pg. 180 It was a “curveball,” Tighe admitted: Robyn Doolittle, “Rediscovered Audiotape Throws a ‘Curveball’ into Ford Libel Trial,” Toronto Star, November 14, 2012.
pg. 180 “money was being exchanged” … “Not following the process”: Natalie Alcoba, “‘When They Don’t Follow the Process … I Call That Skullduggery’: Rob Ford Redefines Corruption in Defence of 2010 Comments,” National Post, November 16, 2012.
pg. 180 “They [councillors] don’t follow the process”: Remaining dialogue between Ford and Shiller in Rosie DiManno, “Rob Ford Runs Afoul of One Dangerous Little Word: Corruption,” Toronto Star, November 17, 2012.
pg. 182 “ultra vires” … “a nullity”: Rob Ford appeal factum, by Alan J. Lenczner, of Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP, p. 2, December 12, 2012.
pg. 182 One municipal lawyer watching the case: This was lawyer John Mascarin. Robyn Doolittle, “How Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Won His Appeal: An Argument About ‘Technical Jurisdiction,’” Toronto Star, January 25, 2013.
pg. 182 “collateral attack”: Daniel Dale, “Rob Ford Appeal Hearing Presents Two Visions of the Mayor: Honest Man—or Stubborn Lawbreaker?,” Toronto Star, January 7, 2013.
pg. 183 “We won,” he said: Robyn Doolittle, “How Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Won His Appeal: An Argument About ‘Technical Jurisdiction,’” Toronto Star, January 25, 2013.
pg. 183 “very, very humbling”: Lesley Ciarula Taylor, “What Mayor Rob Ford Said,” Toronto Star, January 25, 2013.
CHAPTER 9: THE GARRISON BALL
pg. 185 “We put our foot on their throat”: Phil Rosenthal, “Cooke Returns Shots in New Bravo Series,” Chicago Tribune, July 14, 2006.
pg. 187 “He told me he was in Florida”: David Rider, Jeff Green, and Rachel Mendleson, “Rob Ford: Sarah Thomson Wants Apology After Accusing Toronto Mayor of Inappropriate Touch,” Toronto Star, March 8, 2013.
pg. 188 Thomson said Ford had been “completely wasted”: “Sarah Thomson Alleges Rob Ford Was High When He Allegedly Grabbed Her from Behind,” Sarah Thomson interview on The Roz & Mocha Show, KiSS 92.5 radio, March 11, 2013. See www.kiss925.com/2013/03/11/roz-mocha-exclusive-interview-sarah-thomson-alleges-rob-ford-washigh-when-he-allegedly-grabbed-her-from-behind.
pg. 190 “We’ve got a problem”: Interview with Paul Ainslie, July 2013.
pg. 190 Towhey was suspicious of Lisi: We didn’t know this at the time. This came out in Project Brazen 2’s “Information to Obtain Search Warrant” court documents.
pg. 190 Ford tripped on the stairs: This is according to two members of the organizing committee, who were told by the impacted staff members.
pg. 191 “We know each other, and he stopped me to say hello”: This is according to a third member of the organizing committee interviewed August 20, 2013.
pg. 193 In a front-page story on March 26, 2013: Robyn Doolittle and Kevin Donovan, “‘Intoxicated’ Ford Asked to Leave Gala,” Toronto Star, March 26, 2013.
CHAPTER 10: PATHOLOGICAL LIARS
pg. 196 a named woman who saw the mayor “inebriated”: Interview with Jennifer Gordon, March 26, 2012, and March 25, 2013.
pg. 196 “Do you plan to sue, Doug?”: “Doug Ford Responds to Star Story About Mayor Rob Ford’s Behaviour,” Toronto Star, March 26, 2013.
pg. 198 “Mayor!”: “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Calls Allegations of Intoxication ‘Nonsense,’” CityNews, March 26, 2013. Video at www.citynews.ca/2013/03/26/video-toronto-mayor-rob-ford-calls-allegations-of-intoxication-nonsense.
pg. 198 “For the record, the mayor was not asked to leave the gala”: David Rider, “Mayor Rob Ford Calls Alcohol Abuse Report ‘An Outright Lie,’” Toronto Star, March 26, 2013.
pg. 199 “George, I want to thank you for being a friend to our family”: “Mayor Rob Ford presents George Chuvalo with Key to the City,” CityNews, March 26, 2013.
pg. 199 “Mayor Ford, can you address”: Video at “Three Councillors Now Claim Rob Ford Has a Drinking Problem as Toronto Mayor Is Encouraged to Seek Treatment,” National Post, March 27, 2013.
pg. 200 “I think many of us have witnessed things”: Joe Mihevc interview with 680News, March 27, 2013. See www.680news.com/2013/03/27/ford-not-asked-to-leave-military-event-some-organizers-say.
pg. 200 “It has been known at City Hall for quite a while”: Daniel Dale, “Rob Ford: Mayor Has Appeared Intoxicated, Says Councillor Sarah Doucette,” Toronto Star, March 26, 2013.
pg. 200 “Ms. Doucette confirmed making the statement”: Natalie Alcoba and Josh Visser, “‘Pathological Liars’: Mayor Rob Ford Has Furious Outburst as He Denies ‘Intoxicated’ Report, Staff Wants Him in Rehab,” National Post, March 26, 2013.
pg. 201 Councillor Mike Del Grande called it “sour grapes”: Sunny Dhillon and Elizabeth Church, “Ford’s Chief of Staff Denies Being Asked to Have Mayor Leave Gala,” The Globe and Mail, March 26, 2013.
pg. 201 “No one asked the mayor to leave”: Sunny Dhillon and Elizabeth Church, “Ford’s Chief of Staff Denies Being Asked to Have Mayor Leave Gala,” The Globe and Mail, March 26, 2013.
CHAPTER 11: FOR SALE
pg. 205 Four days later, my cell phone rang just after 9 A.M.: During the six-week period between the time Mohamed Farah phoned me and the story of the video ran on May 16, I kept a diary of the daily updates and events. The following, including the dialogue, is based on my notes taken at the time.
pg. 206 One of them, he said, worked in New York: To this day, I don’t know who Farah was referring to or if this person actually exists. Before the video scandal, Farah did not know Gawker editor John Cook, who works out of New York.
pg. 207 a crack house, he said: Numerous neighbours have told me and my colleagues at the Toronto Star that the brick bungalow at 15 Windsor Road is a drug haven. Internal police documents also describe the home as a “crack house/stash house.” Wiretap conversations connected to Project Traveller capture alleged drug dealers in the area discussing selling crack at the location.
pg. 209 It is explicitly stated in the newspaper’s code of conduct: “Toronto Star Newsroom Policy and Journalistic Standards Guide.” See www.thestar.com/opinion/public_editor/2011/12/07/toronto_star
_newsroom_policy_and_journalistic_standards_guide.html.
pg. 210 “politically kill Rob Ford”: Doug Ford on The City, Newstalk 1010, March 31, 2013.
CHAPTER 12: ANYTHING ELSE?
pg. 225 “information that is reliable and in the public’s interest”: Grant v. Torstar Corp., Docket 32932, December 22, 2009. See http://scc.lexum.org/decisia-scc-csc/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/7837/index.do.
pg. 227 “Okay,” Nair began: Reshmi Nair, CBC News, May 17, 2013. Video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqyaldTVK5E.
pg. 228 “Absolutely not true”: Video by Bernard Weil, “Mayor Rob Ford Crack Cocaine Scandal,” May 17, 2013.
pg. 228 “I have bad news for you, Canada”: Josh Barro, “The Almost-Good Reasons Toronto Elected Rob Ford,” Bloomberg, May 17, 2013. See www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-17/the-almost-good-reasonstoronto-elected-rob-ford.html.
pg. 229 “Unless he was entrapped by the government”: Will Sommer, “Crack-Smoking Mayors: Not Just for D.C. Anymore,” Washington City Paper, May 17, 2013.
pg. 229 “Anyways, like I said this morning”: Daniel Dale and David Rider, “Rob Ford Crack Scandal: Toronto Mayor Refuses to Discuss Specifics of Video,” Toronto Star, May 17, 2013.
pg. 229 “monitoring the situation closely”: Rachel Mendleson and Amy Dempsey, “Mayor Rob Ford: Police Monitoring Situation Surrounding Video,” Toronto Star, May 17, 2013.
pg. 231 “Reporters have asked him directly”: Christie Blatchford, “If the Rob Ford Video Is a Fake, Why Hasn’t He Said So?,” National Post, May 21, 2013.
pg. 232 “It seems like a form of extortion”: Joe Warmington, “Ford to Make Statement About Alleged Crack Video Tuesday,” Toronto Sun, May 20, 2013.
pg. 232 “I’m not speaking for the mayor”: “Doug Ford Calls Allegations Against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
Untrue,” Global News, May 22, 2013. See http://globalnews.ca/news/581833/doug-ford-calls-allegations-againsttoronto-mayor-rob-ford-untrue.
pg. 234 “I’d like to take this opportunity”: Video at “Rob Ford Crack Scandal: ‘I Do Not Use Crack Cocaine,’ Mayor Says,” Toronto Star, May 24, 2013.
pg. 236 “Have you done any illegal drugs”: Video at “Rob Ford Crack Video Scandal: More Staff Quit Mayor’s Office,” Toronto Star, May 30, 2013.
CHAPTER 13: VIDEO, SCHMIDEO
pg. 238 On June 1, Ipsos Reid released a poll: This poll surveyed 530 Toronto residents through an online panel between May 29 and 31. It was done on behalf of CTV News and CP24 and is considered accurate within plus or minus 5 percentage points.
pg. 239 “When did the accepted standard for reporters’ verification”: Ivor Shapiro, “Video, Shmideo: Reporting Is About Telling What You See and Hear,” J-Source.ca, May 25, 2013.
pg. 240 “People have more sources of information”: Interview with Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute, September 26, 2013.
pg. 243 “There was a growing sense in that period”: Interview with Carroll Doherty, associate director of Pew Research, September 20, 2013.
pg. 244 “We are awash in American coverage”: Interview with politics professor Nelson Wiseman, University of Toronto, September 21, 2013.
pg. 246 “I’m not a journalist”: Interview with Newstalk 1010 radio host Jerry Agar, October 2012.
pg. 247 “I would be curious to know just how far”: Complaint letter from Darylle Donley to the Ontario Press Council, 2013. See http://ontpress.com/files/2013/10/Toronto-Star-Donley-complaint.pdf.
pg. 248 “appeared to suggest every person living in Germany”: Carl H. Ladek v. Globe and Mail 2000/2001. See http://ontpress.com/past-decisions.
pg. 250 “The Toronto Star is glad to be sitting in front of you today”: Michael Cooke’s speech to the Ontario Press Council, September 9, 2013. Video at www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/09/rob_ford_offered_14_chances
_to_comment_on_crack_story_toronto_star_tells_press_council.html.
pg. 251 “Council does not agree”: Marco Chown Oved, “Press Council: Ford ‘Crack Video’ Story Passed Three-Part Test for ‘Responsible’ Reporting,” Toronto Star, October 16, 2013.
pg. 251 “Who is the press council?”: Steve Ladurantaye, “Press Council Dismisses Complaints Against the Globe’s Doug Ford Investigation: He Dismisses the Findings,” The Globe and Mail, October 16, 2013.
CHAPTER 14: PROJECT TRAVELLER
pg. 252 Thirteen-year-old Connor Stevenson: Lisa LaFlamme, “The Inside Story: How a Trip to the Toronto Eaton Centre Turned into Horror,” W5, CTV, February 1, 2013. See www.ctvnews.ca/w5/the-inside-storyhow-a-trip-to-the-toronto-eaton-centre-turned-into-horror-1.1139769.
pg. 254 a 133 percent increase in gun violence: Curtis Rush, “Toronto Shootings up in 2012, but Deaths Are Down,” Toronto Star, May 28, 2012.
pg. 254 a statement declaring “war on these violent gangs”: Statement posted to Mayor Rob Ford’s Facebook page, “It’s Time for Us to Work Together to Keep Our City Safe,” July 17, 2012. See https://www.facebook.com/notes/rob-ford/its-time-for-us-to-work-together-to-keepour-city-safe/438048056218258.
pg. 254 “I want something to be done”: Daniel Dale, “Toronto Shooting: Mayor Rob Ford Says Gang Members Should Leave the City,” Toronto Star, July 18, 2012.
pg. 256 There it was … Or at least, there it might be, Tim Alamenciak thought: Interview with Tim Alamenciak, September 23, 2013.
pg. 260 A woman answered who identified herself as Zen: Interview with Zen Khattak, May 27, 2013.
pg. 260 Smith and Khattak had been friends: Interview with Khattak’s mother, Zen Khattak, at her Etobicoke home, May 27, 2013.
pg. 261 Poisson, along with reporter David Bruser, had recently finished an investigative series: Jayme Poisson and David Bruser, “The Gun Pipeline” series, Toronto Star, April–May, 2013. See www.thestar.com/news/investigations/guns.html.
pg. 262 “Our confidence that we can consummate this transaction”: “Rob Ford Crackstarter” campaign created by John Cook, May 2013. See www.indiegogo.com/projects/rob-ford-crackstarter.
pg. 267 Poisson, Donovan, and I published our story about the house on June 5: Kevin Donovan, Robyn Doolittle, and Jayme Poisson, “Rob Ford Crack Video Scandal: Here’s the House Where the Photo Was Taken,” Toronto Star, June 5, 2013.
pg. 267 we were able to shed more light: Jayme Poisson and Robyn Doolittle, “Rob Ford Crack Video Scandal: Resident of Home in Photo Trafficked Cocaine,” Toronto Star, June 7, 2013.
pg. 267 Elena Basso Johnson … her brother Fabio: Details about both the Bassos’ criminal history were obtained through court documents.
pg. 268 Most damningly, the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief: Robert Benzie and Kevin Donovan, “Rob Ford Video Scandal: Mayor Ford Said He Knew Where Video Was, Sources Say,” Toronto Star, May 30, 2013.
pg. 268 “I’m embarrassed, but actually”: Interview with Jaye Robinson, August 12, 2013.
pg. 271 “ground zero for the alleged Rob Ford crack cociane”: “Massive Police Raid,” live blog, Toronto Star, June 13, 2013. See http://livenews.thestar.com/Event/Live_Massive_police_raid_in_Toronto?Page=0.
pg. 271 “highly placed source”: “Toronto Police Probing Alleged Crack Video Linked to Ford Weeks Before Story Broke,” CTV News, June 13, 2013. See www.ctvnews.ca/canada/toronto-police-probing-allegedcrack-video-linked-to-ford-weeks-before-story-broke-1.1323657.
pg. 271–272 “This gang has been networking”: Deputy Chief Mark Saunders and “I think we’ve cut off that pipeline … all of the evidence”: Chief Bill Blair, Toronto police news release, “Project Pinpoints Gang with Video,” June 13, 2013. Video at www.torontopolice.on.ca/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6878.
pg. 272 “I’m not in a position to disclose that’’: Rosie DiManno, “What Blair Didn’t Say Speaks Loudest,” Toronto Star, June 14, 2013.
pg. 272 “Given the intense speculation since Crackgate exploded”: Rosie DiManno, “What Blair Didn’t Say Speaks Loudest,” Toronto Star, June 14, 2013.
pg. 272 “I understand there were some raids”: Don Peat, “‘I Have Nothing to Hide’: Mayor Rob Ford,” Toronto Sun, June 13, 2013. Also, video at “Ford Brushes off Journalists with ‘Thick Skulls,’” Toronto Star, June 13, 2013.
CHAPTER 15: OUTRIGHT WAR
pg. 274 When Alexander “Sandro” Lisi left his Etobicoke home: Information relating to police surveillance of Lisi and Rob Ford was sourced from Project Brazen 2’s “Information to Obtain Search Warrant” court documents.
pg. 274 Ford’s approval rating had climbed 5 points: Forum Research, “Mayor Ford’s Approval Up Sharply,” June 26, 2013.
pg. 276 Bellissimo, an admitted crack user: From Project Brazen 2’s “Information to Obtain Search Warrant” court documents.
pg. 277 Ford had gone to visit Bellissimo at the Toronto West Detention Centre: Some of this information is included in the Project Brazen 2 search warrant documents. Additionally, I have confirmed the account with two sources within the facility, one of them a guard working that night. The Globe and Mail broke the story about this visit: Greg McArthur, Shannon Kari, Patrick White, and Elizabeth Church, “Rob Ford Sought Meeting with Inmate in After-Hours Jail Visit,” The Globe and Mail, August 12, 2013.
pg. 277 telling people on the street he wanted to go “party”: For video, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR_TQlmPDVM.
pg. 277 In the middle of August, the Toronto Star published a front-page story: Kevin Donovan and Jayme Poisson, “Police Probe Mayor Rob Ford Friends Who Sought Crack Video,” Toronto Star, August 16, 2013.
pg. 277 On August 27, police were yet again called: From Project Brazen 2’s “Information to Obtain Search Warrant” court documents.
pg. 278 Even the Fords knew they were being watched: Joe Warmington, “Cops Using Cessna to Spy on Mayor’s Family: Doug Ford,” Toronto Sun, October 4, 2
013.
pg. 278 “He’s a good guy”: Kenyon Wallace, Dale Brazao, and Kevin Donovan, “Rob Ford Frequently Visited Alexander Lisi, Now Charged with Drug Offences,” Toronto Star, October 2, 2013.
pg. 281 “Are you a focus of the police probe?”: “Rob Ford: Shaken Toronto Mayor Clashes with Reporters,” Toronto Star, October 31, 2013. See www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/10/31/rob_ford_shaken
_toronto_mayor_clashes_with_reporters.html.
pg. 281 “In November, December 2012 and into January 2013”: From Project Brazen 2’s “Information to Obtain Search Warrant” court documents.
pg. 282 The July 8 flood was the most costly natural disaster: Carys Mills, “Toronto’s July Flood Listed as Ontario’s Most Costly Natural Disaster,” Toronto Star, August 14, 2013.
pg. 282 Ford may have been paying the Bassos’ water bills: The Project Brazen 2 search warrant documents include references to the fact that Ford seemed to be contacting the city water department on behalf of 15 Windsor Road and that he kept a list of outstanding bills for the property. The investigator writes, “One possible explanation for these entries could be that the Mayor is dealing with house maintenance and bill payment at 15 Windsor Rd.”
pg. 283 “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen”: Chief Bill Blair press conference, October 31, 2013. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=GneADuHDJBA.
pg. 285 “This was a victory for journalism”: Kathy English, “Rob Ford and ‘Crack Cocaine’ Video: Now, Do You Believe the Star?: Public Editor,” Toronto Star, October 31, 2013.
pg. 286 “I think everybody has seen the allegations against me”: “Rob Ford Investigation: Live Updates on the Police Probe into the Alleged Video,” National Post, October 31, 2013.
pg. 288 “Chief, I’m asking you to release this video”: Daniel Dale, “Rob Ford Says He Made ‘Mistakes’ but Plans to Stay,” Toronto Star, November 3, 2013. Audio file at www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/11/03/rob_ford_says
_he_made_mistakes_but_plans_to_stay.html.
pg. 289 “You’re going to curb your drinking”: Natalie Alcoba, “Rob Ford Says ‘If I Did Something Illegal, Then Arrest Me,’ Admits Needs to ‘Slow Down’ on Drinking,” National Post, November 3, 2013.
Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story Page 31