— Albert Gedraitis with thanks to the Star's journos covering this story.
Toronto Star (Nov27,2k12)
Ford verdict prompts impassioned reaction,
tough criticism
Published on Monday November 26, 2012
Upon learning he’d been found guilty of breaking Ontario’s conflict of interest laws and ordered out of office, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford put on a brave face, telling reporters, “You gotta have skin on you like an alligator.”
Ford’s ability to let setbacks — and criticism — roll off his back was put to the test on Monday, as the stunning verdict prompted his detractors to render harsh judgments of their own.
“We need a mayor who knows how to follow the rules,” said Councillor Josh Matlow. “We need a mayor who understands what their role is, what their job description is and how to fulfill it without getting into trouble every other day, no matter who that is and no matter what their political persuasion might be.”
As the decision garnered attention from international media outlets and blogs, including theBBC and Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker called it “a sad day for Toronto.”
“Unfortunately the world is looking at us being represented by a mayor who skips out of council meetings to coach football and is being brought before the courts,” he said.
But with Ford vowing to appeal the decision, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said he will continue to support the mayor and his agenda.
“People spoke quite loudly in the last election, saying they wanted change, and they wanted someone with a new perspective on finance. Rob brought that perspective,” Holyday told the Star. “A group of councillors, including myself, signed on to help him deliver, and I think we’ve delivered pretty well, but we still have more to do.”
While former mayor Mel Lastman declined to comment on the ruling — “I’m not kicking anybody when they’re down,” he said — John Sewell, who occupied Toronto’s top job from 1978 to 1980, predicted it would have “a positive impact on the city.”
“His actions were demeaning,” said Sewell. “It’s hard to believe that we’ll ever get somebody like him [again], who seems to have such a limited ability to conceive of the responsibilities of the mayor.”
At Queen’s Park, Premier Dalton McGuinty said the Ford verdict was “surprising” but tried to calm the waters with city hall in turmoil.
“I think the people of Toronto will do what they’ve always done. They’ll take challenges and events that affect their city in stride, and they know that there’s a process in place. It’s important to allow that to unfold,” he said.
Whatever happens to Ford’s mayoralty, “we have all kinds of strong connections through Queen’s Park into City Hall, and we’ll continue to use those,” McGuinty added.
The decision unleashed a rush of activity on Twitter, where a flurry of jokes, celebration and bewilderment made #RobFord a worldwide trending term.
“Anyone know the resale value of a used Ford? #RobFord,” tweeted Michael Adams, president of the Toronto-based Environics Institute.
Meanwhile, comedian Rick Mercer was among those who used Ford’s campaign promise to “Stop the gravy train” at city hall as fodder.
“Someone get that man a Vodka Gravy ASAP,” he tweeted.
With files from Paul Moloney, Wendy Gillis and Rob Ferguson
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Hat Tip to Daniel Dale, a Star journo who's been on Mayor Ford's case for a long time. Here's his retweet that put me onto the Judge's decision, which now I've read in full:
RT @TorontoStar: #RobFord: The news, Twitter reacts, the Star's view, and read the judge's decision word for wordhttp://bit.ly/Rdogxm
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Toronto Star (Nov27,2k12)
Fired Salvation Army executive director David Rennie charged in $2-million toy theft
Published 34 minutes ago
Inside two GTA warehouses police were shocked to discover more than 150 skids of porcelain dolls, Axe body spray, fruit cups and items that almost didn’t make it under the tree this Christmas.
Stuffed into a washroom at a North York warehouse, police also found two missing CCM bicycles donated by Premier Dalton McGuinty’s office for children at a Salvation Army camp.
These were the spoils of an unprecedented $2-million theft of donated toys and “high-end” goods police allege were rerouted and siphoned off from a Salvation Army toy and food distribution centre to be sold for profit.
“We found, actually, beyond our imagination . . . the volume of rerouted skids of donations that were meant to reach the warehouse at 150 Railside Rd. in Toronto,” Det. Robert Strain said Monday.
David Rennie, 51, the distribution centre’s executive director who was fired last week following an internal investigation, turned himself in to police Monday morning. He faces 40 charges, including theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy to commit theft and trafficking in stolen goods.
Rennie was released Monday with a promise to appear Jan. 4.
Police alleged at a news conference Monday that what started as a legitimate partnership with wholesale company Northern Sales Group to house donated items requiring cold storage, eventually turned criminal.
Umaish Ramrattan is listed as the business registrant for Northern Sales Group, headquartered at the North York warehouse on Garyray Dr. near Weston Rd. and Steeles Ave. W.
Police told the Star they are seeking Ramrattan, 61, as a person of interest.
Police raided the location Saturday night. On Monday, the warehouse was locked and its windows covered with cardboard and blinds. A roll-up receiving door at the back showed signs of forced entry.
Joe Moriello, a caretaker who collected rent from tenants at the industrial facility, said Ramrattan began renting the space for his business about three or four years ago.
A Brampton cold storage facility was searched by police on Friday. They filled three tractor-trailers with allegedly stolen goods.
Police also searched two residences, in Toronto and Durham Region, and seized documents they believe will assist in the investigation.
A team of officers has been investigating the thefts — which the Salvation Army alleges occurred over two years — since Nov. 6, said Det.-Sgt. Jim Gotell.
“As an investigator with 23 years of experience, I haven’t seen anything of this magnitude before,” Gotell said.
Salvation Army Maj. John Murray said they are grateful to police for their efforts.
“We’re very, very pleased to know that the public, who donated these goods, their kindness will certainly go to the intended purpose,” Murray said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
While police say a “significant” portion of the stolen goods were recovered, there are still missing items — including 21 bicycles. Gotell said they were possibly sold off through flea markets or other means.
But in one bright note, he said police are working with the Crown attorney’s office to return recovered items to the Salvation Army in time for Christmas.
With files from Niamh Scallan
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