All Entries Tagged With: "Royson James"
James: What Happens Now? Four Turbulent Years
Royson James predicts that the next four years will be marked by political battles as Mayor Ford works to push his agenda through council: “Issues like contracting out garbage services and ending sole-source contracting and the sale of city assets promise titanic struggles among the left-leaning councillors. And any mayor who attempts to cut front-line [...]
James: Vote Evokes Caution Where Others Boldly Go
Royson James notes that neither of the two mayoral frontrunners evoke a strong positive reaction, which will have an impact over the next four years, no matter who wins: “Rarely have Toronto residents approached the polling booth with such uncertainty to elect a new mayor. And if the opinion polls of the last week are [...]
James: Real Pantalone Backers Have Little Choice
The Star’s Royson James speaks to current and potential Joe Pantalone supporters on possible alternatives that may not be as attractive as they seem: “Now, if you find Ford’s anti-spending policies so repulsive that he must be stopped, then you might be careful with your dalliance with Smitherman, especially if your concern is the diminution [...]
James: Looking For A Mayor To Love
After examining the latest polling numbers, Royson James offers that voters are looking for someone to vote for, not against: “The undecided, those who might love Pantalone and the David Miller legacy, are undecided because they have to come to grips with voting for someone they really don’t like, just to stop someone they fear.” [...]
James: Cut Waste, But Carefully: Poll
Royson James dissects the latest polling information from Insight Research to look at what’s on voter’s minds: “And the verdict is: Voters want change, carefully managed — in essence, a dash of George, a bit of Joe and a dab of Rob. The new mayor, despite his leanings, may want to reconsider platform positions once [...]
James: This Mayoral Campaign Has Been A Race Like No Other
Royson James looks back at this year’s mayoral race and marvels at how it has been characterized by the unexpected – specifically the rise of Rob Ford: “Soon, the rise of the angry councillor from the suburb became the “Ford phenomenon.” He was Canada’s Sarah Palin. Provincial premiers were supposedly watching and worrying about how [...]
James: What I Like About Rocco Rossi
As he has with the other main mayoral candidates, Royson James offers complimentary words for Rocco Rossi: “Of the candidates, he seems most passionate about growing the city’s economy. He’d increase investment in the arts, find a permanent solution to the school polls closing saga; clean up graffiti; and turn 16 underused public schools into [...]
James: What I Like About Rob Ford
Royson James offers some thoughts on what he appreciates about mayoral candidate Rob Ford: “He practises retail politics. He goes ward to ward, gets his hands dirty, personally attends to phone calls, and leaves behind an eternally grateful citizen. That sometimes angers delinquent or slow-responding councillors who resent his intrusion into their ward. Tough. Citizens [...]
James: What I Like About Smitherman
As he did with Joe Pantalone, Royson James offers his thoughts on the positive aspects of the candidacy of George Smitherman: “Smitherman is personable and down-to-earth, if not warm. On the campaign trail he easily relates to Citizen Joe. But his policies have not resonated, though they reflect great thought and include the breadth of [...]
James: What I Like About Joe Pantalone
Royson uses his column to offer a number of reasons why Toronto voters should consider mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone: “Toronto under Joe Pantalone would care for the little guy. He wasn’t born to privilege or lofty position; neither has he grown fat from sitting on the perch of power and privilege. He’ll remember where he [...]
James: No Need To Demonize Rob Ford
Star scribe Royson James offers that Rob Ford’s opponents should not employ overheated hyperbole in their criticisms of him: “To challenge Ford’s vision of the city is our responsibility as citizens. But to demonize him as some ogre from the suburb only solidifies his appeal. Besides, it underestimates his attributes, dismisses his appeal and disrespects [...]
James: Joe’s Done, But Poised To Be The Kingmaker
The Star’s Royson James believes that Thomson’s move to Smitherman all but eliminates Joe Pantalone from serious contention: “That’s a fatal blow to Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, looking to continue the legacy of the current David Miller regime. Gone now is any hope of a flood of “progressive” Toronto voters lining up behind Pantalone. His [...]
James: Scent Of Mayor’s Power Attracts City Councillors
Royson James of the Toronto Star wonders which councillors will offer their endorsements as they determine which candidate has the best chance of becoming mayor: “This is politics, yes. Make it personal and you violate the rules of the game. So, expect others to saddle up to the Rob Ford cavalry, even as the hardline [...]
James: Nervous City Builders Seek A Ford-Slayer
In the Star, Royson James interviews those in the city who are looking for someone to stop Rob Ford: “At the University of Toronto last week, on a night to celebrate winners of the Jane Jacobs prize for city building, the grey-haired brigade openly fretted and fussed about the prospects of Ford occupying the second-floor [...]
James: Nobody To Vote For? Get Over It
With the candidates locked in, the Star’s Royson James suggests voters stop viewing the choosing of a candidate like that of choosing a spouse: “This bears saying as some persist in grumbling about “nobody to vote for.” Get over it, people. John Tory is not riding in on a white horse to save you from [...]
James: Smitherman’s Desperate Lurch To The Right
The Star’s Royson James is skeptical (as well as critical) of the recent announcements from mayoral candidate George Smitherman: “Smitherman’s problem is not the policies he proposes; his problem is atrociously bad timing, a trait that can cripple the best of campaigns. In trying to be all things to all people, a strategy he embarked [...]
James: Can Pantalone Turn Ford’s Momentum Into Victory?
Star columnist Royson James suggests that mayoral candidate Joe Pantalone could be well positioned if opponent Rob Ford looks to have real momentum in September: “What the candidate and his backers are hoping is for two things to break Pantalone’s way. First, the emergence of a strong, divisive, anti-progressive threat to take the mayoralty — [...]
