Alyshah Hasham
@alyshah.bsky.social
City Hall reporter at the Toronto Star
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
I wrote a big piece that was, in part, about ICE arrests in Texas last summer. I ended up cutting a section on what it's like for kids in family detention. But if you're wondering what that five-year-old from Minnesota is now going through in Texas, this will give you some idea.
January 26, 2026 at 10:07 PM
I wrote a big piece that was, in part, about ICE arrests in Texas last summer. I ended up cutting a section on what it's like for kids in family detention. But if you're wondering what that five-year-old from Minnesota is now going through in Texas, this will give you some idea.
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
ICYMI I wrote an opinion piece for the Toronto Star about the nature of historical plaques, and why celebrating people, animals, and events like Conrad the Raccoon is not a waste of anybody's time or money. #TOHistory #history
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Bring on the fanfare for Conrad the Raccoon
The plaque for Conrad the Raccoon shows that Heritage Toronto is attuned to the stories Torontonians want to hear.
www.thestar.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:51 PM
ICYMI I wrote an opinion piece for the Toronto Star about the nature of historical plaques, and why celebrating people, animals, and events like Conrad the Raccoon is not a waste of anybody's time or money. #TOHistory #history
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
I have an unfinished but long-germinating essay on this about like …. the myth of Grown-Ups, and the point at which you realize they don’t really exist, and that no one is coming to save us but us, with all our hesitation and inexperience and inadequacy to meet a moment we were not prepared for
Need less ‘the call to heroism has inspired me to be who i was always meant to be!” narratives and more “this fucking sucks and I don’t want to be here but someone has to do it and goddamnit it looks like that’s me” narratives imo.
January 25, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I have an unfinished but long-germinating essay on this about like …. the myth of Grown-Ups, and the point at which you realize they don’t really exist, and that no one is coming to save us but us, with all our hesitation and inexperience and inadequacy to meet a moment we were not prepared for
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
January 25, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.
"Please get the truth out about our son."
"Please get the truth out about our son."
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
Please read this dispatch from Minneapolis by @erikhane.bsky.social
www.welcometohellworld.com/there-is-no-...
www.welcometohellworld.com/there-is-no-...
January 25, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Please read this dispatch from Minneapolis by @erikhane.bsky.social
www.welcometohellworld.com/there-is-no-...
www.welcometohellworld.com/there-is-no-...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
Alex Pretti’s dad: “He cared about people deeply & was very upset with what was happening...He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests” apnews.com/article/immi...
January 24, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Alex Pretti’s dad: “He cared about people deeply & was very upset with what was happening...He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people, he knew it was wrong, so he did participate in protests” apnews.com/article/immi...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
An overhead view of protesters gathering at the scene of the shooting.
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Live coverage: www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
📽️ Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
January 24, 2026 at 4:51 PM
I am trying not to post on these events in this state of mind but: I hope people understand what the observers are doing is brave and dangerous.
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
January 22, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Tomorrow’s front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 23, 2026
The Star’s Victoria Gibson and Nick LaChance went out in Thursday’s snow storm and captured a moment of spontaneous kindness at Union Station: www.thestar.com/news/gta/she...
Sheltering from the storm: how homeless Torontonians turned to Union Station as warming centres filled
As warming centres are going over capacity, advocates say Toronto’s shelter response is still leaving people out in the cold.
www.thestar.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:36 PM
The Star’s Victoria Gibson and Nick LaChance went out in Thursday’s snow storm and captured a moment of spontaneous kindness at Union Station: www.thestar.com/news/gta/she...
From my city hall colleague Mahdis Habibinia: Here's what Toronto is supposed to be improving about its snow clearing efforts:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...
What Toronto’s new snow clearing plan means for how it will tackle today’s snowstorm
How will the city handle Thursday’s snowstorm in the wake of changes it made after last February’s 53 cm dump of snow?
www.thestar.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:54 PM
From my city hall colleague Mahdis Habibinia: Here's what Toronto is supposed to be improving about its snow clearing efforts:
www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...
www.thestar.com/news/gta/wha...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
No one expected decriminalization to solve BC's toxic drug crisis. Some hoped it would bring users out of the shadows (and make them less likely to die). To the degree that it did, that was seen as a bad thing. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
B.C. ending its drug decriminalization pilot program
Province won’t apply to extend its exemption from federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Health Minister says
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:53 PM
No one expected decriminalization to solve BC's toxic drug crisis. Some hoped it would bring users out of the shadows (and make them less likely to die). To the degree that it did, that was seen as a bad thing. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
From @alyshah.bsky.social and me: Mayor Olivia Chow launches election year budget, emphasizing affordability www.thestar.com/news/gta/202...
‘Every dollar matters’: Mayor Olivia Chow unveils 2026 Toronto budget with an eye on affordability
It wasn’t immediately clear Thursday what trade-offs Olivia Chow’s administration has made to balance the budget while limiting new tax revenue.
www.thestar.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
From @alyshah.bsky.social and me: Mayor Olivia Chow launches election year budget, emphasizing affordability www.thestar.com/news/gta/202...
This is very, very good and underlies a great deal of political discourse here too.
Everything I wrote this year was perfect as usual but this was probably the most perfect and frankly daring - an argument that empathy is not, in fact, entirely bad
Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy
Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This is very, very good and underlies a great deal of political discourse here too.
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
Yo, it's a city! My column on some of the good that happened in Toronto in 2025.
Shawn Micallef: Blue Jays, Finch West LRT and bike lane battles: Why 2025’s heartbreakers are reasons to be positive about Toronto’s future
It wasn’t Toronto’s greatest year, but there were bright spots in 2025 to remember.
www.thestar.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Yo, it's a city! My column on some of the good that happened in Toronto in 2025.
After writing a fun little story about a new giant bear statue in Toronto, I learned that changes to the planning act are going to have a major impact on the future of public art commissions... but that could be good news: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto’s public art faces an ‘uncertain and precarious future.’ Why that might just end up saving it
There are more than 1,600 public artworks in the city, but changes to planning rules, the slowdown of the condo market and the high cost of construction materials mean there will be fewer in future.
www.thestar.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
After writing a fun little story about a new giant bear statue in Toronto, I learned that changes to the planning act are going to have a major impact on the future of public art commissions... but that could be good news: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Blankets and scattered toy cars surround the four-year-old. His mother sits by his side at all hours of the day. What initially started as the flu has turned into pneumonia, keeping Mateo and several other kids with similar symptoms at The Hospital for Sick Children. www.thestar.com/news/gta/one...
One family’s flu season nightmare: Their son’s symptoms were mild — until he landed in a Toronto hospital
What started as the flu has turned into pneumonia for this four-year-old boy, who will be staying in the hospital indefinitely.
www.thestar.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Blankets and scattered toy cars surround the four-year-old. His mother sits by his side at all hours of the day. What initially started as the flu has turned into pneumonia, keeping Mateo and several other kids with similar symptoms at The Hospital for Sick Children. www.thestar.com/news/gta/one...
Toronto city council is back on today, dealing with an increase to the luxury home tax, building emissions standards, e-bikes on sidewalks (!!) and some other fun things: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto city council today: reining in e-scooters, keeping tenants cool and hiking luxury home tax
The final city council meeting of 2025 takes place Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
www.thestar.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Toronto city council is back on today, dealing with an increase to the luxury home tax, building emissions standards, e-bikes on sidewalks (!!) and some other fun things: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Reposted by Alyshah Hasham
CURL FOR CANCER FOR COLLEEN JONES
At every Grand Slam of Curling event, beginning in Saskatoon this week, fundraising initiatives going towards groundbreaking cancer research initiatives will be raised in Colleen Jones name.
Details: www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/news/honouri...
At every Grand Slam of Curling event, beginning in Saskatoon this week, fundraising initiatives going towards groundbreaking cancer research initiatives will be raised in Colleen Jones name.
Details: www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/news/honouri...
Honouring Colleen Jones through Curl For Cancer initiative
On what would have been her 66th birthday, Dec. 16, The Curling Group is making a significant announcement to honour and celebrate the life and legacy of Colleen Jones.
www.thegrandslamofcurling.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:47 PM
CURL FOR CANCER FOR COLLEEN JONES
At every Grand Slam of Curling event, beginning in Saskatoon this week, fundraising initiatives going towards groundbreaking cancer research initiatives will be raised in Colleen Jones name.
Details: www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/news/honouri...
At every Grand Slam of Curling event, beginning in Saskatoon this week, fundraising initiatives going towards groundbreaking cancer research initiatives will be raised in Colleen Jones name.
Details: www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/news/honouri...
Trying something a little new for our council coverage — check back for updates through the session on some of the big ticket items on the agenda:
From @alyshah.bsky.social: TTC refunds, faster Finch West LRT, higher luxury home tax — 7 things to watch for at Toronto council starting today www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
TTC refunds, faster Finch West LRT, higher luxury home tax — 7 things to watch for at Toronto council starting today
The final city council meeting of 2025 takes place Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
www.thestar.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Trying something a little new for our council coverage — check back for updates through the session on some of the big ticket items on the agenda:
Like we have the wastewater surveillance to monitor respiratory illnesses, we should have a swim class attendance surveillance to measure illnesses in small children (current status, seems bad).
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Like we have the wastewater surveillance to monitor respiratory illnesses, we should have a swim class attendance surveillance to measure illnesses in small children (current status, seems bad).
Where can I purchase a Homan Empire T-shirt
November 30, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Where can I purchase a Homan Empire T-shirt
Dunstone and Homan are my Olympic picks… but now I have to decide if I should mute Devin so I can watch Homan’s games after work 🫣
DUNSTONE FOR THE WIN
Team Dunstone advances to the Olympic Curling Trials final after defeating Team McEwen.
From the verge of elimination to Olympic dreams still alive. Best-of-three final against Team Jacobs starts tomorrow night in Halifax.
Team Dunstone advances to the Olympic Curling Trials final after defeating Team McEwen.
From the verge of elimination to Olympic dreams still alive. Best-of-three final against Team Jacobs starts tomorrow night in Halifax.
November 28, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Dunstone and Homan are my Olympic picks… but now I have to decide if I should mute Devin so I can watch Homan’s games after work 🫣