Rob Ford's Toronto

[Red Mars]

blackballed - Getting your building tagged doesn't sit well with anyone (pro Ford or not.) This is 650 King W. It just got tagged again after being cleaned.

 

[syn]

Purely out of curiosity, does anyone know what Ford devotes such a disproportionate amount of time to the issue of graffiti? Is it really that big of a problem? Because he sure acts like it is? Is it a racial thing? He's like a religious zealot about it.

It's because it appeals to his base. Graffiti is positioned as one of the things making Toronto a dirty place that can't attract business. It's all nonsense, but it plays perfectly into the stereotypes his base believes. Observe:

[video=youtube;re24NjyOC-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re24NjyOC-8[/video]

Notice that he really didn't answer her question at all? He basically just said King, Queen, Dundas, etc. are just a bunch of dirty streets and broken glass that need to be cleaned up to attract business.

The girl actually asked an interesting and legitimate question. He addressed a complex issue with a bunch of silly stereotypes from 80s era films and TV shows.

 

[syn]

Tell me, who exactly was clamoring for a ban on plastic bags and how were councillors representing their constituents by banning plastic bags without any sort of consultation. They eventually had to back down, as they opened themselves up to lawsuits with that stupid ban.

On virtually all issues council has voted against Ford on, they've had the support of their constituents. They're under no obligation to support the Mayor.

Plastic bags are but one issue among many.

Complete and utter nonsense.

I agree. Ford is full of complete and utter nonsense.

Where's the $2.8 billion in savings he's supposed to have found? Will we have a nearly $1.7 billion surplus next year? What about the completed Sheppard Line, paid for by the private sector and ready in time for the Pan Am Games?

 

[James_D]

It's because it appeals to his base. Graffiti is positioned as one of the things making Toronto a dirty place that can't attract business. It's all nonsense, but it plays perfectly into the stereotypes his base believes. Observe:

[video=youtube;re24NjyOC-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re24NjyOC-8[/video]

Notice that he really didn't answer her question at all? He basically just said Queen, Dundas, etc. are just a bunch of dirty streets and broken glass that need to be cleaned up to attract business.

The girl actually asked an interesting and legitimate question. He addressed a complex issue with a bunch of silly stereotypes from 80s era films and TV shows.

Graffiti is an issue for robbie because he's a fucking moron. Sadly, it appeals to the same outrage that gives idiots something to talk about while they wait in line for free hotdogs and fridge magnets. I'm so sick of even pandering to the notion that this jackass and his spiteful supporters even deserve civil discourse.

 

[blackballed]

blackballed - Getting your building tagged doesn't sit well with anyone (pro Ford or not.) This is 650 King W. It just got tagged again after being cleaned.

I didn't say that he shouldn't address the issue of graffiti (or that the city shouldn't do something about it), I asked why he spends such a disproportionate amount of time on that particular subject.

It's because it appeals to his base. Graffiti is positioned as one of the things making Toronto a dirty place that can't attract business. It's all nonsense, but it plays perfectly into the stereotypes his base believes. Observe:

[video=youtube;re24NjyOC-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re24NjyOC-8[/video]

Notice that he really didn't answer her question at all? He basically just said King, Queen, Dundas, etc. are just a bunch of dirty streets and broken glass that need to be cleaned up to attract business.

The girl actually asked an interesting and legitimate question. He addressed a complex issue with a bunch of silly stereotypes from 80s era films and TV shows.

Thanks for sharing this clip. He really does think that everywhere between Scarborough and Etobicoke is straight out of "Robocop".

 

[W. K. Lis]

Who's idea was it to use anti-graffiti utility box wraps?

It started with the mailboxes, but the idea has spread to other boxes. I don't think Rob thought of it.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Does Ford really think that garbage and not infrastrucure is the reason businesses won't come to our city? This guy is a total dimwit. And the sad thing is that he probably believes his own nonsense.

 

[salsa]

[video=youtube;re24NjyOC-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re24NjyOC-8[/video]

People clap for that shit?

 

[CowboyLogic]

All the people saying that graffiti isn't a serious issue, I'm just going to assume that you live in the suburbs and/or don't own your own property. It definitely is a big issue for home and business owners. I'm not sure I like Ford's and the city's approach, which puts the burden of clean-up on the owners themselves, but he's right that it is a problem.

As for the idea that it doesn't effect the city's image, it does. Luckily it isn't too prevalent here, but it can and will make a city look like complete shit (i.e. Lisboa).

On virtually all issues council has voted against Ford on, they've had the support of their constituents. They're under no obligation to support the Mayor.

Plastic bags are but one issue among many.

Well, plastic bags are the issue we're discussing, so the "many" are all irrelevant. And on this issue, there was no support for the ban, as the councilors didn't even do the proper consultation. They had to back down to avoid opening themselves up to a lawsuit, so essentially the ban was a complete waste of time and Ford succeeded in getting rid of the tax. I'm not sure why anyone would defend them on this count.

 

[BurlOak]

Well, plastic bags are the issue we're discussing, so the "many" are all irrelevant. And on this issue, there was no support for the ban, as the councilors didn't even do the proper consultation. They had to back down to avoid opening themselves up to a lawsuit, so essentially the ban was a complete waste of time and Ford succeeded in getting rid of the tax. I'm not sure why anyone would defend them on this count.

How about the Casino at Woodbine. It had no effect on 90% of the Councillors and they voted against it just to oppose Ford.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

All the people saying that graffiti isn't a serious issue, I'm just going to assume that you live in the suburbs and/or don't own your own property. It definitely is a big issue for home and business owners. I'm not sure I like Ford's and the city's approach, which puts the burden of clean-up on the owners themselves, but he's right that it is a problem. .

For us graffiti has been an annoyance and not a huge issue. And its certainly isnt anything that we'd avoid downtown for. The fact that Ford mentioned graffiti over reducing congestion, building more downtown subways and general infrastructure investment shows how out of touch the man is with the realities of living and doing business in this city.

 

[Lansdude]

All the people saying that graffiti isn't a serious issue, I'm just going to assume that you live in the suburbs and/or don't own your own property. It definitely is a big issue for home and business owners. I'm not sure I like Ford's and the city's approach, which puts the burden of clean-up on the owners themselves, but he's right that it is a problem.

As for the idea that it doesn't effect the city's image, it does. Luckily it isn't too prevalent here, but it can and will make a city look like complete shit (i.e. Lisboa)

Yeah sure, graffiti is a problem. This is a question of priorities. Honestly, can you think of any economist, "urbanist", business owner, marketer, whatever, that would identify the graffiti here as a top impediment to attracting business? Please. The man is an incorrigible dunce.

The lengths you'll go to to find the truth in what ford says, and through recalibrating your values on the spot enlarge what he's done so that they can be held up as examples of good policy are risible. Everything you write smacks of intellectually dishonest maneuvering to defend a guy in the moment who loosely corresponds with your conservative values. Get real.

 

[Peepers]

Just thought this post was worth repeating. Can we stop treating John Tory as being anywhere remotely on the same planet as Olivia Chow either in terms of ideology or political savvy?

Also, both Ford and Chow have die-hard "true believer" supporters. That's a huge asset. Miller had them. So did Lastman. Barbara Hall didn't. George Smitherman didn't. And neither does Tory.

Oh really? Take a look at this organization that John Tory co-chairs. I could easily see Olivia Chow championing an organization like this.

http://diversecitytoronto.ca/

 

[adma]

Scarborough has Fords back. There is no way we will ever let Ainslie get re-elected after he sold out Scarborough with his LRT vote. Everyone here cant wait till the next election....

"Ford's" and "can't". Learn your contractions, doofus.

 

[JWBF]

I agree. Ford is full of complete and utter nonsense.

"Nonsense" is one word, not the one I would have picked.

How about the Casino at Woodbine. It had no effect on 90% of the Councillors and they voted against it just to oppose Ford.

Ford failed yet again to get the counsel to fix his disasters.

Where's the $2.8 billion in savings he's supposed to have found? Will we have a nearly $1.7 billion surplus next year? What about the completed Sheppard Line, paid for by the private sector and ready in time for the Pan Am Games?

P3s. As Dougie has stated many times before that there are billions and billions of dollars internationally to do so, too bad the Fords are not competent so far to find anyone to invest in them.

People clap for that shit?

Mostly the smart ones paid to do so, and some misguided.