Next Mayor of Toronto?

[SlickFranky]

I reached the exact opposite conclusion.

A buddy of mine who is a big Rossi supporter said to me the other day "doesn't he sound more like the mayor now that he is not talking about the things he wants to do".

My thought was...so is he just fooling folks into voting for him now? Has he ever come out and said "that allen tunnel thing was dumb...I won't do that!"....or is it more a case he has said "they all think the allen tunnel thing is dumb....so I won't talk about it any nore" ?

If I had a vote (I don't) I'd be worried about casting it for a guy who sounds better now but has not actually ditched the ideas that made him sound not so good before.

It's a tough call. The crazy late-summer period seemed like an anomaly, when he was blurting out ridiculousness in an attempt to gain some headlines. It was a desperate move, from a justifiably frustrated campaign. Going back to the early days (spring 2010), he sounded very similar to the way he does today, and I get the feeling this is more reflective of his actual views.

As a card-carrying socialist, I don't happen to agree with those views, but were I of a conservative mindset he would definitely have my vote. As it is, I think I'd prefer him to Smitherman. If we're going to the right, and Smitherman IS campaigning right, Rossi seems like the best of the three. But with Ford's embarrassing level of support, looks like I'll be voting for my 3rd choice (4th counting Thomson). The two least interesting canidates are the two we have to choose from....that makes me sad.

 

[SlickFranky]

He did back down from the Allen tunnel pretty quickly. After all the objection (and laughter) he backpeddled saying he wasn't proposing we build it, just that we should look into it...keep our minds open, think outside the box, weigh all the options, etc, etc.

 

[gristle]

Fine, as long as the rest of you pay for Sherbourne Common (both the construction and the maintenance) using your own money. In fact, I would bet if they charge $10 to get into the park, the park would be pretty empty. How many devotees would be willing to pay a mere $10 to enjoy something they worship? Zero?

Ford is going to fill Lake Ontario? Is that being reasonable? Or is it some other lake you were referring to?

I do pay for it: municipal, provincial and federal taxes.

Since parks are considered as public goods, then there is no need to charge for access. You don't have to worship a park, you need only enjoy them.

The remark about Ford and the lake is called humour. It's quite obvious that you are lacking in this quality.

 

[mgl]

On another note, WHERE ARE THE POLLS??? We had one released almost daily before, and now I haven't heard one come out all week. I'm dying here! lol

Agreed. Why did the polls stop?

 

[archanfel]

I do pay for it: municipal, provincial and federal taxes.

Since parks are considered as public goods, then there is no need to charge for access. You don't have to worship a park, you need only enjoy them.

The remark about Ford and the lake is called humour. It's quite obvious that you are lacking in this quality.

If it was your private garden, I would just shake my head and then move on, since it doesn't concern me. Unfortunately, this monstrosity is partly paid by my tax dollar too. Now, if the entire waterfront is already covered with grass and we have a huge surplus, then I can see adding a bit flare here and there. Even then, I'd say we should keep it as simple and as natural as possible. The lake should be the main attraction. Also the maintenance cost should be low, both in term of money and in term of environment. If you want to see concrete stream, go to Markville mall and they've got a very nice one.

So attacking Ford with unreasonable claims is called humour? Well, ok, I got one too. Smitherman will waste 10 billion in Toronto, increase our debt load, cut essential services, impose a infrastructure premium which union members don't have to pay, and then let another scapegoat take the fall for him. Funny? Or is it not outrageous enough?

 

[archanfel]

Adma for Mayor! I love it!

I agree, anyone who does not support publicly funded 'anything' shows signs of being a sociopath and may want to consider moving to Alberta instead of ruining the current momentum of Toronto.

So we are stereotyping Alberta now, are we? Toronto is such a open minded and diverse city, we tell people who disagree with us to move to Alberta.

I am afraid the current momentum of Toronto is to choose between an "awful" candidate and a slightly less "awful" candidate as the mayor. Whoever wins, the city is turning decisively to the right. The golden age of "progressive" Toronto is coming to an end.

 

[archanfel]

Fine. As long as you pay the overinflated Police budget with your own money. In an era of decreasing crime, why are we talking about increasing the Police budget? Why are we talking about hiring more police?

I totally agree with you. Police budget should be cut. Ford is wrong. Unless he wants to use these police to generate more speeding tickets revenue (which wouldn't be cost effective anyway), it's pointless to hire more police in Toronto even if we have increasing crimes.

As I said, I don't agree with Ford on everything. Another point is he promised to spend the money he saved rather than cut taxes. He also promised no service cut. Sorry, Mr. Ford, if I wanted somebody to spend the money I would vote David Miller back in. Your job is to cut services, pay down debt, cut taxes, generate surpluses. Leave the spending part to your successors. Don't ever think you are qualified to be a long term mayor, because you are a fire which cleanses the forest. Burning for too long, the forest would be gone.

 

[archanfel]

Careful not to lump people in with adma just because we share some of his opinions. He's on my ignore list, thankfully.

It's not just a water feature, it's a stormwater management system. Stormwater is one of the biggest causes of pollution in the lake, not to mention flooding. Just like every subdivision in the suburbs, The East Bayfront is required to be developed with facilities to control the quality and quantity of stormwater. Sherbourne Common uses the utilitarian function of the stormwater facility to give the neighbourhood a landmark open space - it's a brilliant piece of design that will pay off for the city...and it's much better for the environment than a grass field. Torontonians are starting to realize the value of good design and creating landmarks.

Thank you! Is that too much to ask for? The problem with mixing functionality and look is that it usually compromises both and add unnecessary complexities. The one in markville mall is already filled with coins. And I would imagine a stormwater filter system hidden from view with grass on the lake front would achieve the same thing, probably with a lower price tag. While somebody might consider it as a landmark, I consider it as a scar on the face of waterfront. I would be much happier if waterfront consists of natural woods, grasses and a little trail. I suspect the $30 million would go a long way cleaning up the garbage dumps and restore them back to nature.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

So we are stereotyping Alberta now, are we? Toronto is such a open minded and diverse city, we tell people who disagree with us to move to Alberta.

I am afraid the current momentum of Toronto is to choose between an "awful" candidate and a slightly less "awful" candidate as the mayor. Whoever wins, the city is turning decisively to the right. The golden age of "progressive" Toronto is coming to an end.

You know Alberta stereotypes us all the time.

 

[archanfel]

You know Alberta stereotypes us all the time.

Some people in Alberta stereotypes us all the time, which is totally unjustified.

 

[jn_12]

Archanfel - re: Sherbourne Common - You do realize that sometimes these things are called investments right? And they produce value beyond the generic term "park" in a number of ways. I think it's fair to suggest that it will have an effect on the land values surrounding it, which obviously impacts tax assessments. I think it's safe to say that if a park is nicer than a lawn of grass people might be more attracted to it. Case in point, HTO Park and the Music Garden are significantly more popular than Little Norway Park. I'd suggest you go and do a bit of traveling and you'll easily see parks where far more money and upkeep is poured into them. Also, the waterfront is expected to be a bit of a touristy area. I'd like to ask you which parts of Chicago's waterfront are the most popular: The north end Millennium Park where millions were spent on the Bean and the Pritzker Pavillion or the more generic south end with that swath of green grass you wish we mimicked? That's not to say that this is our Millennium Park (considering its significant economic and cultural impact they really aren't in the same ballpark. But to argue that a well-designed park that requires more upkeep is unnecessary when evidence elsewhere suggests that nice parks can provide a return on investment seems a bit absurd. Finally, take into account that most of Toronto's parks are of the simple sort that you adore. A couple parks that strive to be better (and that is a subjective term, so your opinion is no more valid than my own) should be expected, especially in a city of this stature.

Without beating a dead horse, I'd like to remind you that Toronto is one of the richest cities in one of the richest countries in the world and can certainly afford to go beyond the generic. In fact, I'd say we as citizens of the city really should be demanding more than just a swath of grass in such a location.

 

[GraphicMatt]

If it was your private garden, I would just shake my head and then move on, since it doesn't concern me. Unfortunately, this monstrosity is partly paid by my tax dollar too. Now, if the entire waterfront is already covered with grass and we have a huge surplus, then I can see adding a bit flare here and there. Even then, I'd say we should keep it as simple and as natural as possible. The lake should be the main attraction. Also the maintenance cost should be low, both in term of money and in term of environment. If you want to see concrete stream, go to Markville mall and they've got a very nice one.

Have you actually been to Sherbourne Common? Its reviews have been almost universally positive - you're the first person I've heard call it a 'monstrosity.' If it was more to your aesthetic taste, would you have such a problem with it?

Regardless, this is a Waterfront Toronto project and, like all Waterfront Toronto projects, the mayor won't have much say in how they go forward.

And, look, there is plenty of goddamn grass at Sherbourne Common:

 

[adma]

Thank you! Is that too much to ask for? The problem with mixing functionality and look is that it usually compromises both and add unnecessary complexities. The one in markville mall is already filled with coins. And I would imagine a stormwater filter system hidden from view with grass on the lake front would achieve the same thing, probably with a lower price tag. While somebody might consider it as a landmark, I consider it as a scar on the face of waterfront. I would be much happier if waterfront consists of natural woods, grasses and a little trail. I suspect the $30 million would go a long way cleaning up the garbage dumps and restore them back to nature.

Judging from your twice-over invocation of Markville Mall (and, significantly, nothing else) as a comparison point, I'm wondering whether you even live, or should be living, in Toronto...

 

[allabootmatt]

Why no polls? Maybe results too fluid? I dunno, it is a head scratcher. The usual Twitter spinners are claiming that new ones with either a huge Ford lead or a Smitherman jump to first are just around the corner.

 

[MetroMan]

I'm also very puzzled. Last weekend, a poll was conducted by Nanos. It showed Ford still in the lead. My only guess is that it was commissioned by a campaign and because it wasn't favourable to them, they didn't release it to the public.

The next poll can be totally turned on its head because it's now a 4 way poll and Thomson has thrown her support behind Smitherman. Her endorsement might not improve Smitherman's support, but the narrowed choices will certainly change the dynamic of the poll.

I expect the next poll to ask if Pants supporters would change sides if it becomes a de facto 2 man race.