Rob Ford speaks out on City Councillor perks
by Just call me joe.
Councillor Rob Ford spoke on Toronto's AM 640 this morning on what appears as the most flagrant misuse of taxpayers money. During the radio segment, he calls into question whether these perks are even necessary.
On Thursday March 1, Councillor Rob Ford spoke openly on Toronto's AM 640 radio station about a perk available to Toronto City Councillors whereby they are given box suites to entertain whomever they choose, at some of the most sought after sporting and concert events.
As he described it, a form is handed out where a City Councillor requests a full box suite at the ACC or Skydome (fit to accomodate 16 people) to watch the Raptors, the Maple Leafs or even the Blue Jays. Heck, they even have the option of putting in requests for hot ticket concert events.
The box suites also feature a full service drinking and dining experience.
Expenses that are all tacked to the taxpayers tab.
Rob Ford estimates that this perk assigned randomly to city councillors costs taxpayers in the minimum range of $100,000 per year. Based on some of the conversations I've had with corporate suites, that estimation seems low. Especially because most box suites are priced according to fixed drinking and dining packaged, and from Councillor Ford's description of the perk, the "open" wine-and-dine experience could amount to more than what the average corporate pays.
He also described how City Councillors are already afforded the total amount of $53,000 yearly for discretionary expenses.
Whatever the amount, does this not sound like a misuse of public monies? Monies that could otherwise be used towards road repair or maybe even improving deficient city services?
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