TTC
• Wonky TTC subway doors to be fixed, Bombardier says [Toronto Star]
• Malfunctioning doors on brand new subway trains will be fixed: manufacturer [National Post]
• Door problems on new subway trains causing ‘unacceptable’ delays, TTC admits [Globe & Mail]
ROB FORD
• Mayor Rob Ford asks judge to keep him in office pending appeal [Toronto Star]
• Rob Ford ‘positive’ heading into request for stay of ruling [Toronto Sun]
• Judge to decide if Rob Ford stays in office while awaiting appeal [Globe & Mail]
PROPERTY TAX
• Biggest property tax increases expected in Davenport, Willowdale neighbourhoods [Toronto Star]
• Land-transfer tax extremely unpopular with residents in 905 region, poll shows, as Mississauga halts study [National Post]
CITY HALL
• Councillors revive plan to tear down Gardiner’s eastern extremity [Toronto Sun]
• Casino referendum should be included in any possible Mayoral by-election: Toronto Councillor Adam Vaughan [National Post]
OTHER NEWS
• Toronto’s city-owned theatres struggling to make ends meet [Toronto Star]
• Private alcohol sales: ‘A lot of risk involved’ in exposing Beer Store, LCBO to competition [Toronto Star]
• EMS chief reassures staff — not taxpayers [Toronto Sun]
• OSC won’t take action against Toronto’s Trump tower [Globe & Mail]
> Walkom: Why Toronto council should appoint Rob Ford to replace Rob Ford
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1297543–walkom-why-toronto-council-should-appoint-rob-ford-to-replace-rob-ford
As bad as this sounds, it may actually be the best among all other bad choices. All other choices will probably strengthen his position as a martyr and improve his chances for re-election in 2014.
Why do people keep suggesting Ford’s a martyr or that this trial verdict will help him? Toronto is not Washington DC and Ford is not Marion Barry or a cat with 9 lives.
Please use some common sense when analyzing Ford’s chances: he will never be able to repeat 2010. He got 47%. He can only go down from there. In a head to head he loses. Once he hits 40% there is a good chance he’ll lose even in a 3-way race.
And recent polls have shown that 3/5 of his support in 2010 would vote for him again. That means only 28% support from the electorate. That is Jane Pitfield numbers.
I agree with YU. What Walkon does not mention is that I think two elections in two years will be incredibly disruptive and City Hall would be even more paralyzed than with Ford as mayor.
@Lee
You may want to take the chance at a by-election, I don’t. If he can manage 40%, he is very likely to win in a 3-way race. I don’t quite trust polls either, given the accuracy from last election. All I know is that the surest way to get rid of him for good is to wait for election 2014, when the electoral has a better chance to make a more rational choice, rather than an emotionally charged by-election.