# Toronto's alleged crack smoking mayor. Why is he still in office? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410 "2013-05-26T15:45:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/81 "2013-11-06T05:52:23Z")
The police have a video of him smoking something out of a crack pipe. He has admitted to smoking crack in that period. But, of course, he’ll never admit that there was crack in that crack pipe, for then he could be charged and convicted and tossed of office. ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/82 "2013-11-06T13:41:47Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > The cost savings issue is debatable, for it opens up differences of opinion as to what should or should not be cut, and what should be expanded. Not really. It’s been repeatedly debunked in, as far as I know, all the dailies except the Sun, and he has never shown how he saved a billion dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/83 "2013-11-06T13:58:42Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > …Where he really falls down is in how he fails to act as a figurehead representing Toronto to the world, in how he fails to get city council to work together, in how he deliberately alienates people who disagree with him, and in how he fails to set an example of a decent human being. I dunno about you, but I typically think of ‘figurehead’ as a disparaging term, so the fact that he’s bad at it doesn’t distress me at all. As far as being a bad politician, I will certainly grant that’s a bad trait in a mayor. But I would ask, reagrding all those things he did or didn’t do that either saved money or not, was that all unilateral? Does he have that much power in his office? Or did he in fact lead the city down paths with some degree of political skill, even if the paths themselves turned out ultimately to be destructive ones? As far as being a decent human being, well, that would be a plus. But I’d prefer competence if I had to make a choice. But please keep in mind that I am speaking from total ignorance about his actual record, other than he has smoked crack. In and of itself, that does not make him a bad person or a bad mayor – though maybe he really does suck at it. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/84 "2013-11-06T17:37:32Z")
Mayors in Ontario have almost no power other than to appoint council members to committees that make reommendations to council, and to chair council meetings following the procedural rules. There is no mayoral veto, and there is no mayoral preference in what the council votes on. In short, the mayor’s power is soft power, based on strength of character and leadership ability. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/85 "2013-11-06T17:59:31Z")
the way this story is going his smoking crack may actually be one of the lesser crimes involved. The police have arrested a close friend of Ford’s on charges of extortion in his efforts to get the crack video back (as well as a raft of drug-related charges) and some of the people involved have disappeared or been murdered. Given that things with Ford always get worse,\*\* it is actually entirely possible that the man is connected with a murder\*\*. Stay tuned. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/86 "2013-11-06T18:36:10Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > He’s still in office because he is a “fiscal conservative”. If he were a fiscal liberal he would have splurged and gotten the powder. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/87 "2013-11-06T18:42:18Z")
He is still in office because there is no way to remove him from office. The only 3 ways he can lose his job are: 1. Resign. 2. Lose an election. 3. Be convicted of a crime and placed in jail. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/88 "2013-11-06T18:47:55Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > He is still in office because there is no way to remove him from office. The only 3 ways he can lose his job are: > > 1. Resign. > 2. Lose an election. > 3. Be convicted of a crime and placed in jail. So he keeps his job if he dies? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/89 "2013-11-06T19:06:51Z")
The body would be well-preserved already, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/90 "2013-11-06T19:12:29Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > The police have a video of him smoking something out of a crack pipe. > > He has admitted to smoking crack in that period. > > But, of course, he’ll never admit that there was crack in that crack pipe, for then he could be charged and convicted and tossed of office. Is that the issue here? I thought perhaps it was too minor to even bother charging him with anything. But if he’s tied up in the alleged extortion plot by his buddy, that’s another story. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/91 "2013-11-06T19:16:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Is that the issue here? I thought perhaps it was too minor to even bother charging him with anything. But if he’s tied up in the alleged extortion plot by his buddy, that’s another story. Maybe they were extorting crack from a dealer. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/92 "2013-11-06T19:21:01Z")
Colbert showed a clip of him promising never to get stupid at the Danforth (or words to that effect) ever again. Um, what’s the Danforth, plz? And is there an admission charge? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/93 "2013-11-06T19:27:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Colbert showed a clip of him promising never to get stupid at the Danforth (or words to that effect) ever again. Um, what’s the Danforth, plz? And is there an admission charge? 😃 The Danforth is a major street in Toronto. It cuts through a number of neighborhoods. [Mayor Ford at Taste of the Danforth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp5ibOalLOI). ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/94 "2013-11-06T20:00:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Um, what’s the Danforth, plz? And is there an admission charge? 😃 The [**Wikipedia entry**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danforth_Avenue) says > [@](#): > > . . . Danforth Avenue intersects with Danforth Road, which runs diagonally north-east until south of Lawrence Avenue, where it continues as McCowan Road. A WAG: Perhaps the _the_ comes from the original road being called simply “the road” in early days, then the _the_ was transferred to the avenue. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/95 "2013-11-06T20:14:58Z")
Anyone interested the scope of the problem should read the [Globe’s article of 25 May and 17 July 2013](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/globe-investigation-the-ford-familys-history-with-drug-dealing/article12153014/?page=all) that goes into Rob Ford family’s drug dealing background. Rob Ford seems to have been on its periphery, but maintains close ties with two of the major players who are working for him on the city’s payroll. Brother Rob Ford (city councillor and right hand man to Ford) was a mid-level dealer. Brother Randy was a dealer involved in a kidnapping. Sister Kathy was a user who’s lovers and friends were into gun violence (her shot, lover killed, friend killed), and who was into white supremacy. Friend David Price was a dealer in brother Rob Fords RY Drifters gang. Note that Rob Ford is now a city councillor and is the right hand man and primary spokesperson for Rob Ford, and that David Price is Rob Ford’s Director of Operations and Logistics (whatever the fuck that is beyond calling in to radio shows under various pseudonyms to support Rob Ford) to the tune of [$130 K per year](http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/10/18/mayor_rob_fords_staffer_warned_after_go_station_incidents.html). Now it could be that these are just regular folks who happened to run a drug gang nearly thirty years ago, but who have matured and are now responsible civic minded citizens. Or it could be that the crack smoking drunken mayor and his life-long cronies are still involved in the underworld of organized crime. The police investigations will hopefully shed some light on it, despite Rob Ford and Doug Ford calling for the police chief to [step down](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/councillor-doug-ford-calls-on-toronto-police-chief-blair-to-resign/article15261674/). In Quebec municipal politics we’ve seen the damage that organized crime and political corruption can do. Let’s not go that way here in Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/96 "2013-11-06T20:18:58Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > In Quebec municipal politics we’ve seen the damage that organized crime and political corruption can do. Let’s not go that way here in Ontario. It’s lots late to worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/97 "2013-11-06T20:24:53Z")
Also, if family and friends were getting shot, maybe it wasn’t well “organized”. Now, THERE’S an argument against him being mayor. He couldn’t even cut it as a drug dealer! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/98 "2013-11-06T20:26:44Z")
I think **Muffin** meant to say that _Doug_ Ford, the mayor’s brother/right hand man/spokesman, was a drug dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/99 "2013-11-06T20:28:57Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Anyone interested the scope of the problem should read the [Globe’s article of 25 May and 17 July 2013](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/globe-investigation-the-ford-familys-history-with-drug-dealing/article12153014/?page=all) that goes into Rob Ford family’s drug dealing background. Rob Ford seems to have been on its periphery, but maintains close ties with two of the major players who are working for him on the city’s payroll. Brother Rob Ford (city councillor and right hand man to Ford) was a mid-level dealer. Brother Randy was a dealer involved in a kidnapping. Sister Kathy was a user who’s lovers and friends were into gun violence (her shot, lover killed, friend killed), and who was into white supremacy. Friend David Price was a dealer in brother Rob Fords RY Drifters gang. > > Note that Rob Ford is now a city councillor and is the right hand man and primary spokesperson for Rob Ford, and that David Price is Rob Ford’s Director of Operations and Logistics (whatever the fuck that is beyond calling in to radio shows under various pseudonyms to support Rob Ford) to the tune of [$130 K per year](http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/10/18/mayor_rob_fords_staffer_warned_after_go_station_incidents.html). > > Now it could be that these are just regular folks who happened to run a drug gang nearly thirty years ago, but who have matured and are now responsible civic minded citizens. Or it could be that the crack smoking drunken mayor and his life-long cronies are still involved in the underworld of organized crime. The police investigations will hopefully shed some light on it, despite Rob Ford and Doug Ford calling for the police chief to [step down](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/councillor-doug-ford-calls-on-toronto-police-chief-blair-to-resign/article15261674/). > > In Quebec municipal politics we’ve seen the damage that organized crime and political corruption can do. Let’s not go that way here in Ontario. This ain’t exactly the same thing. Having a family involved in petty crime according to reliable rumour, and petty nepotism today, isn’t the same as being involved in a municipal culture of big money kickbacks and assorted corruption. If anything, the latter types are likely to look like fine upstanding businessmen, not a pack of drunks, druggies and gun nuts. That being said, rather not have either … ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410/100 "2013-11-06T20:32:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think **Muffin** meant to say that _Doug_ Ford, the mayor’s brother/right hand man/spokesman, was a drug dealer. Yup. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/torontos-alleged-crack-smoking-mayor-why-is-he-still-in-office/659410.md?page=6)