Mayor Rob Ford says his official internal itineraries include only a fraction of his activities.
A Saturday Star article revealed that Ford's itineraries for early 2012 included less than half of the meetings of his itineraries for early 2011. It cited sources, including current and former Ford staffers, who said he often does not leave his home until noon. And it said he routinely doesn’t show up for long-scheduled meetings and events.
Speaking on his Sunday radio show, Ford did not challenge any of the specifics of the article. But, calling Star employees “pathological liars,” he said that he does far more than his itineraries show.
Because Ford does not release a weekly schedule of public activities, as previous mayors did, the Star files freedom of information requests to obtain his internal itineraries.
“When they go for these freedom of information — they might get a tidbit of what's really going on,” Ford said.
As evidence, Ford cited his cherished one-on-one work with constituents — which his itineraries suggest has also dropped off. He said he returns 40 to 50 constituent phone calls per day; on Tuesday, he said, he worked from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to visit 14 or 15 constituents, “knocking on doors” and wearing out staffers in the process.
“So if people want to know what I'm doing,” he said, laughing, “just talk to staff.” He later added: “I'm just doing what people want me to do.”
Ford's brother and radio co-host, Councillor Doug Ford, said the mayor works “non-stop, 18 hours a day.
“For anyone to say that you aren't working around the clock is frustrating,” Doug Ford said.
Rob Ford also said any 2013 residential property tax increase will be “way” under 2 per cent. His 2011 budget froze property tax rates, and his 2012 budget included a 2.5 per cent increase.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Daniel Dale
A Saturday Star article revealed that Ford's itineraries for early 2012 included less than half of the meetings of his itineraries for early 2011. It cited sources, including current and former Ford staffers, who said he often does not leave his home until noon. And it said he routinely doesn’t show up for long-scheduled meetings and events.
Speaking on his Sunday radio show, Ford did not challenge any of the specifics of the article. But, calling Star employees “pathological liars,” he said that he does far more than his itineraries show.
Because Ford does not release a weekly schedule of public activities, as previous mayors did, the Star files freedom of information requests to obtain his internal itineraries.
“When they go for these freedom of information — they might get a tidbit of what's really going on,” Ford said.
As evidence, Ford cited his cherished one-on-one work with constituents — which his itineraries suggest has also dropped off. He said he returns 40 to 50 constituent phone calls per day; on Tuesday, he said, he worked from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. to visit 14 or 15 constituents, “knocking on doors” and wearing out staffers in the process.
“So if people want to know what I'm doing,” he said, laughing, “just talk to staff.” He later added: “I'm just doing what people want me to do.”
Ford's brother and radio co-host, Councillor Doug Ford, said the mayor works “non-stop, 18 hours a day.
“For anyone to say that you aren't working around the clock is frustrating,” Doug Ford said.
Rob Ford also said any 2013 residential property tax increase will be “way” under 2 per cent. His 2011 budget froze property tax rates, and his 2012 budget included a 2.5 per cent increase.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Daniel Dale
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