All that’s wrong with Toronto

Check out this op-ed by Connie Woodcock on how Toronto has gone to the dogs. The problem:

The thought of spending a day in Toronto “enjoying” myself makes me tired. As for my daughter, it frightens her.

She refuses to walk along the street alone because she’s terrified of panhandlers and she’s barely comfortable even when I’m walking with her. And frankly, I’m nervous about squeegee people, who seem to be popping up all over the place again. Funny, I thought that was illegal now, but apparently not.

And then there’s the dirt, the garbage blowing in the streets, the weeds growing up between the cracks, the general air of neglect.

Let’s not even discuss the possibility of being caught in the crossfire of a passing gunfight because although the chances may be slight, they certainly exist and that’s not attractive either.

Her solution:

Maybe it’s time the zoo and the TTC and everyone else in the tourist business — hello city hall? — took a long, hard look at themselves and cut prices. And not just a little bit either.

And while they’re at it, they could clean the place up, deep-six the weed spray bylaw, get rid of the street people, stop ticketing out-of-province cars and make it a little more pleasant around here. Then the tourists will come.

It worked for New York City and it can work here.