len's masthead

THE LEN LESSER REPORT  

THE LEN LESSER REPORT

 

londoner editor pic

 

ARCHIVED BLOGS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MAYOR FORD HAS SELF-DESTRUCTED

For the past few months the media has been all consumed by the exploits of Mayor Rob Ford. There has been nary an evening without tv news of him being intoxicated after drinking smoking crack cocaine caught on film for all of the world to see.

He claims he is not an addict to cocaine but after the video was found by the Toronto police he admits that he has made errors in judgement that has brought shame to himself, his family and the citizens of Toronto. For his mistakes he is truly sorry promising not to repeat his past mistakes.

Rob claims that he has only smoked crack cocaine once. In the past I have counseled young men/women who have told me of the rush that they have felt with a need to have repeat episodes of using their drug of choice.

No one uses cocaine once.

Ford’s response to the allegations are classic: initially when confronted with the accusations of him abusing he showed anger and denial. He wouldn’t admit that he was an addict who needed help and promised that it would not happen again.

Who was Rob Ford before becoming mayor of Toronto in 2010?

Born in Etobicoke in 1969 he learned the importance of community service and political involvement from his father, the late Doug Ford St. who served as MPP for Etobicoke-Humber. Doug Sr had three children Kathy, Doug and Randy. His sister’s relationship with men was traumatic with her being shot in the head, She is functioning living with her two children and on methadone for her heroin addiction.

Rob was a Carlton University Political Science student who left university two credits short of graduating to help his sister with her personal problems. He went to work in the family owned business,"Deco Labels &Tags that employs 250 people with annual sales of $100 million dollars. His top priority was customer service.

Since he was sworn in as Mayor in 2010 he has reduced his office budget by $700,000 and Councilor’s tax expense accounts saving another $900,000 that led council to freeze on their own salaries. He is looked on as the peoples’s mayor attending to the needs of all of the citizens of Toronto.

53% of the 346,000 people who voted for him were first-generation immigrants, half of whom had never had a post secondary education with an average household income of $75,000.

Watching Ford who is 5ft tall and tips the scales at over 330 pounds is an accident looking for a place to explode with the relentless constant attacks he has endured for the past nine months. His blood pressure numbers if he dared to have them checked are probably dangerously off the scale. Heart attacks/strokes will follow if he doesn’t heed the counsel of his family/friends leading to his early death.

Substance abuse affects every segment of society. I have known priests, judges, teachers, politicians, physicians, psychologists and young people who have been hooked on opiates. The families are often torn asunder while trying to cope/help a loved one.

To-day the city of Toronto council has stripped him of all of his powers and he is a mayor in name only.

I sincerely hope Rob takes the time to take care of himself and gets help for his health concerns. He needs to decide what is in the best interest for himself and his wife and children.

The media has ridiculed the man day and night regarding his problems. If and when he dies I wonder how many will take the time to eulogize Rob Ford? Bad/black news in the media sells.

A William Shakespeare quote seems appropriate: "Friends, Romans countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him; The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones."

Len Lesser

Len Lesser posts a report every week

You can email Len at lenlesser@hotmail.com