Random Thoughts – Ford’s Secrecy, Sal’s Follies, The Plastic Straw Mayor and More
May 21, 2022
1. Four years ago, while on the campaign trail, Doug Ford rolled into town. A large, enthusiastic crowd packed a large banquet hall at the Holiday Inn to meet him. Though I’m sure he had his own security detail, I didn’t notice any police presence. He hardly needed it. He was among friends.
On Thursday, he rolled into town once again. This time, however, was considerably different. Under a veil of secrecy, as there was no general invitation to party members as had been the case last time, his bus pulled up in front of Sal Sorrento’s campaign office on Facer Street, where he was met by a couple of dozen placard-waving supporters. No doubt many of them were Sorrento’s family and friends. A police car was on hand. Protecting Ford, not us.
Later on, protesters filled the parking lot of the restaurant he was scheduled to dine at. They were not radical leftists, but instead, disenfranchised conservatives, many of whom likely donated to his party and/or knocked on doors for him last time around. Rather than face the wrath of the oppressed, he skipped the event and quietly hauled his big, fat rear end out of town.
Oh, how times have changed.
2. On Wednesday, Sal Sorrento and his small team were canvassing on my block. Whereas Sal likes to post pictures and video of himself engaging voters and listening to what’s on their mind, portraying himself as a modern-day King of Kensington, he just strolled down the street, keeping a safe distance from the common folk while his team went around dropping off brochures. One such team member came to my door. Hoping for the opportunity to give her a piece of my mind, I was quietly mouthing “go ahead, make my day” as she approached, but instead, she just left a brochure in my mailbox and didn’t ring the bell. After turning around, she spotted the New Blue sign on my lawn. With a look of consternation on her face, she abruptly doubled back, grabbed the brochure out of the mailbox and went on to the next house.
3. Recently, I learned that Walter Sendzik, as he told me in his office years ago, would not be seeking a third term as mayor. He’s been pleasant enough with me in our meetings, but I am relieved to see him ride off into the sunset, so to speak. Back in 2014, he campaigned on a theme of growth, opportunity and jobs. If my children have to leave St. Catharines to find work, he said, my term as mayor will have been a failure. But while in office, he spent the bulk of his time virtue signaling and shilling for his own party. Instead of growth, opportunity and jobs, his enduring legacy will be banning plastic straws and circuses. Good riddance is all I have to say.
4. Though I have no plans to attend an OHL game ever again, I did note that the Burkes announced the sale of the IceDogs to someone in Brantford, pending league approval. There have been a lot of strong opinions on the Burkes expressed online, both good and bad. When I was a regular at the Meridian Center, I fell somewhat in the middle. From my time in Winnipeg, I had certainly seen much worse, and if you don’t hear much about them, that’s probably the best compliment I can give them. Owners are like offensive linemen in football. The less you hear about them, the better they are. Whatever the case, they deserve credit for bringing the team to St. Catharines and taking a chance on a market that had long since been forgotten by the hockey world.
4a. Did you know that the IceDogs’ former office on Queen Street, like many in the downtown, still remains empty?
5. Dear Derek Sloan: It is hardly a “huge victory” to have to scratch and claw to get your Twitter suspension reversed. I’m surprised anyone still wants to be on that platform. I dumped it a long time ago and haven’t looked back.
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