Morning Brew: Stintz wants a clean election, Ford sees a "bloodbath," cops call for more traffic cameras, Mirvish praises Honest Ed's buyer, and stores want to sell booze

Newly-declared mayoral candidate Karen Stintz is hoping for a "good clean campaign" in 2014. Speaking to Global News, the TTC Chair said "pocketbook" issues would be central to her fiscally conservative manifesto. Stintz also confirmed she will step down from her position on the TTC board when campaigning formally begins in the new year.

Rob Ford, meanwhile, is predicting next year's race for the top job city hall will be a "bloodbath." "They're coming after me and I'm sure they're going to bring up everything, so we'll just bring up everything," he told reporters following a tour of his office's Halloween decorations. For those of you more interested in the decorations than Ford's predictions, here's a video.

Police chief Bill Blair says Toronto needs more traffic cameras in the fight against congestion. Blair singled out drivers making illegal turns during rush hour that hold up other motorists but the TTC had toyed with the idea of traffic cameras on King to keep the streetcar lane free. The city would have to support the idea for it to go ahead. What do you think?

David Mirvish is promising the new owners of Honest Ed's will respect The Annex. "[Westbank has] a wonderful history and track record and have done some very fine buildings," he told CBC News. Mirvish said he doesn't know what the company has planned for the site at Bloor and Bathurst. The deal will close later this year and see the iconic discount store pay rent for a number of years.

A group of Ontario convenience stores are still hoping to sell beer and wine but the provincial government is still cool to the idea. 7-Eleven, Mac's and Petro-Canada say they would promote Ontario craft beer and wine if given the green light. The groups is expected to make a formal pitch later today. Is it time to change the alcohol laws in the province?

Finally, the TTC is telling subway riders to push the yellow assistance alarm rather than tackling problem passengers themselves after a video surfaced online of a man deliberately blocking the doors of a subway train. Riders pushed the man out of the doorway, causing him to lash out. The alarm should be used when there is a risk of physical confrontation, the TTC says.

IN BRIEF:

• Police investigate radio host's arrest [Toronto Star]


• Police chief remains silent on Mayor Ford ahead of document release [Globe and Mail]


• Man charged in $7.1-million fraud [Toronto Sun]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Marcanadian/blogTO Flickr pool.

by Chris Bateman via blogTO