Mayor Rob Ford: Six quick views from Ford Fest
We asked six people at Rob Ford's Etobicoke barbecue Friday what they thought of him.
By: Daniel Dale City Hall, Published on Fri Sep 20 2013
1. Lino Menezes, 52, engineer
What do you like most about Ford? “I think he’s trying to stop the waste at city hall. Whether he’s been successful or not, I’m not sure. But I think people oppose him just to oppose him.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “I think if he could somehow get to work better with other people, and other people get to work better with him.”
2. Jackie Baisten, 56, nurse
What do you like most about Ford? “I think he’s very down to earth. He’s a people person. And when I bring my grandson to soccer, we can go up easily and talk to him. He’s always welcoming people, very warm.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “I like everything about him.”
3. Louise Landry, 82, retired
What do you like most about Ford? “I like his personality. I don’t know, he just seems to take everything in stride, take everything so easy. Because I couldn’t put up with it. I take a lot, but I couldn’t put up with all that garbage that he takes.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “I’m satisfied with him.”
4. Cheryl Hancock, 50, secretary
What do you like most about Ford? “I think he’s honest. I think he’s done a lot for the city of Toronto . . . I think all the publicity he’s been getting is all for nothing. If he smokes weed, I don’t care.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “Well, I think he can handle himself a little better. Not getting intoxicated in public, that would be good.”
5. Ralph D’Mello, 42, network engineer
What do you like most about Ford? “His charmingness. He’s very friendly to people. And the decisions he’s been making so far are positive for the city. I like what he’s doing for the TTC, the Scarborough line.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “I think he should be getting out of the face of the media and trying to be good with them, because they spoil his image a lot. All his bad image is in the paper, not the good.”
6. Graham Walton, 58, gospel singer
What do you like most about Ford? “He’s got good warm blood, and his priorities are right with regard to not increasing ratepayers’ taxes. Because I think that’s a core issue. For that I give him a lot of credit, because he stands his ground.”
What do you think he needs to improve? “We all make mistakes, and he’s made a few. He needs to be careful — technical mishaps and other such things. He needs to be a little more careful. But I don’t think that should sabotage his position as mayor.”
