Man, that was fast.

Giambrone quits mayoral race.

This doesn't mean I'm rooting for Rocco Rossi though.

Back Stepping

Adam Giambrone could have could have done magnificently if he'd completed this campaign. All of Toronto was watching, and he started off on the right foot. He would not have necessarily won, but he would have made a step in the right direction.


Royson James sums up the Giambrone-and-his-affairs issue perfectly in his column in The Star. He describes the situation quite eloquently. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Adam Giambrone: Attracting Younger Voters

Adam Giambrone hasn't even announced his candidacy for mayor of Toronto yet, and he's already got his campaign in full-swing.
He posted this video today on YouTube. It's a short and rather amusing, low-production "vote-for-me" video.

The aim, I suppose, is to attract younger voters. But will it work?

Young people are notorious for not voting.
Well, Canadians in general seem to be notorious for not voting. In the 2008 general election, only 59.1 per cent of Canadians voted. But the younger population is especially reluctant to head to the polls.

Although this YouTube tactic could potentially work very well. Not only because it's using a medium used by the younger generation, but because it's funny. It's a very humorous video.
He doesn't give the air of a stiff-necked politician, like our current Prime Minister.
In fact, the video seems closer to a College Humor spoof than a serious campaign attempt. Well, to some extent it isn't serious. But I think that's exactly what makes it so appealing.

So, Keep it up Giambrone. The whole World Wide Web is watching. Well, at least the Torontonian section of it is.

Rocco Rossi

An article published today in The Star says Rocco Rossi (mayoral candidate) won't put new bike lanes on certain streets. He even wants to look at removing existing bike lanes.
He says he would move lanes to quieter streets parallel to major roads.
Yeah, that will be GREAT for getting over the Don Valley. Bikers can just follow the quieter road that runs parallel to the Bloor viaduct.

Oh wait, there isn't one.

Rossi also wants to put the planned Transit City lines on hold until later."His promise to kill bike lanes on Jarvis will win him support in neighbourhoods such as Rosedale, Moore Park and Leaside," says the Star.
Well that's true. People who live in those neighbourhoods get up every morning and drive their large, gas guzzling vehicles to their downtown offices. Why should they worry about those who can not or choose not to own a vehicle? Why do they have to worry their pretty little heads about the majority of the population who have to take public transit or power their own way to work?

The article says that Rossi's ideas about removing bike lanes shows a lack of understanding of Torontonian values and what is going on at city hall.

It's hard to believe this egg-head is from the Liberal Party.

Let's hope Toronto is smart enough not to elect Rocco Rossi.