Rob Ford's Toronto

[PinkLucy]

No, Tremonti is Filion's partner (spouse?). Which I had no idea of until the book came out.

I guess that's why The Current is promoting the book

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I'm doing my best to forget that one, actually, because ... well, horrible mental image.

Ah well, I am thinking of an Gigeresque "Species" interpretation...

AoD

 

[kbdid]

No, Tremonti is Filion's partner (spouse?). Which I had no idea of until the book came out.

phew, glad my reading comprehension skills are bad today.

 

[the lemur]

I guess that's why The Current is promoting the book

Even though Tremonti herself wasn't interviewing him, they should at least disclose that. They don't have to, but they should.

 

[John_Dee]

Mama Succubus - I will have to remember that one.

Oh, I can't claim credit. Someone else on this very forum came up with that little nickname ages ago, and I've since forgotten who. It fits Diane to a T, though, don't it?

 

[riffraff]

Now I'm wondering if Mike Harris came through with the "support" he offered, and if not was that the reason that Doug launched into attacking Hudak with "the party needs a top to bottom enema" quote, and not long after Flaherty died, Doug supported Brown and Rob supported McNaughton rather than Christine Elliot. And shouldn't that have been enough for Harper to stay away from the toxic Ford "endorsement"? Oh well, at least Doug was right about one thing. "You can't teach loyalty".

 

[riffraff]

For some reason watching this I thought, "well, she's not that bad? could be worse" Thanks Rob... forever tainted. http://gawker.com/elect-toledo-mayoral-hopeful-opal-covey-a-true-prophet-1738665885

Filling potholes and fighting corruption and speaking in tongues.... hmmm

Reminded me of Iola. Whatever happened to her?

 

[fishie]

I wonder how that's going over with the new son-in-law ...

Oh I think he may have been an instigator:

This is from last June or so (https://instagram.com/p/3m4DkPgLfK/?taken-by=theleanqueen). Plus I think Krista said they knew each other from the gym dating back to when she was in high school.
https://instagram.com/hayner8/

 

[fishie]

Reminded me of Iola. Whatever happened to her?

I thought that too.

But also: "potholes and amusement parks"!!

 

[evvabeing]

I wonder how that's going over with the new son-in-law ...

don't worry... they seem to all be cut from the same turd.

 

[evvabeing]

if you bare with me (this is long enough that i gotta share it in more than one post)... the following is another example of people getting away with things, shady dealings, and a mayor with ford similarities... but it also shows sketchy players that end up overlapping with ford.

this article got my attention...

Cop accused of stealing step-daughter`s inheritance

In his years of service, Byblow has managed to beat two drunk driving raps and assault allegations.

He has been convicted of careless driving, public mischief, discreditable conduct, and tried to sue Barrie police to the tune of $4 million.

This time, Byblow, 46, a 25-year veteran, is charged with stealing his grieving step-daughter’s inheritance left by her mother.
[...]
In 1990, he became an officer with Toronto’s force, but police refuse to say why he left 10 years later to work with Barrie Police.

A Toronto Police Service Freedom of Information request refuses to give reasons why he left, or whether there were any public complaints or disciplinary act records, stating: “disclosure of that information is an unjustified invasion of personal privacy.”

In 2005, Byblow was charged with drunk driving and assaulting a civilian while intoxicated, but one year later the charges were withdrawn in court in exchange for a $500 donation to charity. Byblow launched a $4-million lawsuit against Barrie Police, alleging police “maliciously” charged him with drunk driving, but the suit was eventually abandoned. He was later found guilty of discreditable conduct involving the same allegations under the Police Services Act.

Soon after Byblow went on paid medical leave for stress.

In 2011 Byblow was again charged with drunk driving while off duty. This time police say he was swerving all over Hwy. 400, north of Barrie, allegedly twisting in and out of traffic at speeds reaching 156 km/h, causing other drivers to slam their breaks. When he was pulled over he skewed his Firebird sideways on the highway, flashed his police badge. He told the officer he had been drinking lighter fluid and demanded to be taken to hospital, where he was released a short time later.

Two years later, the charges were again dropped. Despite the fact that police stated Byblow failed an alcohol breathalyzer test — no mention of alcohol readings were raised in court. The Crown told the judge that Byblow had been grieving the loss of his wife — however his wife’s death did not happen until seven months after the incident.

Last June 25, OPP charged Byblow with the theft and breach of trust against Cynthia.

“Depending on the outcome of the court case, we could be seeking his dismissal,” said Barrie Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood. She noted that in Ontario, police officers on leave must be paid unless they are incarcerated.

Byblow has been on paid stress leave for several years. Much of his time off was spent running a tattoo business from his Coldwater home. A current Facebook posting shows he is, or was recently, in Costa Rica.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/10/25/cop-accused-of-stealing-step-daughters-inheritance

so i decided to google byblow, and found this...

Two days after being elected Barrie Police Services Board chairperson in January, Aspden wrote a letter of reference for a constable found guilty of discreditable conduct; he asked the disciplinary hearing chairperson to go easy on Const. Brian Byblow, who while off-duty and intoxicated, struck a civilian in the head in May 2005.

Also on April 30, city council called in the OPP to investigate Aspden’s behaviour regarding perks and gifts, under Section 123 of the Criminal Code, which relates to municipal corruption. The investigation continues.

http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/3593864-four-days-booked-for-mayor-s-hearing/

so i decided to google aspden, and found all of this...

Dave Aspden and his spouse are suing the city for a combined $2.5 million for a fall the former mayor took at Barrie City Hall.

Their lawsuit accuses the city of 'actionable wrongs, including negligence' resulting when Aspden 'slipped on a wet and slippery step in the City Hall and fell violently to the concrete staircase thereby suffering severe, painful and permanent injuries' in December, 2009 during an event connected to the 2010 Olympic Torch Run through Barrie.

Aspden is suing for $2 million and Lorna Berry for $500,000. The statement of claim also asks for an unspecified total amount for health, lifestyle, employment and legal costs related to the injuries. The city, in its statement of defence, has asked that this lawsuit be dismissed as the 'claims are exaggerated, excessive and too remote'.

It says the indoor staircase leading from the Rotunda to City Hall's second floor was carefully maintained at the time of the incident and that Aspden was the negligent one when he fell.

The former mayor wasn't paying attention, he was distracted, was carrying something that obstructed his vision and his footwear was improper, the statement of defence says.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2012/03/12/aspden-lawsuit-totals-25m

Former Barrie mayor Dave Aspden drops lawsuit against city

“Having consulted extensively with his medical professionals, Mr. Aspden has now agreed to withdraw his action against the city. This disposition has been accepted by the city with thanks,” city CAO Carla Ladd said in a statement.

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5177017-former-barrie-mayor-dave-aspden-drops-lawsuit-against-city/

Barrie mayor's latest gaffe confounds council
Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden has again landed himself in hot water after placing unauthorized ads in a Toronto newspaper looking for a new police chief.

The ads, which ran Feb. 6, 10 and 12 in the Globe and Mail at a cost of $7,325, sought a replacement for Barrie Police Chief Wayne Frechette, who is retiring Sept. 1.

The trouble is, no one with either the Barrie Police Services Board or the city knew the ads — which were written by Aspden and are riddled with elementary school level spelling and grammar errors — were being placed in the newspaper by the mayor.

“He’s a lone wolf,” Barrie City Councillor Barry Ward said about Aspden, a former Barrie police officer. “All he has to do is walk down the hall and there are plenty of lawyers he could consult on the appropriateness of things like this, but for some reason, he just won’t do it.”
[...]
The ad furor is just the latest in a series of incidents during Aspden’s trouble-plagued term. Others included an OPP investigation into possible municipal corruption after a bizarre “secret” trip to China with land developers, and a misconduct charge, to which he pleaded guilty, for breaking the Ontario Civilian Police Commission’s code of conduct while he served as chair of the police services board.

“Over the years, we’ve certainly seen a pattern of poor judgment, and this is just another example,” said Councillor John Brassard.

Scant months after he was elected mayor in November 2006, Aspden — at the time chair of the police board — wrote a letter of reference on city letterhead to an OPP adjudicator on behalf of an officer convicted of discreditable conduct.

He was later suspended by the board and investigated by what was then the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (now the Ontario Civilian Police Commission) for attempting to influence the adjudicator.

Aspden pleaded guilty to charges of misconduct and breaking the code of conduct for police board members. The commission ruled his penalty was equal to his nine-month board suspension, and he returned to his board duties.

In March 2007, during amalgamation talks with Innisfil, Aspden tried to make a hallway side deal with Innisfil Mayor Brian Jackson that would bring services to land owned by Vaughan developer Mario Cortellucci, a major contributor to Aspden’s election campaign.

Weeks later, Aspden flew first-class on a 10-day junket to China with Cortellucci in attendance. Who paid is to this day rather hazy: Aspden said he coughed up the money for the flight and the Chinese paid for all his costs while in that country. Despite requirements that the city know at all times where the mayor is, he failed to tell anyone — even the city clerk — that he was abroad on city business.

Barrie council asked police to investigate whether he had committed any criminal offence by going on the trip. An OPP probe cleared Aspden of criminal wrongdoing, but the city was stuck with his $38,470.23 legal bill.

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/2010/03/03/barrie_mayors_latest_gaffe_confounds_council.html

and now we're getting to why i'm bringing this up here. not to just point out others in power basically getting away shit, nor to just point out another mayor with ford similarities, nor the OPP saying 'nothing is wrong here, just carry on' similarity, but the name cortellucci was familiar...

 

[Jimmi T]

Oh I think he may have been an instigator:

This is from last June or so (https://instagram.com/p/3m4DkPgLfK/?taken-by=theleanqueen). Plus I think Krista said they knew each other from the gym dating back to when she was in high school.

He's on the juice there for sure. Look at the gyno nips.

 

[evvabeing]

... so i decided to double check why, and was reminded of all this...

An influential Vaughan developer, who donated generously to Mayor Ford's pre- and post-election fundraising drives, controls a long-term lease on the Port Lands' Hearn Generating Station, which has been proposed as a site for an NFL stadium by the mayor's brother Doug.

Developer Mario Cortellucci, together with various relatives and individuals who listed his company's premises on their donor forms, contributed $30,000 to the mayor's campaign, about half of which was raised following the election as part of a multi-candidate effort to eliminate campaign deficits. He also secured a private meeting with Rob Ford, according to scheduling documents released under access to information laws.

The figures, based on election contribution filings, were compiled by York University political scientist Robert MacDermid. "The important point here is that when a councillor or mayor runs a deficit and wins, every person seeking influence crowds into the subsequent fundraising events."

Adrienne Batra, the mayor's spokesperson, says Mr. Cortellucci wanted to discuss a charitable organization Mr. Ford and his brother Doug "might be interested in getting involved in." Neither Mr. Cortellucci nor Doug Ford responded to requests for interviews. Ms. Batra declined to reveal the charity, saying it was a "private meeting."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...-waterfront-real-estate-begins/article578177/

Rob Ford has friends in high places

How did booze-guzzling, crack-smoking Rob Ford ever get elected mayor of Toronto? And how is he still in office after becoming the laughing-stock of North America?

The answer is that Ford has friends in high places — particularly, Mario Cortellucci, a real-estate developer, who bundled $30,000 to Ford’s campaign. And about half that money was raised after the election to pay off campaign debts.

The Ford administration is in the process of selling off 400 Toronto waterfront acres to private developers for office towers, luxury condos — maybe even an NFL stadium. And Cortellucci is set to get the first parcel.

http://pagesix.com/2014/03/21/rob-ford-has-friends-in-high-places/

https://twitter.com/councillorford/status/447434419561693184

of course he is 'cause...

https://books.google.com/books?id=6q_VBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT219&lpg=PT219&dq=Mario+Cortellucci&source=bl&ots=22JI1J-rgr&sig=jf-gji6M-modkVgHQpc4B0LZ83o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB0Q6AEwADgoahUKEwiQj_-N7t_IAhUGQCYKHangA6Y#v=onepage&q=Mario Cortellucci&f=false

and keep in mind...

Mario Cortellucci/family – Owner of Riviera Parque banquet hall in Concord

http://404systemerror.com/calling-on-all-canadian-journalists/

remember who held a fundraiser there?

Doug Ford defends decision to hold campaign fundraiser in Vaughan
http://www.cp24.com/news/doug-ford-defends-decision-to-hold-campaign-fundraiser-in-vaughan-1.1768396

fwiw, cortellucci also had shady deaings eslewhere. one example, brampton...

Brampton’s integrity commissioner has concluded Mayor Susan Fennell did not violate the Council Code of Conduct when she voted on the city hall expansion project earlier this year.
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/3095511-no-vote-a-tie-breaker-integrity-commissioner/

man... just how corrupt and dysfunctional is this region?!?!?

and for those of you that enjoy freemasonry info...

In a relatively new church in the heart of suburban Woodbridge, an ancient medieval tradition unfolded recently before a gathering of dames and cloaked knights.

Mario Cortellucci, a local entrepreneur and philanthropist, was installed as the Grand Prior of Canada by the Knights Hospitallers of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta, a global charitable organization with military roots dating from the 11th century.

“It’s a big job for me to do,” Cortellucci said March 27 of his new responsibilities from the steps of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
[...]
Prince Grand Master Nicholas Papanicolaou, the Order’s 76th, led the ceremony, while OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivered readings in the opening mass.

http://www.philipalves.com/2008/04/09/local-philanthropist-prepares-for-mission/

would you look at that, another overlapping character or 2.

i get the feeling more can be learned by going down this rabbit hole, but i gotta save that for another time. but for now, just one more thing...

President of the Cortel Group of Companies, philanthropist Mario Cortellucci's latest charity is Project T.E.A.R., a Toronto Police Service program aimed at stopping domestic violence.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/312162

oh the irony...

 

[Jimmi T]

I'm reading responses to a Facebook post when whose post do I stumble upon--Neil Flagg. Dude's the definition of a keyboard warrior. There's no way that loser could get away with copping attitude like that in person, he'd get his jaw broken.

 

[evvabeing]

One other thing about Growing Up Ford, going back to Crazy Town. Doolittle relates how domestic and kid-friendly Kathy was at the beginning of The Canadian Kennedys chapter. Robyn talked to Chris, Scott MacIntyre's son, about his time living with his dad and Kathy in the garage apartment. Even tho both had had a lot of "problems" they were happy together and Kathy's kids were there as well as friends coming and going. Paints a nice kinda normal domestic scene, at least until Kathy got shot accidentally in mom's kitchen by Scott. So if it appears that Michael Ford has turned out better than the average Ford perhaps that's to Kathy's credit, in spite of the general weirdness of her life and upbringing.

I wonder how Michael's taking the latest uproar with his uncles. He's not part of their craven political schemes. (Maybe he's the "Mike the transvestite" in Towhey's reported 3 am phone call, because he wouldn't meet Ford standards of "manliness".)

about kathy's 'brief stability' from crazy town...

and mikey being that mike crossed my mind too... but who knows?