Saturday, June 15, 2013

Basso-bashing

I haven't been writing much on the so-called "Rob Ford video scandal". Originally, I wanted to see the alleged video before commenting. With every day, though, it looks less and less likely that any of us are ever going to see it.

In addition, the Star's coverage this week of the "Project Traveller" drug raids was too much to ignore. It's bad enough that they headlined their story of the drug raids "Ford scandal deepens ..." - even though the only connection between Ford and the drug raids is that the police didn't deny (or affirm) that there is one - but what's worse is their constant bashing of the Bassos, for no other apparent reason than that the family wouldn't talk to Robyn Doolittle, Star Reporter. At least, Basso-bashing is what this looks like to me; try as I might, I can't see any other reason for these two paragraphs to be included in the "Project Traveller" story:

"Not included in Thursday’s raids was a home on Windsor Rd. near the Dixon apartment complex, a suspected crack house where the photograph was taken. It does not appear that any of the four residents of that home, Elena Johnson and Fabio, Lina and Mario Basso, were arrested.

"At least two of those living at the address have a criminal history. Johnson was convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2011 and Fabio Basso was convicted of possessing a prohibited weapon in 2005."

Jennifer Pagliaro, "Ford scandal deepens with Toronto raids targeting gangs, guns and drugs", Toronto Star, June 13, 2013. http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2013/06/13/ford_scandal_deepens_with_toronto_raids_targeting_gangs_guns_and_drugs.html

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