[URBAN NOTE] "How the G20 Will Affect Everyone, From Cyclists to Tourists"

[rfmcdonald]

Torontoist's friendly, and only moderately cheeky, guide to Toronto during the G20 summit covers pretty thoroughly the many, many different ways in which Toronto will be rendered substantially unliveable, for everyone from studetts to the homeless to people unfortunate enough to live downtown. (I don't, barely, but I do use the TTC so yay me!)

There’s no way around it: living downtown on Summit Weekend won’t be any fun at all—unless you like limited access to your home, your friends, your family, and all the other amenities of modern living you’re likely accustomed to in a non-police state.

If you live within the "Security Perimeter" (in black on our map), the Integrated Security Unit has probably given you accreditation, much like members of the media might get for an event like this. That ostensibly makes it easier for you to get through the fence and cops and protesters and the media. Because pass cards have that power.

Otherwise, Toronto Police and summit organizers insist that residents of the city can go about their daily life. The Star reported on a June 10 meeting, organized by Councillor Adam Vaughan, at which police suggested that leaving extra time to get places and carrying photo ID will be necessary for those living downtown during the summit.

[. . .]

Some Torontonians are planning to leave town G20 weekend. That’s not a bad idea, especially because vacationing can actually be a profitable venture. For those who live downtown, why not list your home on Craigslist? Lots of people are—because if the government’s gonna spend a billion dollars of your money to pay for this thing, you might as well get a kickback.

With all this, I'm almost hoping I'll be lucky enough to get caught up in my very first anti-globalization riot.