The Toronto city council's 39-3 vote to remove most of Toronto mayor Rob Ford's powers on Friday, followed by a Tuesday meeting to adjust his budget, left the controversial figure with very little to work with, according to the Toronto Sun.
After the passing of a motion to relieve Ford of his mayoral duties, the mayor argued the council members were attacking his personal issues and he was "getting punished for the Friday and Saturday nights" he decides to have a drink, the Sun reported.
After the hearing Ford, who has been keeping away from the press, went on BBC and CNN among others, and gave interviews reiterating what he has been telling the press since Nov. 5 when he admitted to smoking crack: he is aware of his mistakes, but that these mistake would not deter him from running for mayor again, calling the entire hearing a "coup d'etat," according to the Sun.
The Toronto City Council thinned his staff of 20 to eight and removed his right to chair executive committees, meaning he can't influence important decisions, the Sun reported.
Ford will no longer be able to speak first or last on any agenda items or nominate, or be a part of, any panel or executive committee, according to the Sun. All this, Ford said will only make him fight harder in the next elections.
Doug Ford, Rob's brother, said they will fight the motion and all those who supported it in court. Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, who Ford also lost the power to remove or replace, will take over the Mayor's chair on the debenture committee and any other executive committee, the Sun reported.
"Well, folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait," Ford said after the hearing. "Mark my words, friends, this will be outright war in the next election. I will do everything in my power to beat you guys."
During an interview with CNN Ford once again stated he has "smoked some crack sometime," and that he's human and make mistakes.
"I'm not saying it's right," Ford said during the CNN interview. "It is absolutely wrong what I did, but I'm moving on."
