarder who was struck and killed by a taxi on May 14. The cab driver involved, Adib Ibraham, has been charged with second-degree murder, and police say road rage may have been a contributing factor—emphasizing once again the acrimonious relations between the motorists, cyclists and skateboarders who share the roads (and who all accuse one another of rampant rule-breaking). Yesterday, the Toronto Sun talked to cab drivers, who attempted to repair the damage to their poor public image. They said that pedestrians, cyclists and boarders ignore traffic laws—making it more difficult than ever to navigate the streets safely. Cabbies also said that skateboarders should stay off the roads (while longboarders are technically supposed to remain on sidewalks, police rarely enforce that rule, and the difficulty of navigating around pedestrians often means longboarders opt to ride on the street instead). Several taxi drivers voiced concern that most Torontonians—including police—are biased against them, rarely siding with drivers during accidents or other incidents. Thomas Tuah, who’s been behind the wheel of a Toronto taxi for 37 years, told the paper, “We go through hell. The police don’t back us, no one does.” Along with their stated complaints, the xenophobic remarks from commentators on the article underscore just how much cabbies are contending with. Read the entire story [Toronto Sun] »
Bill Blair finally admits that “things were not done well” at the G20 summit
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair was initially defensive about Gerry McNeilly’s scathing Independent Police Review report on G20 security, but Blair amended that response in an open letter to the people of Toronto issued Friday. The police chief admitted there were “serious deficiencies” in the force’s handling of protesters: “I fully acknowledge that there were things that were not done well. We have learned from these shortcomings… As the chief of police, I accept responsibility for the actions of the Toronto Police Service and its members.” No, Blair didn’t exactly apologize (as some have insisted he ought to) or offer to step down. But he did recognize there were problems, claimed responsibility and made eight more applications to the Police Services Board to lay disciplinary charges against officers (on top of the hearings already set for eight constables facing unlawful arrest and use of unnecessary force charges). With those misconduct hearings set to be open to the public, and Justice John Morden’s independent civilian review slated for June, we imagine Blair is in for more uncomfortable media scrutiny this summer. [National Post]
Conrad Black opens up to Peter Mansbridge (on why he’s like a medieval leper)
Now that Conrad Black has been granted a one-year temporary residence permit and is back home in Toronto, he’s followed through on one of the items on his post-incarceration itinerary: a proper sit-down with CBC News anchor Peter Mansbridge. Baron Black of Crossharbour’s appearance on The National last night was chock full of statements that could only come from the former media mogul: he was arch, unrepentant and even a little funny. Too bad it’s the only proper interview Black’s promised to the Canadian press.
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A monster condo project could be headed to the St. Lawrence Market area
It’s generally agreed that urban planners have done a good job of organizing the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. With its eclectic mix of condos, subsidized apartments, restaurants, shops and hang-out spots, it’s an example of successful urban renewal, and that’s one reason why it made our “Where to Buy Now” list this year. But now there are rumblings of a new mega-condo project that could give even pro-development types reason to pause. Urban Toronto reports that the Pemberton Group has submitted a proposal to the city to build 1,663 units on an entire city block at Front Street East and Sherbourne. The development would consist of two towers, of 33 and 34 stories each, atop bases of 13 and 17 stories, with retail space on the ground floor. Internet commenters have already started to rage over the project’s scale, so we expect some vocal opposition at public meetings in the coming months. [UrbanToronto.com]
Senior commanders and front-line constables facing disciplinary charges over G20 tactics
Now that the Independent Police Review Director’s report on G20 policing has been released, both top brass and front-line officers will be facing disciplinary charges—nearly two years after the crackdown on protesters. The IPR director investigated 207 complaints against police, and a little over half of those (107, to be exact) led to disciplinary charges, 96 of which were deemed to be serious. The police review office recommended disciplinary tribunals for commanders with the Toronto Police Service (it’s still too early in the process to release names and numbers, but the charges will affect no more than six commanders). And it’s not just high-ranking officers who could get fingered: the director also ordered charges against 25 rank-and-file officers. So far, eight constables (Vincent Wong, Blair Begbie, Alan Li, Donald Stratton, Michael Kirpoff, Ryan Simpson, Jason Crawford and Michael Martinez) will face the disciplinary tribunal in June. Which should mean we’ll be heading into the third consecutive summer of G20 coverage. [Globe and Mail]
QUOTED: former CBC exec Richard Stursberg thinks Hockey Night in Canada is probably doomed

It’s going to be very, very difficult. The sports networks are jacking up the prices, so they’re going to have even deeper pockets when they come to the table. TSN and Sportsnet have proven that they can get big TV audiences as easily as the CBC does. And that’s very hard to fight against.
—Richard Stursberg, CBC’s former executive vice-president for English services, sounding the death knell for Hockey Night in Canada. The public broadcaster’s television and digital rights for NHL games expire in two years, and Stursberg believes there’s only a “low” chance it will be able to renew. (Kirstine Stewart, the woman who now holds Stursberg’s old job, insists otherwise.) While big telecommunications companies are willing to shell out wads of money for TV sports rights, the public broadcaster has had its budget slashed and has had lower ad revenues this year, in part because all the Canadian teams dropped out of the playoffs early. All of which imperils HNIC’s future—and Don Cherry’s opportunity to show off his flamboyant coats. [Globe and Mail]
Luxury condo wars: how the Trump Tower, the Four Seasons and the rest are doing so far

Donald Trump, with daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr. and Eric, launches the Trump Tower (Image: George Pimentel)
Sure, their high-profile restaurants and over-the-top ribbon cuttings have netted the Ritz-Carlton, Trump Tower, Shangri-La and Four Seasons plenty of press, but we’re still wondering if people are actually buying the luxury condos. In January, we noticed some early signs that the thousand-plus upscale suites heading to market could be too many (even for Toronto’s hot condo market), and this week, Reuters investigated how well the sales have been going. It turns out that none of the towers has sold out yet, and developers are feeling a wee bit nervous about getting their initial stock sold before the resale market kicks in. We broke down the numbers to see which tower is outdoing the rest and which is having the most trouble finding buyers. Find out which tower has only sold 40 per cent of its residential condos
Condomonium: $1 million for a suite in a King West clock tower (round windows included)

ADDRESS: 700 King St. W., Unit 612
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Niagara
AGENTS: George, Frank and John Filntissis, Coldwell Banker Terrequity Realty
PRICE: $999,000
THE PLACE: A three-bedroom condo in the clock tower of a former King West office building. Converted into the Westside Lofts in 2001, the building is equipped with a gym, a sauna and a rooftop patio.
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Like another Pride controversy of yesteryear, the question of whether Queers Against Israeli Apartheid should be allowed to march in the Pride Parade is once again up for debate. Last year, some city councillors (we’re looking at you, Giorgio Mammoliti) freaked out over the possibility that the group would show up, and talked about revoking funding for the event. In the end, QuAIA volunteered to skip the march (though they did drape a large banner above the Wellesley subway station), and Pride got city cash (though council changed its Pride funding policy: it would only hand over the cash after the parade on the condition that the festivities don’t violate the city’s anti-discrimination policy). This year, however, QuAIA plans to apply to march, making council’s vote next month on Pride’s $123,807 grant potentially thorny. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that council is still working on figuring out exactly what qualifies as discriminatory: though the city manager has determined the use of the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” doesn’t break any anti-discrimination rules, the policy will be reviewed at the mayor’s executive committee meeting in June. [Globe and Mail]
SPOTTED: Rob Ford attends—and reads a proclamation at—a gay outreach event (!)
Something awfully surprising happened just moments ago: Mayor Rob Ford not only attended the flag-raising ceremony for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, but he also delivered the IDAHOT proclamation, receiving a huge round of applause and cheers from the crowd. Given Ford’s impressively weak ties to the gay community in Toronto, and the fact that his office had told organizers he wouldn’t be attending this event at all, we’re shocked at his surprise appearance. Does this mean he’ll be donning a neon green lycra Speedo and a Super Soaker holster at the Pride parade this year? (You’re welcome for the visual.)
While construction on Toronto’s highways and roads is as much a sign of summer as a smog alert or a crowded patio, the next 10 years will have some especially sucky conditions for Gardiner Expressway drivers. Work on the elevated portion of the highway will start this July, when the eastbound Bay Steet on-ramp and Jarvis Street off-ramp will be closed for up to six weeks, and lanes on Lake Shore Boulevard and Bay and Yonge streets will also be closed off. The city has a decade worth of construction projects in store for the seven-kilometre-long elevated section, which will cost about $10 million this summer and up to $15 million a year after that. City staff insist the rehabilitation project has nothing to do with the falling-concrete incidents of last week. To which we reply: if you say so. [Toronto Star]
A report slams the G20 police response—but says most officers acted properly
Another long-awaited report on G20 policing—the second this week—is out, and it details some egregious behaviour, including civil rights violations, the use of excessive force and some really bad planning. In the report, Independent Police Review director Gerry McNeilly writes that police unlawfully stopped and searched people on the street, and that the kettling at Queen and Spadina was “unreasonable, unnecessary and unlawful.” He also criticizes the force’s mass arrests and miserable makeshift detention centre on Eastern Avenue.
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