Rating: NNNNN
Suspect critics’ choice
another best of issue’s come and gone (NOW, October 30-November 5). Although we at Suspect Video feel great pride at being voted both best indie video store again and also receiving critics’ choice kudos from a great publication, we can’t help but feel that we’re the at butt end of a cosmic joke. Not only was our Queen address and telephone wrong, it was a competitor’s! Several times! It seems the voters know where we are (619 Queen West, 416-504-7135 605 Markham, 416-588-6674), but your editors aren’t quite sure.
I’m sure a correction will be printed in small type, wedged between the subscription rates and the copyright notices.
Luis Ceriz, Suspect Video, Toronto
Look who’s reading now
i was really looking forward to reading your annual Best Of Toronto Readers Poll until I actually read the results. OK, Broken Social Scene is an excellent choice for best local band (I voted for them myself), but Barenaked Ladies as the runner-up? Best bookstore Indigo? Seriously? Best CD store HMV? Are you kidding? Best radio station The Edge? Best radio DJs Mad Dog and Billie on fucking CHFI!? Future Shop? Starbucks? Who’s reading your paper these days? (I know that none of the NOW staff made these picks, so you’re off the hook). I look to NOW to find out the best of the independent and alternative scene in Toronto. When I want to find out the best of the corporate world, I’ll turn to Toronto Life.
Craig Logue, Toronto
Socking it to Ed
after reviewing your best of toronto issue, I’m relieved to discover that Ed the Sock has been neither chosen nor mentioned by either your critics or readers. Thank god. I do hope that particular example of hateful, mean-spirited sexist garbage has at long last run its course.
Darren Roskam, Barrie
Hall backers must vote Miller
i decided early in the mayoral campaign that I would vote for Barbara Hall even though I prefer David Miller. My reasoning was that Miller couldn’t win and Hall could, and I’d rather my second choice win than let my ballot contribute to splitting the vote, letting one of the other candidates ride up the middle. Recent polls show Miller in the lead, followed closely by John Tory, with Barbara Hall a close but receding third. I can now vote for Miller with a clear conscience that I am not contributing to a disaster for the city. And make no mistake – a Tory victory would be a disaster.
As a member of Mayor Lastman’s unofficial kitchen cabinet, Tory’s fingerprints are all over the policies that have brought us to the sorry state of affairs in which we now find ourselves.
Unfortunately, it looks more and more as if a vote for Barbara Hall is a vote for John Tory. It’s time for Hall supporters to make the hard choice. I call upon them to make the courageous choice and cast their ballots on November 10 for David Miller.
T. Stephen Lavender, Toronto
Copping a bad feeling
i stopped in at john tory head quarters on the same day that the Toronto police union endorsed him. Campaign workers were gathered around a television gloating over the endorsement and mocking David Miller. I interrupted the little self-satisfaction fest to tell them that the endorsement might not be good for their campaign, since many people view some police as thugs. One worker said to me: “Depends on what part of town,” which I interpreted to mean it’s OK to harass blacks as long as people in Rosedale are safe. If the campaign workers are any indication of the alleged integrity of the Tory mayoralty bid, I’m glad it looks like Miller’s going to win.
Wayne Jones, Toronto
Airport bad for our health
those who support the island Airport (NOW, October 23-29) don’t seem to want to deal with the issue of public health. While living across from the Island Airport, we often smelled the airplane fuel fumes that blew ashore. After both my daughter and my wife came down with unusual illnesses, requiring two trips to the emergency room at Women’s College Hospital for my wife, we decided the health risks were too great.
We moved to Scarborough. The health problems that affected my wife and daughter haven’t reappeared. The Island Airport should be closed.
Barbara Hall campaigned against a fixed link in her first run for mayor of Toronto and promptly betrayed all of us who supported her by flipping once elected. Barbara, we’ll never trust another commitment you make. It’s David Miller for mayor for us.
Robert A. Wiseman, Scarborough
Ootes’s arrogance
you hit the nail on the head with your inclusion of Case Ootes (Ward 29) on your list of rogues and scoundrels at City Hall (NOW, October 30-November 5). Many think Ward 29 is a “gimme” for the incumbent, and Ootes’s arrogant behaviour at all-candidates meetings suggests he feels the same.
Jacob Allderdice, East York
Candidates lack integrity
some mayors race. we have tom “Have I ever lied to you before?” Jacobek John “I got the bribe, just forgot to report it” Nunziata John “Unite the right, make ’em an offer” Tory and Barbara “My lawyers found the fundraising loophole, not me” Hall. If this election is about integrity, it should be a cakewalk for David Miller.
Jim Purdie, Toronto
Stuck in political gridlock
you told us what john tory wants us to think about road tolls (NOW, October 30-November 5). You didn’t tell us what David Miller wants us to think of his flip-flop. What he doesn’t want us to think is that his convictions raced out the door at the slightest political pressure. Strong leadership is not on its way to City Hall. It got stuck in political gridlock.
Lela Gary, Toronto
Bring in the tolls
as a torontonian living in London for the past year and working as a driver, I’ve seen Central London’s traffic situation six months before and after the initiation of their Central London Congestion Charge program. Massive difference. Traffic was – and still is – markedly down (on average, close to 20 per cent) within the toll zone, and the motorists who decided to pay £5 per day have seen their journey times decrease. Revenue’s been lower than anticipated due to substantially reduced traffic volume!
The proceeds from the Congestion Charge are being used to upgrade and expand the public transit systems already in place. I rarely wait more than 10 minutes for a bus now. Bring in the tolls! Upgrade public transit!
Greg Morgan, London, UK
Scary bears
as a country boy transplanted to T.O., I read with interest Barry Kent MacKay’s defence of the spring bear hunt’s cancellation (NOW, October 30-November 5). Barry writes that “the majority of Ontarians oppose the spring bear hunt.” Has Barry ever been to my hometown, Barry’s Bay? It had several bear incidents inside town limits this past summer. That’s significant, considering we hadn’t seen a bear in town in the past 20 years. One bear was spotted on my brother’s property, mere metres away from where my niece and nephew play. The OPP had to shoot at least one bear.
Would it be appropriate for people in Barry’s Bay to demand that the pigeons and seagulls be culled in Toronto? Wouldn’t it be fair to let the people who have to live with the problem decide the best way to solve it? Just asking.
David Goulet, Toronto
Giving racists space
having “enjoyed” your review of the speech by virulent anti-Semite and racist Louis Farrakhan (NOW, October 30-November 5), I was wondering when to expect future reviews of other racist speakers. Perhaps you could do a regular column on the racist of the week, or given your predilections, I guess you’d have to give us the anti-Semite of the week. Just a suggestion.
Morris Sosnovitch, Toronto
Pot calling kettle “urban”
re upfront item on Richard Peddie (NOW, October 30-November 5). Peddie may, in fact, have been guilty of racial profiling when he mistakenly blamed rap fans for the Montreal riot. However, in a piece ostensibly decrying such generalizations, NOW perpetuates stereotypes with the assumption that “rap” implies a particular racial group, and again with the ensuing reference to “punk fans – read white folk.” Another case of the pot calling the kettle “urban”?
Ian Conway, Toronto
Cotton candy
let me be the first to congratulate Sarah Liss on securing her infamy as the first journalist to provide an unreservedly biased and misinformed review of Adam Cotton (NOW, October 23-29). She can join the company of writers who’ve chosen to embrace a bland, generic vocal style when presented with a unique, original alternative. Her unabashed endorsement of other acts from that evening appeared suspiciously disproportionate. Having also been in the audience, I am forced to wonder whether or not Ms. Liss was. There were those who chose to criticize my singing. Sadly, I can’t recall any of their names.
L. Cohen, Toronto
Evil review dead wrong
your 3-n rating for evil dead 1& 2, The Musical (NOW, October 23-29) was way off target. It’s a helluva good time, a very cheap production where less is more, true to the spirit of the original flicks. The female actors are vixens and the guys are sorta hunky (if you’re into that kind of thing). The demons kick ass. You can drink beer during the show and toke outside on the break. All the songs are stupid and most of them are brilliant.
K-ran McBride, Toronto
Missing Izzy
can you please explain why now neglected to report on the arrival of Britain’s funniest transvestite comedian? Eddie Izzard performed sold-out shows at Danforth Music Hall Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1. Where was NOW with this story?
Aaron Hamilton, Toronto
