Plan to put more police on Toronto transit
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Would it not be a little redundant to point out that disturbing aspects of having police sitting there watching people on the TTC? What next, sub machine guns? They already have those in New York, and have for over a year as of this writing. But of course, this will begin in marginalized communities first, so those who live downtown TO will be able to safely deny and rationalize. For now.
Flashback: USA: Fourth Amendment Trashed As Airport Tyranny Hits The Streets | Washington DC transit system holds anti-terror drills | Illegal Victoria Transit bag searches reinstated under new policy for Canada Day | Toronto police ready to take over transit patrols | Drug-sniffing dog plan for BC SkyTrain unconstitutional: legal critics | Greyhound introduces security screening of passengers, bans fruit, carry-ons | American Rail Passengers Subject to Random Searches, Police Presence | Greyhound bus passengers now subject to arbitrary luggage searches | Edmonton bus terminal ‘wide open’, security needed: ex-security guard | RCMP conducts random search and seizure on Canada Day | TTC officers won’t carry Tasers, guns | Machine Gun-Toting Officers To Patrol NYC Subway | TTC studies using Tasers | Privacy International responds to Ontario Privacy Commissioner ruling on CCTV | T.T.C. Starts Camera Installation On Buses & Streetcars | Privacy issues surround planned TTC cameras | Photo surveillance on Toronto Transit System aims to snap every user
Natalie Alcoba, The National Post
March 4, 2010
If Toronto’s operating budget is approved, you’ll be seeing more police roaming buses and subways. Toronto police say there is a plan to replace a significant portion of the TTC’s security complement with 42 officers. There are already 40 police officers on transit. The information is detailed in a report that is before the Police Services Board next week, as it continues to fight for more funding from the city.
Toronto Police Service has a uniform strength of 5500 officers. Its 2010 net operating budget is $37-million more than last year – and brass say that’s largely due to an arbitrated salary settlement that they cannot control. City staff are asking police to cut $5.9-million off their $892-million net operating budget.
In four months, Steve Bovair’s downtown neighbourhood will be transformed from cosmopolitan high life to a barricaded no-man’s land.
The G8 and G20 summits this summer will be the largest security event in Canadian history, officials said today.
OTTAWA — The federal government will hold June’s G20 summit on the edge of Toronto’s financial district, a decision that will close a large swath of downtown — and sideline baseball fans — as the city kicks off gay pride week.
A three-month grace period for Ontario drivers violating the province’s new law against driving while using a cellphone is ending, meaning offending motorists are now subject to fines of up to $500.
A pounding at the door the other morning; my windows rattled. I was upstairs at work. I don’t always leave my desk to hear the good news about Jehovah.