Mayor Ford has released an audio tape (below via YouTube) in which he thanks people for their support, vows to beat the illness confronting him, lauding his brother, Doug, who has jumped into the mayor’s race as a replacement for Mr. Ford and extolling his wife Renata.

Many will wish to know the earliest information in the Scottish referendum results. As this is posted at about 5 p.m. EDT, the polls are closing in Scotland where it is 10 p.m. The media descriptions of voting suggest that it might take four hours from the start of counting  to a get a clear sense of where the referendum has gone. At a maximum, that would suggest useful results between 9 and 10 p.m. EDT. That’s about 2 a.m. GMT

The Toronto Emergency Medical Services is changing its name to Toronto Paramedic Services, according to a City of Toronto news release.  If the paramedic service uses the initials TPS, the new name should cause a fair amount of confusion with the Toronto Police Service, It may be something officials wish to review. Later the same day, as they say, NOW jumped on this story and has some reaction from Josh Matlow (Ward 22). He thinks it’s a little nutty too. Other councillors were saying it would have been nice if the City-owned EMS had passed these changes by — ahem — City Council. We’re guessing the TTC wouldn’t be changing its name to Toronto Passenger Service without asking for permission.  Release

It’s a quite a turnaround. American Express has gone from being the only credit card accepted by Costco Wholesale in Canada to being totally not accepted, no thanks, get lost. The popular warehouse-club chain says it will stop accepting all American Express cards in Canada on January 1, 2015.  Why? We’re not sure but the Canadian arrangement seems to have differed from the U.S, Costco-AmEx deal.  It may be that the expiry of a 2010 plan in Canada has set the two companies at loggerheads. American Express is very popular for those who want it’s special offers but its reputation with retailers is more like notorious. The practice of holding funds due to retailers for several days has caused more than one company to cancel acceptance of the AmEx card. The release said: “The credit card relationship between American Express and Costco Wholesale Canada will not be renewed when it expires” on Dec. 31. The message was attributed to Lorelle Gilpin, vice president of marketing and membership for Costco Wholesale Canada. Costco has 88 stores in Canada, compared with 468 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, according to its website.  In the U.S. the Walgreen drugstore chain stopped accepting AmEx and found that this was an effective way of getting the arrangement it wanted. It now accepts American Express.

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon (Ward 32) says there should be a limit on Council terms. Her suggestion is that a councillor be limited to two four-year terms. It is one of a number of reforms possible for City Council. A much more urgent one is ranked voting in which electors choose both a first and second-choice candidate. That permits an “instant run-off” which guarantees a victor who has a majority of the popular vote. At present, Council has many councillors who were elected with 28 to 38 percent of the vote. That was the case in South Bayview Wards 26 and 27 in 2010. Toronto Star

Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has published details of a mediated settlement for the development of the Art Shoppe site between Hillsdale Ave.E. and Soudan Ave. The developer took his proposal for a two-pronged condominium with towers topping out at 38 and 29 storeys directly to the Ontario Municipal Board. As reported by Mr. Matlow in a recent ward update, the City was able to work that idea back to what he describes as “one 28-storey tower on the north side stepping down to a 12-storey midrise on the south side.” In addition, says the Councillor, the building will step down to six storeys on the east side (which is what homeowners will be looking at). Matlow says the 12 storey limit n the south helps to “protect Yonge Street south of Hillsdale from being developed with heights greater than midrise.” There was also a concession by the developer who apparently handed over two houses on Soudan which will be developed into a new park of about 1,100 square metres and connected to an existing park on Hillsdale. 

Autumn is nearly here and so is the essential public service for Leasiders — giving a pint of blood at the Northlea School’s 24th blood donor clinic. It happens Tuesday, October 7, 2014 between 2 and 8 p.m. Northlea Public School, 305 Rumsey Rd. Call 1-888-2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) to book an appointment. Maria Charlebois reminds us that the community is counting on you to fulfil this important public service.  Why we give blood — and you should too!

Dr. Zane Cohen has announced that the mayor has a fatty tissue tumour which is malignant. It is more formally known as a liposarcoma tumour. Dr. Cohen, a colorectal expert, has said that the tumour is unusual and is more receptive to chemotherapy treatment than other cancers. It comprises about one percent of all tumours. He said there will be two series of chemotherapy treatment. Dr. Cohen said there is also a small cancerous nodule of the same liposarcoma on the mayor’s buttock. Notably, there is said to be no cancer in any of the mayor’s organs. The outcome of chemotherapy treatment will determine whether radiation or surgical treatment is required, Dr. Cohen said. The tumour was apparently not present in the mayor’s body when he was in hospital for other surgery in 2011. At present however the tumour is described as being “12 centimeters wide.” Dr. Cohen said there was nothing found in the mayor’s lung and therefore no biopsy, contrary to many news reports.  This information came from a news conference ending at 5.22 p.m.  Ford determined to fight