You City Council Led By
Bozo The ClownCouncil had to be dragged, prodded and embarrassed into the new regime this week. Normally immune to the kind of criticism that moves mere mortals to reform, the outcry this time was too pointed and persistent.
And it was Ford's relentless, confrontational, sassy, irreverent tactics that turned the trick.
He got help from skinflint Councillor Doug Holyday. The integrity commissioner and auditor general got in their jabs. The city clerk finally stiffened her back to challenge some indiscretions. But it was Ford who led the assault in the face of strident, petty opposition and hostility from his colleagues.
The mayor didn't help. He provided cover for the profligate few who sullied the reputation of the many.
Veterans, insulated by a sense of entitlement and an acquired taste for public largesse, operated as if oblivious to the discontent over spending.
They took $200 limo rides outside the city late at night, with no explanation of which constituent they were visiting. They used taxis as their private autos. They eschewed coffee machines just outside their office door to purchase espresso machines. They funded all kind of teams and agencies and enterprises that returned the favour – and votes – come election time. They wined and dined on the public purse, supper after lunch after supper.
And some rookie councillors arriving at city hall immediately fell into bed with the spendaholics.
Ford, in an extreme way, would have none of it. He violated council rules himself by not filing expenses that the rules say must be recorded, though the money came from his own pocket. Seizing on this, councillors sought to persecute him.
But on this, the irascible Ford was on the side of the angels.
While council this week made some changes, based on a report from the city clerk, don't go back to sleep thinking all is well.
Two recommendations were rejected, including a proposed ban on handouts to sports teams and ward agencies and groups. That was too sweet to let go.
Councillors have become adept at currying favour with local groups by using their office budget as a slush fund to finance favoured friends. The disbursed money is in addition to the $30 million in city grants to such groups. There is no open ward grant system. Money is not openly available to all ward groups who apply and are judged on merit. It is usually distributed quietly to those in the know and is rightly viewed as inappropriate and a form of political patronage.
Yet the practice will continue.
Take the heralded annual limit of $500 placed on restaurant meals (sans alcohol) that councillors can have with staff and each other. One councillor was flabbergasted that she was expected to live on that. You can expect she and others will find loopholes to get around it: Call in a councillor friend from Vaughan or Mississauga and, bingo, you can charge beyond the $500 limit.
The new rules are tighter, better. Expense claims will be posted on the city's website. That should keep honest people honest. But you can't legislate integrity.
All things considered, the office budget, at $53,100, is $13,000 too high. It's this extra play money that ensnares them. And that's why there'll always be room for a Rob Ford at city hall.
Royson James usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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