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City

Jane Pitfield Caught Stealing From Spacing

Posted by Zach / October 14, 2006

jpitfield.jpgIt seems that Mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield has been caught borrowing ideas, without any credit, from the Spacing Votes web page. On her "blog" she "reports" that:

David Miller made a thin promise yesterday -- $28 million to Toronto's 13 distressed neighbourhoods, spread over four years. That works out to be just over $500,000 per neighbourhood per year -- a bit less than what the city's works department requested last winter to hire six new enforcement officers. In fact, the annual cost of Miller's new program adds up to just 0.1% of the city's total spending. This amounts to very little for at-risk youth. Municipal spending alone won't solve the problems for young people growing up in distressed neighbourhoods. These steps won't do much other than generate a few more summer jobs.

But wait a minute, that sounds a lot like what John Lorinc wrote for Spacing on Oct 6. See for yourself:

How else to explain the paper-thin promise he made yesterday -- $28 million to Toronto's 13 distressed neighbourhoods, spread over four years. Do the math, and that works out to be just over $500,000 per neighbourhood per year -- a bit less than what the city's works department requested last winter to hire six new enforcement officers. In fact, the annual cost of Miller's new program adds up to a princely 0.1% of the city's total spending. ... Municipal spending alone won't solve the problems for young people growing up in poor neighbourhoods, but it's hard to imagine that what Miller plans to ante up will do much other than generate a few more summer jobs.

After Spacing noticed, Pitfield's crew posted the credit "(Source: John Lorinc on Spacing.ca)", however this comes a week too late. Maybe Jane should steal a few paragrpahs from this website instead.

"Now, how about an apology?" (source for quote, David Topping, Torontoist.com)

Discussion

28 Comments

kali / October 14, 2006 at 4:50 PM
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It looks like someone needs to be more in touch with their own campaign and staff. SHAME!

Tyson Williams / October 14, 2006 at 4:54 PM
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Jane Pitfield is not all there in my opnion. Let's hope people do not consider her a serious choice to run this city.

glo / October 14, 2006 at 5:21 PM
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Can you imagine what the papers would say if Miller was caught doing the same thing! Can't wait to see if this makes the newspapers on Monday.

David Topping / October 14, 2006 at 6:23 PM
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Thanks for quoting me, Zach; props for proper citation. :)

One of the weirdest things to consider about this whole thing is that it's not copied verbatim; there's a clear manipulation of the original text to try to make it "fit" the blog - which is the worst kind of plagarism; you can't blame ignorance if you're altering bits and pieces of it.

Then again, I doubt Pitfield held the blogger vote before last night anyway. Here's hoping this makes it to the MSM.

Lloyd / October 14, 2006 at 7:15 PM
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Puhleeze - you're reaching
You want scandal???
Look at Bombardier, Look at Green Lane, Look at Miller's various dalliances.

zach / October 14, 2006 at 7:58 PM
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For me, this isn't about any scandal. Swiping a blog post is a pretty minor offense.

For me, this is about Pitfield not being able to attract the kind of volunteers and campaign staff that the other guy can. It says a lot about a candidate that they can't inspire talented people to work for them and that they choose to hire the wrong people.

Lloyd / October 14, 2006 at 9:51 PM
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Oh, ah, guys.... do you have permission to publish the above image???
Is it downloadable in the public domain.
Or are you above the fray.
Miller has the best Tory advisers that money can by - Lash and Ralph Lean.
Miller is so far up their cracks he cant breathe.
So much for this site's non-partisanship.
You're Miller Whores.

Lloyd / October 14, 2006 at 10:25 PM
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Sorry. Im not done. Have any of you guys ever dealt with David Miller?. Ever even met David Miller? Or is he just a wet dream? He is the worst asshole in City politics. Anyone who has ever had anything to do with him will say that. Hes a dick.

Lloyd / October 14, 2006 at 10:30 PM
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And Zach. Sorry to put a hole in yoru air mattress dude.

James Bow / October 15, 2006 at 12:01 AM
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Lloyd is certainly doing his part as an ambassador of Jane Pitfield's campaign, isn't he?

Mick / October 15, 2006 at 2:27 AM
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Miller is one of the nicest politicians I've ever met. I know about 20 people who deal with him and all have good things to say about the man.

Matt / October 15, 2006 at 8:23 AM
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Why is it that anytime someone hears something against one candidate they automatically assume it's only being written because the writer favours the other candidate? Zach doesn't mentioned David Miller in his post (except, obviously, in the required quotations). That is the very definition of non-partisan. Lloyd, take a freaking Xanax and read a book about punctuation.

Sameer Vasta / October 15, 2006 at 10:29 AM
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Did someone say book about punctation?

jerrold / October 15, 2006 at 3:13 PM
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Lloyd:

At the bottom of every page on blogTO, you'll find the following disclaimer:

"Comments and blog entries represent the viewpoints of the individual and no one else."

Isn't that a wonderful concept? Writers here have the freedom to be as partison as they want to be. Yay!

I can openly tell you that I think Miller is the best person at the mayoral helm this city has seen in a long time.

Many of us have met him countless times, and we've had several in-depth conversations with him about our city and how we can improve it.

I've attended countless positive city events and he's always there in genuine support.

If you want to be heard and taken seriously, might I suggest that you drop the "Miller Whore", "up their cracks", "he's an asshole, and a dick" comments.

Zach / October 15, 2006 at 5:30 PM
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ummmmmmmm. What happened while I was at work?!

Lloyd, thanks for the comments. Your opinion is appreciated. No seriously, I'm not even being sarcastic. It would be nice if you could tone down the insults a bit though, because nobody is going to take you seriously talking like that.

But you're going to have to explain the whole "air mattress" thing. You lost me there.

John / October 16, 2006 at 3:27 AM
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Thats right Jerrold, "he's an asshole, and a dick" comment should be dropped or to be fair " she's an asshole, and a pussy" should also be mentioned. But then who cares about municipal elections..such a waste of time and money...get rid of them all.

Sal / October 16, 2006 at 7:52 AM
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Wow! What a scoop! You really nailed her there.

Zach / October 16, 2006 at 11:04 AM
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Spacing noticed it first. It's their scoop.

jerrold / October 16, 2006 at 11:08 AM
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John: without elections, how do you propose we form city council? Or should we simply scrap it too? Are you an anarchist?

Zach / October 16, 2006 at 12:49 PM
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City Council should be decided in a full day bare knuckle boxing tournament. Either that or something like in Battle Royale.

jerrold / October 16, 2006 at 7:02 PM
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CityTV is on this now too.

John / October 17, 2006 at 5:09 AM
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I'm not an anarchist, but l personally lost my respect for politicians. Can't find one that speaks the truth.

sookie / October 21, 2006 at 4:33 PM
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Pitfield needs a makeover - that plaid suit might fly for county-style but not in the 416.

The Sultan / October 25, 2006 at 7:46 PM
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Jane Pitfield in her usual honorable manner immediately cleared and apologized for this matter with Michael Blankett of Spacing. Nevertheless, it was spacing that appears to have received most of the free publicity. Jane for her part would never condone such action. Perhaps this is why she has hundreds of volunteers who are so dedicated to her leadership.

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