Chicago Megathread: With CTU on strike, Lightfoot lays out her budget

[LoneStarDem]

Will Emanuel attend the inaugural festivities ?

[Mr. Illini]

Lightfoot and Preckwinkle had lunch today to discuss collaboration heading into the Mayor-Elect's inauguration. Preckwinkle remains Cook County Board President and the two will interact considerably in their respective roles.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/g00/politics/ct-met-mayor-lightfoot-toni-preckwinkle-lunch-20190513-story.html?i10c.ua=1&i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=9

[LoneStarDem]

Lightfoot and Preckwinkle had lunch today to discuss collaboration heading into the Mayor-Elect's inauguration. Preckwinkle remains Cook County Board President and the two will interact considerably in their respective roles.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/g00/politics/ct-met-mayor-lightfoot-toni-preckwinkle-lunch-20190513-story.html?i10c.ua=1&i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=9

Meanwhile, the Establishment & the Good Ole Boys Network are going to pull a McConnell by blocking Lightfoot's policy initiatives.

[Mr. Illini]

Trib and NBC5 confirm that Lightfoot wants Waguespack as Finance Chair and Tunney as Budget Chair.

Waguespack in lead role would be a big win for progressives and heading into budget season, I expect that the “light” will be brought in on many aspects of the current budget with him in charge.

[LoneStarDem]

Trib and NBC5 confirm that Lightfoot wants Waguespack as Finance Chair and Tunney as Budget Chair.

Waguespack in lead role would be a big win for progressives and heading into budget season, I expect that the “light” will be brought in on many aspects of the current budget with him in charge.

I see that the Establishment plans on fighting Lightfoot on term limits since she plans on limiting both the Mayor & City Council to 2 4-year terms.

[Mr. Illini]

Lightfoot laid out her plan on aldermanic prerogative in meetings with aldermen this week. That is the unwritten rule that aldermen have essentially unchecked control over activities requiring city approval within their wards. It has been at the heart of most political scandals in this town over the last several decades.

The aldermen say she plans to push to curtail the practice on licensing and permits, but will leave zoning untouched. Most aldermen have opposed the plan. The two that are most supportive are an interesting pair - Alds. Cappleman and Ramirez-Rosa.

[Mr. Illini]

Lightfoot tells the press that she plans to end aldermanic prerogative over zoning as well. She says she’ll do it via a re-write of the zoning code. I’m a happy voter Will be happier once it happens, though.

She also denies that the leadership being reported is final, but confirms that Waguespack will be front and center. She cites his experience in good government and his early endorsement of her despite political consequences.

[LoneStarDem]

Clock ticking on Lame Duck Emanuel. Does anybody know if he'll be attending the inaugural festivities on Monday afternoon ?

[Mr. Illini]

Clock ticking on Lame Duck Emanuel. Does anybody know if he'll be attending the inaugural festivities on Monday afternoon ?

Haven't heard, but Daley did attend Rahm's

[LoneStarDem]

Clock ticking on Lame Duck Emanuel. Does anybody know if he'll be attending the inaugural festivities on Monday afternoon ?

Haven't heard, but Daley did attend Rahm's

Let me know if he shows up.

[Mr. Illini]

Lightfoot has announced her desired committee leadership. Among others, it includes...

Finance: Waguespack
Budget: Dowell
Zoning: Tunney
Floor Leader: Villegas
Economic Dev: Villegas

Lightfoot informed Ald. Carrie Austin - longtime Budget Chair - that she was being thrown out because of nepotism.

The ME also says that Ald. Beale is being ousted from his prior committee spot because he threatened a fight if Waguespack was to be named Finance Chair.

Beale backed Lightfoot in the General. Austin backed Preckwinkle.

[Mr. Illini]

Rahm was indeed in attendance, as he had to call the council to order.

In her speech, Lightfoot doubled down on her campaign platform, promising improvements to education, equitable investment in underserved neighborhoods, and government reform.

Most notably, she said, “Stopping corruption isn’t just in the city’s interest, it’s in the city council’s interest.” She then turned around to smile at the council sitting behind her. Crowd went nuts.

“For years, they’ve said Chicago ain’t ready for reform. Well get ready because reform is here.”

“I campaigned on change. You voted for change. We will deliver change.”

Kind of sets the stage.

[LoneStarDem]

Rahm was indeed in attendance, as he had to call the council to order.

In her speech, Lightfoot doubled down on her campaign platform, promising improvements to education, equitable investment in underserved neighborhoods, and government reform.

Most notably, she said, “Stopping corruption isn’t just in the city’s interest, it’s in the city council’s interest.” She then turned around to smile at the council sitting behind her. Crowd went nuts.

“For years, they’ve said Chicago ain’t ready for reform. Well get ready because reform is here.”

“I campaigned on change. You voted for change. We will deliver change.”

Kind of sets the stage.

Wish her luck because she's sure as Hell going to need it considering the Establishment is likely pulling a McConnell to undermine her every step of the way 24/7.

[Donerail]

Wish her luck because she's sure as Hell going to need it considering the Establishment is likely pulling a McConnell to undermine her every step of the way 24/7.

you really saw the people she appointed as chairs and still think "oh, she's clearly going to fight the establishment"?? lmfao

[LoneStarDem]

Wish her luck because she's sure as Hell going to need it considering the Establishment is likely pulling a McConnell to undermine her every step of the way 24/7.

you really saw the people she appointed as chairs and still think "oh, she's clearly going to fight the establishment"?? lmfao

Not everyone is going to be impressed by Lightfoot. I doubt she'll make long-lasting changes.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Gavin Newsom also wanted to make changes to the homeless population, instead, he is keeping the tourism industry up in Disneyland and SF. Unless, there is a casino put in Chicago, long-lasting changes to Chicago, won't be made.  That can get tourism back into Chicago.

[Mr. Illini]

Wish her luck because she's sure as Hell going to need it considering the Establishment is likely pulling a McConnell to undermine her every step of the way 24/7.

you really saw the people she appointed as chairs and still think "oh, she's clearly going to fight the establishment"?? lmfao

Waguespack as Finance Chair was something of my dreams before she (has almost) made it happen.

Here's hoping that four years from now she's made you happy to have voted for her in Round 1.

[Mr. Illini]

In her first act as Mayor, Lightfoot signed an EO instructing those in her branch to no longer honor aldermanic privilege when it comes to licenses and permits. She plans to implement this with zoning via a re-write of the code.

She announced several appointments today, including Marisa Novara, a champion of affordable housing and critic of aldermanic privilege, to lead the Housing Department.

She also reiterated that she plans to retain CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson, CPS CEO Janice Jackson, among others. In the campaign, she indicated Johnson would stay through the summer. She never committed either way on Jackson.

Ald. Ray Lopez - a Burke ally who fended off a progressive challenger this past cycle - told the press that he thinks Lightfoot has the votes to deliver her preferred council chairs but says she will pay for embarrassing the council during her speech Monday.

[Badger]

Went to a friend's kids graduation party just now. The friends sister and brother-in-law came in from Chicago. The brother-in-law I made a great point. He doesn't expect Lightfoot to be a great mayor, but will be sufficient to nail up the boards necessary to keep the zombies out of the building. Great analogy.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

I would never want to be Mayor of Chicago.  The level of social problems in the city and the level of corruption in city government is truly overwhelming.

[LoneStarDem]

What are her approval ratings so far ?

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Has Vito Marzullo rolled over in his grave yet, lol?

[Donerail]

What are her approval ratings so far ?

no one's doing polls on a mayor who's been in office for a week lmfao

[Badger]

I would never want to be Mayor of Chicago.  The level of social problems in the city and the level of corruption in city government is truly overwhelming.

Chicago is a great City. One of the great cities of the world.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

I would never want to be Mayor of Chicago.  The level of social problems in the city and the level of corruption in city government is truly overwhelming.

Chicago is a great City. One of the great cities of the world.

True, and I've always wanted to visit it, but I don't want to be one of its elected leaders (on the way to jail).