Rob Ford's Toronto

[DeathSilver]

Maybe I'm being naive, here. But if there was any inkling that any of these activities were going on, surely someone in the school who's a mandated reporter would have heard about it, and would have had a legal obligation to bring it to the police or CAS, even if the school board didn't? And if that were the case, wouldn't we have heard about an investigation, as we heard about the domestic violence charges? I wouldn't be surprised if Ford was crossing boundaries with the kids on his team in non-illegal ways or being verbally abusive, and I think the way he allowed them to become involved in his political scandals (assuming he didn't encourage it) was wildly inappropriate, but I can't believe that there's anything of this scale.

Then why try to burry this information? It's not like Ford's character is beyond reproach. He did smoke crack with gun/drug dealers.

 

[pattycakes]

Maybe I'm being naive, here. But if there was any inkling that any of these activities were going on, surely someone in the school who's a mandated reporter would have heard about it, and would have had a legal obligation to bring it to the police or CAS, even if the school board didn't? And if that were the case, wouldn't we have heard about an investigation, as we heard about the domestic violence charges? I wouldn't be surprised if Ford was crossing boundaries with the kids on his team in non-illegal ways or being verbally abusive, and I think the way he allowed them to become involved in his political scandals (assuming he didn't encourage it) was wildly inappropriate, but I can't believe that there's anything of this scale.

Well, whatever it is, it must be pretty bad for the Fords to try to delay it until after the election. After all the crap Ford has been involved in, it seems strange that they are worried about a report from the school board. At this point what could damage Ford any further? Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Dubster]

Ok, sources say the stuff in the documents is really bad. But I don't know what's in there specifically.

Keep in mind the school is going to get it just as bad as Ford, particularly as they completely ran roughshod over the "employee" definition to keep this out of the papers. Disgusting. I would pull my kid out of that school...

 

[tariqata]

Then why try to burry this information? It's not like Ford's character is beyond reproach. He did smoke crack with gun/drug dealers.

I'm sure that the documents will reflect serious concerns about his character and associations and how those might impact the kids in his 'care'. I just don't expect to see evidence or rumours that he was either involving them in criminal activity or physically or sexually abusing them.

 

[DeathSilver]

I'm sure that the documents will reflect serious concerns about his character and associations and how those might impact the kids in his 'care'. I just don't expect to see evidence or rumours that he was either involving them in criminal activity or physically or sexually abusing them.

This is already public knowledge. It has to be something different IMHO.

 

[pattycakes]

But we already know that stuff. Why would he try to prevent the release of stuff we've heard 1,000 times? I'm not suggesting crimes were committed as police would've acted. It must be something embarrassing on a whole new level though.

Agreed. What could shame him at this point? Hmmmm.

 

[sno man]

Agreed. What could shame him at this point? Hmmmm.

Inciting hazing with some sexual element/overtones, bullying smaller or gay kids, looking the other way while kids use steroids, or worse encourage them to use steroids. A round of escorts in the locker room after a big win? I'm not sure any of these things are things he would actually think were wrong, but if he's getting any legal advice...

 

[typezed]

If there was anything truly nasty, like sexual abuse or drug use around students, cops would already be on him. That couldn't be something they allow to sit until the news breaks to the public. Ford would oppose the release of documents because they make concerns about his character more concrete, the statements of parents, teachers, principals become something that can be cited again and again in the paper. Like the ITO's provide no true smoking gun tying Ford to crime for which he can be charged, but do provide colourful, embarrassing anecdotes about peeing in school parking lots, trading manila envelopes and hiding in the bushes drinking vodka with drug dealers during working hours. It's still in his best interests to keep any unfavourable opinions or stories out of the public sphere for as long as he can, even if he has so far been adept at dancing away from anything that doesn't quite put him in handcuffs.

 

[themarc]

If there was anything truly nasty, like sexual abuse or drug use around students, cops would already be on him. That couldn't be something they allow to sit until the news breaks to the public. Ford would oppose the release of documents because they make concerns about his character more concrete, the statements of parents, teachers, principals become something that can be cited again and again in the paper. Like the ITO's provide no true smoking gun tying Ford to crime for which he can be charged, but do provide colourful, embarrassing anecdotes about peeing in school parking lots, trading manila envelopes and hiding in the bushes drinking vodka with drug dealers during working hours. It's still in his best interests to keep any unfavourable opinions or stories out of the public sphere for as long as he can, even if he has so far been adept at dancing away from anything that doesn't quite put him in handcuffs.

Unless the school swept a lot of potential (or questionable) criminal complaints against Rofo under the rug... remember what Police division that school is located within. Perhaps that Division already told the school they didn't have enough information to act - but Giroux might think otherwise.

 

[casita]

If he is unfit to be a volunteer coach, how can he be fit to be mayor?

Good question.

From his re-election website:

"Mayor Rob Ford’s passion in promoting the positive development of youth and his own experience in playing high school and university-level football is why he spearheaded an initiative to bring back high school football. In 2002, Mayor Ford founded the highly successful Eagles football program at Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School in North Etobicoke where he was the Head Coach of the Junior and Senior Teams.

In order to ensure all Toronto youth have an opportunity to play football, he established the Rob Ford Football Foundation which has helped fund football programs at high schools across the City, including Newtonbrook Secondary School, Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School, Sir Sanford Fleming Academy, Westview Centennial Secondary School, Forest Hill Collegiate, Eastern Commerce Collegiate, Lester B. Pearson Collegiate and C.W. Jefferys Collegiate. Mayor Ford has also helped ensure youth between 14 and 19 have the opportunity to participate in youth football programs through the summer with the Rexdale Raiders."
http://www.robfordformayor.ca/about-rob/

 

[chandlerpopper]

Ford has made it pretty clear coaching football is his number one priority in life. It wouldn't surprise me to learn the only reason he's opposing the release of these documents is because he thinks preventing their release might help him land another coaching job some day. Agree that there can't be anything criminal in there or it would be investigated criminally and child protection would have to be involved.

 

[themarc]

In order to ensure all Toronto youth have an opportunity to play football, he established the Rob Ford Football Foundation which has helped fund football programs at high schools across the City, including Newtonbrook Secondary School, Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School, Sir Sanford Fleming Academy, Westview Centennial Secondary School, Forest Hill Collegiate, Eastern Commerce Collegiate, Lester B. Pearson Collegiate and C.W. Jefferys Collegiate. "
http://www.robfordformayor.ca/about-rob/

Can we fact check that claim that all those schools got something out of RofoBall? Seems like a lengthy list.

 

[Greg Banks]

Agreed. What could shame him at this point? Hmmmm.

Could it be something as simple as R Ford's active recruitment of players outside the school's home drawing boundries...There are documented cases of players being parachuted in from Jane & Finch and elsewhere in the west end...is it possible the recruiting goes further afield eg outside TCDSB to the TDSB and past Toronto borders...

 

[soimelk]

What could it be:

- Did drugs with the kids.
- Bought drugs from the kids.
- Sold drugs to the kids.
- Sexual assault on one of the kids.
- Physical assault on on of the kids.

If it were any of the above, and the only action taken was to dismiss him, it would be a huge scandal for the school board.

 

[SFO]

If there was anything truly nasty, like sexual abuse or drug use around students, cops would already be on him. That couldn't be something they allow to sit until the news breaks to the public. Ford would oppose the release of documents because they make concerns about his character more concrete, the statements of parents, teachers, principals become something that can be cited again and again in the paper. Like the ITO's provide no true smoking gun tying Ford to crime for which he can be charged, but do provide colourful, embarrassing anecdotes about peeing in school parking lots, trading manila envelopes and hiding in the bushes drinking vodka with drug dealers during working hours. It's still in his best interests to keep any unfavourable opinions or stories out of the public sphere for as long as he can, even if he has so far been adept at dancing away from anything that doesn't quite put him in handcuffs.

I agree with this take. I doubt it's going to be something truly heinous, but the fact is any malfeasance involving children or teens gets a much different and harsher public reaction, and I would say Ford's base would take it worse than most. He probably knows that while whatever he did is less outright criminal than the Brazen 2 stuff, it might have a greater negative impact on his support.