.....How about Parade Of The Clowns?
175 reasons for a city-funded partyT.O. anniversary has City Hall socialists spending more money |
The champagne socialists (hopelessly) running Silly Hall (into financial ruin, I fear) have decided to throw themselves (and their like-minded elitist friends) a $250,000 shindig.
It doesn't appear to matter one bit that the city is facing record debt levels or Toronto drivers have been hit just this past week with Mayor David Miller's new $60-a-year personal vehicle tax grab.
Never mind that Toronto home buyers have been paying the mayor's duplicate land-transfer tax grab since this past July. Or that a new tax for the privilege of having one's garbage collected (by overpaid union forces) kicks in Nov. 1.
The excuse, er reason, for the taxpayer-funded "pahtee" -- which was approved in a blink of an eye by the mayor's handpicked minions at this week's executive committee meeting -- is to mark the 175th (!) anniversary of Toronto's incorporation on March 6, 2009.
"The incorporation of the city of Toronto is one of the transformative moments in the evolution of our community," says the city report. "At 175 years, Toronto is a city still writing its story."
My goodness, who writes this elitist nonsense? If the story is indeed still being written, I suspect it will not be a pretty one by the time Miller et al finish putting their socialist stamp on this city.
ANOTHER PHOTO OP
Besides, what is so special about 175 years other than a glorified excuse for a photo op (and a pretty expensive one at that)? The only thing about 175 that sticks out in my mind is the $175 million expected to be collected this year from the land transfer and personal vehicle taxes.
Nevertheless, the report suggests the $250,000 be spent on a public party at Nathan Phillips Square on March 6; a private evening "shmoozefest" in the City Hall rotunda following the public event; an exhibit called LIT CITY 2009 that will feature a selection of Toronto art and "evocative passages" from Toronto literature; a special 175th anniversary book launch and a contest to find an official Toronto song.
(Now really, finding an official song is a complete waste of time. After all, wouldn't the famous communist anthem, The Internationale, do just fine?)
But I digress. In typical city fashion, the festivities will no doubt be turned into yet another grand spectacle organized by a cast of thousands. In fact, a $40,000 budget has been estimated just for co-ordination.
The report says there is an official Toronto 175 Steering Committee led by deputy mayor Joe Pantalone and comprised of representatives of five city departments and agencies plus "others" -- who will "reach out" to a variety of city stakeholders. The $250,000 is to come from the city's economic development, culture and tourism budget.
Let's not forget this is the same city and the same mayor who had to be bailed out by Mastercard for a measley $100,000 last fall to open the city's outdoor rinks on time.
I hate to sound like a broken record but is there no end to the chutzpah of the Miller regime? Surely to goodness, if it was so darn important to throw such a shindig, they could find private donors to fund it, just like the rinks.
'NOT A LOT OF MONEY'
Pantalone told me the 175th anniversary is an occasion to celebrate "who we are and who we want to be."
He said using $250,000 for a population of 2.6 million people is "very appropriate" and "not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things."
When pressed as to how he could justify the money when they couldn't afford to open the outdoor rinks last year without a $100,000 injection from the private sector, he said it was like telling somebody they had to choose between "drinking water" and having "some solid food."
Okay then.
Coun. Mike Del Grande said this is just more proof that the city doesn't have a revenue problem but a spending problem.
"If there's a master plan for this place, I'd just like to get a copy of the program," he said.
Kevin Gaudet, Ontario director of the Ontario Taxpayers Federation, added the Miller regime is nothing if not good at "spending money on parties and trips.
"There's no longer an example of ridiculous spending from this city that could surprise anyone anymore."
Paul Moloney Sep. 04, 2008
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