Rob Ford's Toronto

[SecretSquirrel]

Except that they are still on the same side. Cherry expressed disappointment in his actions, but still approves of the job Ford has done as mayor. This is the exact message you get from Ford supporters.

Can't agree more. Don Cherry is playing Ford Nation's new favourite song.

Perhaps at some point Don Cherry will have the intellectual courage to stand up and say "I was wrong about Ford - enough is enough, he has to go for the good of Toronto", but I guess the sour old goat isn't quite there yet.

 

[SunriseChampion]

Oh, he's at level 13 in that vid. Given what I know about stimulants and their use, I would say he's near overdosing in that vid. He seems to be over the threshold of when negative effects start outweighing positive ones. Like two bumps away from pretty serious tachycardia and low-level psychosis.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

scale of 1-10, how high was rob when they filmed this?
[video=youtube;45hI7H-JHVg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45hI7H-JHVg[/video]

Serious question: Is this supposed to be a parody?

Just look at how red Ford's face is. The way he stares down that food, eagerly awaiting the end of the prayer so he can eat. And at 1:30 how he's stuffing his face with food. Surely this is a joke. It's something I'd expect to see on SNL.

 

[RogerD]

Any rumours on the Star's bombshell story? I'm assuming it's something other than the ITO and wire tap information.

I work for a different Torstar owned newspaper. I won't pretend to know exactly what they are working on, but people at the Star say they are several big stories they are working on, esp Donovan. It didn't come out Saturday because there is no rush. But it will. Doubt it will be anything earth shattering though. The redacted parts of the ITO is still much bigger than whatever else the Star has.

 

[voxpopulicosmicum]

LIUNA - Move along! Nothing to see here.

Labour union, huh? Doesn't sound very Ford Nation-ish.

Here are a few snippets that give a peek into 1 year in the life of LIUNA local 183, North America's largest construction union local. If this is what happens when the GTA construction industry is exposed to even a tiny bit of public scrutiny, let's imagine whether there might be anything else going on. Please excuse the length; I have tried to edit them down a bit, but obviously haven't been totally successful...

Jan. 16, 2012: Labourers’ union trustees rehire top official after firing him with cause

A top union executive has jumped back into a $200,000-a-year job, 13 months after officials fired him for “deception†and “self-dealing,†as well as spending improprieties that included using workers’ money to fly his daughter to Disney World.

In a controversial comeback, trustees rehired John Mandarino last summer as the administrator for the training centre of the continent’s largest construction local, Toronto-based Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 183.

The centre’s board had unanimously dismissed him in June 2010 for breaching contract tendering rules, losing valuable government grants, regularly breaking cheque-signing policy and charging unauthorized personal expenses without proper accounting.

Some other union leaders said at the time his firing was the result of a political “witch hunt†and “exaggeration of facts.â€

However, a different picture emerges in the hundreds of credit card statements, invoices and other documents obtained by the Star. They show a manager who played loosely with operating rules and liberally
used training centre funds for business trip extras and at high-end restaurants for himself and associates.

...

Jan. 23, 2012: Fired union exec who regained job quits after revelations

A fired union executive who regained his $255,000-a-year job has quit after revelations in the Star that a training centre board had originally dismissed him on accusations of improper personal spending and breaches of the operating rules.

John Mandarino, a veteran official of the Labourers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), abruptly resigned Monday as administrator of its Local 183 training centre here.

Mandarino said in an email to the chairman and vice-chairman of the centre’s board of trustees that he quit to stop the Star’s articles about his past performance from being “a source of distraction†for the union’s training operations and its reputation.

...

One source familiar with the circumstances noted that Mandarino did not request severance pay. He had already received $80,000 in severance pay when centre trustees dismissed him in June 2010. He returned 13 months later.

Feb. 5, 2012: Scuffles disrupt labourers’ union meeting

Workers threw chairs, pushed and shoved each other during a rowdy construction union meeting on Sunday over questions about a top training centre executive who resigned after revelations of spending and operating improprieties.

Irate members forcibly removed two workers who suffered minor injuries in separate scuffles at the Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 183 hall in North York, headquarters for the biggest construction local on the continent.

Police arrived minutes later but there were no further physical disruptions at the meeting of more than 250 workers.

“There were chairs flying,†union member Dave Aguiar said after the meeting. “I tried to break up a scuffle at the front and on the way back to my seat, I got tripped by a guy. Someone took a chair and whipped it across my leg. After that, they just piled on.â€

Aguiar said members quickly pulled him up and carried him by his arms and legs out the hall.

“I’m not impressed with the way I was treated,†he added. “I was physically assaulted.â€

Another member, Fabiano De Almeida, said workers surrounded him, grabbed his neck and escorted him out of the monthly meeting.

That came after De Almeida pressed Local 183 president Nelson Melo to read internal correspondence regarding John Mandarino, former administrator of the union’s major regional training centre.

“You better behave yourself,†said Melo as some workers yelled “what are you hiding†and “transparency.â€

When some workers persisted, Melo, who did not read the correspondence, directed them to “leave the meeting in peace.â€

Local 183 business manager Jack Oliveira told the meeting that members who asked questions about Mandarino are linked to the union’s previous leadership and are “politically motivated.†Those leaders lost a close, bitter election fight last summer.

“If there is any undermining of this organization, steps will be taken to stop this once and for all. . . . I will bring charges against you,†Oliveira warned.

Aguiar and De Almeida said the local’s tough tactics at the meeting are designed to discourage other members from speaking out and learning about their union.

...

At Sunday’s meeting, another member asked union executives about Mandarino’s status as Canadian director of the Labourers’ Tri-Fund, which promotes workplace safety and employment for workers, and receives significant financial support from Local 183.

The executives indicated they did not know about Mandarino’s Tri-Fund status.

...

July 20, 2012: Settlement bars 13 construction workers from union meetings until May

Thirteen construction workers who ended up in scuffles after confronting union leaders at a membership meeting earlier this year have avoided the possibility of losing their jobs by agreeing to stay away from further monthly sessions until next May.

The Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 183 and the 13 members reached a deal recently to settle allegations that they deliberately disrupted a Feb. 5 meeting and violated the union’s constitution.

The settlement means the members will not attend or participate at the regular meetings for 14 months after Local 183 had banned them pending an internal trial.

...

The former training centre co-ordinator had resigned earlier after revelations by the Star of spending and operating improprieties. But the ex-co-ordinator resurfaced in a senior position with the national union's Tri-Fund.

After the union charged the workers, they filed a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board that sought intervention because of their belief the trial wouldn’t judge them fairly.

Some members claimed the union’s actions were an attempt to intimidate them and quell other internal dissent.

April 9, 2012: Former Labourers’ union leaders sue contractor for alleged defamation

Five former leaders of a big construction union local in Toronto are suing a Milton contractor for more than $1.1 million for defamation after he alleged they participated in corruption and sought bribes from him.

The former officials of Labourers International Union of North America Local 183 say in a claim that Lou Rocca, president of Halton Forming, made statements in a recent Star story that suggested they were unethical, corrupt, malicious and “venal,†and had committed criminal offences including fraud, extortion and bribery.

...

Rocca could not be reached for comment regarding the claim, which the former union officials filed recently. The allegations have not been proved in court.

The Star reported in February that the board of a Labourers’ union-management education trust had appointed Rocca as a trustee. It came after the Labourers’ top Canadian executive recommended Rocca despite a major unresolved grievance against his firm by Local 183.

Rocca wouldn’t comment about the 2010 grievance, but told the Star in the same article that there was “a great deal of corruption†in the Local 183 leadership at the time of the dispute. The leaders wanted to “nail†him on the grievance and sought “bribes†to settle it, he added.
...

Jan. 16, 2013: Labourers’ union leaders accused of dirty campaign by ex-insider

A group of candidates in a major local union election covered up tens of thousands of dollars in illegal outside donations to help win a tight race, a key participant in the alleged scheme says.

In a series of sensational claims, Pat Scaduto, a former staff representative for the Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 183, says he handled the group’s campaign finances and received instructions on how to hide big incoming cash amounts from detection during a tumultuous election two years ago.

“It was a cover-up, plain and simple,†Scaduto said Tuesday in an interview where he implicated himself. “It was wrong and it likely tipped a close election in our favour.â€

But the union’s international parent in Washington has already rejected Scaduto’s call for an independent investigation, and a spokesperson for Local 183 said the allegations have no merit.

...

The election allegations follow decades of fierce infighting in the rough-and-tumble local, the biggest construction union in North America with 28,000 members in the GTA.

Local 183 factions who support the international union and rivals who want more Canadian autonomy have continually battled for the hearts and minds of members. The dispute has triggered mudslinging, punch-ups, abrupt firings, reprisals and millions of dollars in legal skirmishes, for which members foot the bills.

Scaduto, who was fired three days after filing his complaint with the international union last month, said in hindsight that he should have raised his concerns a long time ago and regrets remaining silent.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,†said the veteran union official “I’m remorseful and ashamed of what we did.â€

Scaduto, 53, who was on short-term sick leave at the time of the termination and is suing the local for back and future pay, acknowledged that if the international union found his slate broke election rules, he would still lose his job.

In his affidavit, Scaduto said his slate recruited him in 2009 to help oppose a group of incumbents. Eventually, he was given responsibility for campaign finances.

But Scaduto said the slate could not raise enough among activists to mount a successful campaign, so they agreed on the possibility of accepting money from “any source†— including contractors and the international union, which favoured removing the existing leadership.

Labourers’ International election rules prohibit a union local and outside parties from making any donations or offering services to candidates or campaigns.

Scaduto said the group began receiving “large amounts of cash†but he received no firm confirmation about the sources of the money.

His affidavit said Nelson Melo, who would later win the Local 183 presidency by nine votes, provided him with handwritten lists of members to name in the campaign’s receipt book. Melo would then tell him what amounts to place beside their names, according to Scaduto.

...

Scaduto provided the Star with what he described as copies of receipts from more than 100 contributors. Those receipts showed donations with many amounts for more than $1,000 and one for $3,500. Some contributors donated multiple times, according to the receipt copies.

...

“When large bundles of cash came in, we divided them among many names so it wouldn’t be obvious the money came from sources other than union members,†Scaduto said.

Melo and Jack Oliveira, a Local 183 official who led the slate and won the powerful business manager’s post, did not reply to requests for comment on the allegations earlier this week.

Creighton responded on their behalf and indicated the two leaders don’t like talking to the media. However, they have sent notices of libel to Scaduto regarding his allegations, she said.

...

Meanwhile, five former Local 183 leaders, who lost key posts in the 2011 election and their union memberships in a subsequent purge, have gone to a court to overturn the results and gain reinstatement.

The move comes after the Ontario Laour Relations Board decided not to hear their application because it wasn’t “worth it†in view of the high costs to the parties and government. The former leaders had charged the Oliveira slate had received illegal support in the election from the international union, contrary to provincial labour law.

 

[voxpopulicosmicum]

There's a biker gang tie in with all these venues. There's no connection to the Rob Ford saga, I brought it up to point out that the city isn't as safe as most people believe. Pipe bombs and molotov cocktails on a high profile downtown neighbourhood. But when our Mayor has ties to the Dixon Bloods and refuses to tell the police what he knows, he's going against his responsibility as Mayor to keep the citizens of Toronto safe. He's directly responsible for making the city less safe.

There's a biker gang tie-in with Uniq Lifestyle Group?

 

[Jado]

Serious question: Is this supposed to be a parody?

Just look at how red Ford's face is. The way he stares down that food, eagerly awaiting the end of the prayer so he can eat. And at 1:30 how he's stuffing his face with food. Surely this is a joke. It's something I'd expect to see on SNL.

My thoughts exactly - i thought it was a fake, with his closed eyes, swaying, the way he's zeroing in on the food in his hand, level of awkwardness. When i realized it was real I felt very bad for the people who made the video - because he had disrespected them so, and cast a shadow on a solemn celebration. Realy hope they didn't notice at the time but... Doubt it

 

[Jude]

Don't feel too bad. That was not Mayor Rob Ford's only appearance with the rabbi's UptownChabad channel.

http://youtu.be/7nS6CuluBlQ

http://youtu.be/cV3KD5UaTv0

 

[zang]

Except that they are still on the same side. Cherry expressed disappointment in his actions, but still approves of the job Ford has done as mayor. This is the exact message you get from Ford supporters.

By saying "I'm disappointed", he mirrored exactly what the police chief said, and there's a tone of resignation in his voice. His stance is not the furiously militant, full of rampant denial of Ford Nation. Not to mention that all the headlines about it are "I'm disappointed"; that's the first impression that FN will get of it. While there is some positive for Ford Nation to take away from the statement, it is overwhelmingly negative, which puts it psychologically at odds with Ford Nation's stance.

We know how angry and animated Cherry can get about things he believes in, and I think Ford Nation would expect that of him. This shows he no longer believes in Ford.

 

[dforthandbview]

Don't feel too bad. That was not Mayor Rob Ford's only appearance with the rabbi.

sex tape?

 

[Kat_YYZ]

There's a biker gang tie in with all these venues. There's no connection to the Rob Ford saga, I brought it up to point out that the city isn't as safe as most people believe. Pipe bombs and molotov cocktails on a high profile downtown neighbourhood. But when our Mayor has ties to the Dixon Bloods and refuses to tell the police what he knows, he's going against his responsibility as Mayor to keep the citizens of Toronto safe. He's directly responsible for making the city less safe.

Ha, yeah, reminds me of all the stuff with Coco Lezzone. I worked at a place that booked its Xmas dinner there but then the place was bombed! Needless to say, we cancelled. And that was 2 yrs after the owner was shot in the middle of the day, the place full of people. Actually the guy who did the shooting had the last name "Bellissimo" but I don't know if it's any relation to Ford's pal -- it's a common last name.

 

[Coltaine79]

Here are a few snippets that give a peek into 1 year in the life of LIUNA local 183, North America's largest construction union local. If this is what happens when the GTA construction industry is exposed to even a tiny bit of public scrutiny, let's imagine whether there might be anything else going on. Please excuse the length; I have tried to edit them down a bit, but obviously haven't been totally successful...

Wow, thanks for the info. Sounds pretty disgusting. Could these shenanigans be playing a role in how overpriced GTA property has been lately? Also, has the NDP disavowed any connection to these guys (given NDP's long history of labour union involvement...)? If not, looks like TheStar can have a new target once they depose of the Ford Bros./Nation

 

[voxpopulicosmicum]

Ha, yeah, reminds me of all the stuff with Coco Lezzone. I worked at a place that booked its Xmas dinner there but then the place was bombed! Needless to say, we cancelled. And that was 2 yrs after the owner was shot in the middle of the day, the place full of people. Actually the guy who did the shooting had the last name "Bellissimo" but I don't know if it's any relation to Ford's pal -- it's a common last name.

I was temporarily living out of the country when that happened, so I didn't hear about it until your post. The craziest thing about it appears to the be sentence.

Restaurant gunman convicted of assault
The man who shot up a popular College St. restaurant, scattering employees and putting a bullet in the owner's back, has been convicted of weapons and assault charges but acquitted of intending to endanger anyone's life.

Superior Court Justice Paul Rivard ruled yesterday that he is not satisfied that the Crown has proved beyond doubt that Salvatore Bellissimo, 57, intended to endanger the life of the panicking owner and employees of Coco Lezzone as he fired round after round.

...

 

[voxpopulicosmicum]

Wow, thanks for the info. Sounds pretty disgusting. Could these shenanigans be playing a role in how overpriced GTA property has been lately? Also, has the NDP disavowed any connection to these guys (given NDP's long history of labour union involvement...)? If not, looks like TheStar can have a new target once they depose of the Ford Bros./Nation

I can't comment on the extent of the connection (if any) between LIUNA 183 and the "political" side of organized labour. I would imagine that political donations from, and political favours to, construction companies are nothing to sneeze at. At some point, it speaks more to the industry as a whole than it does to which corruption is on the "management" side and which is on the "union" side. In either case, it's the customers and the guys working for hourly wages who suffer at the expense of the bosses or the union's "management".

 

[joel in to]

Please sign and pass on the online petition calling for Ford's resignation if you haven't already.

https://www.change.org/en-CA/petiti...ntario-mayor-rob-ford-must-resign-from-office