...Snivelman won't get a hard on for taxpayers unless he is elected...let's stifle his ambitions.
Candidates scrambling before television debate
Last Updated: July 20, 2010 6:14pm
Rocco Rossi jumped on the TTC yet again, the transit system’s troubles having been a consistent theme throughout the campaign so far, to say he’d have the Red Rocket running on a smart card fare system within 90 days if he wins the Oct. 25 election.
“I am committing today to bringing Toronto into the 21st century by adopting the regional Presto card system,” Rossi said. “If I am elected mayor, I will fast track the adoption of the smart card throughout the TTC as part of making customer service a top priority in this city.”
Rossi said the $356 million cost of moving to electronic fare collection would be covered in three years through savings, although he conceded most of those savings would have to come from paying fewer people to collect tickets.
Brad Ross, a spokesman for the TTC, said the province’s Metrolinx Presto card can now be used at seven subway stations, including Union, and will be in two more by the end of July. But the TTC is also looking at developing an “open fare” system where passengers could tap or swipe their own debit and credit cards, so no decision has been made yet about expanding Presto to surface vehicles, as Rossi vowed to do.
While Rossi was giving the gears to the TTC for moving at a snail’s pace on smart cards, George Smitherman was hoofing it down Eglinton Ave. on Day Two of his crosstown walk, in which he plans to meet and greet in 15 wards across the city.
The former cabinet minister and deputy premier took time out from his trek to accuse Councillor Rob Ford of hiding his campaign platform, saying Ford committed more than a month ago to release his complete list of promises and policies but has yet to follow through.
“Ford says his platform ‘is coming,’ but so is Christmas,” a Smitherman campaign release said. “Given that most of the analysis done on Rob Ford’s statements to date hasn’t backed up what Rob Ford is saying, it’s time for him to release the details of his plan (assuming he actually has one) so Torontonians can judge for themselves whether it stands up to scrutiny.”
Ford restricted himself to tweeting about his meetings with constituents and taking in the Etobicoke Business Luncheon.
Deputy mayor Joe Pantalone also kept a low profile before the debate Tuesday while Sarah Thomson promised to beautify the city with panel of designers and architects reviewing development projects, more public consultation, heritage protection for every government-owned building build before 1920 and a plan to bury underground the overhead web of wires on city streets.
Her campaign was less forthcoming about who will fill the vacant post of campaign manager, refusing to comment on a widely circulated e-mail saying former Progressive Conservative leader and mayoral contender John Tory’s son George Tory would soon be named to the post.
G20, Rob Ford’s record dominate mayoral debate
Tue Jul 20 2010
Rob Ford says as mayor he would have given police “direction” to move in and arrest G20 vandals, sparking criticism during Tuesday’s mayoral debate. 
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