It’s your ROUNDUP! Wassat? Well, citizens of London, Ontario, it’s your weekly collection of news info, links and a wee bit of an opinion - all designed to keep us well-informed and ready to make good decisions as Londoners.
Every week (until the ennui really sets in), I’m sending my lovely subscribers super, soaraway news highlights, grouped by the issues where it makes sense, and with handy dopamine shots of silliness in between. Big thanks to Matt Brown for featuring my rambling explanation of my approach to public interest journalism on his podcast here1. Goodness me.
During this pre-Valentines week2, much of the most important local news here in Canada’s London came up in the same EXTREMELY LOVING3 meeting of all members of London City Council. With eight hours and three minutes of debates, questions, motions, amendments and counter-somethings, it was a bit of an odyssey4. However, important it indeed was, so we’re going there again and, as usual, I’ll drop in anything else that’s caught my eye. It’s very subjective and I’m open to feedback.
Shall we? We shall. Let’s go.
Homelessness
The biggest issue in town came up at Full Council, as I reported. The outcome, as that looooong post will tell you, was better, clearer rules about when warming centres will open, and more resources going to support our unhoused neighbours. Here, for example, is a story about 30 more beds being opened by Ark Aid. Well done to council for stepping up, even if the rules seem to exclude ice storms now, despite all of this having started with an ice storm.
Housing
And, the same link to my post from Wednesday has much discussion about this issue, which is also on a lot of minds. Mayor Josh Morgan announced a special program to boost the housing market and council sent it back to city staff for more discussion. That amounts to the local government version of Hollywood development hell. I hope they can make it work and bring it back.
Education
This sector is massive for London. Depending on where you get your stats, you’ll see it employs something north of 11% of our adult population, so it’s worth resisting an impulse to treat post-secondary institutions as somehow siloed or separate. They are not.
Noting good work on this brief from our public broadcaster, I’ll highlight this story from Jack Sutton, talking to students about changes to funding in post-secondary education. CBC also offers a Q&A with Alan Shepard, the Western University president, and Matt Brown’s podcast includes an episode with Fanshawe College president Peter Devlin. (I briefly chatted with him in the green room, which sounds a fancier place than it is.)
And - last week I was complaining about a lack of democratic accountability in local secondary education. Here’s a report confirming the status quo, that TVDSB will continue with the current model. Opinion: I am deeply concerned about this and hope it changes.
Advertising break
I recently bought some doughnuts and took a photo for my subscribers. Nobody paid me to do it, but imagine… just imagine. I have thoughts about values-aligned advertising featuring local business, to support public interest journalism in a really low-cost, high-sugar way. If you are inspired by that thought, you can contact me however you want except a phone call5. Also those were damned good doughnuts, although I bought six and had to fight to get one. Bloody kids.
We’re back with the lightning round
Closer continues at The Palace Theatre this weekend, and you can find a review of it at The Beat magazine here6.
Sadly noting the passing of Tristan Roby. Thinking today of those who loved him.
Steve Cordes talks about fundraising and nonprofits on his video blog, Community Matters, after the annual YOU breakfast event.
Here’s one that winds me up. This piece of public art is in the wrong place and should be somewhere people can get up close to it. And, it’s a shame it’s not even visible as you drive past.
The police in London held a big party at the convention centre. That’s a lot of cops in one place. There’s an Oceans 11 sequel in this somewhere.
In local business news, you can find a roundup on London Inc. magazine’s website. I see this local outlet has touched on jobs lost and created, as well as the education issue and others. Here’s a direct link to a jobs announcement story in the Free Press - it’s a frozen food factory. It’s a shame the mayor couldn’t announce that at the State of the City.
In local sports, you can get your London Knights news from Gameday London7. And Olympics news too! Support local, y’all.
And, if you do one thing today, it should be investing seven minutes in this audio blog by local journalism legend Larry Cornies. Be warned it’s emotional. (I was honoured to spend some time chatting with Larry over coffee this week.)
And coming up next
Some issues that’ll keep bubbling, after local reporters mined next week’s committee reports. Lots of interesting tidbits are on the City site, which indicates we have meetings of the Community and Protective Services and Planning and Environment committees.
Those stories will keep dropping, and for now we have:
Acronyms alert: OEV BIA tells CAPS about graffiti - link.
Soundbytes incoming: Planning will talk parking requirements - link. Expect council members to have their minds on their constituents as they say quotable things.
Oh, that’s enough
Happy Friday!
- Mike8
Advisory: Scottish AF, hell yeah.
FFS get it together you guys. You should have plans by now.
Not even funny, I know.
I don’t think this sentence works but I have the theme tune to Ulysses 31 in my head so I’m going with it. I have read some Homer but prefer the cartoon version.
My partner is Andrea Bennett, the play’s producer, and somehow I find myself making their programs in Publisher, of all things. Volunteers welcome!
Gameday is run by my old pal Todd Devlin, who was our columnist at the Metro London back in the day.
I mean it. All You Need Is Love.