Is Rob Ford doing a good job?

Do you think Rob Ford is doing a good job?

  • Yes

    Votes: 99 39.0%
  • No

    Votes: 155 61.0%

  • Total voters
    254

Steve Harper

Member
Mar 30, 2009
672
0
16
Apparently, adfer spending oodles of cash on KPMG, the only gravy found was on Robbie's shirt cuff.

Remember his pre-election line: "I've been a councillor for 10 years and I know exactly where the gravy is that needs to be cut."? Well, he obviously didn't know what the fuck he was talking about.
 

avxl1003

New member
Aug 31, 2009
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Rob Ford's platform "I will cut spending without reducing services!"

Except these ones...

- Reduce new affordable housing
- Reduce the number of subsidized child care spaces
- Reduce cultural services by closing museums with low attendance (I think attempting to increase attendance was seen as "fagotty")
- Reduce standard for snow clearing in parks and open spaces
- Reduce service for grass cutting except on sports fields (kids like playing find the broken bottles in the tall grass anyway)
- Reduce community and neighborhood development activities
- Eliminate Community Environment Days (also deemed "fagotty')
- Reduce service levels if required to to meet the minimum standard for snow clearing allowed by law

There are others.. Some are good, most strike me as bad. I'm aware that these are not necessarily all backed by Rob Ford.. At least not yet..

The funniest thing about this list of suggestions is that no-where did it mention the dismissal of any highly paid janitors, window-washers, mail clerks, etc.,. It also didn't mention the cutting of extravagant councilor expenses... Only services that tend to benefit the poor. I guess I misunderstood what "gravy" was.
 

GameBoy27

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2004
12,689
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I bet all 18 people who votes yes live in the inner suburbs and were responsible for voting this idiotic slob into office. The biggest concern that I have with him is that he wants to turn Toronto into a city like Detroit. The great cities of this world are transit oriented and encourages pedestrian traffic in the downtown areas. If you look at the voting map of this city, the vast majority of his support came from the inner suburbs....why doesn't he focus his attention on them rather than on downtown? People in downtown do not like him and do not want him to tamper with the way we live life. Why does Rob Ford and his supporters insist on turning downtown Toronto into a pro-automobile city? Encouraging people to use cars will not only cause more environmental and traffic issues but it also causes socioeconomic issues as well as it creates another barrier to prevent people from interacting with each other as they are isolated in their cars. One of the great things of Toronto is that we try to have as little barriers and have as much integration as possible in our urban fabric. Our city planners have an objective of placing public housing and lower economic neighbourhoods next to highly affluent areas to show that we can all get along and live next to each other no matter what our economic status is. This is vital for the long term social development of any city and the more Rob Ford concentrates on trying to get people to travel in their cars, the worse off it will be for the city of Toronto. I love cars and I love to drive my car, but when I commute to work I use transit as it is simply the smarter thing to do.
Rob Ford wants to turn Toronto into Detroit, really? Rob Ford is concentrating on getting more people in cars, really? What are you smoking? Just one example (since you're talking about transit) I think his plan to put the LRT underground on Eglinton is a good one and avoid creating another nightmare which is now St. Clair Ave W.

I'm also glad you use public transit, I do too when it makes more sense than to ride my bicycle or take the car. When I say makes more sense I mean takes less time. For me, taking the TTC to work means walking, street car, subway, bus then walk some more which take an hour each way for a total 2 hours round trip. If I take my car it's a 30 minute round trip. That's 375 additional hours travel time per year for taking the "better way". I will gladly pay a little extra to save that amount of time each year. Unless of course you don't value your time as I do.

No, Ford isn't perfect but neither was Miller, not even close. If the majority don't like what he is doing, he'll get voted out. That's how it works!
 

avxl1003

New member
Aug 31, 2009
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Rob Ford wants to turn Toronto into Detroit, really? Rob Ford is concentrating on getting more people in cars, really? What are you smoking? Just one example (since you're talking about transit) I think his plan to put the LRT underground on Eglinton is a good one and avoid creating another nightmare which is now St. Clair Ave W.
You have clearly not driven along St. Clair Avenue West in a long time. It moves faster than any of the other major routes that travel from East to West.
 

GameBoy27

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2004
12,689
2,587
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You have clearly not driven along St. Clair Avenue West in a long time. It moves faster than any of the other major routes that travel from East to West.
No I have and that's why I avoid it at all costs. It's nowhere near as fast as Lawrence. Each traffic light is significantly longer than other east/west routes and it's often down to one lane each way with parking. I've also noticed it's really slowed down the north/south traffic along that stretch. Not to mention it's dangerous as hell for cyclists. Guess Mr. bicycle Miller forgot to take them into consideration.
 

avxl1003

New member
Aug 31, 2009
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Granted, Lawrence moves very well. However it's a 3km trek up to Lawrence.

Yes, cycling on St. Clair is dangerous for cyclists. That's because the bicycle lanes are on Davenport that are about a half km south of St. Clair.

Furthermore, you would likely notice that while each traffic light is longer than other east west routes, it's intelligently designed with scores of left turn lanes. The fact that the streetcar is on a dedicated line makes it so that you never get stuck behind a bus/streetcar. And you also don't have to stop to allow passengers on/off the streetcar. There's no doubt that a subway would be better. But just because a subway would have been better doesn't mean that the St. Clair line is a failure. It accomplished what it set out to. It provides fast reliable transit to those that need it. It doesn't cause additional traffic problems (despite what you believe). And (albeit while over budget) was still built for a fraction of the cost of subway.
 

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
24,039
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Rob Ford wants to turn Toronto into Detroit, really? Rob Ford is concentrating on getting more people in cars, really? What are you smoking? Just one example (since you're talking about transit) I think his plan to put the LRT underground on Eglinton is a good one and avoid creating another nightmare which is now St. Clair Ave W.

I'm also glad you use public transit, I do too when it makes more sense than to ride my bicycle or take the car. When I say makes more sense I mean takes less time. For me, taking the TTC to work means walking, street car, subway, bus then walk some more which take an hour each way for a total 2 hours round trip. If I take my car it's a 30 minute round trip. That's 375 additional hours travel time per year for taking the "better way". I will gladly pay a little extra to save that amount of time each year. Unless of course you don't value your time as I do.

No, Ford isn't perfect but neither was Miller, not even close. If the majority don't like what he is doing, he'll get voted out. That's how it works!
Putting the LRT on Eglinton underground was never Ford's plan. The Eglinton LRT has been in the planning / design phase for about 5 years now and it was always proposed to put the Eglinton LRT underground. The limits have changed over the course of the study, but that's about it.

The big debate with respect to Eglinton has always been whether or not to build the tunnels to accomodate a future conversion to subway (which I think is a damn good idea) or to build the tunnels just to accomodate an LRT (glorified Street car) which is less expensive.

Mayor McCheese has had very little to do with the Engineering of the Eglinton LRT I can assure you.

I also disagree that St. Clair is a nightmare. The end result looks great and it works.

As to your contention that public transit takes longer than driving, well, duh, no-one ever said public transit was faster than driving all the time. Sometimes it's faster, sometimes it's not due to the very nature of how it works (i.e. picking up multiple passengers at multiple stops (stating the obvious here)). Public Transit is designed for moving the greatest number of people as efficiently as possible. It costs you less, it pollutes less, and it removes cars from the streets, and you don't need to pay for parking. Sometimes it's faster, but usually it's not. I don't recall the TTC ever marketing itself as "the faster way to go".
 

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
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Are you serious? Get a grip, It's crap. It's poorly designed, it's ruined businesses, it's unsafe for cars, transit and cyclicists, it's slow and 60% of it is unused 95% of the time. After winter 2012 it will be a big maintenance effort, with further delays, further costs and worse economic impact.


It has succeed at being a massive f*up.

There was no need for street cars on st.clair. Electric buses would have been fine.
I disagree.

St. Clair is working great, and any businesses that failed failed because they were failing in the first place or hanging on by a thread. Plus the number of business that did go under has been shown to be no different than at any other time along that street. The "failing business" is just an attempt by some merchants to get "compensation" from the City of Toronto. It's always the same. Every merchant figures if you need to do infrastructure work on the street that they should get a million bucks from the City.

Nope, doesn't work that way.. The strong businesses are now better off as the street looks much better, transit has improved drastically, new development is coming into the area.

Electric buses cannot move the same number of people as LRTs. (Less than half in fact.) Never mind that the City of Toronto gave up on Trolly buses 60 years ago as inefficient and too small.

But keep on riding the Brontasaurus. Ride him hard cowboy.
 
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avxl1003

New member
Aug 31, 2009
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Are you serious? Get a grip, It's crap. It's poorly designed, it's ruined businesses, it's unsafe for cars, transit and cyclicists, it's slow and 60% of it is unused 95% of the time. After winter 2012 it will be a big maintenance effort, with further delays, further costs and worse economic impact.


It has succeed at being a massive f*up.

There was no need for street cars on st.clair. Electric buses would have been fine.
Whoa.. 60% of it is unused 95% of the time? Where do you get these statistics?

Unsafe for cars? How exactly? By having dedicated left turn lanes with advance greens? By separating big and clumsy TTC vehicles from the rest of traffic on the road?

Yes, it's unsafe for cyclists, they should not take St. Clair (just as they shouldn't have before). Davenport is the cycle friendly road and it's a 2 minute ride away. But now that you mention it, how do you figure electric buses are cyclist friendly?

After winter 2012 it will be a big maintenance effort? Why didn't they need maintenance in 2010/11?

I'll admit it was plagued by delays which ended up costing SOME local businesses. But since being finished the entire area has flourished.
 

wigglee

Well-known member
Oct 13, 2010
10,189
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you mean bathurst and st. clair isn't the slowest intersection in town anymore?...you mean it's safe to drive that way again?
 

GameBoy27

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2004
12,689
2,587
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As to your contention that public transit takes longer than driving, well, duh, no-one ever said public transit was faster than driving all the time. Sometimes it's faster, sometimes it's not due to the very nature of how it works (i.e. picking up multiple passengers at multiple stops (stating the obvious here)). Public Transit is designed for moving the greatest number of people as efficiently as possible. It costs you less, it pollutes less, and it removes cars from the streets, and you don't need to pay for parking. Sometimes it's faster, but usually it's not. I don't recall the TTC ever marketing itself as "the faster way to go".
Oh right, it's 'the better way'. If that's the case, more people would take it but they don't because for the most part it's very inefficient. That's why so many still drive!

And speaking of inefficient, why do they need so many operators sitting in booths watching people deposit tickets and selling tokens. No wonder they never have any money. Ever been to Vancouver? Jump on a bus and get a card where by you can travel anywhere for 90 minutes, get off, back on, change directions etc. Here I get on a bus, get a transfer, get out at a stop to transfer to another bus and I have to wait there. Say it's freezing out and not knowing how long it will be until it arrives, I can't start walking towards my destination and jump on at the next stop should one arrive.

If I want to make just one stop on my way home, I have to pay again. There's so many things they could do to make it more user friendly. However what did anyone expect with Giambrone at the helm!

you mean bathurst and st. clair isn't the slowest intersection in town anymore?...you mean it's safe to drive that way again?
No shit, I avoid that intersection at all costs. One more thing, ask the fire department what they think of trying to navigate across St. Clair now. lol
 

fun-guy

Executive Senior Member
Jun 29, 2005
7,276
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You know so far this thread shows Ford has a 40% approval rating, that's pretty high in politics. Interesting with all the negativity that the media has thrust upon him.
 

GameBoy27

Well-known member
Nov 23, 2004
12,689
2,587
113
You know so far this thread shows Ford has a 40% approval rating, that's pretty high in politics. Interesting with all the negativity that the media has thrust upon him.
If Miller had won, would the city somehow magically have a zero budget shortfall? Or is the budget shortfall simply Ford's doing like so many would like to believe? If there was a budget shortfall and Miller was in power I guess we all know what he'd do, raise taxes!
 

fun-guy

Executive Senior Member
Jun 29, 2005
7,276
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I don't think that's the issue gameboy, the crux of the matter is Ford said during the campaign that he won't raise taxes, he won't cut services, and he would stop the gravy train. What's happening now is property taxes will be raised, some public services will be cut or eliminated altoghether but we don't know which ones, and he can't seem to find the gravy train in order to stop it, lol. Oh, let's not forget he wants to stop supporting the arts community and build a ferris wheel so we can play by the water.

Some people who voted for him are starting to see him as a liar and will say anything to get elected, as if any other politiican who do anything different, lol. He's losing trust, that makes him a true politician.
 

Jennifer_

New member
I don't drive anymore and used to live close to the St. Clair west steer car.

I find it visually appealing. As a ttc user the and a resident of St. Clair west then- once all was up and running, I found the street car efficient and found that St. Clair ran smoothly.

The businesses that failed were (from my observation) a bit sketchy in the first place.... There was lotsa new development happening last year when I moved.

My opinion on Ford is far from favorable... The city manager's announcement today just sealed the deal making me livid and afraid of what's on the works...... Ya- I'm liberal but i am open minded enough to have fiven him a chance- every thing that's happened in city hall since he took power feels like a disaster brought on by a dictator foreign to our city. We who love Toronto and what our city stands for need to wake the hell up and call Ford the mayor and Ford the (apparent) vice mayor (lol) out on what's happening.

I'm scared of what us to come....
 
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d_jedi

New member
Sep 5, 2005
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Ford is not doing a good job. We were told no service cuts "guaranteed".. in very short order, he broke that promise.
Not that I actually expected him to *keep* his promises.. but he has lost any good will he may have gained by being elected mayor..
 

d_jedi

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Sep 5, 2005
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james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
24,039
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Actually Stintz and Ford are rumoured not to be getting along so well these days.

She's stated publically that extending the Sheppard Subway is a dumb idea (and it is) and this threw Mayor McCheese into another of his famous rages. To make matters even worse she has also stated that she does not agree with closing libraries - which the McCheeses are in favour of in order to be able to help finance an NFL team.
 
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