A million Howard Beales

Fixing Toronto Part 14

I’m not going to pretend to advise you on how to vote in the upcoming Mayoral campaign for three reasons: first, you already know what to do; second, I signed a form for Public Office Holders that said I should refrain from choosing sides in municipal politics; and third, you’ve got three stark choices in front of you…which makes it quite simple, in fact, to choose between these hard-working candidates.

As much as I am quick to point out the flaws at the DTM from time to time (see prior representative post “Canadian Business Magazine KOs the Globe & Mail” June 15-10), just as they do about the rest of us, I’m also anxious to give them credit when it’s due. Today is one of those days.

The Globe and Mail has spent months trying to get to the bottom of Toronto’s electoral mood, and I think they’ve got it right, if today’s editorial is any guide. This is not a comment on the wisdom of their choice, but a compliment on their success at reading the public mood.

According to the Globe’s editorial:

Rob Ford’s standing in the polls is a loud and clear message from the citizens that all is not well – in particular that they are at the limit of their toleration for new taxes and tax increases. More than any other candidate, he has captured the mood of voters, who are frustrated, even angry.

Torontonians aren’t channeling the “Tea Party”. There is no “shift to the right”, in a City that hasn’t elected very many Conservatives (Red or Blue) to any level of office since 1984 — 26 years ago. Most voters know we can’t afford a tax cut. They merely want their $10B/year spent responsibly, and not on French lessons for departing Councillors or spiteful legal battles. The mood is simply rampant voter concern about how Toronto has been run these past few years, and where it is headed, which manifests itself in the 85% of voters who are supporting candidates who stand against the status quo.

If the advance polls are any sign, our collective neighbours have a revived interest in municipal politics. In my ward, there appear to be at least half a dozen qualified candidates for the vacancy left by Kyle Rae, who could care less when our street was left completely unplowed in Feb. 2008, with 24 inches of snow, for seven straight days. New blood is welcome, and it is wonderful to see so many people prepared to stand for public office; it’s a tough lifestyle, which makes it occassionally hard to attract top talent.

Based on what I’ve seen up close over the past three years, voters are right to feel the need to demand a change in the culture. I’ll give you an example. The TPA had to sue City Hall in 2007/08 in Ontario Superior Court merely to get a permit approved to move a curb near the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (with certain Island Airport refuseniks in important positions, the powers that be at City Hall had denied a basic permit for two years); within a few weeks, the Judge ordered them to grant the permit, pay the costs of the lawsuit, etc., etc. Money and time were wasted, merely for spite. Because they could.

Earlier this week, our Mayor reTweeted a comment by the spouse of a City Hall staff lawyer. The tweet went something like “my spouse works 80+ hours a week as a City lawyer for 1/3 what she’d make in the private sector…is she on the gravy train?” I had a thought when I read that Mayoral tweet: Perhaps if the time of our City’s fine lawyers wasn’t wasted on nuisance matters, at the whim of their political bosses, she could have more time with her family.

The time is nigh to wake up — and vote. You’re on the right track, you wonderful Howard Beales! From Network (1976):

Howard Beale: [shouting] You’ve got to say, ‘I’m a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!’ So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell,
[shouting]

Howard Beale: ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’ I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell – ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it:

Howard Beale: [screaming at the top of his lungs] “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”

MRM
(disclosure – this blog, as always, reflects a personal view and in no way represents the views of the TPA, its Board/Staff or the federal government)