One would think that recent events would prompt our elected Councillors to reconsider their burning need for (list and numbers from Councillor Ford):

• Free golf passes for council and staff: $15,000
• Councillors' food and beverage budget: $55,000
• Councillors' hospitality budget: $25,000
• Magazines/newspaper subscriptions: $14,712
• Free tickets to plays, concerts, etc.: $18,273
• Free TTC Metropasses: $5,622
• Free taxi chits: $18,11
• Plant watering in city buildings: $100,000
• Newspaper clipping service: $40,000
• Free passes to the Metro Zoo
• Free passes to Casa Loma
• Free parking at Green "P" lots
• Free admission and parking at Exhibition Place

But noooooooooo! Despite the dire state of City finances, Mayor Miller's willingness to set his office reno and some staffing increases aside, and a clear indication that those of us who count ourselves among The Great Unwashed are mightily displeased, our predatory porkers continue to hang on, like lamprey eels hitching a ride on a Great White Whale.

We thought it particularly telling that the appropriately named Councillor Gordon "Perks" felt that Councillor Ford's comments about the aforementioned budgetary items were "frivolous" and would have minimal impact on the City's dire financial straits.

Maybe so, Gord-o, but we'll be remembering this frivolity as we flock to the polls, so you and your cronies (including our own hanger-on, Councillor Pam McConnell) might consider which "Perk" you'd like to return, post-election.