Mayor Ford continues to vote like a heartless bastard

Well done Toronto, you seemed to have gotten the heartless Mayor you think this city deserves.

Returning briefly to his old role as council’s isolated contrarian, Mayor Rob Ford reprised an annual tradition on Tuesday and voted against six widely popular community development grants programs.

The grants programs give taxpayer money to a wide variety of community organizations. Some work to prevent violence. Others focus on improving the lives of seniors, immigrants, the disabled and the poor. Some provide recreation services the city doesn’t.

The community development and recreation committee, chaired by Ford ally Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, had recommended that the city give 259 groups a total of $7.2 million. The allocations were about to sail through council without even a vote when Ford stood to say he wanted to be recorded as opposing all of them — as he regularly did as a proudly frugal councillor.

When council then voted on the programs, Ford found himself nearly as lonely as he was under former mayor David Miller. He lost 43-1 in votes on the first four programs, 42-2 on the fifth, and 41-3 on the sixth.

Ford did not respond to a question on his votes as he exited a brief news conference. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said Ford probably believes the grants are too costly.

So he's a cold hearted bastard, because of money?

Ford was the only vote against grants to violence-prevention programsand to groups running small community events and festivals. He was also alone in opposing grants for groups working on “race relations, gender equity, literacy, disability, sexual orientation, and Aboriginal affairs” and grants for recreation activities “that address gaps in available services.”

Councillor Doug Ford joined his brother in voting against the most expensive program, the $4.7 million Community Service Partnerships. The program gives money to 78 groups that “advance council’s strategic goals” by working with “vulnerable, marginalized and high-risk communities.”

Councillor Frank Di Giorgio and both Fords voted against Services Development Investment Program grants, which help “non-traditional” grassroots groups in priority neighbourhoods.

The community development grants are separate from other city grants programs, such as those for arts groups.

Read more here.