Jason Chesworth recently phoned Rob Ford’s office to voice his support for Occupy Toronto, and he recorded the entire thing. In the recording, a Ford staffer takes the line, and his first question for Chesworth is a polite, “Your thoughts on why they should be able to take over a park illegally?” The staffer also insists that the best place to make change happen is at the ballot box and calls marching a “bully tactic.” The conversation rambles on, covering topics like Canada’s banking system, healthcare and the European economy—there’s even a little fear-mongering from the staffer (“I hear the Communist Party is down there”). The discussion goes on for 20 minutes, and it almost sounds like a couple of regular citizens having a nice chat at the local Tim Hortons—something which we’re pretty sure Ford would approve of. Listen to the entire recording [Soundcloud.com] »
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Occupy Toronto supporter calls the mayor’s office, records it for all to hear
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This anarchist has some nerve, calling the mayors office and attacking the staffers. It’s almost as bad as the CBC brutally ambushing the mayor in front of his children. All Rob Ford wants to do is get rid of gravy and end the war on cars so I can drive vroom vroom down the road without hitting unemployable bums on bicycles.
November 16, 2011 at 6:23 pm | by Joe TorySorry Joe but not every person on a bicycle is unemployed and criticizing the government doesn’t make someone an anarchist.
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”
- Bertrand Russell
November 16, 2011 at 10:10 pm | by Joe TorontoianJoe, you do realize that Joe Tory (a nom de plume) is being facetious, right? as evidenced by the fact that he took Joe Tory as his alias?
November 16, 2011 at 10:24 pm | by JamesSorry, Joe the second, but I believe Joe the first was making an attempt at what some folks call “sarcasm”.
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.”
- Bertrand Russell
November 16, 2011 at 10:29 pm | by Not named JoeRob Ford knows full well that the ‘gravy’ was a lie. And if he doesn’t after ten years of being part of the budget process, he’s an idiot.
November 16, 2011 at 10:45 pm | by TorontoDadNow we learn that his message-master knew full well it was a smoke-and mirrors ploy just to get elected and swing his libertarian axe on anything he doesn’t ‘believe in’: http://toronto.openfile.ca/blog/curator-blog/curated-news/2011/quote-day-kouvalis-blasts-his-own-gravy-message-track
Here is the uncomfortable truth – all great breakthroughs in history happened because ordinary people fought for it. These ordinary people are often called “criminals” and “terrorists” , they are harrassed, jailed, beaten, even killed… and then, after they won, the rich and powerful try to pretend that they were on the right side of history all the time. The media and the history books will always tell stories of those in power, and lie that no other world is possible. Another world is possible. Don’t confuse media coverage with information. Go down and check it out yourself.
November 16, 2011 at 10:47 pm | by AlexThe right to assemble, protest and dissent often trumps breaking of minor by-laws like trespassing in most judge’s views. Unlike the majority who voted for Ford, I live AND work in the core of the city and have passed the occupiers in my favourite park many times in the last month: Sure, the grass has taken a toll and folks don’t like the look of port-a-potties, but overall the group is organized and SAFE. In fact, the park is more safe now than the abandoned, poorly lit place it usually is at night. It took this group of people to finally get police to patrol it. Protests, marches, concise letters offering solutions to levels of government DO work, just ask anyone living in some notable Arab countries this past spring…
November 16, 2011 at 11:58 pm | by Karen IvanyI am more than happy to hear Joe Tory was being facetious. Unfortunately, I’ve heard real arguments like this, which I at first thought was a joke then ended up being serious. Please excuse my seriousness, it’s only because I care.
November 17, 2011 at 12:01 am | by Joe TorontoianIs it a joke if many people, including many powerful people, share the opinion…? no.
What I see is a failure of all of you to recognize the real victims here – people like Rob Ford who come from a wealthy family and have a business and political career handed to them by their daddy. He’s in a constant battle, fighting for his very life, against the communists and such, who instead of bravely attacking him with spears and swords, use cowardly, tricky words and speeches.
November 17, 2011 at 10:50 am | by Joe TorySo yet another hippie is wasting my tax dollars by bothering a city worker and wasting his time with a 20 minute call.
I’m sure he could have been doing something better with this time.
November 17, 2011 at 11:32 am | by Greg@Greg: You obviously didn’t listen to the call. Mr. Chesworth is far from a “hippie”, and it IS the city staffer’s job to listen to constituents concerns. Mr. Chesworth is NOT an occupier, but a tax-payer offering his opinion, concern and sharing information clearly not assessed, or known, by Tom, a staffer who engaged in the conversation freely. I’ll bet Tom hasn’t actually been to the park either.
November 17, 2011 at 12:29 pm | by Karen IvanyCalls to your local, provincial and federal governments, as well as clear, concise, solutions-oriented letters are the most powerful tools citizens have. They ARE counted and recorded and are the basis on which your representatives create/change policy.