The Gravy Train returns to City Hall
Torontosun.com
Sue-Ann Levy
March 26, 2019
It’s yet more proof that Toronto councillors have hopped back aboard the Gravy Train.
In 2018 the city’s then-44 politicians helped themselves to “business” lunches and dinners, taxis (often for short distances); lots of pricey pre-election newsletters; town halls to spread their pet agendas and cartons upon cartons of compost -- among other things -- on the taxpayer’s tab.
These and other expenses are contained in the just-released final tally of how councillors spent their $30,000 office budgets and an extra little slush fund (general expense account) they manoeuvred for themselves to pay for their constituency offices and a splashy newsletter.
It didn’t seem to matter to many that 2018 was an election year, with Jim Karygiannis spending $55,553 out of both funds and Neethan Shan (who was defeated) close behind at $51,456.
Anthony Perruzza came in third at $47,354 and defeated Giorgio Mammoliti was next at $46,819.
The lowest spenders, not surprisingly, were Michael Ford at $1,475 for the entire year and Stephen Holyday, who spent a mere $2,156.
Not even an election year seemed to stop some from frivolous spending.
But then, it is indeed part of the culture.
On that same theme, most of them spent anywhere from $1,500 to $3,750 extra on compost to give away free during their two Environment Days.
(I can’t resist. It is rather fitting that they’d spend our money on so much, er, “waste”.)
Nevertheless, the award in the hypocrite department does have to go to former councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, a champion of all things green and part of a team, who along with retired Janet Davis, foisted the Woodbine bike lanes down area residents’ throats.
McMahon -- who claims to go everywhere on her bike -- spent $2,251.69 on taxis. the highest among her council colleagues.
Some of the rides were easily walkable short hops, like her $10.50 June 22 ride from City Hall to Roy Thompson (cct), as the invoice noted.
Mr. Bloor Bike Lanes Joe Cressy was cabbing it up pretty often too -- often with easily walkable distances such as from City Hall to Kensington Market, a $7.25 cab ride for which he gave a $2 tip. He also took several rides to Manning and College (home perhaps?)
Speaking of McMahon, she, along with Sarah Doucette (who didn’t run again,) Joe Mihevc (who lost) and Justin DiCiano (who likewise didn’t run) each spent $400 on two consultants to hold hen parties ‘Urban Hen Workshops’ in their wards.
Those four wards are where backyard hens are being piloted.
Kristyn Wong-Tam asked taxpayers to pay $400 in mental health awareness training for her staff in May 2018, and $480 for room and refreshments at 519 Church St. to hold her gender equity budgeting town hall.
Mihevc spent $174 on designer pizzas for what he called a debriefing meeting on May 7, 2018, following the vigil for the Yonge St. van attack.
On several occasions, Mihevc also expensed taxpayers for the 36-cents to $4.93 late fees on his home office internet service, as well as a $17.50 membership to Cycle Toronto.
Former long-time councillor David Shiner enjoyed a Winterlicious meal at trendy Sassafraz on Cumberland St. in late Jan. 2018.
His request for reimbursement labels it a business meeting, although his former executive assistant and now wife Karen Wood is listed as one of the attendees.
Perruzza spent $549.06 to attend the farewell reception in Ottawa of the Cuban Ambassador to Canada.
I’m sure what that has to do with City Hall, but maybe we’ll find out one day.
And what would we do without our favourite former Manitoba Communist Party leader Paula Fletcher, who billed taxpayers amounts ranging from $18 to $33 for more than one lunch with the gals -- her fellow NDP councillors -- at Trattoria Mercatto.
Fletcher also took her election race opponent Mary Fragedakis (who lost) to lunch at the end of last October at the Sushi Inn, spending $52.82 with tip on the taxpayer tab.
What a sport.
