So much of @jaypitter.bsky.social’s work on public joy resonates with my experience of and thinking about public play, including around everyday life, participation, entitlements (or rights), the collective, and repair.

We @thenarwhal.ca spent a month investigating what Doug Ford's conservation authority consolidation means for drinking water protections. 12 sources & a leaked doc reveal the system built to prvent another Walkerton crisis is in flux—and experts are worried. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-sour... #onpoli

Alarm bells are ringing!

I expected the #OntarioBudget to be bad. But it’s REALLY BAD Y’ALL.

This pretty picture is of the province’s smaller Science Centre near their private spa at Ontario Place. The price tag is $1.4 billion. The existing building only requires about $350 mil over 20 years (and about $30 mil for priority repairs). All this based on the AG report.

Canada's Olympic hockey defeat is driving right-wing influencers into the arms of socialism

here you go

Important job alert! Toronto’s City Planning Division is looking for a new Director of Urban Design. If you have a passion for cities and for the importance of architecture, urban design, art and heritage in successful city-building, you should check out our job posting at tinyurl.com/3e8s3br8

mental health causes vs terrorism: a story about race and geopolitics

This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites. The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.

Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics" guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation

I’m gonna need a progressive to defeat Nick Mantas in the next municipal election. This is painful.

Mainstream outlets are facing scrutiny for their evasive coverage of Israel bombing 30 sites in Gaza on Tuesday, another violation of the ceasefire agreement. It’s “an epic failure of both journalistic and moral principles,” according to one professor. Reporting by @rdassaly.bsky.social.

The Ford government's proposal would effectively end rent control for tenants across the province. "The bill reads very much like an early Christmas wish list for the landlord lobby,” one lawyer tells The Grind. By @emmapaling.bsky.social & @rdassaly.bsky.social. www.thegrindmag.ca/ford-governm...

I'm a shameless shill for the "big pedestrian" lobby, and a dangerous mouthpiece for the billion-dollar "pedestrian-oriented places that are inclusive of all incomes, ages, and abilities" industry. Keep those kickback checks coming in, folks. 💰

The Ford Government Has A Special Message For Ontario Renters www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q78K...

The Ford government has announced plans to shred a bunch of tenant protections: news.ontario.ca/assets/files... (pdf, see p. 13-15)

Excellent resource for not looking like a dum dum at the function tonight (it’s me I’m dum dum).

Facts

"Safe Parkside" filed a Freedom of Information request to get top speeds from the ill-fated & much abused Parkside camera. The speed limit is 40km/h. Killers, all of them, with the ear & heart of Premier Doug Ford.

“How is this anything but theatre?” Shoutout to @nathancolquhoun.bsky.social for asking the question we all wanted to at that Doug Ford presser in Sarina the other day. 🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽 Local journalism matters!

Guess which one of these vehicles has a motor that prevents it from going too fast for the safety of others?

There’s nothing inherently “critical” about critical minerals. #indigenousrights Read more: @zoeyunker.bsky.social on B.C. fast-tracking mining projects: thenarwhal.ca/bc-critical-... @ainsliecruickshank.bsky.social on Gibraltar mine’s expansion plans: thenarwhal.ca/bc-no-enviro...

We love to see it!

Quebec’s Indigenous Affairs Minister says gangsters from outside Mohawk territory are taking advantage of a political crisis to further entrench themselves on the reserve. therover.ca/organized-cr...

Within hours, TTC took down the signs installed by volunteers this morning. We'd hoped our helpful suggestions would stick around to help riders navigate. That's why we're asking Councillors to invest in the TTC's wayfinding strategy in the next budget: tttcriders.ca/wayfinding

Nunziata not understanding the bike lanes are on the road and we clear roads first during a snow storm is sending me.

Somebody (Brad) definitely did not read the best practices for use of the HAF. Nowhere does it say get rid of DCs and use HAF to cover the shortfall.

I wonder if she ever read my City Hall Watcher piece about compensation for public appointments 👀

After two winters and many many uncleared sidewalks and bike lanes I think it’s safe to say I wish we bankrupted the companies that got this Toronto snow removal contract. Absorb their staff and equipment and bring it in house!

"Ontario Place was just filled with dandelions." No, it wasn't.

Lola Petticrew’s acceptance speech for Say Nothing is everything.

It is deeply disturbing to hear Toronto city councillors argue that it’s not the city’s jurisdiction to feed kids in schools. “It’s the provinces responsibility.” No it’s ALL of our responsibility. How are we here?

As we all look at the LA fires & the gov't actions that left cities unprepared, here's my latest on how Ontario began 2025 by granting the natural resources minister new powers to overrule conservation authorities, which ensure development doesn't create flood risk. thenarwhal.ca/new-year-new...

Genuinely bleak I scrolled Musk's feed and between blatantly using his massive platform to try to influence elections in Germany, the UK and Canada he's posting lies about the fires and attacking "DEI" Moments like these make me feel overwhelmed by all the money on the side of right-wing liars

When is that TTC advertising review happening again?

Workers at Canada Post are on strike. Postal workers say they are fighting to: • Protect pensions • Improve working conditions • Push for higher wages that keep pace with inflation

I have received feedback from some readers on my site about the wide spacing of streetcar stops on the 501 diversion via Richmond/Adelaide. For those who do not know, streetcars now stop only at University, Yonge and Church. There are arguments to be made about "ideal" stop layouts, but ...

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Conair Extreme rechargable fabric defuzzer season! In a world that's sad and out of control, one thing you can count on is the satisfying zzzt! sound of slicing pills off your favourite knitwear.

The Onion bought Alex Jones’s Infowars at a bankruptcy auction. *chef’s kiss* apnews.com/article/onio...

IDK why but I have a newfound self-conscious feeling regarding tweeting (bleating?) on this app. This is not an issue I’ve had before. Maybe I just need to rip off the urbanism bandaid… that’s not my only lane, though 😵‍💫

someone add me to a list for urbanism/housing/war on cars🦋

hello welcome to bluesky we have some rules over here 1. please be nice to me 2. please don't not be nice to me

Toronto City Council meets today! It’s been a while. Mayor Olivia Chow has set the debate about the island airport as the first order of business, so fasten those seatbelts. The meeting is streaming here. I’ll post happenings. www.youtube.com/watch?v=L73N...

I’m torn between abandoning social media altogether and keeping it to stay in touch with the urbanism pals. IDK how to see all the takes and without platforms like this though?