Ford policy advisor leaves as resignation calls grow

(Update)

One day after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford blew a kiss to media cameras. But a lot of his City Hall peers aren’t willing to kiss and make up. In fact, the calls for Ford to step down are getting louder. And even though the 44-year old says he’s staying on, another member of his staff has quit.

Lisa Hepfner has the details from Toronto City Hall.

The first bit of news out Wednesday, policy advisor Brooks Barnett, quit.

He was one of the few members of Ford’s original inner circle left since many quit early in the year when the crack allegations first started surfacing. But the Mayor didn’t seem to be dwelling on it.

He was not talking to us. He slipped in through a back door Wednesday and just looked at us a few times from the glass walls of his office.

Blowing a kiss to the media through the glass windows of his office while touring grade nine students for take your kids to work day. The Mayor seemed to be in a taunting mood.
City Councillors seemed less chipper.

Adam Vaughan:  “He is a liar.  Nothing he has ever said is true. And i’m tired of having to respond to whatever he puts out there because quite frankly, it’s not true.”

Joe Mihevc “So many phone calls and emails, Joe we want you take away his power and make him resign. But I have to tell them we, regrettably, don’t have the power to take him out of office. No one does.”

Mary-Margaret McMahon: “I have hundreds of emails from my residents, especially parents, who are having to explain to their kids, as young as six, what crack is. So, time to step aside and not lead our city.”

There were some voices of support for the mayor.

“What gives you the right to ask him to resign? The taxpayers put him in power. If they don’t want him the election.”

But most sounded like this: “What do we want? Ford out. When do we want it? Now.”

Outside, Torontonians gathered to chant their displeasure, and to cover Nathan Phillips Square with chalk missives:
“Do it for the kids.”
“Resign now, leave.”
“I voted for you.”
“Do you really think we believe you only did it that one time?”
“Get help get out.”

“This apology came kicking and screaming. Probably because this wire tap info is coming out. So why should anyone ever trust him again.

“If he had been honest the reaction would have been different but he’s not an honest Mayor, that’s not the Mayor Toronto deserves.”

“I’m actually the child of an alcoholic. I know the effect that has on kids. I don’t think he’s thinking of them. As is typical. Self delusion and denial are always the first line of defence. “It’s disheartening to see someone self destruct on so many fronts. Internationally.”

And the circus atmosphere continued outside and in, with a free-gravy train.

“Trying to show the gravy train just can’t be stopped. We’re going off the rails.”

A former pro-wrestler with an arm-wrestling challenge: “Iron Sheik for Mayor of Toronto 2014!”

And even a Dr. Suess reading: “Go, Go. I don’t care how. You can go by foot, you can go by cow. Marvin K. Mooney. Change the name. Will you please go now.”

He has been uninvited from the police chief’s ball. Now people are divided over whether they want Mayor Ford to participate in the Santa Claus parade.