What the mayor’s been up to this week.
Monday, March 19, 9:30 a.m. Outside the Mayor’s Office, City Hall.
Comes in at 308 pounds, down two from the previous couple weigh-ins (Feb. 27 and March 5) but the same as on Feb. 21. (His goal is to weigh 280 pounds by June 18, from a Jan. 16 starting weight of 330.) He ignores reporters’ questions about the library workers’ strike that had begun that morning, and heads right back into his office.
Monday, March 19, 8 p.m. Council Chamber, Scarborough Civic Centre, near Ellesmere Road and Brimley.
Arrives to a standing ovation at a pro-subway, anti-LRT meeting held by Subways Are For Everyone (SAFE). “Come hell or high water, we’re getting these subways,” Torontoist reports him declaring.
Wednesday, March 21, 8:30 p.m. Council Chamber, City Hall.
Bolts out of council, following a farcical filibuster by his allies, who forced the special meeting about transit on Sheppard into a second day; the mayor attempted to use this opportunity to defer the issue to April 4 but was voted down 19–25. “@TOMayorFord fled reporters on to an elevator and a press aide barred the doors,” tweets the Star’s City Hall bureau chief.
Thursday, March 22, 10:30 a.m. Council Chamber, City Hall.
Has tantrum.
Thursday, March 22, 5:15 p.m. LCBO, Dundas Street West, east of Dovercourt.
Buys some alcohol, after having that kinda day at city council. “He came in when I was in line and there was someone ahead of me,” says Kelly Lannin, who lives in the neighbourhood. “I did a double take. He then quickly grabbed what he was getting…a sad little mickey of Russian Prince vodka.” The mayor made the same purchase at the same LCBO, following his earlier transit defeat.
Friday, March 23, 7:15 p.m. McDonald’s, Kipling Avenue, north of Rexdale Blvd.
Spotted at McDonald’s by a number of people, including @gana1018, who tweets, “Just seen Rob Ford at mcdonalds thought this guy was on a diet.” (The mayor’s weigh-in the following Monday ends up being cancelled.)
Sunday, March 25, 2:30 p.m. Newstalk 1010 studios, Yonge and St. Clair.
Complains that the new TTC board won’t have as many non-councillor members as he wanted, then expresses outrage at how much each non-councillor member will be paid: $5,000 per year ($10,000 for the vice-chair), plus $450 for each meeting attended. “Folks, I think people serve on these boards because they want to, not to get paid this outrageous amount of money,” he says. “I voted against this at council, it carried.” He declines to mention that his own Executive Committee (with his approval) had recommended flat fees of $10,000 for the regular non-councillor members and $15,000 for the vice-chair, which works out to approximately the same rate of compensation. And his own deputy mayor, Doug Holyday, even placed a motion at council to increase the amounts to $15,000 and $30,000, respectively, in line with City staff’s original recommendations.
