Ford For Toronto A Broken City, A New Mayor, Crazy Antics

David Rider blogging for the Star:

Sources report major tension between Mayor Rob Ford’s hand-picked budget chief and the mayor’s office ahead of Monday’s budget launch.

Mike Del Grande, an accountant by trade and well-known at City Hall for his gruff demeanour, has been demanding more input into the operating and capital budgets about to launch, the sources say.

via The Goods.

Interesting, if true. Ford not-playing-well-with-others isn’t surprising. What was surprising was the appearance that he was willing to do so during his campaign and through the early weeks of his administration. Collaboration has never been in his nature.

Budget talks start on Monday. Let’s see if Ford can keep his cool through the process.

Natalie Alcoba, quoting a speech delivered by City Manager Joseph Pennachetti to staff:

“We have invested great talent, time and creativity in programs and strategies to address the priorities of the previous mayor and council. It is natural to become attached to things that you have created. It requires leadership to adapt to new ways of thinking,” he said. “Our job is not to say, ‘That can’t be done.’ Our job is to work out, ‘How can that be done?’ ”

via City wants to be “At Your Service” | Posted Toronto | National Post.

The whole thing is a good read, as it sort of underlies the weird position staff are in. They have to adapt to a new reality that’s not really based on hard facts but rather perception and reputation.

Kelly Grant and Anna Mehler Paperny for the Globe:

It’s one of Mr. Ford’s major pledges butting up against reality as the city tries to balance a challenging budget on a breakneck schedule that even City Manager Joe Pennachetti says is “rushed.” And while the mayor has promised no “major” service cuts, Mr. Pennachetti warned in an interview Tuesday that Torontonians should expect cuts in next week’s budget.

via Ford backs off campaign vow to hire more police officers – The Globe and Mail.

I believe that left-leaning councillors actually have him on the record saying ‘no service cuts’ as part of the first Executive Committee meeting.