Rob Ford: Low-income supporters stand by their mayor
Source: Toronto Star
... But the reality remains that Ford’s supporters are predominantly lower-income. People who make less than $40,000 a year are twice as likely to support the mayor than those who make $100,000 or more, a recent Ipsos Reid poll found.
In his former council ward of Etobicoke North, many lower-income residents are fierce supporters of the mayor. The reasons for their loyalty have more to do with the mayor’s visibility than any of his policies.
... But critics point out that the mayor’s 2011 property tax freeze and subsequent small tax hikes are aimed at middle- and upper-class homeowners, not lower-income renters. His vow to drop the land transfer tax is also unlikely to benefit the poor. Further, he has restricted funding for public transit and libraries, and hiked user fees for recreation programs — all municipal services that low-income people rely on.
... Asked about Ford’s history of racially insensitive comments, including reports that he called a cab driver a “Paki” and referred to his football team as “f---ing minorities” in the crack video, many say that it simply doesn’t match up with their image of the mayor.
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/12/06/rob_ford_lowincome_supporters_stand_by_their_mayor.html
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