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Mayor Rob Ford Asked Not to Appear in the Santa Claus Parade
Torontoist:As Rob Ford works to fight off city councillors who want him to take a leave of absence, another powerful interest has joined the siege on the mayor: Santa Claus.
In a letter to Ford’s chief of staff dated November 12, Ron D. Barbaro, co-chair of Toronto’s annual Santa Claus Parade, asks the mayor not to join this year’s procession—in order to “avoid this distraction and put the focus back on Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
The letter acknowledges that the mayor “has every right” to march in the parade, and it’s phrased as a request, not a demand. Even so, Barbaro notes that the letter represents the “official position” of the parade’s board.
Ford has made some gleeful appearances at the parade in previous years (see the photo, above), but we guess getting entangled in an ever-deepening drug scandal pretty much guarantees you a spot on the naughty list, no matter the circumstances.
In a letter to Ford’s chief of staff dated November 12, Ron D. Barbaro, co-chair of Toronto’s annual Santa Claus Parade, asks the mayor not to join this year’s procession—in order to “avoid this distraction and put the focus back on Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
The letter acknowledges that the mayor “has every right” to march in the parade, and it’s phrased as a request, not a demand. Even so, Barbaro notes that the letter represents the “official position” of the parade’s board.
Ford has made some gleeful appearances at the parade in previous years (see the photo, above), but we guess getting entangled in an ever-deepening drug scandal pretty much guarantees you a spot on the naughty list, no matter the circumstances.
Why do I have the feeling Mayor Ford's first instinct won't be to do the right thing?