Post by Mark Dewdney on Mar 3, 2010 9:16:58 GMT -5
It used to be that, in the days of Nathan Phillips, Donald Dean Summerville or even Art Eggleton, the Office Of The Mayor had a real say in what went on in Toronto's government and day-to-day operations.
It's still true today that the Mayor has some power, and is certainly in a position to effect change and affect policy all over the megacity.
However, one has to wonder; how much power - true power - does the top seat in Toronto still wield?
I don't think it's all baby-kissing and photo-ops, but with 44 councillors, most of whom differ widely in opinion, the true utility of the Mayor's office needs to move from policy-shaping to bridge-building.
It's said, frequently, that "politics is the art of the possible". To me, that means that we have to work together; one council pulling toward one unifying goal.
Another saying that I favour; "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a big enough stick."
If you combine the two sayings (and mellow the message out a little), what it boils down to is this;
The last handful of Mayors have not been able to bring Council together in any meaningful way.
With Council extremely unlikely to vote the Mayor any more power than he (or she) already has, the Office Of The Mayor must - MUST - find new ways to lubricate the wheels of local government...or else find themselves reduced to "figurehead" status, down to photo-ops and baby-kissing, while trying to keep up with the disparate agendas of 44 of their peers.
When Torontonians go to the polls on October 25th, 2010, I urge you to keep that in mind; it's not about whether George Smitherman or Rocco Rossi or Sarah Thomson would sell off assets or fund day care or build new subways.
It's really - REALLY - about their abilities to mend fences, to incorporate the enthusiasms of us rookies with the savvy of the incumbents left over after this year's housecleaning.
I know that I will be voting, when it comes time, for councillors who know how to say "no" to excessive (note, I say "EXCESSIVE") spending, people who know how to get the most "bang for the buck".
However, when it comes time to connect the arrows under the Mayoral ballot, I'll be seeking the candidate who I think can best tie it all together.
After all, to borrow from one more famous saying;
"We can all hang together...or we will all hang separately."
It's still true today that the Mayor has some power, and is certainly in a position to effect change and affect policy all over the megacity.
However, one has to wonder; how much power - true power - does the top seat in Toronto still wield?
I don't think it's all baby-kissing and photo-ops, but with 44 councillors, most of whom differ widely in opinion, the true utility of the Mayor's office needs to move from policy-shaping to bridge-building.
It's said, frequently, that "politics is the art of the possible". To me, that means that we have to work together; one council pulling toward one unifying goal.
Another saying that I favour; "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a big enough stick."
If you combine the two sayings (and mellow the message out a little), what it boils down to is this;
The last handful of Mayors have not been able to bring Council together in any meaningful way.
With Council extremely unlikely to vote the Mayor any more power than he (or she) already has, the Office Of The Mayor must - MUST - find new ways to lubricate the wheels of local government...or else find themselves reduced to "figurehead" status, down to photo-ops and baby-kissing, while trying to keep up with the disparate agendas of 44 of their peers.
When Torontonians go to the polls on October 25th, 2010, I urge you to keep that in mind; it's not about whether George Smitherman or Rocco Rossi or Sarah Thomson would sell off assets or fund day care or build new subways.
It's really - REALLY - about their abilities to mend fences, to incorporate the enthusiasms of us rookies with the savvy of the incumbents left over after this year's housecleaning.
I know that I will be voting, when it comes time, for councillors who know how to say "no" to excessive (note, I say "EXCESSIVE") spending, people who know how to get the most "bang for the buck".
However, when it comes time to connect the arrows under the Mayoral ballot, I'll be seeking the candidate who I think can best tie it all together.
After all, to borrow from one more famous saying;
"We can all hang together...or we will all hang separately."