Ben Cohen

I sat through council, as I do every month. Toronto is not getting public groceries nor cops at every subway any time soon. What successfully passed through council were requests for plans from city staff, aka pieces of paper. How the city will fund them, if it does, is TBA.

Huge congrats to my @TorontoStar colleague @BKennedyStar who manages to be both a great, humble person and a great journalist. His work exposing human rights abuses at Maplehurst prison in Milton has been exceptional, glad to see it officially recognized as such.

Surprised and proud to be nominated, with @OmarMosleh, for a National Newspaper Award, while knowing there is no gala for the people we chronicled who rely on, or work at, safe consumption sites being shuttered by the Ford govt. A few more thoughts here: linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Exclusive: Metrolinx and city spent almost $100 million on two SmartTrack stations that may never be built thestar.com/news/gta/metro…

The "alternative" security company Toronto hired to patrol homeless shelters six years ago isn't licensed to do the sensitive work it was contracted to, documents reveal, raising serious saftey and accountability concerns, legal and industry experts say thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

Scoop from @bcohenn: City used unlicensed security company to staff homeless shelters thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

@cityoftoronto had $40 million worth of contracts to 2027 with a non-licensed security company. torontostarreplica.pressreader.com/article/281500…

Exclusive from @bcohenn: Toronto used private security guards to patrol homeless shelters for years. The problem? They weren’t licensed thestar.com/news/gta/toron… via @TorontoStar

For those who want to listen to the episode: open.spotify.com/episode/5nSRUT… Grateful to @AidanSimardone for his expertise & clarity on the immigration challenges central to this story,and to @bcohenn for his reporting & collaboration. This episode wouldn’t be what it is without them.

Olivia Chow’s election-year “affordability” budget makes it through council despite criticism it will leave the city on shaky financial ground thestar.com/news/gta/olivi…

Here it is: the inside story of how the Eglinton Crosstown LRT went off the rails. This was the result of months of work, research and sourcing. In collaboration with the best, @dmrider thestar.com/news/gta/off-t… via @TorontoStar #onpoli #TOpoli

From @bcohenn: City of Toronto contracted shelter security guards sue over ‘systemic wage theft’ thestar.com/news/gta/city-…

Lineup to get into Coco's, which is closing at the end of the month

So confident about Canada and Canadian letters that I just renewed my subscription to ⁦@reviewcanada⁩ for another three years.

From @bcohenn: Toronto’s new ‘bubble zone’ bylaw was put to the test this week during a visit by a controversial Israeli comedian thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

ICYMI: From @mahdishabibinia and @bcohenn: Who are the winners and losers in Toronto’s 2026 budget? thestar.com/news/gta/city-…

Can we fix Toronto's homelessness crisis? This is what it could cost to build a home for every person living in our parks and streets trib.al/uiwBpiE

Breaking, from @mahdishabibinia and me: Mayor Chow to back 2.2 per cent property tax increase in 2026 budget thestar.com/news/gta/toron…

Tomorrow launches an election year but you could be forgiven for thinking it started months ago. My analysis of the weirdest mayoral election runup in modern Toronto history, thanks to the very early entry of @BradMBradford and odd coyness of @oliviachow thestar.com/news/analysis/…

The intrepid @mahdishabibinia has discovered the identity of the City of Toronto’s newly created “traffic czar” - a high-pay, high-pressure gig with the daunting task of improving the growing city’s response to its internationally notorious gridlock. thestar.com/news/gta/toron…