The spectre of city politicians cowering from Budget Chief Tom Jakobek leaves Toronto Free Press in a rhapsody of chuckles.
So terrified of Jakobek are some of his council colleagues that they will only give disparaging quotes to newspaper reporters under the absolute cover of anonymity.
They say that the ambitious councillor from the Beaches is a bully. Editorial writers conclude he has a "sandpaper personality", and some published photographs make him look like an ogre.
For years Jakobek has bullied bureaucrats in front of their colleagues at public city hall meetings. Only now in election year have his bullying tactics become an issue.
Mike Garrett, the city's chief administrative officer, has informed Mayor Mel Lastman in a letter that "your intervention is required" to put a stop to Jakobek's verbal abuse of city staff.
Grown men have been reduced to tears after confrontations with the budget chief.
Taxpayers had to pick up the tab for the unscheduled golden handshake on the exit of Commissioner Margaret Rodrigues, victim of the Jakobek hit list, and rumoured to have taken early retirement as the result of legendary tiffs with T.J.
Even popular Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman seems to have had it with the sometimes ham fisted councillor.
"He's not a team player; he doesn't try to be," Mel complains. "He's very destructive...how can anyone become mayor, who is out to destroy?"
Back to Jakobek council colleagues.
Over the holiday season, long-time Jakobek enemies seemed to find new courage. They fired off ideas for a half-baked palace revolt, one that would see their nemesis lose his prestigious position as budget chief.
The main councillors behind the "let's-get-Tom" plot were afraid to take credit for the move, being concerned that Jakobek would somehow survive and be back to exact revenge. They know all too well that Jakobek is laying in wait in the event that Lastman will not seek a second term as mayor. They were not willing to be left in the position of losing out to key appointments should Tom Jakobek succeed to the mayor's chair.
By the new year, the palace revolt had fizzled, councillors were busy in-fighting over the redistribution of ward boundaries and Jakobek was off toasting his toes in the sunshine of Cuba.Love him or loathe him, Jakobek is both more intelligent and more brutal than any of his councillor foes.
Councillors who cower from Jakobek have no pity for constituents who find themselves on the budget chief's list of enemies. The plaintive cries of Beach area bar and restaurant owners have fallen on deaf ears in the council chamber, where councillors have rubberstamped Jakobek motions intended to curb their business life.
Not a man to be crossed, when Jakobek makes enemies he never lets up.
At a party thrown for then Coun. Dennis Fotinos at the Myth, Deputy Mayor Case Ootes says he was particularly interested in meeting the editor of Toronto Free Press because he had been told by Jakobek that she was one of his biggest enemies.
Jakobek was quoted in a local community newspaper citing the TFP editor as the very "worst" of his enemies.
Somehow we have managed to survive his brickbats and continue to publish with neither his permission nor blessings.
The budget chief and Toronto Free Press share something in common. Both are fearless in saying what they think.
Meanwhile, for city councillors afraid of Tom Jakobek: Discover a little backbone.
Anyone else who needs a few tips on how to survive T.J., drop 'round to 49 Elm Street.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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