Archive for August, 2008
Between the Mayor and His Deputy a Strange Couple of Days at City Hall
Friday morning I was reading an article in the Star about the City awarding a contract to a gentleman who is currently in the process of suing the City over a drawn out disagreement. What is more bizarre about this is it appears the City is going for blood in their response to his lawsuit. The most concerning part, the Deputy Mayor sees no issue in awarding work to someone who is currently in the process of suing the City.
Basically, George Friedmann has a fifty year lease on a city property and believes the City owes him just under $600 000 in utilities and maintenance for the portion of the building the City still uses. He is suing the City and the City is now suing him. Council has amended their lawsuit against him to ask the Judge to allow them to break their lease as officials feel he is not running the site as intended. (This is important later).
The same George Friedmann just won part of a multi-million dollar catering contract for the new convention centre being built at the Ex. — Someone’s legal bill just got a lot less worrisome.
Here are a couple of keys points as I see them.
1) Deputy Mayor Pantalone sits on the Executive Committee, Council and is of course the Deputy Mayor in addition to being a member of Council. He is also the Chair of the Ex’s Board of Governors. You would think maybe with the access he is afforded in his role at City Hall he might have some clue that this was going on when it comes to drawn out legal battles Council has voted on.
2) Even if he didn’t, perhaps the Legal Department that is currently suing Friedmann might realize they are in the process of penning and likely negotiating a portion of a multi-million dollar contract with someone they are asking a Judge to break a legally binding agreement and fend off his several hundred thousand dollar claim against them?
The part that amazed me most was Pantalone’s defense of Friedmann. The City Solicitor must have loved reading the Deputy Mayor of Toronto vouching for someone they are trying to convince a Judge is not acting in accordance with his lease agreement for the St. Patrick Market. I can just imagine Friedmann’s lawyer considering the possible uses of the Deputy Mayor’s statements in defense of his client and the Exhibition contract as proof (whether true or not) of City approval of Friedmann’s ability to manage aspects of City business. If the Deputy Mayor says you are 1000% in compliance with an arrangement just worked out with the City, it would be hard to believe that on another agreement you’re so far off the deal it warrants breaking the lease.
That seemed strange enough… and then in the afternoon I read a bizarre press release from the Mayor’s Office.
I’m going to post it and then comment:
“Mayor urges Torontonians to support homegrown Canadian Idol hopeful
Mayor David Miller is urging Torontonians to get behind hometown boy Peter “Mookie” Morris in his bid to become the next Canadian Idol.
The talented 18-year-old musician is the only remaining Toronto contender in this year’s hotly-contested Canadian Idol competition.
“Toronto is known around the world as a city with a vibrant music scene,” said Mayor Miller. “The Idol competition is an extraordinary opportunity to show strong support for a talented young man who has already enhanced Toronto’s reputation as a centre of creativity.”
Mookie has been characterized as “a diamond in the rough” by former Bush front man Gavin Rossdale. And, after hearing the local artist’s interpretations of musical numbers like The Band’s ‘Ophelia’ and The Beatles’ ‘Twist and Shout’, Idol judge Farley Flex declared: “Mookie just emanates star!”
Torontonians can cast their votes for Mookie following the next Canadian Idol broadcast on Monday, August 4, at 9 p.m.
“I’m confident Toronto will rally round Mookie and make sure his star continues to shine,” said the Mayor.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.
Please note: The Mayor is not available for interviews.”
Ok, so I have to start by saying I don’t watch Canadian Idol. I’m sure that comes as a surprise to many. The only time I ever really see it is when I’m at my parent’s place and my mom is watching it. I normally leave the room fairly early on.
According to my mother, Sebastian Pigott who is also from Toronto and was voted off last time was her favourite of the Toronto singers. Where was Miller on July 27th when Sebastian could use a little love?
I wanted to say something about this, had some good ideas yesterday, but now all that I can pull back to the top of my mind is how silly this is. When I saw the Mayor urging Torontonians to do something, I figured it would be something really serious, like turn down their air conditioners on warm days, or use public transit when coming downtown during Caribana. Today I did a search of “Mayor” and “urges” in press release titles on the City website. This is the second occasion the Mayor has “urged” in a press release, the last time a Mayor urged action was when Mel Lastman urged the Federal and Provincial governments to finish cultural projects funding.
If you insist on sending out a poorly thought out press release don’t put “Please note: The Mayor is not available for interviews.” at the bottom. That just makes the whole thing seem that much more silly. I’m just trying to imagine what Miller would have to say in support of Mookie. Even without the opportunity for an interview, the Post picked it up.
Civic pride is important, supporting local businesses, being an active member of your community and doing your part to make the City a better place for everyone to be are all noble goals. I have to say seeing the Mayor of Toronto or at least his office in his name issuing a press release at 3:48 pm on the Friday before a long weekend regarding a Canadian Idol contest does not strive to achieve any of these. My guess is someone in either the Mayor’s communication shop or the City’s strategic communications shop was bored to tears and counting the minutes to home time just before the long weekend when it hit them… David Miller should wade into Canadian Idol. Perhaps the author of this release just really likes Mookie’s sound…
David Miller holds the highest directly elected office in Canada. — Before everyone pounces and says the Prime Minister does, the Mayor of Toronto has more ballots cast directly for them (not for their party) than any other elected official in Canada. I don’t know how many people vote in the final round of Canadian Idol, but if 2.75 people watched Canadian Idol’s season finale in 2007, and each of them voted at least once during the final round of voting, then the Canadian Idol very likely has had more people directly vote for them than the Mayor of Toronto… Perhaps his next press release should be to encourage the 60% of Torontonians who do not vote in municipal elections to give that a go next time around. Until then, he and Council should govern in a way that encourages participation as opposed to forcing civic action through it’s blunders.
One thing I recall from the last municipal election was how relentless Miller’s GOTV (get out the vote) people were. I was running for City Council, was supporting the Mayor and had voted in the advance poll and on election day around dinner time my phone rang to remind me to go out and vote for Miller. An hour later I got another call, and finally a third one. If Miller can get his organization behind Mookie there is no telling where he could go. If the camera pans to a pacing John Laschinger – we will know Mookie has the polling data and the team in place to compete like he means it.
Here are some other David Miller’s whose opinions on music might matter.
David Miller – Tenor — also born in San Francisco, birth place of Mayor Miller.
David Alan Miller – Conductor — raised in the L.A area.
Dave Miller – Guitarist — Lives in New York.
Dave Miller – Producer — Founded Essex Records in Philadelphia.
David Miller – Current Mayor of Toronto and contestant for celebrity judge special for 2009 season.
Please Note: The author is not available for interviews.
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