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Controversy surrounds a crenelated Mayor Rob Ford due to drug and alcohol allegations while in office. On Friday Toronto’s City Council voted to strip the mayor of his ability to govern in a state of emergency and his ability to appoint and dismiss committee chairs. These are idiosyncratic moves aimed at repressing the controversial legislator. Trying to drastically hold on to his position and declaring to protest against the actions in court over the supposed allegations from last week where he admitted to smoking crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor” over a year ago while in office. Ford told council members that he couldn’t support the challenges and this legal fight will inevitably cost taxpayers “an arm and a leg.”
He did include that he understands where they’re coming from and he would have supported what they’re doing but he wants to move on. He’s not holding anything against anybody.
During the council meeting emulated the unprecedented state of municipal affairs in Toronto, where investigations took place around the mayor and his illicit indiscretions. According to Toronto CNN.com some council members compared the move to relinquish Ford’s duties to a coup d’etat, basically to nothing.
According to Council member John Filton, “the actions were being taken reluctantly but sadly both decisions are warranted and necessary.” Another Council member who ironically is the mayor’s brother Doug Ford fought on his brother’s behalf saying “The Council didn’t have the moral or legal authority to strip an elected official of his responsibilities.” He was also quoted saying that it wasn’t up to the City Council to make such a decision, it was up to the people.
The need of bringing stability to the city is clearly understood but the actions that took place on Friday was a treacherous paradigm. The actions that transpired were the motions to remove the ability to appoint and dismiss committee chairs which gives him less control over policy the vote was approved 39-3. Normally for fear of losing their positions the influential chairs always followed the mayor’s orders in the past. The second action was to ban Ford’s power during a state of emergency. This was a vote held 41-2. Since generally emergency response decisions are made by the council this decision was considered symbolic.
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Before the final vote was cast, Ford exclaimed that he acted on complete impulse but his actions do speak louder than words while he admittedly acknowledge his pitfalls he continues to add to his misjudging and contradict his words as the day went on.
In response to all of these illusive allegations Ford has decided to take legal action against one in particular that included a claim of the mayor bring a woman who appeared to be an escort to his office and drank alcohol while driving. Due to these upbringings it has cost for a lengthy investigation. Even though the Mayor faces no criminal charges he feels that the allegations were “outright lies and he’s had enough.” So has the Council.
Image Credit: CNN
