U.S. man accused in G20 riots wins bail

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Doorman Joel Bitar
Court granted self-styled anarchist Joel Bitar bail in the amount of  $100,000 today and permitted him to return to New York City where he lives with his mother and father. Bitar is a 27-year-old doorman who in the past has called anarchy “direct democracy”. Police say he was a one-man wrecking crew, wielding a hammer at business windows and police vehicles and causing damage totalling $400,000.  Bitar and four other U.S. citizens have been tracked down by Toronto Police with the help of  U.S. authorities by sifting through thousands of pictures and hundreds of videos. In this instance, according to Detective Sergeant Gary Giroux, an outraged peaceful protester followed Bitar taking pictures of him. The images form a history, police say, of the Manhattan doorman’s violent rampage while masked and later when he unmasked and melted into the crowds. The peaceful protester will testify for the Crown at Bitar’s trial. Michele Mandel was in court today and wrote a highly readable account.

Marcus Gee states opposition to a casino

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Marcus Gee, the conservative writer who frequently supports Mayor Ford, has written in the Globe and Mail that Toronto should not accept a casino. His column is headlined “Casinos are for losers, and Toronto is a winner”. In making his case Mr. Gee expands on two themes. He says only a city that is so depressed or so hard up that it cannot pay for its services ought to be seeking a casino. Toronto, he says, is neither. He quotes  the planning department assessment that downtown is a vibrant, growing place. In fact, any resident knows this from simple observation. Mr.Gee also remarks on the requirements set out by city manager Joe Pennachetti which stipulated a minimum of $100 million in so-called hosting fees. The city manager, said Gee, all but put his little finger in his mouth like Dr. Evil by making this demand. 

Future of Yonge Street is writ large on the wall

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It has to be said that Josh Matlow (Ward 22) has his work cut out for him. The future of the east side of Yonge Street north of Davisville Ave is writ large on walls wherever one looks. And the message is up, up, up. The challenge for the city is  to somehow reconcile the continued pleasant enjoyment of private homes on streets like Belsize Drive and Soudan Ave. with the pressure to build light-blocking giants next door. The task has not been made any easier by the precedent set when the Minto Midtown went soaring to new heights near Yonge and Eglinton Ave. But whether its the ratty, and in some cases vacant little shops north of Davisville and Manor Road, or the lurking expectations for the Art Shoppe building between Hillsdale and Soudan, everything seems to signal a rising skyline that is unstoppable.   

FBI lectures hair-trigger media for arrest report

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation harshly refuted reports that a suspect in Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings was arrested Wednesday. Several media outlets, including The Associated Press, CNN and Fox News reported an arrest was made Wednesday afternoon, citing law enforcement sources. “Contrary to widespread reporting, no arrest has been made in connection with the Boston Marathon attack,” the FBI said in a released statement. “Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been inaccurate. Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting.” CBS and NBC initially countered press reports saying that no arrest had been made.

“Weak vote” endorses casino at city executive

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Jaye Robinson (Ward 25)

The city’s executive committee voted 9 to 4 in favour of allowing a casino to operate downtown. As described by reporter Katie Simpson, the split is being called a “weak vote” because the committee normally votes solidly with the mayor. Jaye Robinson (Ward 25) was a notable opponent. The full break down: Opposed, Jaye Robinson, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-wong and Paul Ainslie. In favour, Mayor Rob Ford, Michael Thompson, David Shiner, Cesar Palacio, Doug Holyday, Norm Kelly, Frank Di Giorgio, Vincent Crisanti and Gary Crawford. The matter will now go to full council where it is believed to face considerable opposition. 

Yonge-Montgomery post office would stay intact

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The 1936 heritage building known as Postal Station K has been depicted in drawings as a fully refurbished and intact centrepiece of a development to be known as Montgomery Square. The name acknowledges the site at Yonge Street and Montgomery Avenue as the location of Montgomery Tavern, a meeting place for rebellious Upper Canadians during the insurrection of 1837. The plans come forward from the Rockport Group, a 50 year old Toronto area developer which began by building single family homes in the Guildwood area of Scarborough. The Rockport plan for Postal Station K calls for the demolition of a brick distribution centre which sits behind the limestone heritage building.  The president of Rockport, Jack Winberg, is quoted by writer Eric Emin Wood in My Town Crier as saying the limestone postal station will be restored to its original architectural flavour. Rockport will build a 26-storey residential tower on the site of the demolished distribution centre and attach the new structure to the heritage building with a four-storey glass atrium. Karen Stintz (Ward 16) has said that the city has expressed its intention to designate the building as historically significant and the developer has accepted that intent. Ms Stintz also said that the building will continue to operate as a post office until a new postal facility is constructed by Rockport in a development known as the Wicksteed Business Park now being planned in Leaside. 

Andy Elder’s Grilltime a barbecue essential

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Andy Elder
Affable Andy Elder will happily serve you some of his delectable smoked brisket. Or some crunchy fresh salad. His Grilltime meat shop at 62 Laird Drive (at Kenrae Road) is a magnet for chefs or lunch seekers with a taste for the barbecue. Along with choice cuts of beef and poultry for the grill, Andy keeps a line of  sauces and accessories for garden cooking that will dazzle weekend barbecue warriors. But you are just as likely to see Andy catering your fundraising event or as a rooting patron of your kid’s hockey team. And you will find Andy catering the buffet planned for the Leaside 100 Gala  on Saturday April 27. The sold out event at All Canada Storage will feature a signature beef tenderloin carving station and other choice dishes. A visit to Grilltime is a rewarding adventure all by itself but one of the  best parts is swapping greetings and local gossip with your host. Andy is a resident of Leaside of more than two decades and  a lifelong veteran of the food service business.  He opened Grilltime in 2008 and battled through the recession and start-up blues to achieve his present acceptance as an essential stop for the right cut of meat and barbecue accessory. Grilltime is open Tuesday to Friday 10 to 7, Saturday and Sunday 11 to 6.  (416) 467-4745. Closed Monday.  Meet Bill Grill 

Black boxes tell “who did what” in car accident

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The inclusion of so-called black boxes in more and more cars has caused a bit of privacy rights issue. In the U.S., the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration wants to see these devices as standard in all cars in 2014. And really, it’s hard to argue. It doesn’t seem to be an invasion of privacy when you insist that your foot was on the brake but the box says you were pressing the gas pedal. Automotive “black boxes” are now built into more than 90 percent of new cars