The 30 days since December 30, 2015 have netted South Bayview residents some 36 minutes in afternoon light. This view at 4.30 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2016 from Bessborough Drive looking west along McRae Drive tells the story. There isn’t any news here but it is nice to think about.

Negotiations with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have gone nowhere and the City of Toronto  has asked the Ministry of Labour for a so-called “No Board” report which starts a clock (of sorts) ticking towards a strike. No stoppage is inevitable but it places the employer and union in the position to either lock out or strike within 17 days of the report being issued. Indoor (local 79) and outdoor (local 416) are the employees in question. The City release is all very constructive about how this will help get a settlement but the fact remains that things are stalled. Will we see a Springtime garbage strike?  It will make municipal history if we do, considering that half of Toronto will be trying to clean up uncollected refuse while the other half has its garbage smoothly taken away by a private contractor.

The last Land Rover Defender off-road vehicle that has been made for almost seven decades has rolled off the production line in Britain. Dozens of workers at the Jaguar Land Rover plant near Birmingham in central England cheered Friday as the last one was presented with its lights flashing and horn blaring. Jaguar Land Rover did not say why the model is being discontinued although it appears it could be because the model can no longer meet emission and safety regulations.

Carolyn Ireland writes in the  Globe and Mail about eye-popping over-list bids in South Bayview and East York. She cites 664 Hillsdale Ave. where the sellers turned down a $250,000 over-list “bully bid”. They were rewarded with a bidding war that netted them $360,000 over list. The final price was 1,510,888. Breathtaking

Councillor Burnside (Ward 26) has sent out a reminder of his public meeting to discuss the 2016 Toronto Budget and 2016-2025 Capital Plan. It is Monday, February 1, 2016 at Leaside Gardens. These matters are already under discussion and will be addressed by City Council on February 17th. There has been what the Councillor calls a robust debate about possible new taxes. This meeting is an opportunity for ratepayers to ask questions and voice opinion. The Executive Director of Financial Planning Division, Josie La Vita, will be presenting highlights of the budget, as well as answering questions. As needed (416) 392-0215 or councillor_burnside@toronto.ca.

The value of property in South Bayview is illustrated by the complete renovation going on at the old four-plex at 1303 Bayview Ave., one of two which appear to have been built together heaven knows when. The property sits just north of Moore Ave. It is a strategic location for access to anywhere fast. There are four large stand alone garages at the rear. The front door is on the side where there is a rather rare public walkway through to Sandy Bruce Park off Leadale Ave to the east.

Next time you tap to pay for your prepaid coffee at Starbucks you may wish to recall that Chief Executive Officer Howard (Race Together) Schultz receives about $20. million U.S. a year, enough money to buy 24,400 Espresso Machiattos a day for a year. So maybe the odd free coffee is in order.

There are now 25 cases of raccoon rabies in the Hamilton area as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry continues its program of sowing vaccine bait in an attempt to slow down the spread of rabies among raccoons. In the meantime, results are expected Friday to determine whether a raccoon that viciously attacked a New Jersey boy is rabid. The unprovoked attack left the child with deep bites on his face.

A Condominium Corporation is suing Freed Developments Ltd. because it led buyers to believe the Six50King building would be decorated inside by Munge Leung Design Associates. It wasn’t  CBC

Sting will be the feature performer at halftime of the NBA all-star game in Toronto on February 14, 2016, at Air Canada Centre. Cirque du Soleil will perform a routine before the game that illustrates “the story of a basketball dream.” Earlier this month, organizers announced Toronto rapper Drake will coach Canada’s team at the NBA all-star celebrity game on Feb. 12 at the Ricoh Coliseum. The Canadian team includes two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash and Toronto Blue Jays all-star right-fielder Jose Bautista. Comedy star Kevin Hart will coach the U.S. team, which includes actors Michael B. Jordan and Jason Sudeikis.

UNION BROKE LAW WITH PAID SMILES

A Waterloo union local broke the law when it paid 23 members $100 each to stand behind Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and smile when he campaigned here last Sept. 15. In law, that’s like making a $2,300 donation to the Liberal Party. Unions can’t do that. The Canada Elections Act says only citizens and permanent residents can make political donations. “We didn’t know that we were breaking the law,” said Russ Jessop, business manager for United Association Local 527, a union representing plumbers and pipefitters. “We feel bad. But now we know. And we’ll make sure we let everybody else know, now that we know the rules.”

UBER TAKES EDMONTON

Edmonton has legalized Uber. It is the first Canadian City to do so. Under a bylaw to become effective March 1, 2016, Uber can operate legally as long as it gets proper insurance and charges a minimum  total cost of $3.25 or more and the consumer agrees to the price ahead of time. At times of peak demand, prices on the Uber app can double or more. Council declined to put in a maximum, but will revisit the issue again in six months or less, once they have data from the market.