Rob Ford's Toronto

[tiffer24]

The simple reason you don't see RoFo take a lead during the storm--it might highlight the need for more budget dollars to be spent on things like flood prevention or better infrastructure and as everyone knows, he's not interested in anything that might cause the city to cough up more money. As in waiting for the Gardiner to partially collapse one day, RoFo has calculated that personal liability costs are almost always cheaper than infrastructure costs.

 

[picard102]

Why isn't Ford ridding in a fire truck to every emergency or micromanaging each department!!! For people who think he's so terrible at his job, it certainly seems like you want him to be more of a nuisance.

And even Doug was out directing traffic. Rob could have been doing something similar.

I'd rather the mayor take care of his family, rather then stand in the middle of traffic for a few hours at Scarlett and Eglington.

 

[Tulse]

RoFo has calculated that personal liability costs are almost always cheaper than infrastructure costs.

I think that gives him far too much credit for reasoning -- I think he didn't do anything because he's lazy, and because he has no idea how to tackle city problems larger than a pothole.

 

[PinkLucy]

I'd rather the mayor take care of his family, rather then stand in the middle of traffic for a few hours at Scarlett and Eglington.

His family was home safe. Other people weren't. He could have been helping them.

No one asked him to micromanage, simply to be visible and help out. See above.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

picard:

Why isn't Ford ridding in a fire truck to every emergency or micromanaging each department!!! For people who think he's so terrible at his job, it certainly seems like you want him to be more of a nuisance.

That's being facetious - riding the fire truck is an analogy of his pothole politics - we're asking he be a leader per his job instead, and it doesn't entail directing traffic.

AoD

 

[Tulse]

I'd rather the mayor take care of his family, rather then stand in the middle of traffic for a few hours at Scarlett and Eglington.

Absolutely -- what was Giuliani thinking during 9-11, being so visible? And didn't Nenshi care about his family -- why wasn't he with them in Calgary?

Who wants an inspiring mayor, anyway?

 

[Tee]

I think that gives him far too much credit for reasoning -- I think he didn't do anything because he's lazy, and because he has no idea how to tackle city problems larger than a pothole.

I second that emotion.

 

[Silence&Motion]

Mayor Ford's strong leadership in the wake of the floods:

Toronto mayor Rob Ford on flood: "A lot of people were in their car. I was in the car with my kids and wife."

Rob Ford on financial impact: "We haven't got a clue."

"At some points it was really scary out there," says Mayor Ford

"None of us can predict what Mother Nature is up to," says Ford, but he predicts we're going to get more rain

 

[picard102]

Absolutely -- what was Giuliani thinking during 9-11, being so visible?

Record rainfall = 9-11. Not sure anything you say should be taken seriously from that point on.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

S&M:

I detect hints of GWB in the quotes.

AoD

 

[Tulse]

Record rainfall = 9-11. Not sure anything you say should be taken seriously from that point on.

Of course those two events are not equivalent...and of course I never said they were. What I was pointing out is that good mayors are visible in times of civic crises, and provide leadership. Heck, even Mel Lastman knew that basic principle and showed it during Snowmaggedon.

It is absurd to suggest that a mayor demonstrates leadership by hanging out at home in his air-conditioned SUV, rather than doing whatever he can to coordinate city worker activities in an event where 300,000 people are without power, the transit system is in chaos, and major roadways are flooded.

Then again, Ford has never shown substantive leadership on any issue during his tenure, so this shouldn't be a surprise. (And no, mere cheerleading for subways does not count as actual leadership.)

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Tulse:

Well, Lastman is the exemplar of bad leadership in the times of crisis - i.e. focus on his own image over substance, providing bad information/advice and generally looking incompetent and ill-informed. Recall the SARS mess on CNN and the horrified look by Sheela Basrur (the latter would be an exemplar of good leadership).

Visibility is important, but it doesn't negate the need for substance.

AoD

 

[inyyz]

Tulse: It's picard who is totally missing the point, you're spot on.

AoD: Sheela Basrur (RIP) is an excellent example of visible leadership in a crisis.

 

[ShonTron]

Of course those two events are not equivalent...and of course I never said they were. What I was pointing out is that good mayors are visible in times of civic crises, and provide leadership. Heck, even Mel Lastman knew that basic principle and showed it during Snowmaggedon.

It is absurd to suggest that a mayor demonstrates leadership by hanging out at home in his air-conditioned SUV, rather than doing whatever he can to coordinate city worker activities in an event where 300,000 people are without power, the transit system is in chaos, and major roadways are flooded.

It doesn't take much. What it does mean is being at City Hall, making a press conference outlining what first responders and TTC, transportation, hydro, water were doing, the status of city services, and what residents should do (stay off roads and where to specifically avoid, power outages wrt refridgerated food and safety, check on neighbours, what to do in event of basements flooding, especially tenants in basement apartments). It also means ensuring that emergency management has their act together and also supporting their work (while not interfering).

He should have drove that Escalade back downtown and shown up to do this. He still would have enjoyed the AC.

Then again, Ford has never shown substantive leadership on any issue during his tenure, so this shouldn't be a surprise. (And no, mere cheerleading for subways does not count as actual leadership.)

If Ford showed real leadership for a project he actually believed in, say the casino, he and his aides would be on top of feeling council out, gentle persuasion, and failing that, hammer out a compromise. Had Ford shown any leadership, Council would have probably have said yes to at least expanded gambling at Woodbine as well as figured out a plan to expand MTCC.

 

[picard102]

What I was pointing out is that good mayors are visible in times of civic crises, and provide leadership. Heck, even Mel Lastman knew that basic principle and showed it during Snowmaggedon.

Personally, I'd want to see the Mayor visible any time we have a thunderstorm, or my power goes out. I want a politician to tell me I'll be okay, and look like he's doing something so he can be re-elected.

rather than doing whatever he can to coordinate city worker activities

I'm sure those city workers would rather he not try to interfere. But I guess people would prefer the Mayor, who is believed to be incompetent, take the reins from trained individuals.