See later posts above.
“Sharp” tax increase for $150,000 pay earners
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See later posts above.
Chow, Tory see critical 3-way split in October
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It’s a cheeky thing to say, but The South Bayview Bulldog is ready to say it again. John Tory and Rob Ford together are the most important men in Olivia Chow’s bid to become the mayor of Toronto. Residents saw that today (Thursday, May 1, 2014) as Ms. Chow refused to call on Rob Ford to resign immediately. It is a consummation that most voters would certainly say is devoutly to be wished. Time for this utterly unfit man to go. John Parker (Ward 26) had it right when he said the mayor should call it a career. Last night, Mr. Tory served the best purposes of his campaign by saying Ford should quit immediately. Tory should be so lucky. The polls all show that there is more than enough support among right and centre right voters to put Mr. Tory in the mayor”s office if Mr. Ford gets out of the race. Similarly, it seems necessary for Ms. Chow (the front runner) to keep Mr. Ford in the race as the ultimate spoiler for John Tory. Chow was asked four times during a news conference Thursday morning if the mayor should resign. On all occasions she said only that the voters should decide.
“Exploding whales” are pure media woo woo
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It is a comment about scary media more than anything else. Will three decomposing whales explode in the small Newfoundland town of Trout River and splatter whale stuff all over everything? It is a tale told in fearsome headlines on CNN’s site and in the National Post. “Dead whales on verge of exploding” is a typical U.S. screamer. But wait. Four paragraphs down in the CNN story is the most authoritative voice that might be heard on this alarming topic. It belongs to Jack Lawson, a scientist with Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He says a whale explosion is unlikely. Unlikely. Now rotting whales are a problem. But common sense advice for most people is to stay away from them, and keep your kids away. Last and best defense is a good wash. But we say again, this story is more about media woo who than whales.
Ford conduct “pantomime to itself” says Parker
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John Parker (Ward 26) has called Mayor Ford’s behavior a “pantomime all to itself” and suggested that the mayor should “call it a career” and resign. Mr. Parker said he had no idea how long a suitable period of rehabilitation might be but he said he doubted that a month was enough. He said the mayor has not been relevant to the city administration for “three years”.
Star Ed says he thinks there is a Ford “sex tape”
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Michael Cooke, the managing editor of the Toronto Star, said on CP24 this evening that editorial employees of the Star think that one of the three tapes in the possession of a drug dealer is a “sex tape.” The drug dealer is alleged to be trying to sell the tapes for “six figures.” Mr. Cooke said that “if this is true” it would be the end of the mayor. Being in a sex tape however does not appear to be a legal basis for removing a mayor from office.
Where are the detectives of Project Brazen?
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If it is possible for Globe and Mail reporters Robyn Doolittle and Greg McArthur to detail the things they say they know, then it seems the police might also know them. There is a duty on the police to now establish, if they can, reasonable and probable cause to act on clearly illegal activity.
Tory calls on Ford to resign immediately
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John Tory has called on Rob Ford to resign. Tory said he is relieved that the mayor will seek treatment for condition Karen Stintz has made a statement in which she said Mr. Ford has again revealed his bigoted and misogynous behaviour. Josh Matlow (Ward 22) appeared by phone on CP24 in which he also called on the mayor to resign.
“Smoked crack cocaine in sister’s basement”
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The Globe says that Mayor Ford is seen on a video smoking crack cocaine in his sister’s basement last Saturday morning. Globe and Mail drug revelations
Ford makes disgraceful comment about Stintz
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Don Peat at of the Toronto Sun is publishing details of the audio tape from a bar in which Mayor Ford has apparently disgraced himself in a manner as yet unseen. In this stream of comments Ford is quoted as making scurrilous remarks about Councillor Karen Stintz. Twitter
CP24: “Video may show mayor with drug”
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This link has the Globe’s version of the “mayor to take a break” story being discussed Wednesday night But beyond this, reporter Katie Simpson appeared tonight to be referencing a story that the mayor is in or has been placed in a “compromising position.” As the evening goes on, other reporters have described “video and well as audio” recordings which place the mayor in a situation of some type. Simpson said later that the video “may show the mayor with some sort sort of drug.” No other explanation was given for the use of these words. Globe and Mail
Toronto mayor on tape talking rubbish again: Sun
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Mayor Ford has apparently has been caught on audio tape in yet another public outburst which reporters at the Toronto Sun have described as offensive. They the behaviour is not unlike that seen in the video made at the Steak Queen Restaurant where a clearly disoriented mayor made shameful remarks about the chief of police. Joe Warmington, a reporter for the Toronto Sun, told CP24 that the mayor has said he will be taking a leave of absence to somehow or other deal with his disturbing habitual conduct. The Toronto Sun story will say that Ford was recorded by patrons of a bar earlier this week. The recording or recordings were apparently made without the mayor’s awareness but publicly.
HMV puts live music in Toronto store cave
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HMV, the struggling music and video store, is trying an inventive addition to business — a live music venue in the basement. All of this is occurring at the HMV on downtown Yonge St. not far from the roots of the retail music industry of the 60s, 70s and 80s. HMV Underground is an intimate (cave-like?) 140-person space. Managers say they hope to produce at least one performance a week. HMV is now owned by Hilco U-K which bought the 87-year-old retailer out of bankruptcy last year. HMV evokes its very old past with the words behind its name — His Master’s Voice was the motto given to the lifelike sound to be heard in the earliest phonograph recordings. HMV is said to need to get people into the store. Free music might do it. The company has shrunken in recent years. Recently, the large HMV in Eglinton Square closed. On 15 January 2013, HMV Group entered administration. Deloitte were appointed to deal with the administration of the company. On 16 January 2013, HMV Ireland declared receivership, and all Irish stores were closed. A week later, on 22 January 2013. On 5 April 2013, HMV was bought out of administration by Hilco UK for an estimated $150 million. 