Toronto Mayor Rob Ford "crack video" is real

[Saviolo]

Police Chief Bill Blair is holding a press conference about it, now. They've announced that they have the digital file that is consistent with the descriptions released in the media (indicated The Toronto Star and the Gawker stories about this).

What it does -not- contain is, apparently, anything that the police want to use to press charges against Rob Ford himself. They've released the entire warrant (redacted) regarding the investigation into the drug ring, including Rob Ford himself, and his friend and occasional driver Alexander "Sandro" Lisi.

So, now it's the waiting game for us in Toronto. Do we finally get to dump this right-wing buffoon of a rich privileged mayor, or will he hang on, and remain in charge until the end of his tenure? He's been a disaster in many ways for Toronto, and his entire term has been plagued with controversies.

I made a post in the Canada discussion group with links to a lot of the emerging stories, please check out here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10872607

All the right wingers saying that it was a left-wing media conspiracy, that there was no video, that we'd do anything to get Ford out of office... well, here's vindication. The video is real, and the police have it.

[gopiscrap]

1. yikes

[nenagh]

2. Would you explain who are Rob Ford voters? I should know...

I thought there was a Mississauga vs downtown split....but never read the details.

Many thanks... (I'm off to work now so will read later)

[Saviolo]

3. Mostly post-amalgamation Toronto

Here's a map from the Torontoist blog about who voted for Ford. The purple bit (the Smitherman voters) lines up almost perfectly with pre-amalgamation City of Toronto. The ones who overwhelmingly voted for Ford were the suburbs and bedroom communities in the Greater Toronto Area, like Etobicoke, Markham, Vaughn, etc...

http://torontoist.com/2010/10/which_wards_voted_for_who_for_mayor/

Here's an article that has a great image of pre-amalgamation Toronto:
http://www.newgeography.com/content/001890-toronto-election-highlights-failure-amalgamation

[nenagh]

9. Thank you for all the linked information... now I've got to catch up with the latest news...

I really appreciate you comment..

[u4ic]

7. Mississauga has their own mayor

[nenagh]

8. Thank you....

Something I should have known... living 4 hours away...

[u4ic]

10. I grew up there

I was barely a teen when Hazel was elected - and here I am, mid 40's and she's still the mayor!

[KamaAina]

4. You must admit, Rob Ford has one signature accomplishment.

He's made Torontonians long for Mel Lastman!

[Saviolo]

5. Addendum!

Here's a good little concise write up from TPM: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/police-have-toronto-mayor-rob-ford-alleged-drug-video

Also, he finally poked his head out of his office after the press conference and said that he has no reason to resign, he'll continue to provide good government, etc...

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/10/31/rob_ford_police_have_video_with_mayor_appearing_to_smoke_crack_cocaine.html

[Brickbat]

6. I love this story and am happy to see it resurfacing.

K&R.