TorontoIAM: Raptors Get the National Spotlight, Passengers Harassed by Thugs on TTC New Year’s Eve

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from TorontoIAM where you will find the best blogs from Toronto, Ontario as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

More Ice Time Needed For Simon Gamache

In his recent post on Buds Banter, a blog about the Toronto Maple Leafs, Justin Dahan asks, “What can the Leafs do to win?” Goaltending wasn’t a problem with Vesa Toskala, but now that he’s out “with a nagging groin injury.” It could have been a great opportunity for Andrew Raycroft to prove that his “winning rookie year in Boston was no fluke.” But after the 6-1 “blowout loss to the New York Rangers” late in December, he hasn’t returned to the Leafs net. Scott Clemmensen got the next two starts, kicking of the new year. He won his first game in a shootout against the Tampa Bay Lightening, then “crashed against the Pittsburgh Penguins losing 6-2.”

Dahan points out in his post, that the Leafs “didn’t make it easy on Clemmensen with all their defensive lapses.” And defense and goaltending aren’t their only concerns. It’s time for Toronto to work on their offense. Our blogger insists Toronto needs to give some decent ice time to Simon Gamache, who has only played 11 games for the Leafs this season. He’s a “work horse” with great speed and puck handling skills. “Gamache is a winner… When you have a guy like Gamache on your payroll you have to give him a shot.” Besides, at this point “the Leafs have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Raptors Night in the Spotlight Against Detroit Pistons

Michael Montgomery, blogging over at the Raptor’s Den, writes up a “road review” and a pre-game look at tonight’s home game against the Detroit Pistons. It’s Toronto’s “night in the spotlight” in their only nationally scheduled television game. Their first home game in 19 days, after a marathon Western Conference road trip, they are up against a team on a 10-game winning streak, “including handing the Boston Celtics their only home loss of the season.” The Pistons are currently second in the Eastern Conference. “Hopefully Raptors can step up in the spotlight and perform well.”

Chris Bosh’s “All-Star video” has been played on the web and ESPN, and “given the Raptors more national attention than they’ve received all season long,” writes Montgomery in his post.  Hopefully the Raptors can “pull off an upset at home, showing a national audience that they are a solid team on the rise in the Eastern Conference.” The Raptors were 3-4 on their 7 game road trip, “finishing it off with a 97-92 victory against the Hornets in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve.” It was an “up-and-down road trip,” with victories against the Spurs and Hornets and an “ugly loss to the SuperSonics.” They finished strong after losing momentum in the first half of the tour.

Weak Response to Harassment on TTC New Year’s Eve

Blogger Jeremy voices his concerns in a recent post on Blog TO about the lack of response to a violent situation on the subway New Year’s Eve. Shameless Magazine blogger Catheine Hayday had a traumatic experience that night on the Bloor/Danforth line as she was riding the subway home from a party. “Hayday watched, terrified, as a group of increasingly aggressive young men harassed and threatened a homeless man.” As the threats became more aggressive, someone on the train pulled the emergency alarm.

Jeremy reports in his post that only one TTC employee showed up to assist. According to Hayday, the employee was just a guy who looked like he “came down from the token booth or is working maintenance.” The employee decided the homeless man pushed the alarm and kicked him off the train. After this, he leaves and the “thugs” remain to intimidate the remaining passengers.Jeremy notes that the TTC's Website states when the Alarm is activated, “first ‘the driver calls for emergency assistance,’ and then, ‘The subway guard or the RT driver will check the situation and take appropriate action.’” It is difficult to imagine “appropriate action” being to leave “eight rowdy perpetrators to harass other passengers.” Free New Year’s Eve rides are great, but the underfunded TTC “appears to have skimped on the extra security.”

Last Chance to Stave off Transit Strike

 
Robert MacKenzie reports on Transit Toronto that representatives of GO Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) are “meeting with a provincial conciliator today to try to avert a strike.” Members of ATU’s Local 1587 will begin job action on Monday, January 7th at 12:01 am if no settlement is reached. At that time, “all drivers will complete their trips so that they do not strand passengers before they reach their destination.”

According to the post, if job action begins, GO will not be operating any bus service, but GO trans would continue to run as “train operators are members of another union.” Local 1587 represents bus drivers, ticket sellers, maintenance and office staff. They have been without a contract since June.

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