Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig in Denial about Eglinton Crosstown LRT...

“Ladies and gentlemen, the war on the car stops today . . . Transit City is over,” Ford told reporters Wednesday. “We will not build any more rail tracks down the middle of our streets.” “The war on the car is over and, all new subway expansion is going underground,” Ford said. (SOURCE:
‘War on the car is over’: Ford moves transit underground)

Oh Bruce, when will you understand that Rob Ford's vision for Transportation City means 0 km of above-ground transit lines? Remember, “Streets, are for cars, trucks and buses.” Rob Ford famously said when declaring Transit City dead (SOURCE: Hume: Ford to Transit City: Drop dead).

The Toronto Star released a story today discussing how Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig delusionally believes that the proposed Eglinton Crosstown LRT does fall within Rob Ford's vision of completely underground transit for Toronto, because 11 km of the proposed 33 km Eglinton line (or 33%) is underground, leaving 66% above-ground to cause havoc on one of Toronto's busiest roads and key crosstown routes for cars.

Continue Reading >>

Relax Toronto, Mayor Rob Ford Will Deal with Garbage & Water Soon...

For once, the residents of Toronto have come to expect extreme efficiency from their Municipal Government, and who can blame them, this isn't the same useless David Miller regime who got absolutely nothing done over 2 terms, didn't return any phone calls from Torontonians, spent taxpayer money recklessly and lined their own pockets via untendered contracts to their friends. No, this is the Rob Ford era here in Toronto, and that means the exact opposite: Projects get done on time and as per budget, phone calls always get returned, taxpayer money is watched closely with an eagle eye and untendered contracts are eliminated.

So given this massive 180 degree turnaround in Municipal responsibility, efficiency and accountibility, it's completely understandable why even though Mayor Rob Ford accomplished his following promises within 25 days in office:

1. Eliminated City Councillor Free Meals at Council Meetings
2. Eliminated the Personal Vehicle Tax
3. Chopped Councillor Expense Budgets from $50,000 to $30,000
4. Chopped the Mayor's Expense Budget
4. Got City Council to Approve Declaring the TTC an Essential Service (now pending approval from Dalton McGuinty)
5. Raised the prospect of Eliminating the 5-cent Toronto Plastic Bag Fee (not a promise, but still worth mentioning)

Torontonians are still upset and question why he hasn't done anything to stop the proposed Garbage Tax and Water Rate hikes coming to Toronto in 2011.

Relax Toronto, he's been on the job for 25 days and he's already done more for Torontonians than former Mayor David Miller did in his entire 2 terms as Mayor!  He even stayed by the phone during the Christmas and New Year's holidays answering taxpayer calls (imagine, that would have been the day to see David Miller, or Adam Giambrone or Adam Vaughan or Gord Perks, or Paula Fletcher or Sandra Bussin or Pam McConnell or Joe Mihevc or Shelley Carroll make that kind of sacrifice) for Toronto.

He will get to it, just give him the opportunity!

Here's the story from the Toronto Sun:

Continue Reading >>

Are Fireworks Bad For The Environment? Maybe...

With all of the wonderful fireworks displays that we saw this year across the world to celebrate the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, the following question came to mind: Are fireworks bad for the environment?

I found the following great article on the subject at the Mother Nature Network:

Continue Reading >>

Toronto Police's 2010 Murder Clearance/Solve Rate Hits Historic Low...

I hate to start off 2011 by going after the Toronto Police, but what can I do? Toronto Police continue to have their priorities all screwed up, and the Murder/Homicide Clearance Rate (or Murder Solve Rate) for 2010 reached a new historic low, leaving Toronto's shattered families as the victims in a Toronto Police policy travesty.

Here's the story from the Toronto Star:

Continue Reading >>

Happy New Year & Best Wishes for 2011! --jackandcokewithalime

From all of us here at jackandcokewithalime, we wish you all a very Happy, Safe and Successful New Year for 2011!

Your readership in 2010 has been sincerely appreciated, and we look forward to continuing to bring you real commentary on the real world in 2011!

Cheers!

--jackandcokewithalime

PS: I decided not to bore you with my New Year's resolutions for 2011, but I will mention one of them, and that's to try my best not to use the label "scumbag" as much this year... I'll at least "try"... ;)

(Image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bensonkua/3123617425/sizes/l/ by bensonkua on flickr
)