Calling Them Dysfunctional Would Be A Compliment

Comrade Miller Talking to His Supporters

Comrade Millers Flunkies

City Hall seen by a bloke: It's a joke By ROB GRANATSTEIN

After covering Toronto City Hall every day for three years, I can safely say watching city council meetings is something I would not wish on even a New York Yankee fan.

It's confusing, frustrating, democracy at its worst on many days, sloppy, petty, pathetic and a spin-fest.

Delightful for columnists, required for the workings of a city, but just an awful example of how to get things done.

If you go, chances are you'd rethink how you vote in the next election.

Usually the mayor sounds official, prepared and intelligent -- even if you disagree with his point of view. He is the mayor. He has a staff that can get the job done, and does, and he's been doing this for a while and understands how to push the right buttons while at the same time toying with his adversaries.

But I'm always delighted to hear from members of the public who drop by the clamshell for a little example of how our city works.

Reader Wayne Shannon did just that for this week's council meeting. I'm not sure he's recovered yet.

Here's a bit of his interesting take on council after experiencing some of the Jarvis St. debate:

* City council is too large, 22 would be more than sufficient.

* Damn Dalton! He shoulders the blame for giving the mayor dictatorial powers, all be it over an obviously dysfunctional council.

* This was not a discussion on a proposal but a fait accompli. The mayor had already decided this was going to happen.

* The numbers presented disputing the mayor's logic were staggering but it did not matter.

* The normal democratic rules of order do not apply. Their selective application is so obvious it is embarrassing. Even someone who didn't know the players would be able to figure out who is in the mayor's favour and who is not.

"During the discussions, and in the case of certain unnamed councillors, I came to the conclusion it should be a prerequisite for an elected official in this city to have an IQ somewhat above ambient room temperature," Shannon wrote in an e-mail to me.

"It has prompted me to get active for the next municipal election. I am not yet sure what form that will take at this point but I will work for change (for the better) for the next group down there and hope to have a lot of company for the attempt.

"Finally, despite what some of my friends and colleagues think there must be a change at the top next year in this city," Shannon continued. "If there is no other viable candidate to step up to the plate to run against Miller other than Karen Stintz then I will be voting for her. Miller needs to be gone and perhaps Karen may be able to reverse the dismal record of Toronto's previous female mayors.

"I sense that perhaps an 'anyone but Miller' campaign may be growing in momentum."

The next council meeting is July 6 and 7. The mayor's top item goes first on Monday morning. Stop by. Enjoy.

ROB.GRANATSTEIN@SUNMEDIA.CA