Rob Ford Was the Mayor for the “Third City”
Rob Ford was arguably the greatest mayor for the working class in Toronto. I won’t go into his policies because for the sake of this article they really don’t matter (and he’s infamous for voting against policies that benefit the working class).
To begin I’d like to start off with some background information on the city of Toronto. Originally Toronto was comprised of 6 boroughs (Scarborough, East York, North York, York, Toronto and Etobicoke), but in 1998 they became one mega-city. There are many debates regarding the pros and cons of the amalgamation with many feeling it either aided the third city/working class or greatly hindered it, I myself am a fence sitter on the matter.
Another important piece of information about Toronto, there is a great deal of difference regarding income based on where you live in the city (refer to the map below).
Now, I would like you to all understand my biggest grievance about politicians who create policies for the low income but have no relationship with those in low income housing. I do not understand how a politician can speak on behalf of a group of people that said politician does not interact with regularly. It is one’s duty as mayor to do what is best for the whole city, not just the upper/middle class. You can not tell me what is best for areas like Rexdale and Malvern if you have never been there, that armchair approach to politics and policy planning does not work. There are a great deal of people who live in low income housing in this city who are of Caribbean heritage (like myself) and to be frank, most people just don’t get us. I’m not going to delve into the issue of cultural appropriation, but Rob Ford took the time to try to understand our culture, as seen in this video
I understand how ridiculously distasteful that is, but you need to understand that it humanized him. I am by no means trying to defend his recreational drug use or addiction, but you need to understand the separation felt between the third city and politics. Rob Ford frequented Rexdale and that is why the working class respect him. A major criticism of the amalgamation is how does one mayor serve a city that is so drastically different based on where you live — from the suburbs to the downtown core, creating policies that benefit everyone can be difficult. Rob Ford made an effort to involve himself with the suburbs and that’s how he gained his low income supporters.
Rob Ford’s antics served as a much needed boost to the city’s global presence and he reminded America that they have a neighbour up north before Drake did (sorry Drizzy). He may have given us an image that the upper class didn’t want to be associated with, but this is the honest, unedited depiction of Toronto. It is problematic, multicultural, Caribbean influenced, fragmented in class and income and I love it. My deepest apologies to the Bay Street lawyers (I use to want to be one of you guys) that don’t want to be known for working in the city run by a crack head.
Rob Ford was a drug user, an alcoholic and a bad publicity magnet, but he was as much of a yardie as any Jamaican, always involved with the community in Rexdale and a true Torontonian.
RIP Big Rob
Kyle
