Entry #6: New Allegations

I have decided that every Tuesday in the new year, I shall post on current issues worldwide, but today, I decided to take action because I have some sad news about Rob Ford, I was  looking on the CBC and CTV news apps on my iPhone and looking at their breaking news on my Facebook page, there is much more allegations on the Rob Ford scandal. It not just the crack-cocaine, marijuana, cocaine, and his on-going drinking problems, Ford also tried to buy the crack-cocaine video and the new allegations show that Ford has done heroin, one of the most addictive drugs in the planet.  The story goes as told “Toronto Mayor Rob Ford made attempts to buy the video of him smoking crack and also allegedly used heroin in April of this year, newly released police wiretap documents suggest. Ford allegedly offered Rexdale gang members $5,000 and a car in exchange for the video of the mayor "on the pipe," according to phone conversations between Dixon Road gang members intercepted by police in the Project Brazen 2 investigation. Also on the wiretaps is a conversation about Ford using marijuana and heroin in the early hours of April 20, 2013. The allegations are unproven and have not been tested in court. The latest documents, including wiretaps from phone conversations, were ordered released by Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer.  Lawyers for media organizations including the CBC fought for the release of information to obtain, or ITO, documents since Alexander (Sandro) Lisi was arrested and charged with extortion in early October. The latest release describes phone conversations among Lisi, Elena Basso, who lives at 15 Windsor Rd. where Ford was famously photographed with three young men, and various gang members in Rexdale. Ford himself does not speak on the wiretaps. However, the mayor’s name appears frequently, mostly in relation to obtaining the mayor's missing phone and the alleged crack video that was being offered to the mayor for money. Alleged gang members are heard on the wiretaps to say the mayor had offered $5,000 and a car in exchange for the video showing him smoking crack, according to the documents. Mohammed Siad, the owner of the video, was not satisfied with that offer. He is heard on the wiretap telling another member of the Dixon City Bloods that he was going to see Ford and ask for $100,000 to $150,000.The following events appear on the wiretaps from the early morning of April 20, 2013:

• In a conversation between Elena Basso and Liban Siyad, she mentions Ford was at 15 Windsor Rd., suggesting Siyad come over to meet with the mayor.
• Siyad says he was to deliver drugs to the mayor.
• Abdullahi Harun tells Siyad on the phone that Ford is smoking "dugga" or marijuana, and has "so much pictures" of Ford doing "hezza" or heroin. Siyad asks Harun to photograph the mayor doing drugs because the photos would be worth money.
• Siyad says "that the mayor of the City Rob Ford was smoking his rocks today," and "advised he was at [15 Windsor] house and that he will put a picture up on Instagram."
• Lisi calls Siyad to say Ford is "freaking out" that he is missing his phone. Siyad says he can get it back. Lisi threatens to "put heat" on Dixon Road.
• Siyad didn't heed the threat, since he says he has photos of the mayor "on the pipe."

Later in the wiretaps, it's alleged that Siad was kidnapped by other members of the Dixon gang and threatened over his attempts to sell the video. In the documents the police say they had no evidence to confirm the kidnapping. Lisi was the focus of the initial drug-trafficking investigation, but the mayor appears in other surveillance reports. The time period for these latest wiretaps begins just after reports first surfaced of a video that purported to show Ford smoking crack cocaine. At the end of October, police revealed they had obtained a copy of a video file that was consistent with what the media had reported in the spring. In early November, Ford did an about-face and admitted to having smoked crack cocaine while serving as mayor of Toronto, despite having denied for months that he had done so. He also admitted to drinking to excess and to being “extremely inebriated” in a separate video that emerged after the Toronto Star paid to obtain it, which showed Ford ranting and swearing. There was also an uproar over a crude sexual comment the mayor made when speaking to reporters about allegations that appeared in a police document. Council moved to strip the mayor of selected powers in the wake of the many admissions the mayor made about his behaviour. A large majority of councillors urged the mayor to take a leave of absence, but he defied their calls to do so. The drug-related scandal involving the mayor has made headlines around the world and had dominated Ford’s daily business at city hall for months. Ford, 44, has served as the mayor of Toronto since 2010. He still has another year to serve under his current mandate.
Long before stories of the drug video emerged this past spring, Ford often found himself in the midst of controversies as mayor. A conflict-of-interest challenge nearly forced him from office, though he won an appeal that overturned a removal order and Ford was able to hang on to his job. Ford also faced a defamation lawsuit that was dismissed. The mayor has faced criticism over his commitment to coaching football, his personal driving habits and his workload.” CBC News. This is not only sad, but it is a serious cry for help, as a citizen of Canada, I urge Mr. Rob Ford to take a leave from his duty as mayor of Toronto and get help.

This is not a laughing matter anymore, I am sick of hearing people make fun of a man who has a drug and drinking problem, if that was you on the news everyday making headlines, the world looking and laughing at you, would you get help or would you stay and become a fool and a laughing stock?