Ford Fest shows mayor still has support in the suburbs

Rob Ford at Scarborough Ford Fest

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For Ford Nation it was like a Scarborough Christmas in July.

And the guy in the tent with people lined up to meet him with their cameras was like Santa Claus.

For those who despise Mayor Rob Ford, Ford Fest is another reminder that they just don?t have a candidate who could do that.

So much for allegations of drug use knocking this guy down in the eyes of people around here.

There were a couple of hecklers but most of the nasty politics was parked on this night. It was a summer party.

Estimates were about 5,000 people came in to be part of Ford Fest in Scarborough.

The lineups were so long that you?d swear the Rolling Stones were playing.

They ran out of 5,000 hamburgers and had to order 3,000 more.

Fords enemies deny it or downplay it or don?t understand it, but this event was a huge success.

If Ford Fest has been a barometer in the past of where Ford is in popularity, then its another indicator that the War on Ford is not working here.

Lots of Scarberians are not on board with the cabal out to take him down.

They came for the free burgers, beer, rides for the kids and great entertainment of Jenny James on the stage.

Mostly they came to see Ford himself.

A rock star is the only word I can think of to describe the scene around him.

Fordmania?

It?s something that even those who hate can?t deny.

Though they try. And try and try.

Nothing is sticking so far.

In fact, if the turnout at this event is any indication, Ford has come out of his crack crisis just fine and is even stronger.

?He is a man of the people,? said Rob Provan. ?And the people appreciate that.?

People from all walks of life came out on an evening that could have been treacherous. It rained buckets earlier in the day, but in true Rob Ford irony, the sun came out to shine all the way into a beautiful July evening.

At this event you had a lot of families ? and not one of them said anything to me about being worried about an alleged drug video.

Most said they don?t believe one exists and many said they are not concerned about potential evidence gathered in Project Traveller, either.

Many said they are tired of the media dragging out a story that never seems to be proven.

?I think they are picking on them,? said Carol Malabue. ?Nice people get picked on.?

Her husband Devon said, from a Scarborough perspective, he can?t think of a better mayor and wonders why the attacks don?t stop. ?He has been a good mayor no matter what they say.?

Dr. Naeem Butt and his family emigrated from Pakistan and said they appreciate the mayor?s everyman style.

And they could have a good night with no cost to the taxpayers.

There were lots of politicians on hand, including Councillors Doug Ford, Frances Nunziata, Norm Kelly and Raymond Cho.

Transportation Minister Glenn Murray was also there ? and heard loud and clear the pitch for subways for Scarborough.

But the second biggest star of the night had to be Toronto singer Jenny James and her terrific band of Paul Cafarelli, Amy Easton, Dave Bayley, Minas Hatzigiannatzoglou, Brian Mann, Andrew McMullen, Paul Chalmers, ? who by the way where proudly discovered a couple of years back in a Scrawler column.

They have a career and a new album and video but a new song they wrote called Mayor Ford (The World Will Remember) brought the house down and even had the mayor?s dancing shoes going.

They handed out a lyric sheet and the crowd sang along as James belted it out.

?Mayor Ford, cost cowboy and rollback viceroy, Toronto?s defender, economic mender, blatant attacks won?t make him collapse, cause Mayor Ford will bounce right back, Mayor ford the world will remember.?

The crowd gave a big cheer ? the loudest from Ford himself.

?Wow that?s fantastic, thanks so much Jenny,? of the song James wrote with the band and producer Sonia Watkins.

Word is, the Fords will have their traditional Etobicoke Ford Fest in his mother?s backyard later in the summer and that James will be back again.

But this night was all about Scarborough and politics.

?I guarantee you I will get Scarborough subways,? Ford promised.

Local residents cheered ? many telling me they believe him.

He?s like Santa Claus.

?

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/07/05/ford-fest-shows-mayor-still-has-support-in-the-suburbs

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