LOL Canada: City government claims staircase will cost up to $150k to build, man builds it for $550

[Dan Druff]

In Toronto, there was some kind of community garden which old people liked visiting. Unfortunately, it was at the bottom of a small slope, which was tough for old people to navigate. One fell and broke her wrist.

Adi Astl (I'm guessing a Jew) went to the city of Toronto and asked them to build a staircase down that slope, and he was told that it would cost anywhere between $65,000 to $150,000. He was also told that it would take a long time to get done.

Frustrated, Astl spent a few hundred bucks at Home Depot and hired some homeless people to help him build it. The result?









The cost? $550.



Looks pretty good to me.

He also got it done very quickly.

Now the city of Toronto is embarrassed about the whole thing, and is threatening to tear it down because it "doesn't meet code", but really because they are butthurt that he made them look ridiculous.

Toronto Mayor John Tory admitted that the city's figure of $65k-$150k was absurd, but defended their plans to tear down the staircase.

Can you believe this shit?

Actually, I can.

As much as I like to make fun of Canada, this could just as easily have happened in the US. City government is incredibly corrupt in both countries -- worse than state and federal government, if you can believe it.

The amount of fraud, kickback schemes, and bureaucratic inefficiencies would shock you, and there tends to be less oversight because local government tends to get less attention even in large cities.

Can you imagine an estimate of $150k to build 8 steps? Your tax dollars at work!

Living in Redondo Beach, California in the 1990s, I used to subscribe to the local newspaper "The Daily Breeze", which was mostly crap, but I enjoyed because they did a great job keeping up on local city government scandals, and they basically had material to report on nonstop.

CNN article: http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/20/americ...rnd/index.html

[HoodedN]

Jealousy is a bad look for you

[Dan Druff]

What am I jealous of here?

Corrupt and incompetent city officials?

[Deal]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

[Mintjewlips]

Socialism in motion yall.

[FPS_Russia]

Looks like something from the onion, whatever typical right wing talking point.

Druff I just want to make sure you know the truth. This is not a political smear, totally unbiased. Chomsky's right, the Republican party is the most dangerous organisation in human history.


So yea, you're a proud member of the most dangerous organization in human history.


Umm yea, I've done my part.
I'm out..

[hongkonger]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

Canada is God but seal up the vitriol, you're going to ruin our rep

[Dan Druff]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

Typical defensive response, even though I made sure to state that this was actually more "lol city government" than "lol Canada", and I put lol Canada in the title just to tilt people like you.

The cost estimate was for building the staircase, not maintaining it. Even the mayor himself agreed that estimate was absurd, so you just look foolish defending it.

If ice in the winter is such a problem, the city can simply close off the staircase when it gets cold.

Getting it up to code should be easy and cheap for a city contractor to do at this point. From what I can see, the construction looks good and likely only needs a few tweaks to be legal.

Why not just admit that your city government looked foolish, and that this old Jew showed what an endless black hole that public spending has become?

Oh, and here's a hot tip: An increase in University enrollment isn't necessarily a good thing, but that's another topic for another time.

In the meantime, enjoy having a Prime Minister who praises murderous dictators after they die.

[limitles]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

Typical defensive response, even though I made sure to state that this was actually more "lol city government" than "lol Canada", and I put lol Canada in the title just to tilt people like you.

The cost estimate was for building the staircase, not maintaining it. Even the mayor himself agreed that estimate was absurd, so you just look foolish defending it.

If ice in the winter is such a problem, the city can simply close off the staircase when it gets cold.

Getting it up to code should be easy and cheap for a city contractor to do at this point. From what I can see, the construction looks good and likely only needs a few tweaks to be legal.

Why not just admit that your city government looked foolish, and that this old Jew showed what an endless black hole that public spending has become?

Oh, and here's a hot tip: An increase in University enrollment isn't necessarily a good thing, but that's another topic for another time.

In the meantime, enjoy having a Prime Minister who praises murderous dictators after they die.

Enjoy having a President who praises murderous dictators while they're in power.

[NaturalBornHustler]

I have no clue why they decided to put the risers right in the fucking middle.

And that is one hell of a landing at the top LMAO. But it works I guess.

[The_Lurker]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

Typical defensive response, even though I made sure to state that this was actually more "lol city government" than "lol Canada", and I put lol Canada in the title just to tilt people like you.

The cost estimate was for building the staircase, not maintaining it. Even the mayor himself agreed that estimate was absurd, so you just look foolish defending it.

If ice in the winter is such a problem, the city can simply close off the staircase when it gets cold.

Getting it up to code should be easy and cheap for a city contractor to do at this point. From what I can see, the construction looks good and likely only needs a few tweaks to be legal.

Why not just admit that your city government looked foolish, and that this old Jew showed what an endless black hole that public spending has become?

Oh, and here's a hot tip: An increase in University enrollment isn't necessarily a good thing, but that's another topic for another time.

In the meantime, enjoy having a Prime Minister who praises murderous dictators after they die.

It is a complete hazard and I am sure it has already been removed

[Dan Druff]

Typical defensive response, even though I made sure to state that this was actually more "lol city government" than "lol Canada", and I put lol Canada in the title just to tilt people like you.

The cost estimate was for building the staircase, not maintaining it. Even the mayor himself agreed that estimate was absurd, so you just look foolish defending it.

If ice in the winter is such a problem, the city can simply close off the staircase when it gets cold.

Getting it up to code should be easy and cheap for a city contractor to do at this point. From what I can see, the construction looks good and likely only needs a few tweaks to be legal.

Why not just admit that your city government looked foolish, and that this old Jew showed what an endless black hole that public spending has become?

Oh, and here's a hot tip: An increase in University enrollment isn't necessarily a good thing, but that's another topic for another time.

In the meantime, enjoy having a Prime Minister who praises murderous dictators after they die.

It is a complete hazard and I am sure it has already been removed

How do you feel it's a complete hazard?

The only thing that jumps out at me is that the stairs aren't "solid" and have holes underneath each slat.

I would think that the mayor would have cited that it was highly dangerous if that were actually the case, as it would make the city look more reasonable.

Regarding its removal, given the speed things move there, I'm guessing it will be destroyed sometime in September 2019, for the cost of $70,000.

[Dan Druff]

I should also point out that I see staircases like this all the time when I go on government-maintained hiking trails.

It's hard for me to believe that this is any kind of real danger or a lawsuit waiting to happen, provided it's cleaned up a bit to meet code.

[Baron Von Strucker]

Well bonehead, throw in the cost of maintaining that cluster fuck in the winter. The City would now have to keep it cleared of snow and ice because if they allow it in the park they are now liable to clear it within 48 hours of snow and also cover costs of grampy jews lawsuit when he falls and breaks his hip then sues because the city stairs didn't meet code. Damn right they should tear it down and then bill him 35k for the cost of doing so.

I understand your country is rapidly going to shit and you would like to make yourself feel better by shitting on your neighbor. Call it pulling a Lew. Not a good look on you.

Canadian university enrollments are up 30%, our cross border tourism is setting new records, high tech talent is fleeing the states for Canada right now. We implemented a new fast track system for vetting and giving Visa's. Two weeks is all it takes as long as you have a job offer. The US is the laughing stock of the world and you poke fun of a wooden staircase in a park?

Typical defensive response, even though I made sure to state that this was actually more "lol city government" than "lol Canada", and I put lol Canada in the title just to tilt people like you.

The cost estimate was for building the staircase, not maintaining it. Even the mayor himself agreed that estimate was absurd, so you just look foolish defending it.

If ice in the winter is such a problem, the city can simply close off the staircase when it gets cold.

Getting it up to code should be easy and cheap for a city contractor to do at this point. From what I can see, the construction looks good and likely only needs a few tweaks to be legal.

Why not just admit that your city government looked foolish, and that this old Jew showed what an endless black hole that public spending has become?

Oh, and here's a hot tip: An increase in University enrollment isn't necessarily a good thing, but that's another topic for another time.

In the meantime, enjoy having a Prime Minister who praises murderous dictators after they die.

sorry druff but those stairs are a piece of shit, they need to be built to building codes with cement footings which these do not have, they look cool but could easily be vandalized or even accidentally broken and possibly injury and liability. these do not conform to building codes.

gone

you cant just build shit on city property.

[LarryLaffer]

in chicago, people fix the pot holes themselves in some areas

[The_Lurker]

It is a complete hazard and I am sure it has already been removed

How do you feel it's a complete hazard?

The only thing that jumps out at me is that the stairs aren't "solid" and have holes underneath each slat.

I would think that the mayor would have cited that it was highly dangerous if that were actually the case, as it would make the city look more reasonable.

Regarding its removal, given the speed things move there, I'm guessing it will be destroyed sometime in September 2019, for the cost of $70,000.

!. there is a giant hole in the middle of the top landing

2. The stairs are cantilevered and if you step on the edge of the step it will either pull out the screws or the whole thing will tip over.

3. there is only a hand rail on 1 side and you can step off of one side and fall down the hill.

4. It has no foundation and is built sitting on the dirt. First good rain and it is down the hill or tipped over.

5. The hand rail will break right off if someone falls against it.

I could go on if you want.


FTR I know a lot more about stairs than bottomset knows about disposal income

[LarryLaffer]

Druff thinking that staircase is built well makes me wonder if he had Woodshop in high school

[sonatine]

How do you feel it's a complete hazard?

The only thing that jumps out at me is that the stairs aren't "solid" and have holes underneath each slat.

I would think that the mayor would have cited that it was highly dangerous if that were actually the case, as it would make the city look more reasonable.

Regarding its removal, given the speed things move there, I'm guessing it will be destroyed sometime in September 2019, for the cost of $70,000.

!. there is a giant hole in the middle of the top landing

2. The stairs are cantilevered and if you step on the edge of the step it will either pull out the screws or the whole thing will tip over.

3. there is only a hand rail on 1 side and you can step off of one side and fall down the hill.

4. It has no foundation and is built sitting on the dirt. First good rain and it is down the hill or tipped over.

5. The hand rail will break right off if someone falls against it.

I could go on if you want.

these sjw stairs dont only support binary genders so clearly druff has no choice but to take a stand.

[Dan Druff]

How do you feel it's a complete hazard?

The only thing that jumps out at me is that the stairs aren't "solid" and have holes underneath each slat.

I would think that the mayor would have cited that it was highly dangerous if that were actually the case, as it would make the city look more reasonable.

Regarding its removal, given the speed things move there, I'm guessing it will be destroyed sometime in September 2019, for the cost of $70,000.

!. there is a giant hole in the middle of the top landing

2. The stairs are cantilevered and if you step on the edge of the step it will either pull out the screws or the whole thing will tip over.

3. there is only a hand rail on 1 side and you can step off of one side and fall down the hill.

4. It has no foundation and is built sitting on the dirt. First good rain and it is down the hill or tipped over.

5. The hand rail will break right off if someone falls against it.

I could go on if you want.


FTR I know a lot more about stairs than bottomset knows about disposal income

To be honest, I am not even defending people's right to build their own additions on public land.

That can end badly in many ways.

But this is what happens when the city doesn't handle the request in reasonable fashion, and instead talks about needing a long time to discuss how to budget $150k to the project.

I'll take your word for it that the staircase is shit.

[Deal]

Druff is stuck in the shallow end of the pool again.

Some guy in an office said no to the request. Cost = 0