Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Rocco...it's time.

Rocco Rossi...what were you thinking?

The old adage that any publicity is good publicity may not apply with regard to your new ads.

Who thought that your tongue-in-cheek humour would go over well with the Italian community? Did anyone question whether it was appropriate to have a mobster image? "Tongue-in-cheek" is now "foot-in-mouth".

Rocco...I'm afraid "desperate" is not what we are looking for in a Mayor. Running these new ads to get attention is a sign of bad judgement.

It's now time to show good judgement. I think you should take the next week to let the dust settle and think about who you want to back to stop Rob Ford.

If you have a chance to save your reputation it's time to do something that could make a difference. John Nunziata could have made a difference by endorsing Tory but did not and so the city got Miller. You can make a difference this time so Toronto gets something more than Ford.

It's time to make your move Rocco.

In Love with Rob Ford...

So the love affair with Rob Ford continues...and as the saying goes "love is blind".

It appears that Toronto voters are prepared to give the "man with no plan" a four year mandate as their Mayor. Ford is now so confident he is getting his team involved in races across the city to support those running for Council who support his ideals (reminds me of Harper and his Senate appointments).

Stop the Gravy Train at City Hall! is the rallying cry and the people jump up and down in support.

But that's all there is.

Where's the plan to build a city...to make Toronto great? To have this city realize it's potential? So after Mayor Rob cuts the waste then what? Search out more waste? In a city plagued by inadequate transit, an aging infrastructure, and some of the best lake front in the world where is the plan to build the city?


Please Toronto, ask the candidates for Mayor what their vision of the city is. This can't be just about cutting waste...it's got to be about what can be done to further Toronto as a city over the next four years.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Hurricane Hazel in Mississauga...Will she or won't she?

Over the summer GTA voters have been bombarded with news from the Toronto battle of Ford vs Smitherman. It has appeared to be the only story worth following. However, I beg to differ.

I must draw your attention west of the city. A major battle is about to occur in Mississauga, where Hurricane Hazel has reigned for over 30 years.

In 2006 less than 25% of Mississauga voted (shame on you Mississauga!). Hazel won 92% of the vote.
She did not spend a dime on her campaign...no signs...no literature...virtually no campaign.

This election it's different. Appearing before a council called inquiry (costing taxpayers $5 million and counting) has no doubt bruised the Mayor. Has it bruised her so badly she will pack it in? Or will it anger and energize her? Who knows?


What we do know is that Hazel has not yet filed her candidate papers.

Next Friday afternoon nominations are closed. She maintains that she is going to run yet nothing is filed with the city clerk.

So people ask..."will she or won't she?".

This question, this potential opportunity, has Carolyn Parrish in a quandry. She will not face off against Hazel because by all accounts she would lose. But if the Mayor doesn't run Parrish has missed a golden opportunity to claim the chair she so ambitiously covets. So what to do?

I know...take out some insurance...a little "just in case" policy. Why not run someone that could be a placeholder...to keep the seat warm if you will, should the circumstance present itself for a shot at the title, should the Mayor decide to retire.

Enter Mr. George Winter who filed his papers to run for Mayor last week.

George Winter's political credentials include working for both Carolyn Parrish and George Carlson (Thing One and Thing Two or Dynamic Duo? ).

Apparently the history with George and Carolyn is just a coincidence. (I'm not buying it!).

Perhaps a little history is in order.

Carlson and Parrish have over the last 3 years organized the opposition to the Mayor...using a variety of tactics to intimidate both fellow councillors and city staff and have created a poisonous stagnant air in Mississauga only rivaled by that in Ottawa.

Team Parrish (aka The Gang of Seven) have begun to plan for Carolyn's ascension to the throne...and they outdo themselves to curry favour with the would-be queen.

Not so fast.  All of Team Parrish faces challenges in their respective wards, from credible, intelligent candidates who want to see a return of constructive and effective government in Mississauga. 

Ward 6 is the epi-centre of this battle, where the "Carolyn Parrish Must Go!" movement is embodied in the person of Ron Starr. Prevailing wisdom seems to say Carolyn's star in Mississauga has grown dimmer, not brighter with her self admitted "evil Carolyn" moments. As the two sides face off the intensity of this battle will increase and look for this one to get nasty.

If the Mayor does file next week, will she run a campaign? Will she go after those who threaten to smear her legacy? Will she be Hurricane Hazel one last time?

So tune in to The Battle for Mississauga...what happens there could be as entertaining as Toronto. Close your eyes for just a moment and imagine...a GTA ruled by Carolyn Parrish and Rob Ford. (involuntary shudder)!