Residents of the Dixon Rd. housing complex at the centre of a sweeping series of raids last week are alleging Toronto police engaged in brutality and racial profiling. Operation Traveller, carried out in the early hours of the 13th June, netted 44 arrests, $570,000 in cash, 42 firearms and 175 kilograms of drugs. Mahad Yusuf, the executive director of Midaynta Community Services, claimed the Somali had been targeted because of reports related to mayor Rob Ford.
The lawyer for a woman who allegedly threw a drink at Rob Ford last weekend says it's "most unfortunate" the mayor would discuss the case on his radio show. Ford wondered whether there was alcohol in the drink, reportedly a slushie, it's alleged Shannon Everett threw. Everett hasn't discussed the case publicly since the incident.
Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads installation has been officially unveiled by mayor Rob Ford. Ford pulled the white cover from the rooster head and announced it was his sign. Apparently he's been following astrology his whole life. "I'm sure everyone knows their sign and often reads their horoscope," he said.
The Spadina streetcar route will be the first to get the brand new Bombardier vehicles when they officially hit the streets next year. The Bathurst route will also get the new vehicles early. A newly released implementation plan shows the new high-capacity streetcars will be run further apart. In some cases the wait could be up to two minutes longer. The TTC says longer headways will improve reliability. Are they right?
Parkdale is inching closer to a 25% cap on bars and restaurants. The bylaw that would control the number of new businesses on the Queen West strip between Dufferin and Roncesvalles was approved yesterday at community council. Is this a healthy move for the neighbourhood?
Telegraphy is still alive and well in Toronto -STOP- 20,000 messages still sent a year -STOP- 95% of "Telegrams Canada" business from Europe -STOP- remainder of messages sent from Canada to US -STOP- stop now -STOP-.
Dufferin Street is still the most despised road in Ontario according to a poll of drivers conducted by the Canadian Automobile Association. 4 of the top (bottom) 10 are located in Toronto: Finch Avenue West at (3,) Bayview Avenue (5,) and Lawrence Avenue East (6). The results are based on opinion and don't represent any actual problems. Do you think Dufferin is really the worst in Toronto?
The grade 7 and 8 kids at Market Lane School on the Esplanade who were working on a school project to re-brand the Raptors basketball franchise got some surprise input this week from the team's head coach Dwane Casey. The ideas for the "Toronto Towers" (actually a rejected name for the Blue Jays), "Toronto Knights," even "Toronto Ball Busters" would be taken in to consideration, he said.
Finally, Toronto Public Health has released a video to promote labeling of calorie and sodium levels on menu items in the city. The Savvy Diner campaign is asking for provincial legislation that would force companies with a certain number of outlets or that surpass a certain income level to print the information for customers. Check it out.
IN BRIEF:
- Man found dead in Willowdale apartment ruled a homicide [Toronto Star]
- Couple baffled over burger franchise lockout [CBC]
- Montreal Mayor Michael Applebaum resigns [Toronto Star]
- Joni Mitchell plays rare performance at Luminato tribute [CBC]
- Blue Jays drub Rockies for 7th straight win [CBC]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: Jackman Chiu/blogTO Flickr pool.