Rob Ford's Toronto

[junior43]

sorry, ramako, i started posting, dealt with something at work, went to the bathroom, and finished my post but not my thought.

traveller focussed on those selling drugs and guns, and those committing assaults and murders. If there were sufficient incriminating evidence - seriously, i doubt the mayor sells drugs or guns - the mayor would have been arrested during traveller. seeing as how he hasn't been, likely all that exists within the evidence seized is either piddly stuff like possession or buying a small amount from a dealer, or nothing. the crown has to calculate whether conviction is a reasonable outcome, and then i'm sure all sorts of political calculus gets thrown at whether to go to trial or not. there may be evidence seized in traveller that depicts the mayor smoking some kind of substance that is almost entirely likely to be crack; it's utility as evidence either against him or against a gangster up on charges of selling drugs or assault or murder is questionable.

Although your entirely correct. Project traveller started with the mission of getting the Ethiopian gangs running guns and drugs off the streets - and that was accomplished. If they have some tangential but compelling evidence about Ford. It doesn't mean they have to decide to charge him now. If the crown/police has enough to warrant suspicion, project traveller could spawn another project to investigate the Mayor specifically. Traveller took a year, if it takes them a year on Ford, it'll land right in the middle of the election.

Then watch everyone scramble to run......

 

[W. K. Lis]

Looks like the Ford brothers have been caught in another lie, this time regarding their free-wheeling radio show. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/06/25/toronto-ford-radio-calls-dave.html

I might understand "Dave" phoning in, if no one (and I mean NO ONE outside of Ford's entourage) had phoned in with any question to the radio show, otherwise there would be too much quiet on the set.

However, if no one from outside is phoning in, maybe it is time to cancel the Ford brothers' radio show because no one is phoning in.

 

[Riverdale Rink Rat]

It's somewhat mind boggling that the Cowboy (Ford) gets elected in TO and the world class Mayor gets elected in Cowboy country.

Not really. My native city has a pretty intelligent, very homogenous electorate.

 

[JWBF]

I might understand "Dave" phoning in, if no one (and I mean NO ONE outside of Ford's entourage) had phoned in with any question to the radio show, otherwise there would be too much quiet on the set.

However, if no one from outside is phoning in, maybe it is time to cancel the Ford brothers' radio show because no one is phoning in.

You are kind and reasonable, however, for me there is no reason for David Price to phone, when he did, into the show other than spread propaganda inline with the Ford brothers agenda. The Ford brothers have always expressed that they are fair when answering calls in order, and this is true, to a point. Both the Ford brothers have given extra time to favourable callers, and unceremoniously disconnected calls with comments or questions undesired.

Anyone one who thinks "The City" is anything but a weekly circle jerk is a... well, let's just say they have drunk the Koolaid.

 

[W. K. Lis]

You are kind and reasonable, however, for me there is no reason for David Price to phone, when he did, into the show other than spread propaganda inline with the Ford brothers agenda. The Ford brothers have always expressed that they are fair when answering calls in order, and this is true, to a point. Both the Ford brothers have given extra time to favourable callers, and unceremoniously disconnected calls with comments or questions undesired.

Anyone one who thinks "The City" is anything but a weekly circle jerk is a... well, let's just say they have drunk the Koolaid.

Sometimes the questions are not even answered. Instead, he (actually both Rob & Doug) go off in some other direction or expand on some campaign propaganda.

 

[TOvp]

You are kind and reasonable, however, for me there is no reason for David Price to phone, when he did, into the show other than spread propaganda inline with the Ford brothers agenda.

Agreed. When you work in politics and/or media, it is standard practice not to abuse your airtime. Price had been politically involved with Doug Ford and as such would know the protocol of media/political engagement.

If you are involved, or have been, you do not call in unless you or a project you were involved in are mentioned. Even then, you clearly identify yourself and your relationship to the host or topic.

 

[JWBF]

Sometimes the questions are not even answered. Instead, he (actually both Rob & Doug) go off in some other direction or expand on some campaign propaganda.

Exactly, thank you for completing my almost embarrassing rant.

 

[guitarchitect]

A challenger appears!!

Maybe. He's thinking about it.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ng-for-toronto-mayors-office/article12807059/

 

[gwanstarr]

Not really. My native city has a pretty intelligent, very homogenous electorate.

Come again?

 

[Ramako]

sorry, ramako, i started posting, dealt with something at work, went to the bathroom, and finished my post but not my thought.

traveller focussed on those selling drugs and guns, and those committing assaults and murders. if there were sufficient incriminating evidence - seriously, i doubt the mayor sells drugs or guns - the mayor would have been arrested during traveller. seeing as how he hasn't been, likely all that exists within the evidence seized is either piddly stuff like possession or buying a small amount from a dealer, or nothing. the crown has to calculate whether conviction is a reasonable outcome, and then i'm sure all sorts of political calculus gets thrown at whether to go to trial or not. there may be evidence seized in traveller that depicts the mayor smoking some kind of substance that is almost entirely likely to be crack; it's utility as evidence either against him or against a gangster up on charges of selling drugs or assault or murder is questionable.

If there is evidence of him buying or using drugs, he could be called as a witness. And if it is determined that the evidence isn't particularly valuable in the context of the trial, it doesn't mean that particular evidence, which would nevertheless destroy Ford's political career, won't still be made public at some point.

 

[CalgarianExOntarian]

Come again?

I've been lurking on this thread for a few weeks because the Rob Ford story is so compelling, terrible, and kind of a slow-motion suspense novel. I know Toronto pretty well and have family and friends there. Thanks to everybody for the education and entertainment! Also, you deserve Nenshi-like leadership. Toronto is great.

Anyway, I'm hoping that "homogeneous" was a brain cramp and what was meant was "heterogeneous". Like Toronto, Calgary has residents from everywhere in Canada and, in large numbers, from most countries in the world. Born-in-Alberta people have more diverse views than you might guess from federal election results, too.

It's interesting that Nenshi got elected partly because 2nd and 3rd place split the more conservative vote in 2010. (Top 3 candidates got 40%, 32%, 26%.) My guess is that if there were a runoff or system of ranked votes as Toronto is now looking at, Nenshi would still have won, but we'll never know. Nenshi is smart, and once he helps us pump out all the water, scrape away the mud, fix serious infrastructure problems, etc., he might look at changes to election rules about first-past-the-post and citizens-only voting. (Not so sure provincial gov't will help with that, unfortunately.)

 

[Riverdale Rink Rat]

I've been lurking on this thread for a few weeks because the Rob Ford story is so compelling, terrible, and kind of a slow-motion suspense novel. I know Toronto pretty well and have family and friends there. Thanks to everybody for the education and entertainment! Also, you deserve Nenshi-like leadership. Toronto is great.

Anyway, I'm hoping that "homogeneous" was a brain cramp and what was meant was "heterogeneous". Like Toronto, Calgary has residents from everywhere in Canada and, in large numbers, from most countries in the world. Born-in-Alberta people have more diverse views than you might guess from federal election results, too.

It's interesting that Nenshi got elected partly because 2nd and 3rd place split the more conservative vote in 2010. (Top 3 candidates got 40%, 32%, 26%.) My guess is that if there were a runoff or system of ranked votes as Toronto is now looking at, Nenshi would still have won, but we'll never know. Nenshi is smart, and once he helps us pump out all the water, scrape away the mud, fix serious infrastructure problems, etc., he might look at changes to election rules about first-past-the-post and citizens-only voting. (Not so sure provincial gov't will help with that, unfortunately.)

Homogenous was not a brain cramp. Calgary is an ethnically diverse city and there are lots of newcomers from everywhere in the world. But to say that, politically, there is a range of opinions is absurd. The political spectrum in Calgary, at any level of gov't, runs from right-centre-business-friendly to far-right-social-conservative. As you say, Nenshi was in many ways elected by 'mistake' due to vote splitting and many feared his 'socialist' views, and he's a friggin' management consultant! A union-friendly NDPer wouldn't get his mother's vote in Calgary, much less his father-in-law's.

BTW, having a coherent idea of how you would like your city to run and the intelligence to figure out which candidate would best do that is meant as a compliment in comparison to Toronto's divisions. Calgary had another 'Nenshi moment' back when Klein was elected, e.g., but what the city needed at that time was a cheerleader to get people re-energized after a slump. This time it needed a guy who would think through the consequences of growth. Both times an almost unthinkable candidate (for the establishment) garnered enough support to get elected.

 

[BurlOak]

A challenger appears!!

Maybe. He's thinking about it.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ng-for-toronto-mayors-office/article12807059/

John Tory runs for office.
Toronto votes for the other candidate.
Everyone regrets their voting decisions.
Repeat.

The cycle continues.

 

[DSC]

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has suspended his director of operations and logistics, David Price, for a week without pay, the Toronto Sun reports.


The suspension comes after Price called the Sun’s city hall bureau to complain about a headline but refused to identify himself, the newspaper reported. Details at: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/06/2...s-staffer-dave-price-over-call-to-toronto-sun

 

[Eug]

Marcus Gee at The Globe and Mail: Ford is justifiably angry over Sousa’s blindside move

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Rob Ford says that Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa blindsided Toronto by announcing that the provincial government was phasing out $149-million in funding for housing and social programs. It is hard to dispute that characterization.

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Toronto is left with a gaping hole in its budget. According to city figures, Toronto is losing $115-million for social housing and $34-million for social and employment services through 2018 – no small change.

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Yes, it could raise taxes to fill the gap, but why should Toronto be the one to make up for a provincial cut? It is tempting to draw the conclusion reached by Mr. Ford: that Queen’s Park is making Toronto pay for its improved financial management.

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