For those of us speculating, it's easy to believe that there must be some sweeping underbelly of crime and corruption to the Ford story. So many creepy characters in supporting roles. When the murderer tow-truck driver entered the story, I went googling Bill & Son Towing. I seem to remember two or three of the Bandidos killed outside London a few years back were tow-truck drivers. But I found little confirmation of criminality there, except someone on RedFlagDeals bitching about their practices, and a story of an aged homeless guy who had his truck impounded (and had councillor Rob Ford come to his aid). I've wondered if some of the Ford family dirt could be tied to bikers, through sister Kathy's explorations with white supremacists and serious drug use.
But mob ties? Ford pumped the subway not to reward any construction people. His sole interest is in keeping transit off-grade on the streets and maintaining the dominance of the automobile. There was also the political side-benefit of furthering the divide between downtown and the suburbs. Ford isn't a builder, he'd stagnate the city with his penny-pinching. It seems unlikely that people looking to score off development would make him a champion. Rob has an amazing number of criminal pals, but his network hardly extends five blocks beyond where he grew up. Seems small-time and extra-curricular.
The Ford potential for corruption would be in unloading city assets and property. While Doug Ford has made his distaste for council and any kind of process obvious, he does seem to be present at City Hall more than Rob. And that's not because he has shown any interest in his constituency. He does seem take interest in Build Toronto, Invest Toronto and the Port Authority. Boards we don't hear much about, but which seem to be available to be tapped for funds when the Ford's need to say something, like the Austin jaunt, wasn't paid for with taxpayer monies. But if there's temptation there for them to be helping someone out, it may just be for business people Doug knows through the Rotary's of Etobicoke, Mississauga and Woodbridge, or through the bagmen of the Conservative Party, and not some deeper organized nefarious types.