Rob Ford: We're Great Because He Is

There's much to discuss in this article, but I thought I'd amaze you with this tidbit concerning Mayor Ford's deep affection for the City of Toronto:

...asked what he loves about Toronto, the mayor said: “This is a great city. We’ve cleaned it up, there’s less graffiti, we’ve made it a safer city.”

or, by analogy

... asked what he loves about his wife, the mayor said: “She's a great wife. I’ve got her to to be neater, cleaner, and less violent.”

Picture from Total Recall 2012, the remake

Forgot I had this! While biking across the waterfront a few weeks back, I happened by a film shoot for the Total Recall remake. I was allowed to take a picture of this cool car from the movie.

They were getting ready to film a chase scene or something under the Gardiner. I suppose they are depicting a bleak future filled with decaying infrastructure?

Fordconomics 1

Claiming you have saved $70 a week because you are making $70 less a week and have borrowed the difference.

Coalition to Protest Against Mayor's Call for TCHC Tenant Directors To Step Down

Sunday, March 6, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Coalition to Protest Against Mayor's Call for TCHC Tenant Directors To Step Down

The Coalition to Protect Toronto Community Housing Corp. (TCHC) will hold a protest and press conference on Monday, March 7th at 1pm at 931 Yonge St. to rebuff calls from Mayor Rob Ford that TCHC's elected Tenant Directors resign.

The Coalition believes that it is imperative that these two directors remain on the board in order to ensure continuity of tenant representation at the Toronto Community Housing Corporation. If they are in fact removed from the board, the Coalition contends that tenant representation will soon become non-existent.

The two have been elected by tenants to serve a full term up to December 31, 2011. Even though the City has ultimate control over who serves on the Board, none of the tenants who voted had an expectation that their elected directors would be terminated early without cause or without fault found.

"In fact," says Danish Ahmed, leader of the Party for People with Special Needs and former TCHC tenant, "We call on the two of them to serve as interim co-chairs on the board of TCHC."

In November 8, 2010 and January 1, 2011, the two directors made a pair of requests to Doug and Rob Ford that an equivalent of Baltimore's CitiStat accountability program be established in Toronto, starting with TCHC. The program would save hundreds of millions of dollars and would ensure accountability at TCHC on a bi-weekly basis. Mayor Ford ignored this request and called on the tenant directors to resign.

The Party for People with Special Needs is a leading voice in the Coalition, and its leader points to the CitiStat proposal as an example of the tenant directors' dedication to accountability at Toronto Community Housing Corporation.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/pdf/citistat_report.pdf

"The removal of the two elected directors would spark discontinuity at TCHC. The pair have shown that they are committed to serving their tenants and the City competently," Ahmed says. "Our proposal is that they be appointed interim co-chairs to bring the innovations they have recommended for accountable government to Toronto."

Further information on the Coalition and its protest can be found at:
http://specialneedsparty.blogspot.com/

For media requests regarding the coalition, contact Danish Ahmed
at 647-439-5011 or cell 416-500-0216 or coalition@ppsn.on.ca

- 30 -

Regarding that blurb on the bottom of Toronto's press releases

The Goods in The Toronto Star has written up a great little post concerning the new blurb that appears at the bottom of the City of Toronto's press releases.

I used to write press releases for a living. The new footer stinks.

The new:

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The old:

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I've highlighted the difference (blue for Ford, pink for Miller). Need I say more?

I wrote a quick email to the senior PR person listed on that press release. Here it is.

To: sjohnsto@toronto.ca

Dear Steve,

I used to write press releases myself. I have some comments. Please pass them on.

I have to say, as a Toronto citizen, The Goods (http://thestar.blogs.com/thegoods/2011/01/under-mayor-ford-press-releases-a-little-bit-different.html) has it right.

"Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

This doesn't work for me.

First, the phrase "delivering customer service excellence." Since when am I a *customer*? I'm a taxpayer, a voter and a citizen, not a customer.

Second, it advertises to the world that we don't have a "transparent and accountable government" as we are merely "creating" it. Not positive. Even if true, why bring it up?

Third, "reducing the size and cost of government." Well, people can argue over this as to whether its a positive or negative and if it should be featured on a press release footer. What I do know is that what it replaces was far superior: "Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents."

Am I to assume that Toronto no longer believes in these things?

Actually, all that was removed is vastly superior:

"It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents."

Put it back, please.

I do like the "building a transportation city" phrase. If only it were true.


Sincerely,

Mark Francis
Ward 18

Kinsella to support John Tory for T.O. Mayor

So says Warren Kinsella: "“I'm still a Liberal, always will be, and - if John runs, and I hope he does - I will be one of the many card-carrying Grits who supports him."

As opposed to supporting George Smitherman, who announced his run for Toronto mayor the other day.

It's all fine by me, but interesting to note. It's not that a Liberal supporting Tory is a stretch these days. The surprise is that he's not supporting Smitherman.

Is this good or bad for Tory? LOL.

City of Toronto understated extent of sick days bank liability

With the blast marks from this summer's civic strike still clearly visible on the tattered remains of Miller's mayoralty, the relevation today that the future sick leave payouts actually totaled $450 million, not $250 million, is going to all but destroy what is left of Miller

The news is that the City knew this before the strike but issued no public correction.

This is bizarre. The entire strike was based around abolishing the sick days bank as it was a large unfunded liability the City could not afford. Why not issue the larger number leading into the strike, in order to solidify public opinion?

Mayoral candidate to be George Smitherman is going to have a field day with this. Smitherman is the man to beat, I think.

I have been saying for years that the left wing on council is going to get trounced one day by a right-wing backlash similar to the rise of Mike Harris provincially, and Toronto is going to suffer in other ways because of it. I jokingly say 'Rob Ford: Mayor' to get across how bad that'll be. Ford refuses to keep a constituency office, citing the need to be frugal. Scared yet?

Miller's people best get their act together.

Sorry! Not enough to buy even a single seat

With an election in the air, you know that Toronto had to finally get some money from Flaherty and Baird: $600 million -- if Toronto can kick in the first $400 million of it. So that's $200 million. For potholes and buildings.

Baird and Mayor Miller even hugged. <- look at that photo. Are our politicans getting even uglier?