Toronto deficit is historical Miller not hysterical Ford

[CPCFTW]

Brand Loyalty.

There's a competing Subway system around?

The money, I suppose, isn't that much, but tell that to the commuters that are under constant threat of having their services cut or fares raised.

I use the TTC daily. I'm glad they put my $121/month to good use by buying buttons and telling me that I will soon be riding a different type of subway. What would I do if I hadn't preemptively heard about it?!?

[Black Dog]

So the TTC is said to have spent $25,000+ on promotional material for their new subway cars.

But there's no gravy at all.

That's just it: this is the best you guys can do. Five, six figure micro expenses like this, or the coffee machines in counsellors' office's, retirement parties. Insignificant bullshit that may well be waste, but do not represent a significant budgetary pressure.

[Shwa]

Brand Loyalty.

There's a competing Subway system around?

No, but there are competing modes of transportation, mainly cars.

The money, I suppose, isn't that much, but tell that to the commuters that are under constant threat of having their services cut or fares raised.

Cut the provincial subsidies to the TTC and see how loudly the commuters howl.

[Black Dog]

Just so we are clear on FordMath: $25K on subway ads=bad, $200K on bike lane removal=good.

[Boges]

Just so we are clear on FordMath: $25K on subway ads=bad, $200K on bike lane removal=good.

What about $420,000 to hang some paintings?

That didn’t last long.

Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne Thursday morning ordered the TTC and Metrolinx to pull an ad seeking a consultant who was to help choose art work for stops along the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

In a telephone interview Wynne said she first learned of plans to hire an art consultant for up to $420,000 over two years after reading it Thursday’s Star.

Right away she contacted Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig and instructed him to take the job posting down.

Though the TTC took out the ad in a local newspaper Monday, Metrolinx, a provincial agency was to foot the bill for the non-staff position.

The new $8.2 billion, 20-kilometre line is set to be finished in 2020, and is planned to run underground all the way from Black Creek to Kennedy station, and continue above-ground along the existing Scarborough Rapid Transit route. The province is footing the bill for the line, and the TTC is doing the design and engineering work.

Lemme guess. If hundreds of thousands of dollars wouldn't have been offered the new LRT would look crappy and less people would use it.

[Shwa]

What about $420,000 to hang some paintings?

Though the TTC took out the ad in a local newspaper Monday, Metrolinx, a provincial agency was to foot the bill for the non-staff position.

Need I say more?

Lemme guess. If hundreds of thousands of dollars wouldn't have been offered the new LRT would look crappy and less people would use it.

No they will just use all the velvet Elvis and Poker Dog paintings hanging in the homes of the Ford Nation supporters.

[Boges]

Need I say more?

No they will just use all the velvet Elvis and Poker Dog paintings hanging in the homes of the Ford Nation supporters.

I would prefer if the LRT had football logos in there.

You know there is only one taxpayer right?

If the TTC is willing to spend this sum for someone to hang painting. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other silly things they want so spend money on.

[Shwa]

If the TTC is willing to spend this sum for someone to hang painting. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of other silly things they want so spend money on.

The TTC is willing spend what "sum" on - the job ad??

[Boges]

The TTC is willing spend what "sum" on - the job ad??

It's OK because they're spending other people's money?

You really don't think this shows that the TTC really doesn't put value on taxpayer money?

[Shwa]

It's OK because they're spending other people's money?

So what part of this are you not getting? First you say there is "only one taxpayer" and now you are saying they are spending "other people's money."

Though the TTC took out the ad in a local newspaper Monday, Metrolinx, a provincial agency was to foot the bill for the non-staff position.

You really don't think this shows that the TTC really doesn't put value on taxpayer money?

"really don't" + "really doesn't?"

Here, let me admit to sarcasm before I actually type the following, so at least you get one clue to understanding:

No, the TTC really doesn't put a value on taxpayer money.

[mentalfloss]

It’s either layoffs or major tax increases: Ford 0

Layoffs are looming for city workers, Toronto’s cost-cutting mayor warned Friday.

Unless more staff starts volunteering to take buyouts, Mayor Rob Ford said his administration can’t avoid penning pink slips.

Reluctant to take that hard road, “I don’t know if we have a choice,” he said on The Roundtable, with SUN News co-hosts Pat Bolland and Sue-Ann Levy, the Toronto Sun’s veteran city hall columnist.

Blaming “the previous administration” driven by council left-wingers with a “culture” of milking taxpayers to finance special interest programs, Ford said he wants to work with city worker unions and avoid axing staff.

“Right now it’s a mess we have to clean up,” he said.

“I want to work with the unions, but if they hold us hostage ... like they did two years ago with the garbage strike, I’m not going to stand for that,” Ford said, warning: “Don’t put a gun to our heads because that’s not going to work.”

Ford has vowed to trim $380 million in spending to reduce the 2012 budget gap of $774 million, “and if we don’t do anything, we’re looking at 30-to-35% tax increases,” he said.

Taxpayers have repeatedly told him they want “a safe city,” which resulted in a contract settlement with Toronto Police that included a 2.8% wage hike retroactive to Jan. 1. The deal, reached in May, boosts officer and civilian salaries by a total of 11.5% over the next four years.

Ford said workers such as grasscutters should not expect the same salary as a cop, Ford said. “It’s not the same job.”

He said residents are also pressing for other essentials, including contracting out garbage pickup — which is predicted to save $6 million a year after District 2 west of Yonge St. goes that route — “fixing potholes” and plowing snow.

An analysis of that program will be undertaken to determine the next phase, contracting out private trash pickup east of Yonge, Ford said.

He later said the city is examining cuts in other areas, including “should we own theatres? Should we own the zoo?”

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/12/its-either-layoffs-or-major-tax-increases-ford

Check out the video interview as well.

3 nutbars in one room.

Edited August 12, 2011 by mentalfloss