miketoronto
01-16-2007, 06:57 PM
This is from the Toronto Star. Glad to see the mayor sticking up for my area :) The crime reporting may sound weird to you guys, but it is an issue in Scar. When a crime happens anywhere else in Toronto the news quotes intersections. But when it happens in Scar, they always quote "Scarborough". But if it happens in North York, they will just list the intersection.
Anyway the article.
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Mayor sticks up for Scarborough
http://www.thestar.com/images/assets/177563_3.JPG
RENE JOHNSTON / TORONTO STAR
The historic Guild Inn is just one of Mayor David Miller’s favourite places in Scarborough. Miller, below, and Councillor Norm Kelly say that crime reports in the media unfairly give the suburb a poor image.
A cheeky look at the rump of Toronto
Its image is hurt by crime reporting, Miller declares
January 16, 2007
Paul Moloney
city hall bureau
Scarborough wants some respect. Councillors in the hometown of comic Mike Myers, the Barenaked Ladies and NBA star Jamaal Magloire say they've had enough of what they call negative portrayals of their home turf.
"The people of Scarborough are mad as hell and they're not going to take it any more," Councillor Norm Kelly told the city's executive committee at city hall yesterday. "There still is this feeling out there, this condescending feeling, that's shared by so many that Scarborough is Scarberia."
And now Mayor David Miller is coming to Scarborough's defence. After a discussion at council's first meeting of its new executive committee, Miller contacted media outlets to request they stop identifying a crime as having occurred in Scarborough and instead give the nearest main intersection.
It is the Star's policy to treat Toronto as one city and to peg the location of incidents described in crime stories to the nearest intersection.
Miller described Scarborough as an extraordinary place and gave three examples: the city-owned Guild Inn property that once was an artists' colony; the Port Union waterfront park; and the Malvern sports facility donated by Nike that's made of used running shoes.
Yesterday's discussion was prompted by Kelly (Ward 40, Scarborough-Agincourt), who said residents of Scarborough feel their community is too often highlighted by the media in crime stories.
In the past, other neighbourhoods have complained about media coverage, including Parkdale and Jane-Finch.
But Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, whose ward includes part of the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, said keeping the area's name out of crime stories isn't the answer.
"I love the (Jane-Finch) community, but there are some problem spots in that community and we need to deal with them. You can't just ignore them," said Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West).
"I think we should talk about it and end it, as opposed to asking people to forget about it and don't mention it," he added.
Miller, meanwhile, said it's most unfortunate if Scarborough's image is suffering, and it's appropriate to ask the media to make adjustments.
"There's no question in my mind that it is reasonable to say to the media, `Can you think about talking about streets rather than neighbourhoods because you unfairly stereotype the neighbourhood.'
"I do believe it's appropriate to use other things like intersections in referring to where a crime occurred."
Reasons why Miller likes Scarborough
Mayor David Miller thinks Scarborough deserves more respect. Here are his three favourite things in the city's eastern-most suburb:
The Guild Inn Located on Scarborough Bluffs, the historic building began as a house built in 1914 for Col. Harold Bickford. Several wings were later added, followed by a hotel in the 1960s. But it has been boarded up and decaying since 2001. The only recent guests have been ghostly presences documented by paranormal researchers. There is a plan to tear it down and build a new hotel.
Port Union Linear Park
One of the few waterfront redevelopment plans that has been completed, the park stretches from the Rouge River to Highland Creek. It is part of the planned waterfront park system, built along a derelict shoreline, which Miller has pledged to complete by 2010.
The Nike Malvern Sports Complex The multi-pad (soccer, basketball and track) sports facility, which opened last year, is near Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School. It's partly made from 50,000 recycled running shoes. Miller says Malvern is a priority in the safe neighbourhood program.
Anyway the article.
-------------------------
Mayor sticks up for Scarborough
http://www.thestar.com/images/assets/177563_3.JPG
RENE JOHNSTON / TORONTO STAR
The historic Guild Inn is just one of Mayor David Miller’s favourite places in Scarborough. Miller, below, and Councillor Norm Kelly say that crime reports in the media unfairly give the suburb a poor image.
A cheeky look at the rump of Toronto
Its image is hurt by crime reporting, Miller declares
January 16, 2007
Paul Moloney
city hall bureau
Scarborough wants some respect. Councillors in the hometown of comic Mike Myers, the Barenaked Ladies and NBA star Jamaal Magloire say they've had enough of what they call negative portrayals of their home turf.
"The people of Scarborough are mad as hell and they're not going to take it any more," Councillor Norm Kelly told the city's executive committee at city hall yesterday. "There still is this feeling out there, this condescending feeling, that's shared by so many that Scarborough is Scarberia."
And now Mayor David Miller is coming to Scarborough's defence. After a discussion at council's first meeting of its new executive committee, Miller contacted media outlets to request they stop identifying a crime as having occurred in Scarborough and instead give the nearest main intersection.
It is the Star's policy to treat Toronto as one city and to peg the location of incidents described in crime stories to the nearest intersection.
Miller described Scarborough as an extraordinary place and gave three examples: the city-owned Guild Inn property that once was an artists' colony; the Port Union waterfront park; and the Malvern sports facility donated by Nike that's made of used running shoes.
Yesterday's discussion was prompted by Kelly (Ward 40, Scarborough-Agincourt), who said residents of Scarborough feel their community is too often highlighted by the media in crime stories.
In the past, other neighbourhoods have complained about media coverage, including Parkdale and Jane-Finch.
But Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, whose ward includes part of the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, said keeping the area's name out of crime stories isn't the answer.
"I love the (Jane-Finch) community, but there are some problem spots in that community and we need to deal with them. You can't just ignore them," said Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West).
"I think we should talk about it and end it, as opposed to asking people to forget about it and don't mention it," he added.
Miller, meanwhile, said it's most unfortunate if Scarborough's image is suffering, and it's appropriate to ask the media to make adjustments.
"There's no question in my mind that it is reasonable to say to the media, `Can you think about talking about streets rather than neighbourhoods because you unfairly stereotype the neighbourhood.'
"I do believe it's appropriate to use other things like intersections in referring to where a crime occurred."
Reasons why Miller likes Scarborough
Mayor David Miller thinks Scarborough deserves more respect. Here are his three favourite things in the city's eastern-most suburb:
The Guild Inn Located on Scarborough Bluffs, the historic building began as a house built in 1914 for Col. Harold Bickford. Several wings were later added, followed by a hotel in the 1960s. But it has been boarded up and decaying since 2001. The only recent guests have been ghostly presences documented by paranormal researchers. There is a plan to tear it down and build a new hotel.
Port Union Linear Park
One of the few waterfront redevelopment plans that has been completed, the park stretches from the Rouge River to Highland Creek. It is part of the planned waterfront park system, built along a derelict shoreline, which Miller has pledged to complete by 2010.
The Nike Malvern Sports Complex The multi-pad (soccer, basketball and track) sports facility, which opened last year, is near Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School. It's partly made from 50,000 recycled running shoes. Miller says Malvern is a priority in the safe neighbourhood program.
