Ford’s toadies

The five councillors who conspired with the mayor to fire TTC chief general manager Gary Webster

Frank Di Giorgio

(Ward 12, York South-Weston) Best known for confounding his council colleagues with technocratic speeches, Di Giorgio talks like a centrist but votes like a right-winger. Shares a love of football, political and otherwise, with the mayor. Hasn’t had this much bad press since that crooked garbage deal in the bad old days of North York council that helped send Mario Gentile to jail. Di Giorgio tried to hire Gentile as a staffer after that, but thought better of it when the media got wind of it.

---

Denzil Minnan-Wong

(Ward 34, Don Valley East) One of the mayor’s staunchest supporters, his backing of the Webster offing has been uncharacteristically muted. The extent of Ford’s madness may finally be getting to Minnan-Wong, a tender sort who may not be able to stomach the bloodletting that’s sure to follow Webster’s demise. Minnan-Wong talked about council moving forward after its decision to shelve the mayor’s subway plans.

---

Cesar Palacio

(Ward 17, Davenport) A no-name before Ford came along, Palacio likes to point out his fluency in four languages, but save for his opposition to library cuts, all he can say is “yes” when it comes to following the Ford agenda. If Giorgio Mammoliti is The Thumb, then Palacio is The Sidekick, known for serving up lobs at council meetings during question period for the mayor to knock out of the chamber. Has run down the St. Clair West right-of-way project in his ward, used by Ford symps to argue against light rail, but finds his political options shrinking now that his riding has gone NDP orange both provincially and federally since Ford took office.

---

Vincent Crisanti

(Ward 1, Etobicoke North) Has tied his political fortunes to Ford’s, which may come as a surprise to constituents who thought they were voting for an independent voice on council. Voted with Fordists on subways instead of LRTs, even though the LRT plan approved by council earlier this month would mean improved transit service for his ward. Said barely two words in his first year on council, until a community centre in Etobicoke North was among those proposed for cuts. Looking to feather his own nest now that the circle around Ford has markedly thinned.

---

Norm Kelly

(Ward 40, Scarborough Agincourt) A former Liberal in Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s government, Kelly, like most Libs from Scarberia, tilts noticeably to the right politically. Showed some leadership during Occupy Toronto’s time in St. James Park. But for a guy with a background in history, seems on track to repeat the political mistakes that have made him a bit player for most of his more than a decade on council.






Original Article
Source: NOW
Author: Enzo Di Matteo