• Council backs tax breaks for businesses [ Globe and Mail ]
• Can the mayor get his groove back in 2008? [ Globe and Mail ]
• Inside the old City jail [ Toronto Star ]
• Potholes and other bumps we hit [ Toronto Star ]
Thursday’s headlines
Read more articles by Monika Warzecha
22 comments
Here, here to the return of the daily headlines!
I’m glad to see that even the Globe and Mail isn’t quite ready write a eulogy for Mayor David Miller. Although he deserves a great deal of criticism for a meandering leadership style and his willingness to make and publicly maintain enemies on council, he’s also been given the toughest to-do list of any Toronto mayor in a long time. Not only does he face enormous demand for more services (transit!) but also has the smallest balance from which to pay for them.
So to all the hack/slash folks on council it’s time to realize that sacrificing the city to balance one budget is the kind of narrow thinking that takes a moment to realize and a generation to repair.
Finally, a Happy New Year to Capitol One who’s sponsorship of free transit on New Year’s Eve will allow Rob Ford and the assorted drunken masses of Toronto to get home safe and sound.
So Mastercard pays for the rinks, Capitol One does TTC on New Years…I can’t wait to see what goodies we can get from Visa and American Express!
I think the fact that his worship lied to get elected has come back to haunt him and his deputy mayor Joe Pantalone.It will be interesting how they juggle the books that they so eloquently stated that were balanced and without debt or any trouble before and during the last election.But it just goes to show that those that forgive city politicians that lie seem to have no problem attacking others that aren’t in their own party.So I hope the day of party politics finally leaves the city and we can begin to straighten things out.First step give the auditor the powers of a comptroller and elect the office.It wasn’t a surprise to see the Toronto Life article for January.There is much more to come.Have a Happy New Year everybody, the city of toronto will make sure you will pay dearly for this coming year.
Hi Spacing. I just saw this article on PingMag, about Train designs in Tokyo done by kids. I thought I’d tip you guys off: http://pingmag.jp/2007/12/27/odakyu/
The so-called hard hitting no punch pulled Toronto Life story turned out to be a bit thin. While the points made were good, the cover sadly overstates the problem giving ammunition to nutbars like Ford.
It’s comforting to remember that guys like Ford don’t need ammo as much of what they say is the sad invention of their underused brains. BUT…they exist in every level of government around the world. Sure, you don’t hear about the Rob Ford types to often in the House of Commons, but that’s because they belong to parties that are generally adept and keeping them on the sidelines. Every once in a while they fail and you get Carolyn Parrish…
… actually I thought that Parrishs’ exposure of double dipping Hydro Board salaries in Mississauga was accurate and rare egg on Hazels’ face.
one thing is for sure if the NDP published what Ford did everyone of you would be up in arms.But since this corruption isn’t by those who are deemed the enemy everyone “looks” the other way.A sad day indeed for democratic rule and accountability.It shouldn’t matter who is in office there must be accountability for the publics money.It is sad that the press hasn’t been more investigative towards this civic government, but looking at the expenses by Joe Pantalone it seems clear that public money can be used to gain favour of local press very easily.As for Ford, why go after the messenger ????
George >
You have the right to voice your displeasure with our local government but you should be very careful what you do write on popular blogs. I believe what you wrote above (“but looking at the expenses by Joe Pantalone it seems clear that public money can be used to gain favour of local press very easily”) could be considered slander. If you believe Pantelone is bribing the media than you have to prove it and back it up, not just insinuate that he is.
Also, your comment about the NDP publishing what Ford says doesn’t make any sense. Besides watching your back for slander, you should try to improve your grammar/editing skills so that your point is not overlooked.
George, you bore me. I’m assuming your “sinister accusations” refer to Pantalone’s purchase of advertising in the Annex Gleaner and Annex Guardian papers … because I’m sure they’d print only nice things about him and the Mayor for the $180 in business-card size ads he bought. That’s exactly how the media works.
In fact, that must be why you spent $1,916 on advertising in your own election campaign against Joe Pantalone in 2006 — the one where you got a spectacular 15 percent of the vote. Clearly that was money well spent. Pantalone actually increased his vote because he was running against you.
You need to stop hiding behind your lack of specifics. Look at his actual expenses. I won’t even point you to the “corrupt” City website — look at Rob Ford’s site:
http://www.robford.ca/expensedetails.asp
Pantalone published newsletters, bought ads to promote his constituency office (visit him on Saturday mornings at the CHIN building — he’s been doing it for 25 years), and he had some meetings. His expense reports tell you what the meetings were for, and who was there.
He even bought his napkins and doilies at Dollarama.
Stop hiding behind your veiled accusations and implications of corruption. Make your claims in detail, and support them with evidence, or please shut up.
bored,
thank you for your comments, considering the city of toronto was supposed to refund about a$1000 towards my campaign but have refused I find that my advertising expenses were pretty cheap considering it was my own money spent and not that of the public. You see public money spent on advertising is a little bit different than personal funds. There is a big difference but since Joe seems to spend money without much consideration if the public approves I guess you would have a difficult time to differentiate the two.
Since you seem to be a great fan of Joe maybe you can ask him when the details of the budget will be released to the public.City Hall has told me its fo “staff eyes only” so it only temps me to wonder what is Joe keeping from the eyes of the free press.Read it in the next issue of the gleaner etc, (I doubt it)
But please stop being bored with life Toronto can be a fun city just visit city hall at new years eve,it’s privately sponsored so you can enjoy!
TAX FREE LOLOLOL
George, such boring answers!
I’m aware that you spent $16k of your own money to run your losing campaign against Pantalone in ’06. Most other candidates get donors — it’s good way to engage people in the political process. They put their money behind a candidate they support. You ended up spending about $9.50 per vote you got — not a very good bargain. Oh well, next time.
Back to your comment: “Joe seems to spend money without much consideration if the public approves.” I asked for specifics. Let’s have ’em. So far, you’re all accusations and no evidence.
Pantalone’s been re-elected 11 times. I’m pretty sure that means the public at least approves of his work, and trust him to make some decisions on their behalf. If they don’t like his ’06-’10 spending, I guess that will be an election issue when you run against him in ’10. Again.
Oh, and the budget will be public for you at the same time everyone else gets it. But you already knew that. It’s being introduced on January 28. Here’s the public schedule from the city’s website:
http://www.toronto.ca/budget2008/operating_schedule.htm
Why don’t you stick to real accusations, not the ones that you make up for your next election campaign? Winning candidates wear buttons, not tin foil hats.
George, lemme see if I understand what you’re saying. It’s okay for you to *think* you’re advertising with taxpayer money because you were too stupid to get your refund but it’s not okay for Pantalone to promote his constituency services to constituents in the same, legitimate way as pretty much every councillor in the city? Get real!
LOLOLOL
What are you, 12?
Go play in traffic.
Bored’s on the money. George didn’t just donate $16,000 to his own campaign, he didn’t have a single third party donor AND he ended up with a $635 deficit. What’s wrong, George, can’t balance a budget?
actually bored the only thing that will be published is a glossed over general adgenda and nothing else, no details.It’s sad that we have to refer to rob ford for the details of councillors spending considering that the info isn’t available on the city site.
As for donations Joes donations were from the ndp party supporters of olivia chow since she did an intense fundraiser as his honourary campaign chairperson.I guess their wasn’t much for her to do in ottawa at the time.
Actually the revised budget for my campaign should have included my payment for the accountant.So there is no deficit.
But thanks for the sarcasm adam I’m sure the ratepayers of toronto appreciate that you believe that no politician should save their money or balance a budget as the city of toronto hasn’t been able to do.
Sorry folks I don’t belong to any partisan party nor do I ever plan to, I am just here to help the people but if they prefer Joe and higher taxes that’s ok by me if that is truly their desire.
PS I actually refused donations during my 30 day campaign as an unknown first time running citizen.It’s called democracy, you can find much literature in the library about the system.It actually promotes an honest voting system and freedom of the press.Hopefully Toronto will get that system soon.
George, I believe in balanced budgets and so does the City of Toronto, as evidenced by the balanced budgets it has approved every year since amalgamation. You demonstrated an inability to balance a paltry $16,000 budget in the paperwork you filed with the City Clerk. If you can’t manage your own money, why should I trust you with my money?
Also, George, you ought to know that telling lies that are so easily uncovered isn’t a good idea. A cursory look at Deputy Mayor Pantalone’s list of contributors to his 2006 campaign shows names like Mirvish, Zeidler and Sniderman. All three of those names have no affiliation with the NDP and are renowned for their civic leadership. Evidently they know that supporting Deputy Mayor Pantalone is part of making Toronto an even better city.
My apology ACF, so I guess there is no fiscal problems at the city.I’m glad you cleared that up, now I can sleep better.
Thank You!
PS enjoy paying the new service charges and taxes that you so boldly agree are needed.
I leave the public to determine what motivates individuals to contribute to a councillors campaign…
Sorry just calling me a liar doesn’t make it so
good try though!
ACF
as to my campaign,I agree with you I made an error in believing that the city would follow their own rules and issue a rebate that would have balanced the books.My accountant told me not to worry that the city would never break the law!!!!OOOPS
But don’t worry ACF I will cover it with my own money AGAIN so that the taxpayer isn’t out one cent(sounds like a campaign I keep seeing).
But check out Joe Pantalones campaign and see what the rebate program payed out for his contributions.I’m sure you would be happy to post those figures here in fairness, right?
George, why do you have to keep going with the dishonesty? I never said anything about fiscal problems. I said, as a matter of fact, the City of Toronto has balanced its budget every year, as it is required to do by law, because you fabricated “facts” to the contrary. Does that mean I have liked every budget churned out since amalgamation? No. In fact, I’ve advocated for many measures that haven’t (and in others cases have) been incorporated into City budgets over several years but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t balanced.
The rebate program is an essential part of local democracy because it means that candidates aren’t being solely funded by corporate and union donations. It also makes it easier for candidates who aren’t well connected to the city’s elite from running campaigns. Fiscally, it is largely covered by the surpluses that are handed back to the City by candidates who fundraise more than they spend. So are you going to maintain that you’re against this essential part of our civic democracy, George?
You are a liar for saying that all Pantalone donations are from Olivia Chow and the NDP. Clearly Pantalone draws support from all sides of the political spectrum because he won 75% of the vote and no party has ever done that well in Trinity-Spadina.
…Now you’re also bringing a cloud over some of the most respected names in the city through self-serving innuendo. Do you have any reason whatsoever to believe that Mirvish, Sniderman and Zeidler are anything but the local heros they are celebrated as?
And I do look forward to paying my fair share to the City of Toronto. It’s part of my duty as a resident of this city and it means I get to enjoy one of the highest qualities of life in the world.
the city borrows to balance the budget, it is a big reason that the debt and the complimentary interest payments are increasing daily.Not a good sign.
As for Joes donators,I apologize I should have said “most” are NDP members others just support the NDP party like David Miller who is no longer a member but clearly supports the party.Maybe you could point out to me the non NDP supporters of Joe it would be appreciated for sure.In fact a majority of Pantalones contributors used to be business donors, when the rule changed the donations changed to “individual”.You have to admit even when Joe is wrong he is right,he has truly become a profesional politician who can roll with the punches and spend our money without guilt.No wonder the United States has term limits!
I don’t think you should bring up individual names, as that is not allowed by the city of toronto without permission.
I’m proud of you Adam that you feel you should pay more for less, in fact the federal income tax form allows citizens like yourself to pay more than is required by law. I’m sure you do that as well, good for you.
As for the rebate you have convinced me to go after the city of toronto to issue me a rebate,it must be the right thing to do since you say so.Thanks
Everyone should get the rebate they are entitled to so I encourage you to pursue a fair resolution, George.
As you should know, the names of donors are intended to be public and people know — or ought to know — that if they donate. Printing those names in the public domain in no way, shape or form violates any law or any expectation of privacy. To say that I have contravened any sort of legal or ethical boundary is tantamount to slander.
As you should also know, there has not been an amendment to the act that governs municipal elections in Toronto so declining business and union donations is at the discretion of individual candidates. Deputy Mayor Pantalone chose not to accept donations for corporate entities or unions, though you are correct in pointing out that some people on his donor list are associated in some capacity or another with local businesses and unions.
I am not, however, Senator McCarthy so, aside from those who voluntarily disclose their partisan affiliations, I have no way of knowing who is a member of which party. So, no, I can’t tell you which of the Deputy Mayor’s donors belong to which party.
Finally, you are correct, Joe is a professional. He serves our city honourably and should not feel guilt for making decisions with the money that we elect him to oversee. If he didn’t approve money for TTC, community centers, libraries and all the other services Torontonians rely on, he would be doing us a great disservice.
Term limits is a concept that deserves some ernest debate. There are pros and cons. As we’ve seen in President Bush, being essentially untouchable at this point means that he doesn’t even have to fake interest in public opinion so he can openly serve his friends like Scooter Libby. However, part of a healthy democracy is having new voices represented in government when older ones have had their chance to serve. I think as we saw with the fixed provincial election date, it wasn’t the panacea that many thought it would be in renewing public confidence in the provincial government as an institution so we should take these sorts of measures slowly and thoughtfully.
Thank You Adam for that post, I have tried to resolve the rebate for my “donation” and I have been flatly refused.It really makes me pesimistic when persons such as yourself make a reasonable argument that I even have agreed with and then the local government just contradicts what you have said.
Maybe you should check with city hall because releasing the names without their permission seems to be a no-no, but maybe that rule only applies to me.
I think many citizens seem to forget that they are the boss and the councillor that is elected represents them.Many voters have lost hope,as one person put it “I’d rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don’t, you are all crooked and we have to pay no matter what” very pessimistic indeed.I just wish Joe spent more time listening and at least doing what the people really want then to decide what he thinks should be done.
I wonder if confidence in government will ever be restored.