You Have Got Read The Letters To The Editor Joe

Mayor winning PR war

So far, people seem to be blaming the strike on the workers, Joe says

By JOE WARMINGTON

"Come on David, Come on David."

Holding picket signs, striking CUPE workers were banging on the window and chanted his name.

Inside Metro Hall at a news conference where you could hear all of this, Mayor David Miller didn't bat an eye. In fact he has this look in his eye as if he can smell an all-out victory.

We will see, but so far the city is not crippled and people are adjusting. But he is winning and he knows it. It seems the cancellation of Canada Day festivities, the garbage pileups in parks and the closing of pools and day care and summer camps are being blamed on the strikers.

In fact, when I walked out with him from Metro Hall I did not see one person who had anything negative to say to the mayor. Most cheered him on. The same can't be said for members of the two CUPE locals who have so far lost the public relations battle in my view. Word is he once walked the picket line with these same strikers. Not true. "I have seen it written but it is not accurate," he said.

The confusion is in 2002 he was held up at a picket line ---- where he spoke with strikers. He says he never picketed with them. "As a lawyer it is not something I would do."

As long as he doesn't give away the store, he is poised to win this in terms of public opinion.

Interesting side note, but guess who was picking garbage on the street? You got it: The mayor. I saw him do it. Maybe we don't need all of those high-priced, on strike garbage collectors after all. The city's management deserves a giant pat on the back for keeping things together so well. (Isn't this the group whose wages were frozen by Comrade Miller and the clown council) And the mayor is part of that success. Now if we could just get Mayor Ozone to scrap the 5 cents charge on plastic bags -- after all, the overflowing garbage cans are being secured with plastic wrap!

Come on David, Come on David!