Anyone following the controversy?
And if you are, if you were in his position, would you resign or would you carry on as he is?
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
If allegations are true, he should resign. But Toronto politics will then just go back to being utterly dull again. His drama is actually getting a lot more people involved politically.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
I don’t even know how I feel about this. On the one hand he’s kind of hilarious, on the other hand he makes Toronto look like a joke.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
He got fired from the school he was coaching as a footbacl coach … and then he fired his chief of staff officer … 680 News were never been so interesting while driving to office.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
The man is a populist fool who dums down politics and makes asburd claims that he never owns up to (what gravy train?)…but, this whole thing started off with the star alllegedly being shown a video of the man smoking crack from crack dealers…not a very reputable source, and apparently a very greedy one initially asking for some hefty sum of money. After some haggeling (so they claim), they couldn’t/wouldn’t purchase the video. The story seemed dead. And that would be appropriate…no evidence, no story.
So then comes this online site, gawker…they reported the story about the star reporter receiving a visit from the friendly neighbourhood crack dealer. The Star then went on to report *that *story.
So, where do we stand? There’s this story. There’s no known video observable by you and I. There was no police involvement up until recently. As much as we loath the big turd, why on earth should we give this story any credence? Because somehow the Star reporters are more trust worthy than the mayor? I’m sorry…but this reeks of scumbag jouranlism, and I’m with Ford on that. If they wanted to report this story, they should have purchased the video.
So no, I do not think he should resign…yet. I think Ford has done the right thing in giving the media a big finger. No video, no problems. I still won’t vote for him, but I have cancelled my subscription to the Star. If we are to hold a mayor to high standards, then we must hold the media which arrogates upon itself the role of watchdog over our politicians to an even higher standard. And they failed on this.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
Okay, just to summarize, in the last two years here is a list of Ford-mishaps:
- Talking on his cell while driving.
- Reading while driving.
- The Cut the Waist Challenge (total fail)
- The altercation with a Star reporter near his property.
- Allegedly showing a finger to a kid and her mom.
- Calling 911 3 times
- and of course the conflict of interest charge - dismissed on appeal (!)
- using a TTC bus for his sports team (downright gutsy but hilarious)
His accomplishments:
- straightening our budget!
- got city’s local unions to sign collective agreements on his terms! (Previously super spoiled by Miller)
-outsourced waste collection west of Yonge (without any disruption to the city) - eliminated running lunch program in vehicle maintenance dept. (saving ~350 K)
-merged transportation ‘sign making’ shop with dept of transportation services (saving 110k) - when the public libraries controversy happened, introduced an ‘automated book sorter’ saving another 160K
-Torontonians have to pay 2% more annually in taxes - which was Miller’s generous spending-related and Miller’s doing but was kept hidden until Ford took office. Miller increased spending each year by 6% - most of which was due to paying local unions/labour costs - because of Ford,last year’s surplus was spent in funding arts and other community programs!!
- not to mention our beloved Gardiner express - last year’s surplus again is helping with the repairs on the Gardiner which initially they couldn’t afford and were thinking if taking it out of somewhere else in Toronto.
- I see construction all over Toronto - always a good sign of a thriving economy, new roads, bridge and highway ramp maintenance (when on earth will the 401 project finish!?) and of course the subway extension to York U and the airport!!
So he’s not doing too bad - mostly because his council is doing a fantastic job keeping him in check.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
If he was the resigning one, would have done so long time ago, with a trial of incidents following him.
Agree with people here, he does a lot of dumb stuff but then there are his achievements as well. Now, would not be so sure after people resigning from his team.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
He is the most controversial mayor that Toronto ever elected. Schebs..pointed out some of his mis-doings..and aren’t to be ignored. I do think..he should resign.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
so he fired his chief of staff and more recently his press secretary and another person quit…
all this while Ford has been sticking to the story that the video does not exist…and today The Star is reporting that someone in his staff actually “heard” Ford say that he “knew where the video was” when the story first broke.
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
Muslims in the media yet again … :rolleyes:
*Hanad Mohamed, 23, is due to appear in court on Friday on a murder charge.
*
He is accused of killing Anthony Smith, 21, seen posing with Mr Ford in a photo reported to have been provided to news media by the people who have the video.
BBC News - Second arrest over death linked to Toronto mayor scandal
Re: Rob Ford - Toronto’s Mayor
^ maybe Ford should put up the lawyer’s fees for this muslim since he managed to off a guy that could potentially have incriminated Ford.