Quay redo more reason not to trust downtowners
In A Quay To Sharing The Street (NOW, July 9-15), Ken Greenberg shows why we suburbanites don’t trust downtowners.
The new Queens Quay will be lovely for about eight to 10 weeks a year and then, surprise, winter hits and the waterfront returns to a chilling wasteland.
Adam Wetstein
North York
Climate march evokes spirit of Occupy
The March For Jobs, Justice And The Climate (NOW, July 9-15) reminded me that there are answers beyond corporate capitalism.
This green revolution has the spirit of Occupy and the solidarity of Labour Day, but what will each of us do or give up to achieve climate justice?
I’ve stopped flying in jets and using vast amounts of paper and am trying to source as much food and clothing as I can locally. I’ve started an herb garden and am advocating for a north-south bike lane on Broadview. There’s no time for pessimism when you’re trying to be at one with Mother Nature.
My fave sign: There Is No Planet B. Now graffiti that on every street corner and get out of your cars!
Davis Benjamin
Toronto
A waterfront for everyone means no airport
Re Will Toronto Have Canada’s Riskiest Airport? (NOW, July 9-15). We need to create infrastructure projects that benefit everyone and not a small percentage of people on the waterfront.
I’m a frequent flyer and find the continuing debate about Island airport expansion a waste of everyone’s time. Commercial passenger flights should be banned from the airport.
We have an underutilized, world- class airport north of the city at Pearson.
Any public dollars spent should go toward improving and reducing the cost of UPX service to that airport.
Robert Croghan
Toronto
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a crazy thought
On reading your thoughtful article about bird strikes and the certifiable dangers of Island airport expansion, I imagined – just for a second, a deranged second – a world where people worry first about the birds that will be felled by planes rather than the planes themselves.
I know! Crazy, right? As Steve Martin used to say, “Excuse me, I lost my mind for a moment.”
Eva Bednar
Toronto
Pan Am Games: it’s the money, stupid!
I think it’s great the Pan Am Games are striving to be gay-friendly (NOW, July 9-15). Homophobia is a huge and persistent problem in sport.
That said, the real question has to be why Toronto is even hosting this sports circus. It’s the money, stupid!
Think of all the pressing issues in the GTHA: our archaic transit system, decaying and outdated infrastructure, the crisis in affordable housing, hollowed-out social programs – everyone knows the list.
Greece’s current economic difficulties are at least partly driven by the sinkhole that was the 2004 Athens Olympics. Who can forget our own Montreal fiasco and mayor Jean Drapeau’s famous comment, “The Olympics can no more lose money than a man can have a baby”?
How appropriate that the opening ceremonies were held at the Rogers Centre, the white elephant Ontario taxpayers paid $600 million to build and then “sold” to Rogers for $25 million.
Andrew van Velzen
Toronto
Beer is hopping in Toronto
I enjoyed the Beer Issue (NOW, July 9-15). When it comes to beer in Toronto, you can down a kriek, be a weiss guy or sing, “I’ll hop the world and malt with you.”
Martin Baker
Toronto
Theatre festival not so fringe
Years ago NOW’s theatre department would list both the best and worst shows of the Fringe. I attended one of each, one right after the other. One had a budget, precious performances and total snob appeal. The other had no budget, recent art school graduates performing and a quirky premise. Working within their restrictions, the latter was a more enjoyable experience.
Now previewed 14 shows (NOW, July 2-8). All featured people that have probably shared lattes in the Annex with NOW writers. All would have made it into the juried SummerWorks Festival, an offshoot of the Fringe that couldn’t stomach the anarchy implicit in the Fringe process.
Oddly, the Fringe came into existence as an opportunity for artists on the “fringe,” so do yourself a favour and “fringe” the festival. Who knows what pearls you will find.
Doug McLauchlan
Toronto
Al-Quds rally promotes hate
I’m pretty shocked that the Al-Quds rally Saturday made your Big 3 editors picks (NOW, July 9-15). It should not only be missed but banned outright. By promoting this event, you are promoting hatred of Israel, which is not just the only democracy in the Middle East, but a country that holds itself to higher moral standard than most Western countries. I am pretty certain your magazine would not promote a Confederate flag event. What the hell were you thinking? Shame on you!
Shoshana Mezel
From nowtoronto.com
The best hope for change in Israel
Thank you for Judith Deutsch’s article How Canadians Help – And Harm – The People Of Gaza (NOW, July 7) and for reminding us of Canadian complicity in Israel’s treatment of the people of Gaza and other Palestinians. The non-violent tactics of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) are our best hope for bringing change to Israel.
Martha Roth
From nowtoronto.com
