Ford Countdown Clock retired

Well, Rob Ford's appeal was upheld, he's still mayor :-(

Thus, what was once a proud page displayed prominently across the top menu is relegated to a post, retained for posterity.

A sampling of headlines covering Ford's ouster

BBC UK -  Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ordered to step down (US and Canada News)

The Economist - Model-T Ford breaks down: a city and its government stuck in gridlock

Forbes - Toronto's Bombastic Mayor Gets The Boot (Micheline Maynard)

New York Times - Judge Orders Toronto Mayor to Leave Office (Ian Austen)

Planetizen, Los Angeles - Controversial Toronto Mayor Removed From Office, (Jonathan Nettler)

Reuters (US Edition) - Toronto's combative mayor ordered to leave office (Claire Sibonney)

Washington Post - Judge orders Toronto mayor removed from office; guilty in conflict of interest case

Transcript of conflict of interest decision in Magder vs. Ford

Flashpoint, Toronto and the character of Setting

 
Flashpoint is a hit show both here in Canada as well as in the USA, and its Toronto setting is a part of its success. But, what took so long for Toronto to be front and centre?

Setting is an important part of story-telling. Setting is often actually a form of character, and certain stories can only be told in certain settings, because the character of setting impacts the story.

For some strange reason, Toronto had yet to be embraced as a setting in which a compelling story could be told...but I've never understood why. Thanks to Flashpoint, however, those days could finally be over.

The Urban Rail Express Grid

Engineer Julian Li, speaking as a private citizen, shares his professional vision of what public transit in Toronto could look like, and it's worth fair consideration.

How to make Toronto to be one of best transit cities using existing fund from julianli
  
Mr. Li held court, took questions and ably defended the grid here. He also replies to email if you wish to contact him directly (find contact info in his slides above).

Among Toronto's greatest strengths is its diversity. What's more, Toronto has a proud heritage of contributions to transit logistics by visible minorities (all Torontonians should know the name Thornton Blackburn), and being true to this heritage demands that we continue to leverage our diversity for progress.

There are good ideas out there - when people come from London UK or NYC and "laugh at our pathetic transit system" it's painfully obvious we have failed our obligation to lead, we've failed to live up to the responsibilities of "world class status" - a term that is more than just words.
 

Lincoln Alexander leaves Queen's Park for the last time

Signing the guest register. Photo courtesy Ann Green.

I was able to get downtown last night to pay last respects to Lincoln Alexander and shoot this video of his motorcade pulling out and heading to Hamilton.

There's plenty written about his life, work and legacy all over the internet - he lived a life dedicated to not only making Canada a better place, but also to inspiring people to do the same. 

I'll just echo one quote of his that I particularly embrace:

"I'm proud of being black, but my role in Canada is to serve all the people. I'm a Canadian. Period."

Spend billions for one DRL someday, or flip switch on seven existing lines today?

This article commenting on the need for a downtown relief line (DRL) is utterly maddening.

This one line would cost $3.2 billion (and rising) and would be completed...um...someday - the article says "currently there is no money set aside for a downtown relief line."

Yet, right now, today, as I type, there are not one, not two (I feel like LeBron James here), not three, not four... but seven existing rail lines, like spokes, out from the Union Station hub (three east of Yonge Street and four west of Yonge Street). Yes, I said seven. These lines are in operation, by GO Transit.