Toronto Cannot Afford Rob Ford As Mayor
 

I don't live in Toronto any more, so I get that I have no say. But I'd really love it if those of you who DO live in Toronto or have friends in Toronto would spread the word.

This guy is everything that Toronto isn't. Why WHY WHY would he want to be Mayor? He hates immigrants, he hates public transit, he hates the homeless, he hates social spending, he hates the Queer community.

http://www.torontocannotafford.com/

Well, see I don't even know. Every article I have been able to find that is RECENT says he's ahead in the polls - but I have such a hard time believing that.

Plus, even the Toronto Sun newspaper hates him - and you KNOW that newspaper is staffed entirely by right-wing dirtbags who write at a 6th grade level. So I just don't know where these polls are coming from - I just hope that they're wrong.

I mean, his weirdo plan to rip out all the streetcar tracks ALONE is completely asinine. What the hell is he thinking?

I've been trying to figure this out since he's taken a significant lead in the polls. I don't understand how a city with an immigrant majority supports a guy who has spoken out against immigration and immigrants.

There's been a hell of a lot of controversy in the paper over these elections, particularly over Ford's record. Part of the problem is that the two primary candidates, Ford and Smitherman, both have histories of substance abuse (among other things for Ford) and neither are the most likeable candidates in the world. However, Smitherman is still a billion times better than Ford, so I'll be voting for him solely so that Ford doesn't get into office.

Smitherman was leading the polls significantly in the spring and early summer, but recently support for Ford seems to have exploaded, and I don't know why. In a way I think the media hype over Ford's criminal past (susbtance abuse, DUIs, threatening his wife etc.), as well as his outrageous policies has brought up his popularity in the polls, to the point where it has overshadowed Smitherman's campaign. I sometimes wonder how the hell they conduct these polls though, seems like no one I've spoken to actually likes Ford, so I don't understand how he came to lead the polls so drastically when everyone, including the papers, hates him.

I THINK what happened is that when Mammoliti dropped out of the race, because he decided to endorce Ford (which is SO fucked - since Ford called Mammoliti a "Gino" - who the fuck would endorse someone who called you a racist name?) people who were planning to vote for Mammoliti are now planning to vote for Ford?

I also think that what is going on is that the "asshole vote" is ALL going to Ford, and the "everybody else vote" is split between the other candidates. I mean, that's how the fucking Conservatives got into power in this country in the first place. All of the assholes voted Conservative, and the rest of us split our votes between the NDP, Liberals, Bloc, etc.

True, but part of what annoys me about the situation is that what saved Canada from a Conservative majority was the Toronto/southern Ontario vote, and now we're set to vote in Harper's twin. It doesn't make sense. Then again, they barely poll over 1000 people at once, so hopefully they've been doing their polling in places like Royal York, Rosedale and other wealthy areas of the city, and doesn't actually reflect what's going on in the rest of the city. One can only hope... I really hope the "every body else vote" comes to its senses and rallies behind Smitherman for all our sakes. We're pretty much fucked otherwise. If Ford gets in it'll be like Mike Harris all over again with the rest of Ontario exempt from the lunacy.

Ah, that hadn't occurred to me. :) They should be required to poll by neighborhood and post the polls in that manner. You know "Rosedale loves him, Parkdale thinks he's a shitstick."

<3 Parkdale <3

A few days ago Sarah Thomson dropped out to back Smitherman. She asked all those who would have voted for her to back Smitherman, and that she believed not allowing Ford to win was important in order to safeguard the city's future.

Honestly, I wish such support were behind Pantalone or Thomson herself, but at this point it's still "anyone's better than Ford."

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/sto...son-mayor.html

I'm leaving a recently voted tory england that's mutilating it's public services. the last thing I want is to go home to a fuckwit canada.

Jesus H Christ!

New rule: douchebags from the suburbs should no longer be allowed to vote in Toronto Elections.

I seriously cannot believe this guy won. Mortified.

Indeed, I couldn't believe it when I saw the results last night. Congratulations my fellow Torontonians...we're royally fucked for the next two years. Hello privatization, goodbye public services. I couldn't believe some of the crap I was reading in the papers today about how the era of so-called "pampered unions" (what a joke) was over and so-called "respect for the taxpayer" had arrived. Let's see how people like a Toronto with privatized garbage pick-up. Talk about opportunism and the general/notorious two-facedness of the media. This is exactly why Pantalone's followers should have bit the bullet and voted for Smitherman. All of the candidates leave much to be desired, but at this stage of the game Ford is by the far the most dangerous candidate who will certainly fuck over the entire city (minus the wealthy), and his followers by no means make up the majority. I have a feeling though, that Smitherman's sexuality may have been a factor among the wealthier voters. I couldn't believe some of the comments I heard at work, people who would have otherwised voted for Smitherman, but claimed it would have been "weird" because he's married to a man. This whole election has really decreased my faith in this city and the progress it appeared to be making.

I still can't believe that clown is now our mayor. The only hope is that this could be the last straw for many who have suffered at the hands of idiotic mayors, and whom Ford has literally waged a war against (far more vehemently and clearly than most). One can only hope.

It's my understanding that he's got a lot of enemies on city council, so we can only hope that he's hated enough that none of the stupid shit he wants to do (I LOVE THE STREETCARS! WHY is he being such a dick about them?) gets done.

I do think that his getting elected is, like, symptomatic of shockwaves of right-wing supercrazy coming on up from the US. That shit's contagious, kids. :(

+1 on the supercrazy contagion. Why is he being a dick on the streetcar issue? Because apparently streetcars annoy motorists (the only taxpayers that matter to him? lol)...the same reason that he's a dick on just about everything. Bike lanes, overall transit city project, privatization/cutting of public services in general, immigration, poverty, environmental issues and basically everything else that annoys people like him.

He makes absolutely no sense. You've got this giant city with a population of 2.5 million. You add to that the how-many-millions of people who commute to Toronto from Durham region, Mississauga, Barrie, etc every day for work. You've got UNBEARABLE traffic congestion...and you want to discourage alternate means of transportation (ie - bikes, Go Transit, the TTC)? Honestly! It's just about the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

Is he also going to abolish free street parking for Motorcycles and Mopeds?

Remember, he also hates gays and is still bummed out over same-sex marriage. And he calls Asian people "Oriental" and thinks they're going to take over with their shady hard-working ways. He's, like, the enemy of everything that's good in Toronto.

It really is idiotic. Ford has a very definative view as to who constitutes "the people" and "taxpayers" in his mind, and the people he has in mind aren't typically those that could be bothered with such "plebeian" forms of transportation as the TTC, GOTrains/busses and bikes. He may think that he's going to go and save "the taxpayers'" money, but by putting the transit city project on the back burner, all he's going to do is decrease the city's efficiency (making it harder for those who rely on public transport to get to work/make a living), not to mention continue to clog up traffic for the vehicles that do need to be on the road. Bad for the majority of Torontonians, bad for the economy, bad for the environment.

And yes, he's made countless homophobic and transphobic comments, but nobody seems to care. Again, apparently taxpayers are rich, heterosexual Christians who frown on public transport, unions and worker/employee rights. I guess the LGBT community, them sneaky "orientals" and "ginos" do not pay taxes? Or, you know, anyone who doesn't own/regularly drive a car...

"Mr. Ford endorses the views of a fundamentalist Christian pastor who said same-sex marriage could 'dismantle' a 'healthy democratic civilization.' Appearing alongside Pastor Wendell Brereton, Mr. Ford says: 'We’re together. We have the same thoughts.' He adds: 'I support traditional marriage. I always have. But if people want to, to each your own. I’m not worried about what people do in their private life. I look out for taxpayers’ money.'"

"I don't understand. Number one, I don't understand a transgender, I don't understand, is it a guy dressed up like a girl or a girl dressed up like a guy? And we're funding this for, I don't know, what does it say here? We're giving them $3,210?" - June 2005

"If you’re not doing needles and you’re not gay, you won't get AIDS, probably." - June 28, 2006

"Mr. Ford questions a grant for a video about homosexuality in Toronto’s South Asian community, telling The National Post: 'I have no problem giving money out to physically or mentally handicapped children or seniors, but spending $5,000 on this video is disgusting, it is absolutely disgusting to spend this amount of money on this, whatever it was called, video.'" - June 13, 2001

Also, this comment geared toward the homeless:

"People do not want government housing built in the city of Toronto. They want roads fixed, more police presence, but they don't want more government housing that will depreciate the value of their property." - July, 2005

Because nothing could be more horrible than having a million dollar house's value depreciated. How dare the homeless depreciate the air the rich breathe!

Sorry, just really fucking pissed at the outcome of these elections.

I can't find any actual statistics on it, and this MIGHT just be because of the demographic that makes up my friend-base...but. I am positive that there are more renters than owners in Toronto. In fact, I know ZERO people who own in Toronto.

Wait. I have one friend who's MOTHER owns a house. That's it. All of my friends, all of my friends parents - all renters.

So who the hell is Ford talking about when he talks about people not wanting to see their property value go down? Landlords?

It had better be only one term. :(

Hey Ender, I don't know if you've seen this or not yet - but I figured you'd be interested:

http://torontoist.com/2010/10/which_..._for_mayor.php

http://torontoist.com/attachments/to...ionResults.gif

Maps of which wards voted for which candidate, with also a percentage breakdown by ward.

<3 Parkdale <3

It's rather neat to go back and see this convo from 2010 about Rob Ford.

Your preaching to the choir! I don't know a soul who wants him to represent our city. I didn't like him from the beginning.

Unfortunately he's got quite the following.

What I found interesting was that these posts were being made in 2010. Prescient? You bet!

I just caught that now... Very interesting

fords a bum
 

OK,

There's something shady going on when:
1) A 2 year old bully in an addicts body with another Bully supporting him, can do anything they want, say anything they want, act anyway they want and still manage to be in office.

Brings back the old conversations about the Hells Angels and other gangs being in charge of the political and legal system enough that they can wander around free.

So , Who is supporting Ford as the other post stated, probably not immigrants (( the majority of Toronto)) unless its the Chinese mafia. Probably not law abiding working non drug using Canadians who have morals. Probably not the queer community. Probably not the Italian mafia ( they don't like people who pretend they have bigger body parts). So who has the real power?
Who is it this man relies on for protection and support to behave this way?

But the system kicks out prescription marijuana using Mounties. Go figure.

Hmmmmmm, sounds like Chris Christie! :blink:

Ok, so things aren't clear yet on what happened, but the bullying part is for certain accurate!

Who voted for this idiot are the same people who are the 1%.
Despite all the hype the media represents of Toronto to the world, the city is very conservative (similar to republican).

His followers with $$$ push agendas and clearly can get away not being responsible to the public to which they serve. Plus sadly to their favour two things are happening;
1) People are complacent
2) They really aren't any 'shining' stars to replace him.

I am not a bleeding heart type myself, but I do think a little common sense will help in a big way.
Then again common sense is just not common anymore. :(

If you'll forgive me, I'm not so sure.
If his constituency were the 1%, he'd never get elected.

I think he goes for a much wider constituency: he panders to the "little guy", the working poor, the "marginalised " and the prejudiced, people that hate all the "thems".

He's a classic demagogue. He never actually does anything for "the people" but he poses as their champion, as just another working stiff even though he's a multimillionaire. He hands out $20 bills when he visits a housing project for photo opportunities. With a wink and a nod, he makes reference to "Orientals being hard workers " and refuses to attend Pride .

Yes, he wants to slash taxes but I suspect the 1% wishes he would just disappear: not because they disagree with him but, rather, because he's become an embarrassing distraction on a wider stage and they'd like to get back to business.

Also, not to be forgotten, George Smitherman, his opponent, was gay. Toronto may host a huge Pride but the veneer is thin and not just amongst the 1%.

Yes he packaged himself well. And sold his BS to many (hence complacency amongst the masses). He needed the first layer- votes to win but the 1% are generally the decision and policy makers - this is not new. What is worrisome - the increasing disparity of between the extremes resulting in less support of and less criticism from the 98%. It took his embarrassing behaviour of 1% to generate action. The claims were there all along, but until it affected the ‘few’ nothing was done.

He sold a bag of goods (demagogue) and now the city is paying for it. Nothing new this happens with many politicians. George Smitherman another example if I recall correctly was responsible for implementing e-health system that was a disaster (I may have the specifics wrong - this was before I arrived to the city). I wouldn’t vote for Smitherman (something about his character), but for most people his lost was because he is gay. Nothing more. So much for having strong convictions or beliefs. It can be tossed just on premise of orientation. The Human condition.

I agree Toronto has a thin veneer. However more and more of that veneer is not being created or generated by the working class.

I don’t blame the man he got away with it as long as he has. No one to blame really but ourselves. Our system has become more about bureaucratic policies, then accountability. More short sight then long term view. This will repeat itself with whoever else is in power.

Holy crap, other people in Toronto here these days...:seeingstars: lol

Anyways, was very happy to see Olivia Chow is now officially in the running. Hopefully we'll be rid of Ford for good after this election.