Tsk, tsk, tsk........

Toronto has always strived to be seen as a world class city.

Occassionally, we rise to the occassion.

Lately, I'm more inclined to hide my face in shame and tell folks I'm from Etobicoke. The uniformed international community may be forgiven if they aren't aware that Etobicoke is a suburb of Toronto.

If you go through my blog, you might discover that I get a little prickly when elected folks act as though they are untouchable, unaccountable and unreachable by we mere mortals.

Take Mr.Ford ("Please take my Ford!!!" he says with his best Rodney Dangerfield impression).

I didn't vote for you.

I shuttered every time I hear you speak.

I possess the capacity to speak and understand the english language. Most of what you have to say either demonstrates that you don't possess the same capacity or you somehow made the error of assuming that I will believe anything, however brash and stupid, on the simple grounds that you've achieved the office of mayor of this fine city (see previous post).

To a point, this blog entry has nothing to do with crack, save for the fact that this little "problem" has vaulted my beloved Toronto into the international media as a laughing stock.

I am afraid to tell you that, contrary to what you might have heard, elected folks do have to meet a higger standard than simple old Joe Public. As a leader, you should also possess the capacity to rise up to challenges.

Look what Giuliani did for New York in September, 2001. Now thats what I call a world class Mayor!!!

You sir (and I use that term lightly) have only demonstrated the ability to run and hide when things get a tad uncomforable.

Toronto's shame is not exclusively borne by those who elected you (Did I say I wasn't one of them already? Sorry for repeating myself). The shame lay in the fact that we have a municipal system were there is no legislative way for us to remove someone from the office when the electorate realizes their mistake.

I guess we'll keep working on that world class city thing. We'll add mayor to the list of "to dos".