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Of all things, my local paper had a commentary on the Toronto mayor. What a "unique" politician. Sounds like he believes in fulfilling promises. But, on the other hand, his reverence for the law seems marginal. Now that I think about it, he reminds me of Gov. Jesse Ventura.
All I will say is that HE IS THE WORST MAYOR POSSIBLE FOR THIS CITY AT THIS TIME IN ITS HISTORY. Besides his many personal flaws (which wouldn't matter all that much if they weren't so obviously hampering his ability to be an effective mayor), Rob Ford is an example of Mike Harris's amalgamation chickens coming home to roost. From now on, I expect Toronto will have a lot more councillors from the suburbs running the city, and the results - as we've seen - aren't pretty. You can call Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke Toronto, but that doesn't make them the same thing, and what's good for one may be very bad for the other - and vice-versa.
These competing interests are one of the reasons Toronto will probably still be without better transit twenty years from now - the suburbs want subways despite the lack of population density and ridership to support them. On the other hand, the downtown desperately needs relief lines, but suburbanites scoff at paying a dime to fund any transit scheme that doesn't give them subways, even if what it does give them is exactly what is needed and can be afforded - light rail. Just one example of how amalgamation is screwing the city almost twenty years later, and will continue to haunt us for the foreseeable future. Toronto is just too different from it's "boroughs" to be lumped together as they are. Rob Ford is a product of this, but he is also a sorry SOB who has no business sitting in a mayor's chair anywhere.
All I will say is that HE IS THE WORST MAYOR POSSIBLE FOR THIS CITY AT THIS TIME IN ITS HISTORY. Besides his many personal flaws (which wouldn't matter all that much if they weren't so obviously hampering his ability to be an effective mayor), Rob Ford is an example of Mike Harris's amalgamation chickens coming home to roost. From now on, I expect Toronto will have a lot more councillors from the suburbs running the city, and the results - as we've seen - aren't pretty. You can call Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke Toronto, but that doesn't make them the same thing, and what's good for one may be very bad for the other - and vice-versa.
These competing interests are one of the reasons Toronto will probably still be without better transit twenty years from now - the suburbs want subways despite the lack of population density and ridership to support them. On the other hand, the downtown desperately needs relief lines, but suburbanites scoff at paying a dime to fund any transit scheme that doesn't give them subways, even if what it does give them is exactly what is needed and can be afforded - light rail. Just one example of how amalgamation is screwing the city almost twenty years later, and will continue to haunt us for the foreseeable future. Toronto is just too different from it's "boroughs" to be lumped together as they are. Rob Ford is a product of this, but he is also a sorry SOB who has no business sitting in a mayor's chair anywhere.
Transit there may be less than residents want, but let me assure you it is far better than practically every city I've visited in the last few years. Torontians are really spoiled. When you make your comparison, what cities are you benchmarking against? I keep telling people where I live how I got on the system and stayed in it to get to distant suburban destinations. Not only that, the segments were on time! And the riders were disciplined. None of this "Oh do I have my fare?" while the bus sits and waits and people in the line behind who already found their fare steam. But sure, there must be better. I just want to ride THAT transit while still able to enjoy it.
Transit there may be less than residents want, but let me assure you it is far better than practically every city I've visited in the last few years. Torontians are really spoiled. When you make your comparison, what cities are you benchmarking against? I keep telling people where I live how I got on the system and stayed in it to get to distant suburban destinations. Not only that, the segments were on time! And the riders were disciplined. None of this "Oh do I have my fare?" while the bus sits and waits and people in the line behind who already found their fare steam. But sure, there must be better. I just want to ride THAT transit while still able to enjoy it.
They are comparing to other Canadian cities. Frankly, every Canadian city punches above its weight in transit compared to American burgs. As such, the fact that our largest city doesn't punch higher is embarrassing, its subway isn't even as extensive as Chicago's, the city most similar to it. There's a huge demand for it and the city can't get its act together to deliver what the people want and need.
All I will say is that HE IS THE WORST MAYOR POSSIBLE FOR THIS CITY AT THIS TIME IN ITS HISTORY. Besides his many personal flaws (which wouldn't matter all that much if they weren't so obviously hampering his ability to be an effective mayor), Rob Ford is an example of Mike Harris's amalgamation chickens coming home to roost. From now on, I expect Toronto will have a lot more councillors from the suburbs running the city, and the results - as we've seen - aren't pretty. You can call Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke Toronto, but that doesn't make them the same thing, and what's good for one may be very bad for the other - and vice-versa.
These competing interests are one of the reasons Toronto will probably still be without better transit twenty years from now - the suburbs want subways despite the lack of population density and ridership to support them. On the other hand, the downtown desperately needs relief lines, but suburbanites scoff at paying a dime to fund any transit scheme that doesn't give them subways, even if what it does give them is exactly what is needed and can be afforded - light rail. Just one example of how amalgamation is screwing the city almost twenty years later, and will continue to haunt us for the foreseeable future. Toronto is just too different from it's "boroughs" to be lumped together as they are. Rob Ford is a product of this, but he is also a sorry SOB who has no business sitting in a mayor's chair anywhere.
Transit was the responsibility of Metro so as much as I opposed and still dislike amalgamation I don't think this explains it.
The Downtown Relief Line would benefit suburbanites too...but somehow it's perceived as benefiting "only" downtowners. Maybe they need to change the name!
Of all things, my local paper had a commentary on the Toronto mayor. What a "unique" politician. Sounds like he believes in fulfilling promises. But, on the other hand, his reverence for the law seems marginal. Now that I think about it, he reminds me of Gov. Jesse Ventura.
...or Silvio Berlusconi, Marion Barry or Buddy Cianci.
he may not be the greatest mayor, but how our leftist media such as the Star repeatedly reported about him in the darkest possible light is basically harassment. It is more like a personal vendetta than impartial news reporting.
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