Why can't a political conversation ever happen without you, Jack Fava, NOT bring up Giambrone. It's a tired record. Every mayor in term does NOT have a run without some sort of crisis. BUT overall, I don't buy that Miller's terms in office created huge suffering for the masses.
IF Ford is elected, no the city may not burn down over night, but there will be a slow burn for many city run social programs that one day after four years, the residents of Toronto will wake up and find out that there more people sleeping on the streets, more division for the have's and have nots.
Rbmorra, Many of us have known Ana for few years. I remember 7 yrs ago people then said they don't trust Ana and some still 7 yrs later some feel the same way. People feel she has not been strait and up front about things. Back in March, April I spoke to Ana about a few things. About which groups and people she needs to watch out for (back stabers) and other stuff at Virginia's place. Personally I can't speak for others, but my vote is leading towards Kirk. He might be the less experience in politics, but at least he is not influenced by an outside source, yes he's green, but will learn on the job like others have done before him. I think Ana got to deep with the liberal party and Kevin has been very influenced by Adam and the gang, as much as he has been trying protray and disassociate himself from Adam and been a different idividual then Adam, he is to far brain washed. So for this reason Kirk will make a good councillor. He is smart and caring and liked by many. At first I wasn't sure but at the end, he won my vote. JF
vic writes: I'm sure that most people running in Ward 18 will have donors from outside the ward, and I even recognize some of the names on those lists, but it's the disparity of resident vs. non-resident support that can be shocking.
Vic, I have to respectively disagree with you with the amount of weight you place on the resident vs. non-resident. It should be considered however it should'nt be the be all and end all.
The solutions to the problems facing Ward 18 (unemployment, unreliable transit, crime, redevelopment, crumbling infrastructure) cannot be achieved without reaching across ward boundaries to people across the city and in fact the Greater Toronto Region.
I feel what we should be considering (in part) when voting on the 25th is who is best prepared to work with new Mayor and Council, other levels of governments and neighbouring municipalites to the benefit of the entire city and by extension Ward 18. No person is an island and neither is Ward 18.
Success is to be celebrated rbmorrra. I wonder what you would say if doctors boasted about how much money they receive from pharmaceutical companies or realtors who openly take money from home inspectors? City Councillors have a huge impact on the livelihoods of construction companies and development firms. Taking the majority of your money from one industry, especially for a Councillor, does not consitutute success, but only raises suspicions. Those doubts, starting with what is all the money for, are issues you are avoiding?
Come on "Another John or Jane" Who do you think suffered during the last 7 years with strikes and stuff, no city run daycares, social assistant, dental. librarys, parks full of garbage and seniors taking their garbage all over the city on shopping carts to find a place to dump it. Slash and burn is the only way. Make TTC an essential service, to have a private company to take our garbage away, like etobicoke. The fun days all over. If Ford doesn't get in, then I hope Smitherman will follow suite with some of Fords planes.
The video that you attached about ford acting out was out of order, I agree and I bet he does to, but nothing stands worse in people's minds then knowing that a politician used city hall, a Public Office for a motel. That is shameful and desrespectful. Adam made big money he could of went to a motel to bring his partners.
Big spending is what the last government was about. I have attached the councillors spending, look at each one and tell me who spent the most and on you will that it's Adam Giambrone. Airmiles adam was a big spender, taxi's specially. Read on sister. http://www.robford.ca/councilexpenses.asp
Scottd writes: "I was surprised by how many people on Kevin's donor list I knew, even people that I had no idea followed politics. I can tell that almost all are lower end donors like me and I can see by Bailao's list that once again it is filled with people donating the maximum and this time again she will dwarf the fund raising efforts of all the other candidates."
Are you saying that successful (financially or otherwise) people should be considered NOT fit for public office? Or that receiving support from other successful people is a weakness for a candidate? If so, I cannot disagree more. We should be thankful that we have successful candidates willing to stand for office and bring their experience to public service. I will be the first to admit that BOTH Beaulieu and Bailao are great success stories and should be held up as an example of the Canadian dream.
The Toronto Star's endorsement of Bailao makes a point of highlighting this climb:
Ward 18 Davenport: This open council seat, previously held by TTC Chair Adam Giambrone, is being hotly contested. Giambrone’s assistant, Kevin Beaulieu, seems capable. But we like Ana Bailao. She’s a Portuguese immigrant who cleaned offices before becoming a bank vice-president. Like Beaulieu, Bailao also spent part of her career behind-the-scenes at city hall; unlike him, she would mean a significant change from the status quo.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/elections/article/876714--star-election-choi...
I think Abraham Lincoln put it best:
"That some should be rich [finacially or otherwise], shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."
Yes, those are requirements of election financing law, but nobody is required to post this stuff publicly until well after the election. Kudos to those who posted some of the info already...
But the dollar amounts aren't the interesting part to me. It's where the donations are coming from. What really struck me about the Scott's original post about this subject, which got the whole ball rolling about posting campaign contributions, is that Ana Bailao's donations in the 2003 campaign came almost entirely from OUTSIDE of Ward 18 and outside of Toronto. Only 7 of the 108 listed contributors were in Ward 18. All perfectly legal, but it made me wonder who is supporting that campaign.
I'm sure that most people running in Ward 18 will have donors from outside the ward, and I even recognize some of the names on those lists, but it's the disparity of resident vs. non-resident support that can be shocking. Especially when so much money comes from a particular industry that is in the process of re-shaping our neighbourhoods.
Unions and corporations are no longer allowed to contribute to political campaigns, but it still bothers me that it still happens so much......indirectly.
Well I cant complain too much as there never was any ground rules about what we expected people to post. I think most of the candidates could have posted more info up. I don't think that putting amount's was ever discussed so I am pleased that some did. As per Kevin I do think it is a bit hard to find on his website. Overall I am really happy and hope that Ward 18 is leading the path to greater transparency. In this day and age there is no reason why people cannot post donor information a week before for public review.
I was somewhat riled by the impression that you were equating me donating 200.00 with the seriousness of the issues concerning Bailao, which I am not the only person to have raised. There has been a growing US styled meme that if somebody supports a candidate or a party then they cannot be trusted to still be moral and ethical when it comes to others who support something else. This is a dangerous and sad trend that is starting to pollute the political landscape here (re: Ford supporters online comments about conspiracies). That is what I felt you were saying but I accept your contention that it was not what you were doing.
I was surprised by how many people on Kevin's donor list I knew, even people that I had no idea followed politics. I can tell that almost all are lower end donors like me and I can see by Bailao's list that once again it is filled with people donating the maximum and this time again she will dwarf the fund raising efforts of all the other candidates. There are earlier posts in this thread about it.
I've been attempting to get an explanation from the Beaulieu campaign as to why they haven't released the individual dollar amounts they've raised, the grand total money raised or why they won't release the full names of the donors (all requirements of election financing law.)
Has anyone else been successful in uncovering this information?
For your reference, Beaulieu's disclosure can be found here:
Moreover, Ford is NOT one of the good 'ol boys from the 'hood you drink a beer with. Ford comes from a life of privilege and stands to inherit a very successful family business, for which he still works for while he was a City Councilor. This is why he didn't spend a dime of his office budget. The majority of city councilors HAVE to spend their office budgets because working for the city IS their full time job and not something they dabble in and then brag how superior they are to others due to that fact.
When daddy's money is spent, it's easy to say how fiscally responsible one can be in the face of other people's reality.
How can a person like this be able to understand the plight of the poor in our city through his planned slash and burn policies, which will affect the most vulnerable amongst us?
Down to the wire, If the sky did not fall with Mayor Miller and the gang, I don't think it will with Rob been Mayor. I think he is the only real choice right now. After 7 years of Adam Giambrone and your boy David Miller, the mayor who happened to find 2 hundred million dollars in the bottom of his desk drawer one day, having this big press conference letting everyone know.. Years of the left agenda, big unions, strike after strike. Oh yah, Leaving ttc patrons stranded all over the City one night after the ttc decided to strike because the money they were receiving was not enough, so the ttc decided hey, lets leave thousands of people stranded after midnight like women and youths they can take the cab home or walk from scarbough to dundas west. Don't forget their was over 30.000 complaints against the ttc. There is so much more to list. So having Rob is not as bad as you think???
Thank you for the disclosure, John. I have heard a couple of people mention that you have some compelling ideas. So you are making an impact. I would encourage you in the future to consider raising a little money to do some promotion. Nobody wants the campaign to be all about money. But I think it might be good if a few more people knew you were running so they had something to think about.
As a resident of Ward 18, I am very distressed that Ana Bailao has been allowed to publish this article and distribute DVDs just before the election. It is not a secret that the Liberal Party supports heavy real estate development, and that Ana has a potential conflict of interest between construction firms, developers and the best interests of a priority Ward, which is struggling with a massive diesel rail expansion by Metrolinx, and the closing of Ward 18 schools. This conflict of interest is a significant and legitimate problem.
Bailao should be forced to step down from the race.
As a citizen who has been very engaged in trying to protect the health and welfare of this Ward, and its parks and schools, I believe this must be investigated legally.
You've gone on at great lengths rbmorra about the rules, but fail to offer any credible explanation about why Ana needs so much money? Did Ana fail to understand the limits when she raised twice as much money than she can legally spend?
Scott: I mean no personal critique of you other than that on the issue at hand, that is, I seek only to test the veracity of your reasons for being critical of Bailao on the issue of transparency and subsequent support of Beaulieu. Nothing more. Nothing less. I sense you may be offended by my postings. I apologize if I come off otherwise.
Having said that, as an admitted Beaulieu supporter, I am interested to know what you think of his donor disclosure which you yourself prompted (kudos again.)
When you compare it to what Bailao posted on her website (links provided below) one has to come to the conclusion Beaulieu comes up short. The darkened out columns where dollar amounts should be and the missing first names in my opinion does not inspire confidence that full transparency is a priority for Beaulieu.
You kindly offered a point of view and your passion for Trustee Rodrigues, and I respect the points you made. I didn't take issue with anything you said except for the comment about ushering in community hubs. I just wanted to share the other views I’ve heard – perhaps the tone was negative because it’s what I’ve been hearing. Granted, folks are more eager to share the negative than the positive. The quote above was attributed to a response we both received (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brocktonneighbours) and it isn't innuendo on my part. I also want to be clear that I didn't say anything about Mr. Schein endorsing me - I was just noting an opinion that he expressed. My website mentions any endorsements and support.
I didn’t want to start an off-topic debate here, and apologies for this going into that direction. I’ll conclude with saying that yes I'm a newcomer, but so is every elected official when they first start a new position. A newcomer can bring new perspectives. My view is that anyone that would take years to adapt shouldn’t be running for public office. My experiences working with a wide range of stakeholders and levels of governments on a wide range of shifting issues and priorities in a complex bureaucracy has given me a good foundation for, if elected, building positive relationships and adapting quickly as trustee. I’m a firm believer that all of us, when needed, graft well when we’re committed to a task at hand (like pushing for an important program the community wants such as F.I.).
Kevin P asks: "I think it is interesting that this Ana shill offers no explanation about what a candidate is doing raising twice the legal spending limit? What's all that money for?"
I cannot speak to how Bailao is or will be spending her campaign funds. What I can do is attempt to explain (again) how some candidates raise more than the campaign spending limit by using Councillor Giambrone's 2006 disclosure found on-line at: http://app.toronto.ca/EFD/efdFormSearchResult.do
Click on the "2" in the second column to view his financial statement (he has filed two statements but the the second is dated more recently.)
It reads:
BOX B : SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN INCOME AND EXPENSES
1. My Spending Limit was: $22,497.90
2. Surplus (or Deficit) from Previous Election: $4,878.21
3. Total Contributions Received: $38,105.00
( see Schedule 1 )
4. My Total Campaign Expenses that were
Subject to the Spending Limit were: $20,861.85
5. My Total Campaign Expenses that were
not Subject to the Spending Limit were: $21,557.56
6. Total of All Campaign Expenses: $42,419.41
( line 4 + line 5 )
7. Election Campaign Surplus/Deficit from
Current Election: $563.80
8. Portion of Campaign Surplus Returned to
Candidate or his or her Spouse: $0.00
TOTAL $563.80
From this info you will learn:
a) Giambrone raised $15 607.10 ABOVE the spending limit set for the campaign (allowed under rules.)
b) LINE 5 clearly shows Giambrone incurred campaign expenses that are not subject to the limit (again allowed under rules.)
The election financing rules are still the same today with the respect to the expenditure of funds. What has changed is the rules re. how you collect funds (e.g. no coporate/union donations.) So with respect to Bailao, she is playing by the rules and is allowed to raise funds beyond the limit to cover expenses not directly related to her campaign. Only difference this time is that if she ends up with a surplus it will go to the city coffers instead of being held over to the next election as it was above for Giambrone under the old rules. Bailao will have to disclose ALL expenses by the end of the calendar year after all campaign activities conclude.
John, I guess your accusatory tone is to be expected, considering you are running against her, but I'm simply writing as an appreciative parent, not as a "proxy" for Maria Rodrigues. There are always people with an axe to grind who don't get what they want when they want it and will try to place blame or badmouth elected officials. That's politics. No doubt Maria has enemies and detractors like all elected officials. Comes with the territory. I think it's important to keep in mind that, unlike a City Councillor, the Trustee is not a full-time position. Maria, like many Trustees, has a full-time day job so she probably doesn't communicate as effectively or as quickly as a Councillor who has a large staff, a big budget, and full time hours to devote to the job. I can't speak for anybody else's experiences with her, but it's a little insulting to people who know better to claim that she only relies on the achievements of the Board to pump up her own accomplishments. I base my admiration and support on my own personal experiences as a parent and as a co-founder of a school in the Ward. I personally saw what she did for us and our kids and followed in the media her efforts to ally the TDSB with the CTC and fight against diesel and for electrification of the Corridor. I saw her speak up for the Africentric School with an eloquent defence in the Toronto Star. And I watched her efforts to relocate the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club after they were evicted. She has concrete achievements to run on and certainly deserves to be re-elected. If I were a parent hoping to add grades 7 & 8 or French Immersion to my school, I would not take a risk on a newcomer who will likely have to spend spend months if not years learning how the system works and building alliances when there is somebody who already has a proven track record on these issues.
And if you have the endorsement of Ana Bailao or Jonah Schein, or even a School Council in the Ward, by all means publicize them on your website. That will indeed prove you have forged important political alliances and have garnered strong community support, which might cause observers in the Ward to stand up and take notice. But the dubious innuendo quoted above makes me very wary.
Scott you have done a great thing in bringing forth information about candidate expenses and fundraising. While rbmorra (above) attacks your motives, I think it is interesting that this Ana shill offers no explanation about what a candidate is doing raising twice the legal spending limit? What's all that money for?
I think the idea of sharing financial information is a great one, and thanks scottd for putting this idea out there. In the interest of openess in the trustee election too, and since I like this idea a lot, I've shared similar information if any one is interested: http://costafortrustee.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/contributions/
Thanks for sharing this information about the accomplishments of our current trustee and her Board colleagues. I recognize that alternative schools are a complex issue that takes many years (and patience) to realize. It’s important that we fight for schools that offer programs our community wants where.
The community hubs initiative has been a great shift back to pre-2000 use of schools, thanks to the hard work of the Community Use of Schools Task Force (I don't believe our current trustee was a member - at least she wasn't one of the trustees listed in the 2005 policy that the Task Force released). An increase in provincial funding for these types of initiatives in recent years has also helped, especially in designated priority schools. I admire those who develop these initiatives and, if elected, will be a strong proponent of similar forward-looking strategies and policies. My passion is developing public policy and the ability to do that in a way that directly benefits my community is why I'm running. I'm not looking to become a career politician, I'm running because I admire public service.
I'd like to quote a response that was given from a parent when you shared a similar review after I introduced myself to the Brockton Neighbours group: "And for another viewpoint..... I have never met a parent who has had a positive experience with Maria Rodrigues, myself included." I've heard many comments about the general lack of communication with our current trustee. I think the issue isn't accomplishments, but rather her selective responsiveness to community members and reliance on the achievements of the Board as whole as her only platform in this election. It's something I've heard time and time again. Just today my dad was out helping me canvass and he met with Jonah Schein (candidate for City Council in Ward 17) and Jonah expressed his frustration with the current trustee. Ana Bailao expressed similar frustrations to me, and has been kind enough to help spread the word about an alternative. I don’t have party or trade union support, so getting this type of support from other candidates and community members means a lot to me. I wanted to say how much I appreciate the support I’ve been getting from the Junction Triangle area in particular (and not do so using a proxy).
Working with Aboriginal communities for the past two years has made me appreciate the importance of sharing information and consultation/engagement – not just at the start of a process or during an election, but throughout a mandate and throughout the development of an initiative. Whoever is elected on Monday, I hope they at the very least embrace this concept.
If you would take the time to read all of the threads about Ana's donations then you would be better informed about the issue and my thoughts on it. For example you would then know that I originally got the info years ago to look up Giambrone, not Bailao! If you read more you would note that I have also criticized Ken Wood and Joe McDonald for other issues.
If you had more details you would know that I donated to Kevin's campaign late in the campaign after meeting and talking with most of the candidates and after I had first raised the issue. I asked the candidates to declare their donors after I had made my donation knowing that it would show up if Kevin decided to show them. I am not really interested in your internet age gotcha journalism, it doesnt hold a candle to the research that I have done, the facts that I uncovered, the hours that I have put in, and the remedy for my concerns that we are experimenting with. You obviously wish to think of me as some kind of cartoon character with simplistic motives and emotions; too bad you don't know me as most in JT would say that I serve only one agenda, for one candidate, and that candidate is me and my family. Anybody who actually knows me will talk about the many loud arguments I have had with Adam and Kevin over issues such as 351 Wallace. I chose to support Kevin as I think he is the best of the pack, but not perfect in every way. I am also a supporter of the AGO, the Redwood Shelter, the Fringe Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre as well, just so you know what kind of mysterious operative you are dealing with.
Ana's record in terms of donations and her links to a single industry, and her refusal to come clean about it, speaks for itself, it was created by her own actions and she has to wear it and defend it. It was she and her campaign that created the Senso controversy not me. If Ana has anybody to blame it is herself. You should turn your critical gaze in that direction.
I work in the film and TV business and I donated 200.00 dollars and asked for that to be KNOWN before the election. But I did not then go out and make DVD's pretending to be about the community with a feature doc about how great Kevin is and hand deliver thousands of them to residents that share my ethnic background and then say that is not a campaign donation. Did I? I think you are smart enough to know the difference. You are more than welcome to comment or chide me but if you want to join the big leagues you need to come to the JT table with something bigger than my legal 200.00 bucks. Cheers.
In the interest of information sharing Jack/CP24, private donors gave money to a program for children that never started?
Is this CBC reporter, Kevin Putnam. Sorry, good try any way, all our money came from private donors. You are wrong
Why can't a political conversation ever happen without you, Jack Fava, NOT bring up Giambrone. It's a tired record. Every mayor in term does NOT have a run without some sort of crisis. BUT overall, I don't buy that Miller's terms in office created huge suffering for the masses.
IF Ford is elected, no the city may not burn down over night, but there will be a slow burn for many city run social programs that one day after four years, the residents of Toronto will wake up and find out that there more people sleeping on the streets, more division for the have's and have nots.
Rbmorra, Many of us have known Ana for few years. I remember 7 yrs ago people then said they don't trust Ana and some still 7 yrs later some feel the same way. People feel she has not been strait and up front about things. Back in March, April I spoke to Ana about a few things. About which groups and people she needs to watch out for (back stabers) and other stuff at Virginia's place. Personally I can't speak for others, but my vote is leading towards Kirk. He might be the less experience in politics, but at least he is not influenced by an outside source, yes he's green, but will learn on the job like others have done before him. I think Ana got to deep with the liberal party and Kevin has been very influenced by Adam and the gang, as much as he has been trying protray and disassociate himself from Adam and been a different idividual then Adam, he is to far brain washed. So for this reason Kirk will make a good councillor. He is smart and caring and liked by many. At first I wasn't sure but at the end, he won my vote. JF
Is this the same Jack Fava who recently wanted to start a pre-school breakfast program funded exclusively on government money?
vic writes: I'm sure that most people running in Ward 18 will have donors from outside the ward, and I even recognize some of the names on those lists, but it's the disparity of resident vs. non-resident support that can be shocking.
Vic, I have to respectively disagree with you with the amount of weight you place on the resident vs. non-resident. It should be considered however it should'nt be the be all and end all.
The solutions to the problems facing Ward 18 (unemployment, unreliable transit, crime, redevelopment, crumbling infrastructure) cannot be achieved without reaching across ward boundaries to people across the city and in fact the Greater Toronto Region.
I feel what we should be considering (in part) when voting on the 25th is who is best prepared to work with new Mayor and Council, other levels of governments and neighbouring municipalites to the benefit of the entire city and by extension Ward 18. No person is an island and neither is Ward 18.
Success is to be celebrated rbmorrra. I wonder what you would say if doctors boasted about how much money they receive from pharmaceutical companies or realtors who openly take money from home inspectors? City Councillors have a huge impact on the livelihoods of construction companies and development firms. Taking the majority of your money from one industry, especially for a Councillor, does not consitutute success, but only raises suspicions. Those doubts, starting with what is all the money for, are issues you are avoiding?
Come on "Another John or Jane" Who do you think suffered during the last 7 years with strikes and stuff, no city run daycares, social assistant, dental. librarys, parks full of garbage and seniors taking their garbage all over the city on shopping carts to find a place to dump it. Slash and burn is the only way. Make TTC an essential service, to have a private company to take our garbage away, like etobicoke. The fun days all over. If Ford doesn't get in, then I hope Smitherman will follow suite with some of Fords planes.
The video that you attached about ford acting out was out of order, I agree and I bet he does to, but nothing stands worse in people's minds then knowing that a politician used city hall, a Public Office for a motel. That is shameful and desrespectful. Adam made big money he could of went to a motel to bring his partners.
Big spending is what the last government was about. I have attached the councillors spending, look at each one and tell me who spent the most and on you will that it's Adam Giambrone. Airmiles adam was a big spender, taxi's specially. Read on sister. http://www.robford.ca/councilexpenses.asp
Scottd writes: "I was surprised by how many people on Kevin's donor list I knew, even people that I had no idea followed politics. I can tell that almost all are lower end donors like me and I can see by Bailao's list that once again it is filled with people donating the maximum and this time again she will dwarf the fund raising efforts of all the other candidates."
Are you saying that successful (financially or otherwise) people should be considered NOT fit for public office? Or that receiving support from other successful people is a weakness for a candidate? If so, I cannot disagree more. We should be thankful that we have successful candidates willing to stand for office and bring their experience to public service. I will be the first to admit that BOTH Beaulieu and Bailao are great success stories and should be held up as an example of the Canadian dream.
The Toronto Star's endorsement of Bailao makes a point of highlighting this climb:
Ward 18 Davenport: This open council seat, previously held by TTC Chair Adam Giambrone, is being hotly contested. Giambrone’s assistant, Kevin Beaulieu, seems capable. But we like Ana Bailao. She’s a Portuguese immigrant who cleaned offices before becoming a bank vice-president. Like Beaulieu, Bailao also spent part of her career behind-the-scenes at city hall; unlike him, she would mean a significant change from the status quo.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/elections/article/876714--star-election-choi...
I think Abraham Lincoln put it best:
"That some should be rich [finacially or otherwise], shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."
Yes, those are requirements of election financing law, but nobody is required to post this stuff publicly until well after the election. Kudos to those who posted some of the info already...
But the dollar amounts aren't the interesting part to me. It's where the donations are coming from. What really struck me about the Scott's original post about this subject, which got the whole ball rolling about posting campaign contributions, is that Ana Bailao's donations in the 2003 campaign came almost entirely from OUTSIDE of Ward 18 and outside of Toronto. Only 7 of the 108 listed contributors were in Ward 18. All perfectly legal, but it made me wonder who is supporting that campaign.
I'm sure that most people running in Ward 18 will have donors from outside the ward, and I even recognize some of the names on those lists, but it's the disparity of resident vs. non-resident support that can be shocking. Especially when so much money comes from a particular industry that is in the process of re-shaping our neighbourhoods.
Unions and corporations are no longer allowed to contribute to political campaigns, but it still bothers me that it still happens so much......indirectly.
Well I cant complain too much as there never was any ground rules about what we expected people to post. I think most of the candidates could have posted more info up. I don't think that putting amount's was ever discussed so I am pleased that some did. As per Kevin I do think it is a bit hard to find on his website. Overall I am really happy and hope that Ward 18 is leading the path to greater transparency. In this day and age there is no reason why people cannot post donor information a week before for public review.
I was somewhat riled by the impression that you were equating me donating 200.00 with the seriousness of the issues concerning Bailao, which I am not the only person to have raised. There has been a growing US styled meme that if somebody supports a candidate or a party then they cannot be trusted to still be moral and ethical when it comes to others who support something else. This is a dangerous and sad trend that is starting to pollute the political landscape here (re: Ford supporters online comments about conspiracies). That is what I felt you were saying but I accept your contention that it was not what you were doing.
I was surprised by how many people on Kevin's donor list I knew, even people that I had no idea followed politics. I can tell that almost all are lower end donors like me and I can see by Bailao's list that once again it is filled with people donating the maximum and this time again she will dwarf the fund raising efforts of all the other candidates. There are earlier posts in this thread about it.
I've been attempting to get an explanation from the Beaulieu campaign as to why they haven't released the individual dollar amounts they've raised, the grand total money raised or why they won't release the full names of the donors (all requirements of election financing law.)
Has anyone else been successful in uncovering this information?
For your reference, Beaulieu's disclosure can be found here:
http://kevinbeaulieu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DonorDisclosure1.jpg
This video has gone viral: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOi2wIUCTnA
It says a lot about Mr. Ford as a person, never-mind the politician.
Moreover, Ford is NOT one of the good 'ol boys from the 'hood you drink a beer with. Ford comes from a life of privilege and stands to inherit a very successful family business, for which he still works for while he was a City Councilor. This is why he didn't spend a dime of his office budget. The majority of city councilors HAVE to spend their office budgets because working for the city IS their full time job and not something they dabble in and then brag how superior they are to others due to that fact.
When daddy's money is spent, it's easy to say how fiscally responsible one can be in the face of other people's reality.
How can a person like this be able to understand the plight of the poor in our city through his planned slash and burn policies, which will affect the most vulnerable amongst us?
Down to the wire, If the sky did not fall with Mayor Miller and the gang, I don't think it will with Rob been Mayor. I think he is the only real choice right now. After 7 years of Adam Giambrone and your boy David Miller, the mayor who happened to find 2 hundred million dollars in the bottom of his desk drawer one day, having this big press conference letting everyone know.. Years of the left agenda, big unions, strike after strike. Oh yah, Leaving ttc patrons stranded all over the City one night after the ttc decided to strike because the money they were receiving was not enough, so the ttc decided hey, lets leave thousands of people stranded after midnight like women and youths they can take the cab home or walk from scarbough to dundas west. Don't forget their was over 30.000 complaints against the ttc. There is so much more to list. So having Rob is not as bad as you think???
Thank you for the disclosure, John. I have heard a couple of people mention that you have some compelling ideas. So you are making an impact. I would encourage you in the future to consider raising a little money to do some promotion. Nobody wants the campaign to be all about money. But I think it might be good if a few more people knew you were running so they had something to think about.
This an article about the impact of Rob Ford on bicyclists, and a call to support our progressive councillors during the upcoming election:
http://railroadedbymetrolinx.blogspot.com/2010/10/one-toronto-now-electi...
As a resident of Ward 18, I am very distressed that Ana Bailao has been allowed to publish this article and distribute DVDs just before the election. It is not a secret that the Liberal Party supports heavy real estate development, and that Ana has a potential conflict of interest between construction firms, developers and the best interests of a priority Ward, which is struggling with a massive diesel rail expansion by Metrolinx, and the closing of Ward 18 schools. This conflict of interest is a significant and legitimate problem.
Bailao should be forced to step down from the race.
As a citizen who has been very engaged in trying to protect the health and welfare of this Ward, and its parks and schools, I believe this must be investigated legally.
You've gone on at great lengths rbmorra about the rules, but fail to offer any credible explanation about why Ana needs so much money? Did Ana fail to understand the limits when she raised twice as much money than she can legally spend?
"Reason over passion." - Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Scott: I mean no personal critique of you other than that on the issue at hand, that is, I seek only to test the veracity of your reasons for being critical of Bailao on the issue of transparency and subsequent support of Beaulieu. Nothing more. Nothing less. I sense you may be offended by my postings. I apologize if I come off otherwise.
Having said that, as an admitted Beaulieu supporter, I am interested to know what you think of his donor disclosure which you yourself prompted (kudos again.)
When you compare it to what Bailao posted on her website (links provided below) one has to come to the conclusion Beaulieu comes up short. The darkened out columns where dollar amounts should be and the missing first names in my opinion does not inspire confidence that full transparency is a priority for Beaulieu.
http://kevinbeaulieu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DonorDisclosure1.jpg
http://www.anabailao.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&...
Max,
You kindly offered a point of view and your passion for Trustee Rodrigues, and I respect the points you made. I didn't take issue with anything you said except for the comment about ushering in community hubs. I just wanted to share the other views I’ve heard – perhaps the tone was negative because it’s what I’ve been hearing. Granted, folks are more eager to share the negative than the positive. The quote above was attributed to a response we both received (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brocktonneighbours) and it isn't innuendo on my part. I also want to be clear that I didn't say anything about Mr. Schein endorsing me - I was just noting an opinion that he expressed. My website mentions any endorsements and support.
I didn’t want to start an off-topic debate here, and apologies for this going into that direction. I’ll conclude with saying that yes I'm a newcomer, but so is every elected official when they first start a new position. A newcomer can bring new perspectives. My view is that anyone that would take years to adapt shouldn’t be running for public office. My experiences working with a wide range of stakeholders and levels of governments on a wide range of shifting issues and priorities in a complex bureaucracy has given me a good foundation for, if elected, building positive relationships and adapting quickly as trustee. I’m a firm believer that all of us, when needed, graft well when we’re committed to a task at hand (like pushing for an important program the community wants such as F.I.).
Thanks.
John
Kevin P asks: "I think it is interesting that this Ana shill offers no explanation about what a candidate is doing raising twice the legal spending limit? What's all that money for?"
I cannot speak to how Bailao is or will be spending her campaign funds. What I can do is attempt to explain (again) how some candidates raise more than the campaign spending limit by using Councillor Giambrone's 2006 disclosure found on-line at: http://app.toronto.ca/EFD/efdFormSearchResult.do
Click on the "2" in the second column to view his financial statement (he has filed two statements but the the second is dated more recently.)
It reads:
BOX B : SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN INCOME AND EXPENSES
1. My Spending Limit was: $22,497.90
2. Surplus (or Deficit) from Previous Election: $4,878.21
3. Total Contributions Received: $38,105.00
( see Schedule 1 )
4. My Total Campaign Expenses that were
Subject to the Spending Limit were: $20,861.85
5. My Total Campaign Expenses that were
not Subject to the Spending Limit were: $21,557.56
6. Total of All Campaign Expenses: $42,419.41
( line 4 + line 5 )
7. Election Campaign Surplus/Deficit from
Current Election: $563.80
8. Portion of Campaign Surplus Returned to
Candidate or his or her Spouse: $0.00
TOTAL $563.80
From this info you will learn:
a) Giambrone raised $15 607.10 ABOVE the spending limit set for the campaign (allowed under rules.)
b) LINE 5 clearly shows Giambrone incurred campaign expenses that are not subject to the limit (again allowed under rules.)
The election financing rules are still the same today with the respect to the expenditure of funds. What has changed is the rules re. how you collect funds (e.g. no coporate/union donations.) So with respect to Bailao, she is playing by the rules and is allowed to raise funds beyond the limit to cover expenses not directly related to her campaign. Only difference this time is that if she ends up with a surplus it will go to the city coffers instead of being held over to the next election as it was above for Giambrone under the old rules. Bailao will have to disclose ALL expenses by the end of the calendar year after all campaign activities conclude.
I hope this helps.
John, I guess your accusatory tone is to be expected, considering you are running against her, but I'm simply writing as an appreciative parent, not as a "proxy" for Maria Rodrigues. There are always people with an axe to grind who don't get what they want when they want it and will try to place blame or badmouth elected officials. That's politics. No doubt Maria has enemies and detractors like all elected officials. Comes with the territory. I think it's important to keep in mind that, unlike a City Councillor, the Trustee is not a full-time position. Maria, like many Trustees, has a full-time day job so she probably doesn't communicate as effectively or as quickly as a Councillor who has a large staff, a big budget, and full time hours to devote to the job. I can't speak for anybody else's experiences with her, but it's a little insulting to people who know better to claim that she only relies on the achievements of the Board to pump up her own accomplishments. I base my admiration and support on my own personal experiences as a parent and as a co-founder of a school in the Ward. I personally saw what she did for us and our kids and followed in the media her efforts to ally the TDSB with the CTC and fight against diesel and for electrification of the Corridor. I saw her speak up for the Africentric School with an eloquent defence in the Toronto Star. And I watched her efforts to relocate the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club after they were evicted. She has concrete achievements to run on and certainly deserves to be re-elected. If I were a parent hoping to add grades 7 & 8 or French Immersion to my school, I would not take a risk on a newcomer who will likely have to spend spend months if not years learning how the system works and building alliances when there is somebody who already has a proven track record on these issues.
And if you have the endorsement of Ana Bailao or Jonah Schein, or even a School Council in the Ward, by all means publicize them on your website. That will indeed prove you have forged important political alliances and have garnered strong community support, which might cause observers in the Ward to stand up and take notice. But the dubious innuendo quoted above makes me very wary.
-Max Wallace
Scott you have done a great thing in bringing forth information about candidate expenses and fundraising. While rbmorra (above) attacks your motives, I think it is interesting that this Ana shill offers no explanation about what a candidate is doing raising twice the legal spending limit? What's all that money for?
I think the idea of sharing financial information is a great one, and thanks scottd for putting this idea out there. In the interest of openess in the trustee election too, and since I like this idea a lot, I've shared similar information if any one is interested: http://costafortrustee.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/contributions/
John
Thanks for sharing this information about the accomplishments of our current trustee and her Board colleagues. I recognize that alternative schools are a complex issue that takes many years (and patience) to realize. It’s important that we fight for schools that offer programs our community wants where.
The community hubs initiative has been a great shift back to pre-2000 use of schools, thanks to the hard work of the Community Use of Schools Task Force (I don't believe our current trustee was a member - at least she wasn't one of the trustees listed in the 2005 policy that the Task Force released). An increase in provincial funding for these types of initiatives in recent years has also helped, especially in designated priority schools. I admire those who develop these initiatives and, if elected, will be a strong proponent of similar forward-looking strategies and policies. My passion is developing public policy and the ability to do that in a way that directly benefits my community is why I'm running. I'm not looking to become a career politician, I'm running because I admire public service.
I'd like to quote a response that was given from a parent when you shared a similar review after I introduced myself to the Brockton Neighbours group: "And for another viewpoint..... I have never met a parent who has had a positive experience with Maria Rodrigues, myself included." I've heard many comments about the general lack of communication with our current trustee. I think the issue isn't accomplishments, but rather her selective responsiveness to community members and reliance on the achievements of the Board as whole as her only platform in this election. It's something I've heard time and time again. Just today my dad was out helping me canvass and he met with Jonah Schein (candidate for City Council in Ward 17) and Jonah expressed his frustration with the current trustee. Ana Bailao expressed similar frustrations to me, and has been kind enough to help spread the word about an alternative. I don’t have party or trade union support, so getting this type of support from other candidates and community members means a lot to me. I wanted to say how much I appreciate the support I’ve been getting from the Junction Triangle area in particular (and not do so using a proxy).
Working with Aboriginal communities for the past two years has made me appreciate the importance of sharing information and consultation/engagement – not just at the start of a process or during an election, but throughout a mandate and throughout the development of an initiative. Whoever is elected on Monday, I hope they at the very least embrace this concept.
John
If you would take the time to read all of the threads about Ana's donations then you would be better informed about the issue and my thoughts on it. For example you would then know that I originally got the info years ago to look up Giambrone, not Bailao! If you read more you would note that I have also criticized Ken Wood and Joe McDonald for other issues.
If you had more details you would know that I donated to Kevin's campaign late in the campaign after meeting and talking with most of the candidates and after I had first raised the issue. I asked the candidates to declare their donors after I had made my donation knowing that it would show up if Kevin decided to show them. I am not really interested in your internet age gotcha journalism, it doesnt hold a candle to the research that I have done, the facts that I uncovered, the hours that I have put in, and the remedy for my concerns that we are experimenting with. You obviously wish to think of me as some kind of cartoon character with simplistic motives and emotions; too bad you don't know me as most in JT would say that I serve only one agenda, for one candidate, and that candidate is me and my family. Anybody who actually knows me will talk about the many loud arguments I have had with Adam and Kevin over issues such as 351 Wallace. I chose to support Kevin as I think he is the best of the pack, but not perfect in every way. I am also a supporter of the AGO, the Redwood Shelter, the Fringe Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre as well, just so you know what kind of mysterious operative you are dealing with.
Ana's record in terms of donations and her links to a single industry, and her refusal to come clean about it, speaks for itself, it was created by her own actions and she has to wear it and defend it. It was she and her campaign that created the Senso controversy not me. If Ana has anybody to blame it is herself. You should turn your critical gaze in that direction.
I work in the film and TV business and I donated 200.00 dollars and asked for that to be KNOWN before the election. But I did not then go out and make DVD's pretending to be about the community with a feature doc about how great Kevin is and hand deliver thousands of them to residents that share my ethnic background and then say that is not a campaign donation. Did I? I think you are smart enough to know the difference. You are more than welcome to comment or chide me but if you want to join the big leagues you need to come to the JT table with something bigger than my legal 200.00 bucks. Cheers.