MORE BROKEN WINDOWS AND COLONEL MACGREGOR ON THE RUINATION OF UKRAINE AND GAZA.
Am I wrong to bitch about our failing city when the world is on fire?
Well, the Holiday Hare that lit up our days for a while is about to meet a new friend. Overnight, that same little Midtown market had another window smashed by vandals or martians or some other uncatchable group.
And Anita, the talented artist who works there has promised another rendering to cover the ugly plywood that was installed at three this morning by busy fixers with a booming business. I can’t weigh in on the police response because I don’t think they were called this time. Merchants in Midtown Toronto and also the St. Lawrence Market area are so besieged they are giving up, expecting no help or protection from the city.
Meander down Front Street in the St. Lawrence Market area and you'll see a number of businesses with smashed windows.
This isn't anything new for local residents or business-owners, with the latest smashing blitz impacting over 10 storefronts on Halloween night alone.
These heartbreaking attacks on hardworking, small business owners after three years of C-19 craziness release a river of hopelessness in a city where the mayor cares only for the lefty NGOs who practically run City Hall. People know from experience they will get no relief from police or municipal pols who are busy installing new toilets in homeless encampments erected over public green spaces the rest of us can no longer use.
San Francisco has been leading the way in civil debauchery and the locals tried to force a solution — that the city itself pay for broken windows, giving the merchants at least a fighting chance against the violent hoards.
Castro Merchants, with the help of Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, have proposed citywide legislation that will reimburse small business owners up to $2,000 for storefront windows broken by vandalism or break-ins.
This program, which would be run by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, will reimburse businesses for up to two incidents a year if they file a police report and claim with the city.
Castro Merchants completed a study the past year called “Castro Business Storefront Glass Damage Recorder” that recorded broken storefront glass in the Castro, showing at least 93 incidents of broken storefront windows at Castro businesses since January of last year, totaling more than $168,000 in damages.
As someone who has suffered from depression I can honestly say that one’s outward appearance, both home and self reflect how one is doing mentally. And like New York City, in the age of Son of Sam and rampant crime, Toronto is having a nervous breakdown. And of course being Canadian, no one wants to talk about it.
Meanwhile, we are literally being stalked by coyotes that sneak up from the ravines and patrol our streets, looking for small dogs to eat. I am not exaggerating. The other morning around five, I was popping out with Chillie for her morning pee and spotted a HUGE coyote sitting in the middle of our circular driveway. As we opened the door he trotted off unperturbed as we fell back into the lobby. A dog-walker reports that four of them followed him home the other night, right up the driveway, unafraid and as bold as brass. My son’s friend had a small pooch snatched and presumably eaten from his fenced backyard.
Chillie looking pensive in Coyoteland.
I am an animal lover but something is off with this year’s pack. They are omnipresent and seem to be on a mission. I fear it’s not long before a toddler is bitten or worse. I no longer stroll the neighborhood leisurely at night with my girl. Our walks are shorter, filled with tension and I carry a flashlight and a small attack hammer in my pocket. I have ordered an air horn. Of course the animals should be humanely trapped and removed but that will never happen — not in dysfunctional Toronto. Instead we are given advice.
So this is my city — post Covid-19 and with a socialist mayor. She renamed a major shopping square because of pressure from anti-racist groups and it likely cost a few million in signage etc. Meanwhile, we here in Midtown are getting vandalized and then harassed by marauding wildlife.
But it could be worse. On our last show Colonel Macgregor brought some devastating analysis about both Ukraine and Gaza. We are experimenting with video so I am posting it for you. As you’ll see there is also hair experimentation underway. Ugh.
Tomorrow we are recording a show with the young Canadian doctor who wrote that grim description of his mercy tour of Gaza. Just back this week. And it is a story that will blow your mind. The show will drop in two sections this week. Tonight at the usual time and tomorrow — part two. First — meet Lincoln Jay — the young videographer who caught the arrest of Rebel News’ David Menzies on camera — without flinching. I know him from the trucker trial in Ottawa. Lovely guy. Keeping his cool under pressure he created a viral video of the story.
Next week - we are examining why some people figured out the folly of lockdowns and vaccines long before others. I was one of them. Why are we different? I have a theory to explore just as this issue is ripping through social media. People are really arguing about it.
I am giving away tickets to Tucker Carlson in Edmonton. Listen for details….
Stay critical.
Hi Trish. Your story about the coyote was interesting and provides a comparison with my existence since I abandoned city living in 2016.
Soon after we I moved from Thornhill to our rural, forested spot in the Kawartha Lakes north of Cameron Lake, I was treated one winter morning to two beautiful foxes sunbathing for ~thirty minutes about 20 feet from my basement office window. They didn’t know I was watching. It was a sight to behold.
Since then, we have had many visits from local critters. A moose visits every year or two to feed on the leaves and small branches of an 15 foot acacia tree situated along the edge of my driveway. A family of young foxes and their parents kept the members of our local golf club entertained for the entire season with their presence and antics.
I walk my two English Cream Golden Retrievers daily at 9 PM along our country road: they are always on leash because they would otherwise dart after any rustle in the forest or unseen scent which can be a skunk, porcupine, fox, deer or some other furry, four-legged critter. My walk always involves passing Whisky and Saucy - two ponies fenced in a neighbour’s yard, and I hear the barking of a half dozen canines renting a “suite” in the local dog kennel - it is owned by my brother- and sister-in-law who are also breeders of purebred Saint Bernard dogs.
In the morning I hear the call of a rooster announcing his day from a small hobby farm 400 meters to the west of me which I can’t see due to the dense forest between us.
Summer brings baby osprey to a nest about 100 meters from our second story deck. It thrills my wife to hear and watch the beautiful adult birds fly to and fro the nest to feed their young.
The joys of nature are endless when there are more animals than people living in your neighbourhood.
Chillie is so beautiful, Trish. Those soulful eyes! Your show is something I long for all week. It makes my weekend days even brighter. Maybe it’s time you moved to a more peaceful environment. Being away from so much noise, so much crime, so much disarray and destruction and traffic is very good for the spirit, the heart, the brain. Much love to you. Mel