[URBAN NOTE] "Mammoliti denies taking dirty loans"

[rfmcdonald]

NOW Toronto's Ben Spurr reports that Giorgio Mammoliti has rejected claims that the loans he received from developers were improper. Which, technically, they aren't--interest was charged on them and they were repaid in full. Technically. (Even the mayor has said that he wouldn't do this.)

Embattled councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has responded to media reports that he received $275,000 in loans from developers he helped out at City Hall.

On Thursday, CBC reported that the York West councillor took out two loans from real estate investors whose plans for lucrative billboards he helped push through Etobicoke York Community Council.

[. . .]

In a written statement released Friday, Mammoliti said there was nothing improper with the loans and asserted they were not connected to his support of the billboard approvals.

“I have supported hundreds of first and third party signs throughout my career both in my community and throughout the City of Toronto and will continue to do so,” the statement said.

Mammoliti also asked journalists to stop following the story, arguing that it wasn’t relevant to his duties as an elected official.

“While I accept challenges about my decision making as a Councillor, to blatantly issue a story that has no relevance to my job and involves my family and personal relationships I find to be in very poor taste. I respectfully request to leave my personal dealings and my family out of the media.”