Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem

This is a unflinching look at Rob Ford who was the Mayor of Toronto between 2010 and 2014. He created an image for himself of being an “everyman” which gained him a lot of popularity but it wasn’t at all true. He was a drunk, a bully, a drug addict, and a liar.

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Rob Ford knew how to destabilize government and shock. He used totally inappropriate sexual language in chambers, would degrade and interrupt interviewers, plant the seeds of mistrust in the press, and keep a carnival atmosphere around him. It’s almost as if a certain American president took notes from Rob Ford’s time in office.

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Mr. Ford also used the power of his office to do illegal activities, intimidate people who called him out on various things and - going against his campaign promises - cut various services, including funding for environmental programs, libraries, parks and recreation, and social services. He also increased property tax and public transportation fees, and he tried to sell off the zoo, justifying his actions by saying the city was in the red by 700M when in fact the city had a surplus of 270M.

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Rob Ford should never have been put in office. He was a terrible leader who was never really focused on the job. But this documentary left me a little bit sad. It’s heartbreaking for Toronto, for the people who worked around and with Rob Ford, and for Rob Ford himself. People don’t abuse substances for no reason. He clearly had problems and was not getting the help he needed.

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