Rob Ford's Toronto

[adma]

Agreed. But, FN eats this stuff up.

Actually, they're probably too oblivious to notice. "Daaa-a-ah, what's a City Council meeting?"

Or rather, as far as they're ignorantly/contemptuously concerned, Council might as well be abolished altogether. And all those 42-to-1 votes are a protest statement to that effect. City government sucks. Just let a single Grand Poobah do it all...

 

[adma]

Ford can try and run in 4 years but Tory will be a strong candidate, won't have to contend with the Chow vote and with the electoral reforms being brought in by the Province (ranked voting and a shorter campaign) Ford nation has seen its last days until Mikey can walk across Toronto Harbour without getting his feet wet.

Except that, who's to say that John Tory *won't* have a "left opponent"? Remember that the left is even more cheesed off at Mayor Tory than Ford-Nation-at-large is.

And it doesn't have to be Chow.

 

[adma]

I think it's a moot point. I disagree that Ford Nation will be an enduring brand. Four years is a very long time. Rob has a worse than even chance of being dead by then, and an even worse chance of being disease-free then. I don't think Doug has the political smarts to do this all again, and he almost certainly will not have the necessary professional or financial backing.

It's certainly possible that some calamity will befall Tory that sees him out of the running in 2018. But if he doesn't complete his term, there will still be an incumbent who might be running. It's true that at this point there are no obvious other candidates, but it's a long way away.

And remember that when it comes to Ford Nation, other than RoDoFo there are "no obvious other candidates" as well (and Mikey doesn't count).

The fact that Nunziata's now disconcertingly "competent" under Tory shows how the sands have shifted.

 

[stoobiedood]

Beaten by casita to it!

Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 27 Council Procedures

§ 27-103. Recorded vote.
A. When a member may request a recorded vote.
A member may request a recorded vote on any matter and must make the request immediately before or after the vote is taken.
B. If request for recorded vote is made after first vote the first vote is nullified.
If the request for a recorded vote is made immediately after the vote is taken, the first vote is nullified and a second, recorded vote must be held.
C. Clerk records name and vote of members.
When a member requests a recorded vote the Clerk records the name and vote of every member on the matter.
D. Electronic voting for records.
When a recorded vote is requested, members will use the electronic voting system, or another method as determined by the Clerk, to vote.

www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_027.pdf

AoD

Beaten by casita to it!

I have the responsibility of chairing a resident-owned corporation that governs a small apartment building in the city -- sort of condo, but under a different Ontario statute. I use Cannon's Rules of Order, and have studied it thoroughly, along with our own bylaws and the applicable statute. Most votes in most democratic assemblies are taken by show of hands. It's an... "efficiency" ... that allows the Chair to call the result of a vote quickly. (It is the Chair's responsibility to call for votes and to assess and announce the outcomes. Many votes are inconsequential or pro-forma -- adopting minutes, approving financial reports, reappointing the auditor, acknowledging and thanking contributors, etc. -- the outcome of a show of hands is immediately obvious to all in the room, and so the business of the meeting can progress quickly.) The point of a recorded vote (or a "counted ballot" in my building's case) is to allow the Chair (or City Council Speaker) to make a definitive call on the result of a vote that was not immediately obvious from a show of hands. Under Cannon's Rules, any member can request a counted ballot, but the decision on whether to call a counted ballot is left to the Chair -- although that decision can be challenged by any dissatisfied member.

Our City Council's Rules state that any member can call for a counted ballot, and the Speaker has no discretion on whether to allow it. This is the loophole that Former Mayor AssClown is taking advantage of. (The most salient criticism came from the new Mayor, who said he did not know what point RoFo was trying to make.)


ROFO called incessantly for recorded votes on motions as inconsequential as extending the speaking time of a councillor for five more minutes. Each show of hands takes about 10 to 15 seconds; each recorded vote takes four to eight times as long. Councillors' salaries, staff time, and office expenses all contribute to the cost of the fourfold to eightfold increase in costs required by unnecessary recorded votes. Rob Ford wasted huge amounts of our money on these stupid, unnecessary procedural follies. Gravy lives the high life in Ward 2.

 

[animatronic]

Our City Council's Rules state that any member can call for a counted ballot, and the Speaker has no discretion on whether to allow it. This is the loophole that Former Mayor AssClown is taking advantage of. (The most salient criticism came from the new Mayor, who said he did not know what point RoFo was trying to make.)

ROFO called incessantly for recorded votes on motions as inconsequential as extending the speaking time of a councillor for five more minutes. Each show of hands takes about 10 to 15 seconds; each recorded vote takes four to eight times as long. Councillors' salaries, staff time, and office expenses all contribute to the cost of the fourfold to eightfold increase in costs required by unnecessary recorded votes. Rob Ford wasted huge amounts of our money on these stupid, unnecessary procedural follies. Gravy lives the high life in Ward 2.

One thing it does is improve his voting attendance record. If he's the only one calling for them the number of recorded votes goes up dramatically when he is in chambers. That in turn increases his % and makes it look like he's around more than he actually is. He also asked for items to be held so that he could swing by at the end of the day and vote no to everything without sitting through the discussions.

 

[NYCBoy2305]

One thing it does is improve his voting attendance record. If he's the only one calling for them the number of recorded votes goes up dramatically when he is in chambers. That in turn increases his % and makes it look like he's around more than he actually is. He also asked for items to be held so that he could swing by at the end of the day and vote no to everything without sitting through the discussions.

Luckily, in Rob's case, obstruction of council business is a capital offense.

 

[r937]

[offtopic]
wow, jimmy t, you find the most interesting links to post on twitter


[/offtopic]

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

One thing it does is improve his voting attendance record. If he's the only one calling for them the number of recorded votes goes up dramatically when he is in chambers. That in turn increases his % and makes it look like he's around more than he actually is. He also asked for items to be held so that he could swing by at the end of the day and vote no to everything without sitting through the discussions.

Which is why I don't buy this whole "I don't know the rules" BS from his ilk - they know the rules, and they knew how to work it.

AoD

 

[pud99]

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

A rather unfortunate choice of photo to go with that tweet.

AoD

 

[Videodrome]

Jennifer Pagliaro ‏@jpags 1m1 minute ago
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has just plead guilty to four municipal election offences for overspending during the 2010 campaign.

Jennifer Pagliaro ‏@jpags 40s40 seconds ago
A special prosecutor and Mammoliti's lawyer are jointly recommending the councillor be fined $17,500.

Weak punishment.

 

[tiffer24]

I guess council will be paying that fine for Mammo too. If he plays his cards right, I'm sure he can make some money on this deal. Another illegal fundraiser, perhaps?

 

[tiffer24]

It seems odd that we feel the need to account for every single nickel in Toronto capital projects, yet let our supposed leaders rob us blind...

GraphicMatt 10:13am via Echofon
Become a municipal politician and enjoy consequence-free living. RT @jpags: Mammoliti will be fined $17,500 by the court.

 

[casita]

Which is why I don't buy this whole "I don't know the rules" BS from his ilk - they know the rules, and they knew how to work it.

AoD

I knew a lot of guys who could quote the rules, but obeying them was another matter.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I knew a lot of guys who could quote the rules, but obeying them was another matter.

Knowing the rules is a necessary first step to disobeying their intent.

AoD