Greetings and bienvenue
Oh, somehow we have made it to Friday, my siblings in unrelenting urbanity, and here we are in Canada’s London, experiencing it together, slowly and while honking like geese and feeling thankful for the existence of the Iced Capp1. Hello - I’m Mike and this is your free ROUNDUP of local news of interest during the first week of the formal City Hall election campaign. Boom!
“What, what, wait wait?” you ask, as if I don’t type this gibberish every week. Yes, everyone, I will explain.
You are our engaged citizens who lead us through good times and bad, and I’m the communications support who briefs you on important local issues so you’re good at it. This is Public Interest Journalism with a Strategic Communications lens, and I’ll always try to break the bad news gently, although the hospital windows thing is challenging me there. And we’re acting like a team, here in the Forest City, because the alternative is unacceptable.
This is free for now but I will turn on the subscriptions machine soon - stick with me.
Let’s go.
Serious moment: listen to Carol Todd
Here’s a story for our times, from Sean Irvine of CTV London. Carol Todd was in London to talk about her daughter, Amanda, and her legacy. Some years ago, I sat down for a conversation with Carol. She had a profound effect on me and I made her a promise.
Now I want you to listen to her and give some thought to how we behave towards each other. Thanks. That’s all. Appreciate it.
Your earworm of the week
Now for some fun. Feeling lively? I hope so. British indie band Pop Will Eat Itself released this wonderfully-bizarre song a wearying 38 years ago and Alan Moore still knows the score2: it’s Def Con One, so gimme Big Mac fries to go. Top tune.
Look, I could have gone a lot more woke than that, so… nvm, let’s just move on.
The race to City Hall
That makes it sound quite dramatic, doesn’t it? Like a Wacky Races, Cannonball Run kind of vibe. Anyway, by my count we already have races for 11 of 14 council seats, plus mayor. Choose your vehicle3 and we’re hitting the road.
Wait, no, stop. We don’t need a new metaphor. Let’s stick with the horses. You will have seen the London City Hall Sweepstakes MEGAPOST by now - please take a look, keep an eye, help me improve and generally make good use of that bloody thing, which ate an entire day of my life and is getting better all the time, thanks to lots of great engagement from candidates and others. You guys rock!
Here are some more highlights of muni elex stories this week:
Jack-of-the-Freeps has his take on ward battles. It includes:
Orser
Comments on the downtown race
Corrine Rahman’s unusual status as sitting councillor in a new ward
Another look at the wards map with the slider
Roger Caranci with a beard this time
Jack also broke down the issues in this story, which I think is a good start.
Meanwhile, Craig Needles offers two relevant podcasts: local politics Super Bowl and, featuring Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, homelessness and the election.
And have a listen to Matt Brown’s latest podcast episode, with video blogger Steve Cordes and AM980 radio guy Devon Peacock. The next episode includes me, so TW for Dundonian accent and all that and look out for that dropping after it runs on Rogers tv for a bit.
OK, let’s have other types of news now.
Healthcare | Hospital windows
That most recent Craig Needles podcast also discusses the situation at our local centres of health, where we’re all taking great care to avoid certain legal terminology while also being extremely pissed off about what seems to have happened there.
Here’s a new hit from the LFP’s Brian Williams: thousands of windows being replaced. That includes all windows at University Hospital being recommended for replacement. Yes, really. Sit down when you read this one.
Yeah, move on now.
Healthcare | Do you need a doctor?
Happier news here: there are 26 doctors with spaces for 12,000 people, and we should spread the word about that.
Need a doctor? (I did, and I have just booked my first family doctor appointment in five years.) Here’s an important CBC story that’s worth sharing.
Economy | Federal tariff announcement
Mayor Josh Morgan comments on a federal announcement about help for industries enduring those American tariffs. CTV London
That’s good because our unemployment rate just hit 9.2%. LINK
And gasoline is expensive. LINK
Public services | Western Fair gym plans
Remember that story about the Western Fair becoming the site for a new sports facility? Well, the Free Press’s Norman De Bono took a good look at the finances and it’s not as rosy as it looked because we’re renting it back, apparently.
Homelessness | Death of shelter resident
I know folks in the non-profit sector are feeling a lot of grief this week due to events involving our unhoused neighbours. Here’s a desperately sad report: death at micro-modular site.
Housing | Affordability and more
Two stories here.
Colin Butler of CBC London took a cross-Canada look at the types of housing being built: more apartments than houses. Superb bit of journalisming there.
And Jonathan Juha at the Freeps says $125K a year won’t “comfortably buy average home”, which is kind of selective but still a story.
Education | More cuts at Fanshawe
Yet more grim news coming for Fanshawe. President Peter Devlin said troubling things at a townhall. LINK
Roads and construction | Wellington Gateway
CTV London produced this great informational piece about BRT-related construction in south London.
Afternoon radio guy Mike Stubbs has 10 minutes of chat here with a City staffer overseeing the project.
This Week In Backyard Chickens: E-scooters
Sometimes local government becomes a parody of itself. Here are a couple of stories about e-scooters and a pilot program taking here here in the City of Testing Things Out: CTV and CBC. That story includes talk of a $100 fine for the parents of reckless child riders. Yes, their parents.
And the best part was this, from Councillor Paul Van Meerbergen, our longest-serving councillor:
“One lady told me she was putting her blue box out and a mother came by with two kids on one of these e-scooters and almost collided with her.”
And:
“It’s inherently unsafe. I think it borders on the irresponsible to continue with this.”
Opinion alert: Wait until he hears about cars4.
The Lightning Round
Coupla quickies. GET STRUCK.
Ivey Business School was part of a Canada-wide hack on universities.
And enjoy Hockey Fest, which is taking over downtown this weekend.
More to enjoy | Local content by local people
Take a look at these peeps:
Cedric Richards’ Southwestern Ontario Journal.
Sports: Gameday London.
Business: London Inc.
Commenting: Steve Cordes’ Community Matters.
Discussion: Matt Brown’s podcast.
Tread those boards: The Beat Magazine and TheatreInLondon.ca.
And congratulations to Larry Cornies, who was reflecting on a change recently after 40 years of association with the London Free Press. Here’s his audio blog.
Enough
All this and a MEGAPOST, too? What a time to be alive.
Keep watching the skies.
- Mike
Yes, you do absolutely deserve one. I agree wholeheartedly.
Alan Moore, by Frank Quitely.
Dibs on the Creepy Coupe.
