Ford votes against all community grants, loses

The Toronto Star:

Returning briefly to his old role as council’s isolated contrarian, Mayor Rob Ford reprised an annual tradition on Tuesday and voted against six widely popular community development grants programs.

The grants programs give taxpayer money to a wide variety of community organizations. Some work to prevent violence. Others focus on improving the lives of seniors, immigrants, the disabled and the poor. Some provide recreation services the city doesn’t.

The community development and recreation committee, chaired by Ford ally Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, had recommended that the city give 259 groups a total of $7.2 million. The allocations were about to sail through council without even a vote when Ford stood to say he wanted to be recorded as opposing all of them — as he regularly did as a proudly frugal councillor.

When council then voted on the programs, Ford found himself nearly as lonely as he was under former mayor David Miller. He lost 43-1 in votes on the first four programs, 42-2 on the fifth, and 41-3 on the sixth.

Ford did not respond to a question on his votes as he exited a brief news conference. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said Ford probably believes the grants are too costly.

But even Holyday voted against Ford; he said many of the groups receiving grants are “very, very good.” Left-leaning Councillor Janet Davis called Ford's decision “embarrassing” and “shameful.” And the leader of a grant recipient that works with troubled youth said Ford acted foolishly, even if his interest was saving money.

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