When Doug Ford launched his mayoral campaign two weeks ago, he wasn’t wearing the Armani suit he often wears at Toronto council meetings. Instead, he’d chosen a gingham button-down shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Adam Giambrone, former Toronto councillor says it’s smart politicking. “You often notice more established politicians will put on more comfortable shoes and wear khakis, not jeans,” Giambrone said. “Frankly it works to a poorer socio-economic environment than it would in Rosedale.”
Last Wednesday the TTC announced another customer service panel where riders will be able to interact one-on-one with the staff and a forum will be opened up for questions. Scarborough TTC bus driver and commuters expressed their opinions about TTC's new promises.
When East York resident Trish O’Reilly-Brennan posted a petition online to get the Transit City plan back, she had no idea how quickly it would spread. With minimal promotion, it gathered over 1,600 signatures within a week.
Like Mel Lastman before him, Rob Ford’s supporters are attracted to his no-nonsense personality, a public relations expert says.
Despite watching his name being dragged through the mud due to public indiscretions — among them a 1999 DUI charge and allegations he assaulted and uttered a death threat against his wife — Rob Ford is still the frontrunner in the race to become Toronto’s next mayor.
A TTC town hall meeting last Sunday was meant to further dialogue between commuters and frontline TTC workers but calls for TTC Chair Adam Giambrone’s head set a different tone.
Public transit riders may be asked to dig deeper in their pockets if a proposed fare hike is approved by a city committee on November 17, 2009. Riders could face fare increases of 25 cents, raising the total cost of the cash fare to $3.00. Tokens would increase similarly, up from $2.25 to $2.50 and the adult Metropass could increase to $126 per month, an increase of $17.