http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/1...livia-chow-tour-jane-and-finch-neighbourhood/
Antonius Clarke has lived around Jane and Finch his whole life. He went to Westview Centennial Secondary School, he studied sociology at York, and mounted a failed bid to represent Ward 8 four years ago. His experience: politicians show up during elections, then disappear into the horizon.
So, on Monday, the 29-year-old tried something new, inviting mayoral candidates for a tour of his home turf, an area often associated with poverty, crime and neglect.
“I’m trying to give these candidates an opportunity to change this cycle,” he told reporters outside a plaza on Jane Street, south of Finch. “There is a group of people really in need of them, and it’s a gold mine.”
It was certainly a bonanza for Doug Ford, who was showered with support and affection from virtually everyone he came across during the tour, which also included Olivia Chow.
The walk through a collection of rundown Toronto Community Housing buildings was organized by the Inner City Union, a local group trying to drum up more civic engagement. Mr. Clarke said the group will host John Tory on another walk later this week, because a scheduling conflict prevented him from attending Monday’s event, held exactly one week before the Oct. 27 election.
Mr. Ford was an energizer bunny as soon as he stepped out of an RV with his face emblazoned on the side. He did a beeline for outstretched hands, as young men approvingly called out “bop, bop, bop.” Suddenly, he was inside New Style Hair Design, crouching between two women with towels around their hair, giving the cameras a thumbs up.
At 8 Dune Grass Way, the two politicians walked past an unravelled emergency fire hose that spilled out onto the floor. They stopped before an exposed set of pipes in the wall. “This is unacceptable,” said Mr. Ford. “We’ve got to do a complete audit of the building.” At 40 Turf Grass Way, it looked like a security camera had repeatedly been spray-painted and cleaned. Another building had a leaky hallway ceiling.
At one point, Mr. Ford disappeared into a unit. “You don’t have to worry about me,” he declared. “I could come here at 1 o’clock in the morning. And as long as you have a Ford Nation shirt, you’re safe.”
The tour included a stop at a mural that honoured 12 local youth who had been killed over the years. Mr. Clarke said the mural hid bullet holes, a contention that was disputed by Barry Rieder, a minister with the Jane Finch Community Ministry.
Ms. Chow, meanwhile, would linger at doorways even as the cameras continued on with Doug Ford. She told one resident about her plans to expand after-school programs and other support for youth. Earlier in the day, she suggested a grading system could improve the condition of privately owned buildings. But at Jane and Finch, as children kept clamouring for Ford selfies in a recreation centre, Ms. Chow found herself edged outside of the frame.
Mr. Rieder, the minister, would later remark that people’s enthralment with the Fords was more based on celebrity, and less on what the brothers had actually done in their favour. “Rob Ford never voted for any community grants,” he said. “The community voted for Mike Harris, thinking they were going to get jobs. Little did they know many of their social assistance was going to be cut.”
And yet, ladies flocked to Doug Ford as he made his way back to the plaza. They proudly pinned Doug Ford for mayor buttons on their shirts and waved his campaign literature to cars driving by. “This is who stand up for us. We got to stand up for him,” one woman said.
Antonius Clarke has lived around Jane and Finch his whole life. He went to Westview Centennial Secondary School, he studied sociology at York, and mounted a failed bid to represent Ward 8 four years ago. His experience: politicians show up during elections, then disappear into the horizon.
So, on Monday, the 29-year-old tried something new, inviting mayoral candidates for a tour of his home turf, an area often associated with poverty, crime and neglect.
“I’m trying to give these candidates an opportunity to change this cycle,” he told reporters outside a plaza on Jane Street, south of Finch. “There is a group of people really in need of them, and it’s a gold mine.”
It was certainly a bonanza for Doug Ford, who was showered with support and affection from virtually everyone he came across during the tour, which also included Olivia Chow.
The walk through a collection of rundown Toronto Community Housing buildings was organized by the Inner City Union, a local group trying to drum up more civic engagement. Mr. Clarke said the group will host John Tory on another walk later this week, because a scheduling conflict prevented him from attending Monday’s event, held exactly one week before the Oct. 27 election.
Mr. Ford was an energizer bunny as soon as he stepped out of an RV with his face emblazoned on the side. He did a beeline for outstretched hands, as young men approvingly called out “bop, bop, bop.” Suddenly, he was inside New Style Hair Design, crouching between two women with towels around their hair, giving the cameras a thumbs up.
At 8 Dune Grass Way, the two politicians walked past an unravelled emergency fire hose that spilled out onto the floor. They stopped before an exposed set of pipes in the wall. “This is unacceptable,” said Mr. Ford. “We’ve got to do a complete audit of the building.” At 40 Turf Grass Way, it looked like a security camera had repeatedly been spray-painted and cleaned. Another building had a leaky hallway ceiling.
At one point, Mr. Ford disappeared into a unit. “You don’t have to worry about me,” he declared. “I could come here at 1 o’clock in the morning. And as long as you have a Ford Nation shirt, you’re safe.”
The tour included a stop at a mural that honoured 12 local youth who had been killed over the years. Mr. Clarke said the mural hid bullet holes, a contention that was disputed by Barry Rieder, a minister with the Jane Finch Community Ministry.
Ms. Chow, meanwhile, would linger at doorways even as the cameras continued on with Doug Ford. She told one resident about her plans to expand after-school programs and other support for youth. Earlier in the day, she suggested a grading system could improve the condition of privately owned buildings. But at Jane and Finch, as children kept clamouring for Ford selfies in a recreation centre, Ms. Chow found herself edged outside of the frame.
Mr. Rieder, the minister, would later remark that people’s enthralment with the Fords was more based on celebrity, and less on what the brothers had actually done in their favour. “Rob Ford never voted for any community grants,” he said. “The community voted for Mike Harris, thinking they were going to get jobs. Little did they know many of their social assistance was going to be cut.”
And yet, ladies flocked to Doug Ford as he made his way back to the plaza. They proudly pinned Doug Ford for mayor buttons on their shirts and waved his campaign literature to cars driving by. “This is who stand up for us. We got to stand up for him,” one woman said.
