Why people voted for Rob Ford's transit vision

YouTube - Why people voted for Rob Ford's transit vision
Watch this. It is so dead on it is scary.

During the election campaign, Joe Pantalone fully suported Transit City. This transit strategy is already planned and budgeted for. It would connect much of the suburban areas of Toronto (Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough) with the rest of the city and downtown via rapid transit.

Rob Ford, on the other hand, campaigned to not only cancel Transit City (and the cancellation would incur very expensive penalties), but to remove streetcars too. Streetcars are much more energy efficient than buses and can transport more passengers more quickly from A to B than buses. If the streetcars are removed, they would have to be replaced by far more buses - resulting in much higher costs, slower transportation for passengers, and much greater pollution. And, regarding all those Transit City rapid transit routes connecting much of the suburban areas of Toronto. These would be replaced by nothing. No rapid transit routes built to connect to the suburbs, where most of the Rob Ford voters live. He plans on spending all the transit money (leftover from replacing streetcars with buses) on another little piece of subway line.

So, the suburban dwelling Rob Ford voters, voted against having new rapid transit routes connecting them to downtown and the rest of the city. They seem to not want these routes and these connections. But yet, they do want them and they do need them. They voted for someone who blatantly said he would, in terms of transit, not only do nothing for them, but would cancel current plans of bringing them better transit service.

I ask you, does this make sense?
Watch the video.

Toronto Election Results Maps 2010

Here are two maps showing geographic divisions (by ward) of mayoral candidate support and how the elected councillors will relate to the new mayor (or not).

Map a) How people voted for mayor by ward: mostly Ford, mostly Smitherman, or evenly divided

Map b) How the councillors will most likely vote in relation to the mayor: Which elected councillors are regressive (pro-Ford), progressive (anti-Ford), or in the middle.

Map b shows a probable voting pattern on regressive policies. The In The Middle group of councillors could go either way in the voting on regressive or progressive policies.



Map a)



Map b)

Rob Ford wins as Mayor of Toronto, but will he get the Council votes?

Rob Ford handily won the mayor's race in Toronto last night. But all may not be lost for the people of Toronto.
Ford has some pretty extreme ideas, and some of them are either not under the governance of the city council, or they are not changeable by council as per provincial laws.

So, what of the issues that Ford can tackle? Will he have the support of council to get away with destroying Toronto?

I've analyzed the new council and come to the conclusion that the makeup is not much changed from the previous council. There are more Right-wing councillors, but the Left and Centre/Centre-right still hold the balance

The Left and Centre have about 18 votes
Centre-right has about 6 votes
and
the Right has about 21 votes, including the mayor.
(The previous council was divided 23, 12, 10)

So, for Ford to win a vote, he has to win over the Centre-Right councillors. There is a good chance that these people won't go for any of Ford's extreme or ridiculous ideas. So, this might reduce the harm that Ford can do to our city.

On the other hand, this could result in a lot of fighting at City Hall with little getting accomplished. At worst, I think, Toronto will stagnate for the next 4 years while Ford makes a fool of himself in Toronto and in the eyes of the world. At best, Council will push forward leaving Mayor Ford sputtering on the sidelines.

Let's hope for the best.


More thoughts on the future of Toronto:
The Galloping Beaver: Good luck Mr. Ford, good luck Toronto

Pantalone was the only mayoral candidate to show up to the Get Active Toronto debate

Ford, Smitherman no-shows - thestar.com

Rob Ford and George Smitherman abruptly pulled out of Wednesday’s
debate sponsored by Get Active Toronto, a coalition encouraging people
to get healthy through exercise.

Despite the last-minute cancellations, the event continued with
mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone, who spoke to about 200 people at the
downtown YMCA beside two empty chairs.

“I would say it’s disrespectful and disappointing,” said organizer
Catriona Delaney. “We wanted to know where Mr. Ford and Mr. Smitherman
stood on the subject of the importance of physical activity and the
health of Torontonians. Their actions spoke louder than their words.”

Do you want to elect people to council who won't show up? Of course not. Time to vote for a serious candidate - vote for Joe Pantalone for mayor!

More reasons to vote for Joe Pantalone instead of George Smitherman

Why Tories Support George Smitherman - Torontoist
Nearly 40 Conservatives, including ex cabinet ministers of the Mike Harris government, endorse George Smitherman.
Joe Pantalone said that "Mike Harris is back in the form of George
Smitherman...Why else would the Harris team have just endorsed him?"

Pantalone has the most labour support

Pantalone, Smitherman fight for labour vote - thestar.com
Pantalone still has the most labour endorsements, yet the Star plays up this one labour group supporting Smitherman as if he has more labour support.
Why would labour support Smitherman if he plans to contract stuff out and reduce staff?

Regardless, Pantalone is the only one with a reasonable and progressive plan for Toronto.

Smitherman bails

Queer Thoughts: Is Smitherman blackmailing voters?
The debate was scheduled for 90 minutes. It lasted 30 minutes as
George Smitherman had to go to pick up his endorsement from Montreal
Liberal MP, Justin Trudeau.

Obviously the debate couldn't go on
with just Joe Pantalone. Too bad the queer communities debate was cut
off before a full airing of the communities issues could happen. Is
George taking our vote for granted?
...
Smitherman comes off as a guy desperately seeking power, you're
either with us or against us. The last guy to say that made a horrible
mess of the world. Smitherman was last seen dashing out the door to a
waiting car so he could be sure to not keep Prince Justin waiting.

Joe Pantalone is your only real choice for mayor

Real Pantalone backers have little choice - thestar.com
Truth is very elusive, especially at election time. But mayoral
candidate Joe Pantalone is closer to the truth than some think when he
says there’s not that much difference between George Smitherman and Rob
Ford. ...

More endorsements for Pantalone

Sarah Polley, Gord Perks, Rosario Marchese – Just Some of the People Helping Build Joe-mentum for Election Day « MayorJoe.ca
On the heels of releasing a balanced budget with no service cuts or new
provincial funding and a plan for giving Community Councils control
over local budgets, just before his final policy announcements, and
amidst a new slew of radio ads and the placing of 5000 signs across
Toronto, Joe Pantalone was cheered this morning by over a dozen high
profile supporters.

“We must not roll back the clock on our great city,” said Councillor
Janet Davis, opening up the celebration at a packed-full campaign
headquarters.

“Joe Pantalone is the only candidate who uses real numbers,” said
Fiona Nelson of the Board of Health. “And he is the only one talking
about the future of our children.”

Councillor Gord Perks (who, according to today’s Toronto Star, “has
done inspired work on council”) said, “I’m going to vote with my
conscience. I’m going to vote for my city. That means I’m going to vote
for Joe Pantalone.”

MPP Rosario Marchese praised Joe’s “political intelligence, charm, and ability to work with all people.”

Actor Sarah Polley also made the following statement:

“Without Joe Pantalone, the destructive, angry tone of this mayoral
race would be too depressing to contemplate. Joe is the only candidate
for Mayor who is talking about building this city rather than tearing it
down He is dedicated to the environment and to the arts, and he
understands the great  value that cultural diversity brings to our
city.”

The full list of today’s endorsers: Janet Davis
(Councillor, Ward 31 Beaches-East York), Gord Perks (Councillor, Ward 14
Parkdale – High Park), Rosario Marchese (Current MPP for
Trinity-Spadina), Sarah Polley (Actor), Martin Silva (Former Ward 4
Councillor, CHIN radio personality), Mike Layton (candidate in Ward 19
Councillor), Fiona Nelson (Member of the Board of Health, Former Chair
of the Toronto District School Board), David Reville (Former Toronto
alderman, former MPP for Riverdale, Professor at School of Disability
Studies at Ryerson University)  Marten Holdenried (EMT, CUPE 416), Jill
Marzetti (Labour Council), Mike Seaward (Steelworkers), Charlene
Mueller (Toronto Hydro worker/CUPE 1 Treasurer), Catherine Leblanc
Miller (Trustee for Toronto Catholic School Board), Barry Lipton
(member of CommunityAIR).

Eye Weekly's This is what Rob Ford's Toronto would look like

Rob Ford's Toronto - EYE WEEKLY
(click the link for the whole story)
Excerpt:
The city would not be clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, so seniors and the disabled will be on their own. (Ford introduced an unsuccessful motion to cancel snow clearing.)

We’ll either be building affordable rental homes with city tax money or building them with love. (Ford introduced an unsuccessful motion to refuse $43 million in federal/provincial funding.)

Remember the garbage strike? Yeah, that wouldn’t be resolved. (Ford voted against approving the strike-ending contract.)

Streets to Homes would have to get by on less money because, you know, homeless people don’t need that much help. (Ford voted for reducing their budget by 5 per cent.)

Vote with your brain, not your ass - vote for Joe Pantalone.

Toronto ACORN - Mayoral Candidates' Report Card 2010
Toronto ACORN is a grassroots, non-profit, member organization that builds leadership and community organizations in low to moderate income neighbourhoods across the city. We believe that the poverty, discrimination, and community deterioration that exists in low-income communities is largely a result of a lack of civic engagement and community
leadership.
Summary of Ford's Report card:
Food Security: 0/4 - Ford did not have a food security platform.
Housing: 1/4 - Although Ford supports rent subsidies for low-income residents, he does not support building new affordable housing, inclusive zoning, landlord licensing or improved apartment inspections.
Jobs: 0/4 - Ford's platform did not include issues dealing with jobs.
Children and Youth: 0/4 - Ford's platform did not include issues dealing with children and youth.
Transit: 1/4 - Ford supports more costly subway expansion over more economical and more far-reaching light-rail expansion, and streetcars.
Total: 2/20 or 10%
(Note: Joe Pantalone scored highest with 18/20 or 90%)
Read the link for more details.

New Joe Pantalone Radio Ads

Listen to the ads:

• One candidate who will continue to build our city

• One candidate with a history of getting things done for Toronto

• One candidate who won't slash and burn public services

Mr. Freeze Fibs - Smitherman pushes for a meaner city

NOW Magazine // Vote TO // Mr. Freeze fibs
Written by Gord Perks, Councillor for Ward 14

Excerpt:

George Smitherman says that a vote for Joe Pantalone is a vote for Rob Ford.

Let’s
leave aside that this is self-serving and ignore how disappointing
Smitherman’s campaign is if he has to rely on not being Rob Ford to get
your vote. 

While Smitherman and a legion of pundits want the
strategic voting argument to be the most important factor in this
campaign, the fact is, it isn’t.

Here’s the truth: a vote for Ford
is a vote for an attack on public services; a vote for Smitherman is
also a vote for an attack on public services; a vote for Pantalone is
the only vote for sustained and improved public services.

The two
most telling election promises Smitherman has made are to freeze taxes
next year and to shed public service jobs by only hiring two new people
for every three who retire.

We all know Ford’s “gravy train”
doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. There simply aren’t enough pennies to
be pinched to support his sweeping tax cuts. 

What gets less
attention is the sleight of hand Smitherman uses to “balance” his budget
plan. His tax freeze principally rests on blowing surpluses generated
by Mayor David Miller ....
Read the rest at the link.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Strategic Stink

NOW Magazine // Vote TO // Strategic stink
Excerpt:

Once we drag out the logarithms, spreadsheets and poll numbers, a
case can be made that a strategic vote for Smitherman is actually more
likely to give us a city we’d be ashamed of than would a vote for Ford.
Despite claims by the mainstream press, if Ford were to win, he’d be
very unlikely to have council support, so getting his slash-and-burn
policies through would be a daily struggle. 

Smitherman’s
huge-tent, “I will be what you want me to be” approach is more likely to
be bought by a new council, meaning his own slash-and-burn approach
might actually become city policy and the recent great strides Toronto
has made would be dismantled and destroyed.

To ignite the
strategic voters’ Bunsen burner for a minute to warm this electoral
petri dish, I suggest that we might be doing more strategic harm
electing Smitherman than Ford. 

As the federal and provincial
governments continue to ignore this city and hoard their 90 per cent
share of tax dollars raised in Toronto, the next term will be tough for
any elected representative. If Ford were to win, the folly of his
policies and crazy promises would be quickly exposed. That means the
shit would hit the fan in plenty of time to pre-empt a new right revolt
led by provincial Conservative Tom “I Like Mike Harris” Hudak when the
Ontario vote happens in about 18 months. 

Voting “strategically”
for Ford might ensure that Ontario wouldn’t elect another Harris-style
Tory government. A vote for Smitherman would be more fuel on the fire to
discredit Liberals and hasten, perhaps guarantee, a horrible provincial
Tory backlash win.

But even thinking this way makes me want to
take a shower. I’m committed to marking my X beside a candidate I
believe in, not one I can merely put up with. And you can be sure that
if Smitherman is elected, he will interpret the result as a mandate, not
as lukewarm support. He will operate as if every vote were
enthusiastically given, not reluctantly, strategically offered. And if
you look at his not-so-different-from-Ford approach, that’s something to
fear.

Of course I want the candidates I vote for to win. But even
if they don’t, I want my vote – and my support – to stand with a
candidate and policies I believe in. 

Ideally we all use our votes
to elect those we believe in. But at the very least, we use our votes
to stand and be counted, and to make sure, even if the wrong candidate
is chosen, the winner knows there’s a significant group out there with a
different vision of the city.

By casting your vote with
confidence and conviction, not compromise and collusion, we might just
get a city government and a Toronto we can be proud of. It’s happened
before. Why not again?

On election day, vote for your principles, and vote for the policies you actually support.

Toronto Mayoral Race: The NOW interview: Joe Pantalone

NOW Magazine // Vote TO // The NOW interview: Joe Pantalone
Joe answers questions from NOW magazine.

Toronto Environmental Alliance grade the top mayoral candidates on the environment

Top Mayoral Candidates graded on the Environment | Toronto Environmental Alliance

Joe Pantalone 20/20 - Strongest on the Environment
George Smitherman 18/20 - Shows clear commitment
Rob Ford and Rocco Rossi - 0/20 - couldn't be bothered.

Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe at Lula's Lounge Oct. 14

Lula Lounge.ca :: Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe
Doors at 7pm
1585 Dundas St. W - West of Dufferin

Toronto Musicians for Mayor Joe
Fundraising event with Special Guest Hosts:

Jaymz Bee of JAZZ.FM and singer-songwriter and NOW Columnist, Andrew Cash

Join Michael Occhipinti, Yvett Tollar, Louis Simao, Rich Brown,
Maryem Tollar, Pat Murray, Dan Fortin, Tania Gill, Michelle Willis among
other special guests for an evening of positive songs in support of Joe
Pantalone and his positive vision of Toronto!

Toronto Mayoral Race: Joe Pantalone: community councils should have more control over local spending decisions

The Daily Plank: Fund community councils, says Pantalone - thestar.com
Excerpt:
Joe Pantalone would give greater control over local spending decisions to the four community councils.
If elected mayor on Oct. 25, Pantalone would free up $85 million for the community councils, which meet monthly to discuss development proposals, traffic issues and other local concerns.

The community councils — for Toronto and East York; North York, Etobicoke-York; and Scarborough — are made upof city councillors from those areas.

The community councils make recommendations to city council but they have no budget themselves, something Pantalone would change.

Of the $85 million Pantalone would make available, $10 million would go to improving commercial streetscapes; $30 million for parks; $40 million for community centres
and $5.5 million for snow clearing.

In a news conference at Yonge and Eglinton — the geographic centre of the city — Pantalone said the newfunding model would be implemented in 2012 after spending 2011 to work out any bugs.

The community councils would be able to advocate for more money by applying to council’s budget committee, he said.

And spending decisions of a community council could only be overturned by a two-thirds majority of the city council.

The move, he said, is designed to “strengthen local decision-making and control.”

Toronto Mayoral Race: Duke Pubs' burger poll puts Joe Pantalone in the lead

IMAGO RESTAURANTS INCORPORATED | Pantalone's Mayor Burger in the Lead!
Joe is in the lead with 197 Joe Pantalone Cricket Chicken Burgers sold.
Rossi is in 2nd with 178, Smitherman in 3rd with 163, and Ford is in a distant 4th with 85.

Toronto Mayoral Race: Rob Ford sued for libel for $6 million

Ford sued for $6 million by Boardwalk Pub owner - thestar.com
Excerpt:

Blunt-talking Rob Ford is being sued for $6 million by the owner of the infamous Boardwalk Pub.

Last month, George Foulidis gave the mayoral front-runner an ultimatum: apologize for suggesting he bribed city officials in exchange for a lucrative vending contract in the Beaches or face a libellawsuit.
Ford’s campaign team told reporters the candidate had no intention of backing away from earlier comments.

The candidate was formally served Tuesday. Ford did not respond to a request for comment.

The 11-page lawsuit accuses the crusading Etobicoke councillor of exploiting the Foulidis family for political gain.

“Mr. Ford knows that there is no evidence of wrongdoing by Mr. Foulidis,” the claim alleges. “He has done (this) solely for political gain and has sacrificed the reputation of Mr. Foulidis in the process.”

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Would you vote for someone who is so careless of money and responsibility as to make libellous statements resulting in a $6 million lawsuit?

Toronto Mayoral Race: Smitherman and Rossi endorse Pantalone

During the CBC Metro Morning debate on Oct. 5, 2010, when asked the question "If not you, then who?" both Smitherman and Rossi endorsed Joe Pantalone:

Smitherman:“Joe Pantalone, because more than anything else I think that an organization, that institutional memory and experience are powerful attributes.” (26:48 in the debate)

Rossi: “I think that Mr. Pantalone brings incredible assets to the table.” (27:25 in the debate)