Post by Mark Dewdney on Mar 3, 2010 7:53:16 GMT -5
Toronto Sun, March 2, 2010
Fletcher 'our own homegrown Tasmanian Devil'
Councillor writes note of apology in wake of shouting match
By JONATHAN JENKINS, Queen's Park Bureau
Read the original article : www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/02/13082016.html
She didn’t deliver it in person but Councillor Paula Fletcher apologized Tuesday for her combative exchange with the public the night before, during which she challenged a heckler to run against her, saying “Come on down, baby.”
“I would like to apologize to citizens at (Monday) night’s budget consultations if my tone was argumentative or if they believe I did not value their participation in the budget process,” Fletcher said in a handwritten note read by city budget chief Councillor Shelley Carroll, just before another round of residents appeared at City Hall.
“I believe we are all trying to make the quality of life a good one here in Toronto.”
Fletcher was at a budget meeting for Toronto Community Housing at the time.
“She’s sort of our own homegrown Tasmanian Devil,” Councillor Brian Ashton said, after reviewing Fletcher’s performance on the Internet.
“She could antagonize a nun.”
During her shouting match with taxpayer John Smith, she accused many in the crowd of being shills planted by radio host and one-time mayoral candidate John Tory — himself perched in the gallery.
Ashton said the outburst was particularly unhelpful at a time when the city’s chronic budget problems require council to build bridges with the community, rather than burning them.
“It was very intemperate, combative intercourse with the audience,” he said.
Councillor Doug Holyday said Fletcher was out of line and that part of it may be pressure she and other left-leaning councillors are feeling as October’s election draws near.
“(Mayor) David Miller is leaving and his gang knows there are changes afoot and they might not have the same positions as they had before,” Holyday said. “I think that’s probably playing on some of them. They like being the chair and they like being on the executive but, heaven knows, the next mayor may not see things the way David did.”
Carroll said she’d spoken with Fletcher and other councillors who also sparred with the crowd and said she urged everyone to “try a little harder.”
She did express some sympathy for the councillor’s lid-flipping.
“It’s hard to hear that you haven’t made any cuts when you’ve made $170 million of them,” Carroll said, referring to the internal savings the budget committee came up with this year.”
Right-leaning Councillor Rob Ford — pondering a mayoral run — had a harsher assessment.
“I’m not surprised when I heard about it and the faster she leaves council the better the city will be,” Ford said.
“She should just resign immediately. She has been ineffective on council and she has just wasted a lot of taxpayers’ money while she has been there.”
Fletcher 'our own homegrown Tasmanian Devil'
Councillor writes note of apology in wake of shouting match
By JONATHAN JENKINS, Queen's Park Bureau
Read the original article : www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/02/13082016.html
She didn’t deliver it in person but Councillor Paula Fletcher apologized Tuesday for her combative exchange with the public the night before, during which she challenged a heckler to run against her, saying “Come on down, baby.”
“I would like to apologize to citizens at (Monday) night’s budget consultations if my tone was argumentative or if they believe I did not value their participation in the budget process,” Fletcher said in a handwritten note read by city budget chief Councillor Shelley Carroll, just before another round of residents appeared at City Hall.
“I believe we are all trying to make the quality of life a good one here in Toronto.”
Fletcher was at a budget meeting for Toronto Community Housing at the time.
“She’s sort of our own homegrown Tasmanian Devil,” Councillor Brian Ashton said, after reviewing Fletcher’s performance on the Internet.
“She could antagonize a nun.”
During her shouting match with taxpayer John Smith, she accused many in the crowd of being shills planted by radio host and one-time mayoral candidate John Tory — himself perched in the gallery.
Ashton said the outburst was particularly unhelpful at a time when the city’s chronic budget problems require council to build bridges with the community, rather than burning them.
“It was very intemperate, combative intercourse with the audience,” he said.
Councillor Doug Holyday said Fletcher was out of line and that part of it may be pressure she and other left-leaning councillors are feeling as October’s election draws near.
“(Mayor) David Miller is leaving and his gang knows there are changes afoot and they might not have the same positions as they had before,” Holyday said. “I think that’s probably playing on some of them. They like being the chair and they like being on the executive but, heaven knows, the next mayor may not see things the way David did.”
Carroll said she’d spoken with Fletcher and other councillors who also sparred with the crowd and said she urged everyone to “try a little harder.”
She did express some sympathy for the councillor’s lid-flipping.
“It’s hard to hear that you haven’t made any cuts when you’ve made $170 million of them,” Carroll said, referring to the internal savings the budget committee came up with this year.”
Right-leaning Councillor Rob Ford — pondering a mayoral run — had a harsher assessment.
“I’m not surprised when I heard about it and the faster she leaves council the better the city will be,” Ford said.
“She should just resign immediately. She has been ineffective on council and she has just wasted a lot of taxpayers’ money while she has been there.”