Mayor lacks vision but he’s not Ford

Re Promises kept, promises broken, Oct. 29, and Blunt talk from Toronto’s city

manager, Keenan, Oct. 30 In the Star’s report on promises kept and broken by Mayor John Tory, he came off looking relatively good. But Edward Keenan’s thoughtful reflection on Monday makes it clear that Mr. Tory’s leadership has been anything but visionary.

The Scarborough subway and the modified intersection of the DVP and the Gardiner are just bad choices. The big issue, pointed out over and over by city managers, is the mayor’s unwillingness to raise taxes. It appears that the conservative bias against raising taxes dominates Mr. Tory’s thinking.

Does it also dominate the thinking of citizens? City spending at the level needed to build and maintain a just society means higher taxes. Poll after poll suggests we support social justice and inclusion but we should be telling the mayor and council to raise taxes, if that’s what it takes to achieve it. If we don’t, we share the responsibility for inadequate public transit and people without homes, adequate food and access to opportunities. Peter Crosby, Toronto Sunday’s light review of Mayor John Tory’s promises kept and broken didn’t dive too deeply.

Setting aside the quibble as to whether Mr. Tory ever used the word “promise,” he certainly flagged a range of intentions — some achieved and some not.

But his greatest promise kept, albeit a tacit one, was his assurance that he was not and would never be, Rob Ford.

In this, Mr. Tory has been a raving success.

Serenity, civility and business acumen are apparent at city hall. Time is redeemed and the Google/Amazon bids are feasible.

An unstated “promise” most assuredly kept — Toronto is serious again. P.D. Brown, Toronto