...the better way for TTC commissioners, at any rate, what with an impending trip - at our expense - for all but one of their flock to Vienna. We hear it's lovely at this time of year. And at an estimated cost of $3500 per commissioner - or $28000 for the whole herd of transit porkers! Holy schnitzel!

The One has gone on a few junkets to faraway places over the year, in the name of business. We've found though, that, one person out of a group of eight is more than capable of taking notes, copies of literaature, etc. and reporting out upon our return.

This kind of frugality appears to be beyond the capabilities of our elected representatives, since, as Councillor Peter Milczyn puts it:

"But then the issue becomes which two or three or four, and what is the magic number?"

We were thinking two at the most, Pete. And maybe the commission chair could exercise some executive responsibility magic and select the two who get to go. Even better, maybe those two could be actual employees from theTTC who could provide the expertise to get the most from the conference, since they, at least, would have some expertise in something other than getting elected and snorking at the trough.

But, as vice-chair Joe Mihevc, points out, attendees at last year's conference learned a great deal about e-transit initiatives. Which is, of course, why individual developers have been able to produce websites and phone applications that provide up-to-date transit information, while the TTC's efforts move about as quickly as the St. Clair transit redevelopment.

At least one wag here has some great suggestions for our councillors, particularly in light of the current economic challenges and the City's deficit. Maybe we need to help these porky politicos need to ride the rail, come those 2010 municipal elections.