Thread by @anotherhuman86

I called Mammoliti today about his “cockroaches” comments made on Rebel Media. He called me back.

It didn’t go well. /1

#TOpoli
#Ward7

I’ll fully admit I was already angry when we spoke but instead of trying to listen to my concerns, he berated me.

He told me I want to “hug thugs” and said the ppl of Jane&Finch need to stop “shooting themselves” /2

He reiterated that he wants to tear down the public housing at Jane&Finch and put in mixed housing to give ppl choice.

I pointed out that tearing down someone’s home & forcing them to move isn’t giving them a choice, it’s the opposite. /3

When I brought up the “cockroaches” comment he said it was just an analogy.

I reminded him that the whole reason analogies are even a thing is because they make comparisons. That’s what analogies are used for, to compare something to another thing. /4

The call ended 5 minutes in when he hung up on me.

I’ll be honest, I cried after in the Starbucks below my office where I took the call. The emotional defeat I felt was crushing. Hearing an elected official conduct themselves in this way was heartbreaking. /5

And so, I’ve just made a donation to @TiffanyFordTO who is running against him.

She was born and raised in Ward 7. She worked with the community as a trustee and we can rest assured she will listen to people who want to build real solutions for this ward /6

I’m not saying to go easy on gang violence. The ward needs assistance in real ways. But that’s not going to come from tearing down people’s homes.

It will come from providing resources to those who need it most, for those who poverty & violence have already taken so much. /7

Take a peak at the work @TiffanyFordTO plans to do and has already done and you’ll see optimism.

We all need more of that.

And less Mammo. /end