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11 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment An error occurred while saving the comment 
thatguyinlondon
commented
Do you think this will attract most Londoners? Is it something the City needs to be involved in. I am all for personal freedoms and would stand up if the City was making laws preventing this, but I cannot see spending tax dollars on it.
Last I was aware, women going topless was legal in Ontario. Last I saw of bikini bottom styles left little to the imagination. Sound like naturist are pretty free to be themselves as it is. I think the way about this is to stake out you space, do what you do and THEN maybe the City will spring for a sign and clean up after you.
Personally when thinking of beaching along the Thames I'd think more clothes (as in wet suit), not less clothes. -
12 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
A lot of comments I am seeing are not just London issues. As a people we do not care about anyone but ourselves. If there is "nothing in it for me" then it is not worth doing. The fix? Stop building. Stop trying to be a "world class city". Start fixing our city from the bottom. Start caring about individuals over corporations. Our schools are important, yes, but there is more to London than that.
I have been here my whole life (55years) I do not want to move away to find a job in a strange city with strangers as neighbours and I don't want others to feel they need to either. I am an anomaly. I care. -
25 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Derek;
Sometimes people don't have the cure, but can open the door to dialogue. Sorts' like a debate, ya' know. You toss out a topic and let others have at it.
As far as the rest, I see you offering no suggestions other than chastising people for their typing habits a making sure everyone knows about your secure, high paying job. I HAD one of those too. People come in all sorts, many with different communication skills, yet their thoughts are no less important. I do not think dissing them because they are not like you is very constructive.
To the point:
What is the vacancy rate in London. Is it hard to find a house or apartment? Is it hard to find a suitable place for your business? There is a lot of talk in city hall about expansion and development, a couple hundred million dollars worth of talk. Like Harper's jets and jails I have to wonder where that money is coming from. I have asked a lot of people and NOT ONE has an answer. If we as a country can afford of billions on jets and jails, and the city can afford 100's of millions on a new city hall and 401 sprawl, why can't we afford to help those in the most need. We NEED to be in the job making business, not the job taking business. And Derek, I am not talking about high paying secure jobs here, I am talking about jobs that will at least help people pay for a roof over their head, clothes themselves and after that, maybe, just maybe have a decent meal to eat.
(I know the answer as to why few don't help the many. Because there is nothing in it for them.)
(Man I hope I got that all grammatically correct, Sure hate to offend.) <-- almost hit send and noticed there was not a period at the end of my bracketed comment. I am not sure if one is required in a bracket, but better safe than sorry.
thatguyinlondon
supported this idea
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An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
You mean be compassionate? What a wonderful, yet novel idea.
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26 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
J.
Don't get me started on drivers and puddles. I am a walker. I have been hit with it all.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
To answer your last question. No. An emphatic no! As to the rest....when we think of downtown, at least us who don't live there, we think summer. Perhaps. I have to say in all of these forum comments I always envision summer scenes. Good point on winter, something we may all be trying to forget.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Excellent point, Shelley. I am not hip to all the lingo but I think that is called a monopoly.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
It's already been said, but is worth saying again and shame on Katie for discounting it. What about the disabled?
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108 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
dte
That is some very good food for thought. Makes me think I should try to put away all I currently perceive and open my eyes to a fresh perspective. I admit I have personally been looking at things with a negative attitude. I gotta' get out more and open my eyes. Thanks for the nudge.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I have made a friend via Twitter who is moving to London for school in the fall. I will direct him to read these forums and share his impressions before he gets here. Then I shall give him a London tour and he can share his impressions after getting here. Fresh perspective cannot hurt.
Signed: Loosening Up In London
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Even more.....
I remember walking down the street and seeing a woman with absolutely fantastic hair. I remember smelling an exceptionally nice perfume. I wanted to pass on a compliment, but couldn't. I would be looked upon as a dirty old man coming on. There is more to our seemingly unfriendly society than just being unfriendly.
I use two examples of women because I, as a guy, can toss a compliment to a guy and he won't think I am trying to bed him. He'll just think I'm nuts.An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Is that Mike again or one of his puppets? I reread Jennifer's words over and over and cannot see any attacks or insults towards a specific ethnicity. Her words actually opened my eyes a bit. Yeah, I walk with my head down and don't make a lot of eye contact. I don't know the names of people at store I shop at.
This isn't always because we are unfriendly. I mean if I just walked up to someone all cheerful and all they'd wonder what I was after. I for one, thanks to Jennifer, will try to hold my head up and at least smile and nod when I make eye contact. Thanks Jennifer, you just made London a better place, one guyinlondon at a time. :)For the record, when it comes to people, I am colour blind. My only prejudice is towards is towards assholes, and they are not race or gender specific. So Rich or Mike wannabes, if you want to improve your life and improve how people treat you, stop being assholes.
(sorry if that word offends, but I could think of no other that fit)
thatguyinlondon
supported this idea
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101 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Maybe uniformed police should get a special per diem if the lunch at that McDonald's.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Another thought:
No businesses "need to be moved". As the atmosphere of downtown changes so does the clientele. Businesses will come and go accordingly.
And I am not convinced moving OW will change anything.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
B-Rocker: Good point about the 50,000 (I winder what the actual number is) and good points all round. I think "the cure" is to give street people more options as where to go. If this article is correct though, that isn't going to happen.
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/05/06/18115121.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4dc59f8474264a95,0An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Thanks for the lesson, Anonymous. I was trying to recall Welfare being at 217 York. I know Mother's Allowance was there pre-Harris and Disability is there now. I have to agree we, as a people, have to get over the NIMBY attitude if we are ever going to get along.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't downtown start to lose public interest when the malls were built. The big malls have "it all" under one roof making them viable options for winter and rainy days. The Galleria tried to challenge that, but apparently that didn't work out so well, since it seems to be more business than retail these days.
Robby: There you go again making like there is work for all. If there was work for all there wouldn't be 25,000 applicants showing up for 1000 positions at McDonald's.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
MissM: I agree with you in part, there is no set stereotype anymore for people who get inked. What I disagree with is your post sounded more like an attack on commenters than an expression of a concept.
Btw: Yes I am old. No I am not in a seniors home (yet) but if I were, so what?
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Sorry, I didn't get the last of your post. Huh?
I am old enough to remember going to Simpson's at Christmas to see the window displays. I remember the Wellington Square Mall. I also remember later in life hippies galore hanging out downtown with "straights" cruising the drag. I wonder if people were afraid of us all over downtown?
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I still cannot see why some think the OW is a cause of the loitering at Dundas and Richmond. I do not think they are OW people, at least that is not the purpose for them being there aside from using the washroom. It's not like they run up stairs and get $5 every hour or something. I contend that most OW recipients would rather not go there. For one because of the loiterers and also because they do not want to be seen there. The loiterers are there mostly because they can.
On April 20, 2011, maybe 200 people gathered in Victoria Park (Last year it was more like 2000) to bring awareness to the anti-prohibition cause. 25 London Police were sent to quell any potential uprisings. (This got virtually zero press and literally zero follow-up) 25 police for 200 pot smokers and they cannot spare a uniform or two to stand at Dundas and Richmond. The presence alone will have a positive effect on both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Even bikes! These officers could smile and greet the citizens and do some much needed police PR as well as keep and eye out for loiterers, drug deals and what have you. I know to some this does not conform to their view of "Serve and Protect" as demonstrated in the 4/20 video, but it sounds feasible in my fantasy society.
I too have a bad feel towards cheque cashing places, but do not see how the tattoo parlours or tattoo places play into the loitering. Then again I have never really noticed them downtown. I know there is a Pawnshop on Dundas near Talbot and I can almost picture a tattoo place on Dundas upstairs somewhere. Then again, I do not go downtown very often.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Yes, why are people against the location of OW (perhaps Ontario Works is a misnomer, but it sounds a hell of a lot better than Welfare). If it were to be moved, where? (I like the old Library idea (if the City still owned it), but still say why move it?) I do not see the OW offices as a draw to the activities on the corners. My guess is anyone who HAS to rely on OW wants to get in and out as fast as possible, without being noticed. People will always find a place to gather if they have no options. This time they chose Dundas and Richmond. In my day we strolled "the drag" and hung out in the Wellington Square Mall and Vic Park. But we also had coffee houses, drop-in centers, more training options, hostels, casual labour options.... Times have changed. The poor have fewer options of getting out of the rut and the older they get the more those options diminish.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Jack: That point is brought up somewhere else. My thinking is if they can fix City Hall up enough for students, they can fix it up enough for themselves and not spend $100 million. Of course they could go with my City Hall Makeover idea and build all sorts of great buildings, for free. Maybe with that method we could also expand JLC enough for an NHL team? (They say that would hurt the Knights, but could the Knights be an NHL team. :))
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Man, I'd sure like to get into City Hall to see how all these "wonderful" decisions are made. I am sure there are trade-offs and "deals with the devil" that we cannot see. It has always been a political stance that the public doesn't really want to know the truth. I guess I am not the average public. Perhaps the old library is the same as the old city hall, not good enough for the present tenants, but good enough for someone else. (City Hall council/students. Old library/Farhi.)
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Oh, and would you leave Best's cheque cashing place or would that follow OW?
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Why the McDonald's and where do you propose to move the Ontario Works offices? (and at what cost?)
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4 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
A cat park?
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Mike, your whole racist thing is getting real old. Do you have any friends? Did all your family abandon you? Have you been fired from every job you ever had? I agree, you DO need community housing. A nice efficiency unit with a lock on the outside. I do not recommend this for everyone, just you.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I was just talking dog parks on Twitter. Are there just the two? Adelaide N. and Ham Rd way east? If so, the City needs more dog parks. Not only is it good for the dogs, it gets people out longer (exercise and fresh air). So with that, maybe downtown needs a dog park too. I know I could do with one closer. The one I use is at least a mile both ways. Not everyone in London has a car, ya' know.
thatguyinlondon
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106 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
The talk of a couple posts down moved me to make this search. I was hoping for an easy copy and paste list. Instead I got all most 2m hits.
Millionaires who murder
Advanced search Go to Google.com
About 1,970,000 results (0.13 seconds)An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I wasn't sure where to put this. So many topics touch on it. Street people, and to the point drug street people. Apparently there is a program called Insite that is very successful with helping drug addicts. Apparently part of what they do is help keep them off the streets. I could pull quotes from the article, but the piece should be read as a whole. It is more about how The Harper Government doesn't really want us to know the benefits of such a program.
I think it would not be that much trouble for council to make way for Insite or clone on a municipal level.You need to read it. But I warn you, it is a long read. http://bit.ly/jubndC
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
The income has a lot to say about the attitude. Sure not in all cases, but I am sure the studies would conclude most. Not an exact number, but it's all I got.
I know about poor, but chose a different path. Still poor, but not drinkin, druggin or stealin. I took my poverty and over time became pretty much a recluse. I know how people feel about us out there. Apply for 1000 jobs and be turned down, 1,000 times while everyone calls you a a lazy bum. Eat once a day. Have nervous fits once a month hoping you can make the rent. Walk because you'd rather a loaf of bread than take the bus. The worst period was when my meal of the day was what my young son didn't eat. I know poor.Most of the poor would just stay inside, away from the derisive sneers if they had an inside to go to. Many wouldn't be screaming and fighting if they weren't hungry. Did you know, that some drugs can take away the hunger (is that why they are gaunt and skinny?) but it also takes away the human and leaves a ghastly shell.
So while you, Mr. Mayor, are sipping your after dinner wine and wondering what you can spend $100 million on, take a walk downtown, EOA, NE London, Ham Road area, 241 Simcoe. Walk anywhere where your first instinct is to say "screw 'em" and you'll see many human places to spend your $100 million here and $100 million there.
If my bleak outlook of The Harper Government comes to pass, the will all be in jail anyways.
They say the economic is broken. They say the electoral system is broken. Even the planet is becoming broken. We as humans are broken too. It all needs to be fixed. From the top down and the bottom up everything needs to be fixed.
Sorry if I spoiled your dinners.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
more.... enforcing the loitering laws would mean fining people who have no money. Or jailing them costing you money. That begs the question, is it better to jail them or help them. That is a rhetorical question. If you pick option 1, see my post below.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I agree with MissBellaVista.
The OP doesn't know those people out there, how they got there and what help they might need. All they see is an eyesore too eradicate. Yes, we need to get them off the corners, the BIG question is how? Poverty is a common cause of crime and drug addiction. The "get a job" rant doesn't hold water. Next time you spit in the direction of a homeless person or even think anything like "scum", know you are a big part of the problem and not even a blip on the map of solution.
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13 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I am reposting this in it's entirety because not everyone clicks links. It is somewhat a counterpoint to these forums, critical, but worth reading. I don't believe we are THAT broken and that we are here talking more because we can, than things (other than our attitudes towards each other) need to be fixed. But please do click the link. There is an absolutely fantastic photo of London included.
Discuss.
Are We That Broken London?
By Brian Raymond
http://brianraymond.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/are-we-that-broken-london/Day in and day out for the last couple months everywhere I look somebody is trying to fix London. Local blogs, newspapers, television shows, indie rags, social media of all sorts and just about everybody and their mother is asking the question.
How can we fix London? What can we do to make London Better? How can we revitalize this? How can we revitalize this city? It goes on and on and on everywhere you look.
Here’s my question…
When did London get so broken?
Holy Fuck!! Is it that bad here? When and why is there such a sudden urgency to fix this place? What the hell is wrong with it?
Now before ya’ll get pissy and get your panties in a knot let me make 1 thing clear. I’m all for expansion, growth and a better way of living in our city. I just don’t understand the sudden onslaught of people all of a sudden jumping on the bandwagon to get it done.
Perhaps it’s our new mayor and the tree he seems to have growing in his back yard that grows thousand dollar bills on a daily basis. Perhaps a “bandwagon” is exactly it. I don’t know what it is but it’s everywhere I look.
I have to admit, daily I read a special section in the LFP called Who’s London? I also have to admit the reason I do read it is because of the absolutely idiotic ideas that are popping up there.
“Whose London? What’s London? How’s London? You tell us. We’re aiming for the heart of the city’s identity and we need you to guide us there with the kinds of subjects about our own home on the Thames that you want us to explore in The Free Press and at lfpress.com over the next many months. Post your topics here and see what others think of them”
Changing the name of the city = Malarkey!
Build Canada’s tallest skyscraper = Malarkey!
Gut the whole downtown and start over = Malarkey!
A city wide training course in friendliness = Malarkey!
Refunds on buses when they are more than 5 minutes late or full = Malarkey!
Take away all the rules and regulations for people that want to start a sidewalk business = Malarkey!
Now I don’t know much about much but really? Do people actually think any of these idea’s will bring people to the downtown core? Will any of these idea’s change our identity? Me thinks not.
Perhaps I got off topic there for a minute. Again, I just don’t understand the barrage of attention this whole thing is getting all of a sudden and really, does anybody out there honestly believe it’s going to go anywhere?
Some of the people I do see working to make our city a better place to live I say BRAVO! I say this because I’ve seen them doing it day in and day out since I moved here. As for the rest, get off the bandwagon. You’re just annoying.
thatguyinlondon
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86 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
J, good point. I am sure there are many, many people living paycheck to paycheck with one foot out the door. There are also those who depend on things like Child Tax Credit to make ends meet. That is good until the child turns 18, and starts reducing if that child turns 18 after the end of the school year as if all of a sudden it costs less to feed them when they are no longer in school. Odd, the rent doesn't decrease when the child turns 18, nor do they automatically get a job. Another foot out the door....no another two feet or more. I wonder if there is a stat for the increase in OW applications in July? I wonder if that is a contributing factor to so many young homeless. Families may have to make the choice of kicking one out on the streets so the younger kids can still eat. Yup, London surely deserves to be classed as a Compassionate City just like council voted for themselves last night.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
omg Robby, don't make me come in here and defend Mike. Or you for that matter. You don't know his situation. Maybe he has been living in a cardboard box for 25 years, albeit a beige one. And you are in your ivory tower looking down with a sneer. Oddly in this I am more offended by Robby and his holier than thou, than Mike and his racism.
That aside, the point of this suggestion was to help clean up the image of downtown. I guess so people like Robby wouldn't feel dirty going down there and rubbing shoulder with the "unwashed masses". By cleaning up I do not mean forcing the homeless and poor out of the area to yet another area. My intention was to draw attention to the fact they are there because they exist. Homeless and the poor live in a society that could feed the world, if it wanted to. Instead our society is more interested in getting on the map, having bigger shiny buildings than the other cities. We live in a society of shiny trinkets and waste. Heck, even the organizations who pride themselves on helping the needy are paying their CEO's hundreds of thousands of dollars and those who can donate would rather give to them than give a dollar to an individual in need of bread.
For ages and ages the same question has been asked over and over again and nobody has ever come up with an answer. Why can't we all just get along?
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
London's unemployment is above the provincial and national level.
Salvation Army is one of the fairest of charities with the CEO (or whatever they call them) getting about $20K and a place to live. (researched last year, no idea what it is now)
Goodwill Industries CEO's make $100's of thousands a year. The biggest dog had a salary of $838K a year.
I'll be doing an article on this soon. I'll be researching Red Cross and United Way as well. Charities are big business. Nice work if you can get it.
I am not sure of the exact figure these days but places like Value Village who get donations in the name of a charity only pay that charity 20%.In all of my research I have never encountered any race issues when it comes to community services. Hiring practices, yes, though they cannot say so. But that is all in the name of equality, so I guess it is okay.
Mike, your views read more if you took the racist tone out of it. I for one will skip your posts.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
25,000 people applied for 1,000 jobs at the last McDonald's Job Fair. That's a telling number. Today there were 125? truckers laid off in Lambeth (London).
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Robby, Robby, Robby...indeed needs are endless. That is called greed. I will say this just one more time and I will type real slow so maybe you can get it.
There are not enough jobs for all the unemployed, even if they were eager to get out and take a job say, cleaning sewers with a straw. There will always be seniors living under the poverty line. There will always be disabled and disadvantaged. Always, Robby, always. It is our duty as humans to look after these people. In part, THAT is what defines you as a Canadian.
But let's go with your concept that the homelsess and poor are just lazy no-lifers who want to feed off the teat of society. Let us assume there are jobs for all and that there will always be excess jobs, even for the seniors, disabled and disadvantaged. If that is the case then there is a major flaw in how our society goes job hunting. So many people have jobs they hate that others would love. So maybe it all just comes down to how people are matched up with their jobs. Perhaps the governments should be finding better ways to get the right people in the right jobs.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
So Robby, there is work for everyone? Are YOU hiring? Are you hiring the disabled, the seniors, those in the 50-60 grey area? People with chronic pain? Mental health issues? Please, post your business name and I am sure you will get 1000 applicants for every position.
There have always been the poor and disadvantaged and there always will be. No matter how hard you try to ignore them.
I am sure the majority of homeless did not choose to be there. I am sure the majority of the unemployed want to work.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
I was trying to recall the "Seniors Buildings" and wondered which would be the most convenient. I forgot about the one on Kent, but figured (if it is still there) the one on Baseline and Wharncliffe is likely the best for local services. Though spread out a bit, that area offers a lot. And yes, I have heard that 241 Simcoe was a trouble spot.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Thanks for the data, Jack.
The next step in that scenario is to have enough jobs for everyone to be trained into, and offer something for those in the grey zone age where jobs are not abundant. If you are say over 50, unskilled and you don't have connections, it can be virtually impossible to find a job.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Well, to be fair, it is private enterprise that builds those highrises. If they can rent them, all the power to 'em. I cannot afford to pay $1000 a month for an apartment, but there are many who can, I guess.
Back in the day living downtown (above a store or something) was quite affordable. But then, Richmond Row was a cheap part of town. :P
For the homeless and the poor we have to put ourselves in their position and ask what we would want done.
For starters we as a people have to stop treating health issues like criminal issues, but that is federal. Locally we have to improve options. The homeless are on the streets because they are homeless. Beggars on on the streets and in traffic because they need to eat. Robberies are done at times out of desperation. I don't really have answers on what we as a city can do, but I do know we should be doing something.(I was writing on this topic in 2 windows. :P)
Wow! I wasn't up on the stats. Does that mean a senior who thinks that maybe they might need community housing better apply when they are 56? I better get to it. Should I get a family to better my chances? Odd that the homeless all tend to be single.
One thing I do know I disagree with is community housing complexes.Only integration and equality will begin to erase the stigma of being in the majority. Poor.thatguyinlondon
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45 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
Exactly, JJ. Affordability and accessibility. Oh yeah, and s sign on the back so you don't chase the wrong bus.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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It is most certainly not "the stupidest idea ever". Trust me, I have that covered in spades. :P
A few years ago I was researching free public transit. Many cities were working on that concept. I believe (bad memory) that a number of cities found success. The problem is how to pay for it and that falls upon tax payers. These days, if there is nothing in it for them, then it is a "stupid" idea.
Lately I was toying with the concept of no motor vehicles at all in the city. All transportation would be bikes, slow scooters, motorized chairs and some sort of transport for those who cannot transport themselves. Of course this won't work because people need to get places faster, businesses need goods delivered and.....wait for it....winter.
I think free public transit would go a long way to improve the lives of many, many Londoners and also believe that if we look after the less advantaged maybe London's "nice" image will be justified.
(I thought these forums were for ideas to improve London in general, not just identity.)
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Fares are not the problem? Maybe not for some, but they are for the passengers that need the bus most.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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GreatallNorth2, but how much would it cost to build such a system and how much would the fare be?
I don't think people really dislike the bus that much, do they? Maybe some don't like the wait or route structure. (My personal Big Beef is no sign on the back of the bus. I hate chasing a bus I don't really want to catch.) I think the biggest determent most have is the cost. A bus ride is $2.75. Loaf of bread $1.99 on sale. So that is $4.76 to go get a loaf of bread. (sure it is only an example, and not the best, but the point is there)
Alternative people friendly fuel, better subsidy so we can afford bus drivers (I'll do it for half what they get) and any user friendly tweaks would attract new riders.
Oh, and a bus pass for those who cannot afford one. Say people making less that $1200 a month. (it does not cost the LTC/City to give away a free ride).An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Yeah.....I am no stats wiz but my knee-jerk thought is the majority of bus riders rent. Most people I assume, if they have the bucks, secure a car before a home. The home is just a place to put the stuff like a car.
There are many cities that have free transit, though I couldn't tell you which or how they pull it off.
If subsidy came straight from property tax then bus riders would be labelled societal leeches along with the rest of the poor. -
40 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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And create jobs for unskilled (or undocumented) old guys. I'd rather sweep the streets than sleep on them.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Well said indeed.
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16 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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I hear ya'. One doesn't have to "love" a city to call it home, no matter what its name is. I too grew up here (some may contest the growing up part) and though I cannot say I "love" London, it is home and THAT is what is important.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Stephknows: Stop making sense, will ya'. It might not be a great idea, but it's fun to play with. :)
Imagine all the wasted letterhead, mail will be lost, airplanes would get confused as to where to land....but Joe could spend another $100 million on changing signs and stuff. :P
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
commented
London: We're Wired (it works if you misspell it too)
The internet, gaming, social media and all that lot is big and getting bigger. London has quite a few companies related to this. Why not wire up the city with free internet for all (many cities are doing this) and become known for internet technology. Instead Silicon Valley we could be the Silicon Forrest.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Looking forward to seeing the suggestions. No Idea how to even begin naming a city. Like most of MSM sites, all the good names are taken.
(just when I find a decent name, I'll have to change it. :P)
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63 votesthatguyinlondon
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19 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Wow Mike, I was with you up to the word Mayor. No doubt a lot of things are done to help friends or payback favours. I doubt any of us would do less if given the "power". Not saying it's right, just that it is. After that you totally lost me and any credibility you may have had.
I do not object to the metal trees. I object to the cost, though. I would also object if they were not done by a London artist.
It has been said that real trees and concrete don't mix. Art trees downtown sounds like a good compromise for The Forest City, as long as they are not trying to replace ALL trees, which they most certainly are not.
Back to cost: $6k a tree? Egads!
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Thanks for that link, Trish. $480K if the project is complete. I missed it in the article, is the artist from London? (Who is he related to?) I am not against art, but with all the artists and students we have in London I am sure we could get plenty of quality eye-candy for cost, just from local artists wanting to showcase their work and have a cool photo-op for their portfolios.
I cannot see removing them "improving" London. That too would cost $$. I can see not putting more in and spending the saved cash on maybe a street cleaner (human) or two to help clean up litter. (streets get cleaner and a couple jobs are created)
thatguyinlondon
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167 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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The BIG problem with outdoor stadiums and/or bandshells or half covered stages is that sound really, really carries and amplified sound carries even more. That is the only thing I have against outdoor concerts in the city.
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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I liked that old idea of cell block dining. But to be honest, years ago when they moved the court I said to myself I wanted to live there. So we are talking about my future backyard. :)
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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It' a nice idea and all, but we have a bandshell in Victoria Park. Why not just spruce that up and be more open to events. (Like not arresting people at a peaceful gathering like 420)
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74 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Maybe we have too many restaurants and letting some individuals try to eke out a living is not a bad idea.
thatguyinlondon
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1 votethatguyinlondon
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14 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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"How many junk stores and pawn shops do we really need in London?" -Jack Tripper
We'll have a scourge of 2nd hand stores as long as that's all some people can afford to furnish their hovel. The pawnshops are there as long as people need to float their valuables to pay the rent. Those businesses are there, and still doing business, because they doing business. (follow that?) Ask why and let's try to fix that.
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21 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment thatguyinlondon
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Fair enough, but how? They need options, guidance, mental and medical health assistance. They are shunned and downcast more than helped.
What I am saying is, if there are no regulations preventing you and your friends from doing this, just do it. I am sure the others (no I haven't been) were inhabited first before the city (area) even knew it was there. If you are willing to pay $5 (w/e) then start a club, get donations and buy a garbage can, volley ball net and have at it.
If three are regulations preventing such a thing, then THAT is worth try to change and I will back you 100%. I am very pro choice. All is good as long as nobody gets hurt.