The Five Holdouts Who Actually Vote Against the Mayor
Just five aldermen—pictured in their council seats in February—have accounted for more than half of the 112 dissenting votes against Mayor Emanuel so far.
By Steve Rhodes
PHOTOGRAPHY: (COUNCIL CHAMBER) ANNA KNOTT; (SPOSATO) E. JASON WAMBSGANS/CHICAGO TRIBUNE; (HAIRSTON, WAGUESPACK) NANCY STONE/CHICAGO TRIBUNE; (ARENA) ANTONIO PEREZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE; (FIORETTI) CHARLES CHERNEY/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Above, from left to right:
 |  |  |  |  |
| Nicholas Sposato 36th Ward 10 “no” votes | Scott Waguespack 32nd Ward 11 “no” votes | John Arena 45th Ward 18 “no” votes | Leslie Hairston 5th Ward 7 “no” votes | Robert Fioretti 2nd Ward 14 “no” votes |
Mayor Emanuel (at far right)
* * *
NOTES: *Nothing gets to the council floor without the mayor’s blessing, so a “yes” vote means voting with the mayor. **They are: Michelle Harris (8th Ward), John Pope (10th), Marty Quinn (13th), Ed Burke (14th), JoAnn Thompson (16th), Latasha Thomas (17th), Matthew O’Shea (19th), Howard Brookins Jr. (21st), Daniel Solis (25th), Walter Burnett Jr. (27th), Jason Ervin (28th), Deborah Graham (29th), Ariel Reboyras (30th), Ray Suarez (31st), Richard Mell (33rd), Emma Mitts (37th), Margaret Laurino (39th), Patrick O’Connor (40th), Mary O’Connor (41st), Thomas Tunney (44th), and Debra Silverstein (50th).SOURCE: Chicago City Clerk
This is an excellent article in Chicago Magazine this week:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/April-2013/The-Yes-Men/
I love the photo. All that wisdom and courage packed in one room. We are so lucky.
ReplyDeleteThis is Rahm. I will respond to this feeble attempt at dissent. At ease.
ReplyDeleteIt is not fair to knock those who vote with me, because it is I, after all, who decides what will and what will not be voted on by our city council. So why would I put forth an ordinance for a vote that I didn't support? That would be a waste of my precious time - time better spent ripping through the white powder of the bunny slopes, like I did this week.
Challenging my own athletic prowess allows me to unwind and brainstorm - to come up with ideas, such as hiring mobsters to provide janitorial service at O'Hare. Think for a moment; Who would dare make a mess knowing that if caught making that mess, a mobster/janitor would be asked to clean it up? Would you leave a mess at O'Hare, and chance running into our cleaning "crew"? Hmm? Of course you wouldn't.
Someday, I will move on to where my brilliance is truly appreciated. Until then, the city council will do what it's told - and so will you. Now get back to work. What's that? It's only Sunday? Then report for your next shift an hour early, and THEN get back to work. Oh, I almost forgot, the Civic Commission and Chamber of Commerce say high.
Rahm.
So, why do we need 50 aldermen? We obviously don't need an alderman in the 41st ward. We should combine the ward with Sposato's and/or Arena's, neither who are afraid of the mayor!
ReplyDeleteSave money, get rid of the dead weight in the City Council.
Good article, by the way.
So sad Mary, never a vote against Rahm in a full council vote.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need 50 aldermen. What a waste of money. Hire 50 ward "secretaries", like Mary, change the city bylaws so real alderman have some power, and elect 20 aldermen. Dump the mayor and elect someone who actually cares about ALL the people who live here (not just the rich).
ReplyDeleteShe makes great deli platters though.
ReplyDeletePut D'Amico, Silverstein, Silvestri, Mulroe, Quigley, and OC into a boat and push it out into Lake Michigan. At that point we might have a chance and voice on the Northwest side.
ReplyDeleteO'Connor voted against Rahm today
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/clout/chi-chicago-parking-tax-changes-pass-despite-opposition-20130410,0,6580250.story
When I first saw the story in todays' sun-times, I was pleased. As I read on, I have to say, as much as I despise him, Rahm is right on this issue. As long as the downtown hotel rooms remain mostly full, and the 2 major newspapers follow orders not to publish reports on the downtown crime wave, it seems Rahm has tapped into the best revenue source(besides a Mercantile Exchange transaction tax), Goober from Mayberry, to boost the treasury.
DeleteSorry Mary. Rahm gave you this one. In order to get out from Rahm's creepy satanic shadow, you need to vote against the closing of the 52 CPS schools.
Was Mary given the authorization by the Democratic machine to vote against the ordinance? Me thinks yes. The votes were already there, so Mary's vote meant nothing. Mary took a hit by never voting against Rahm, and had egg on her face from the negative article. Now an opposition candidate cannot say that Mary never voted against Rahm.
DeleteDemocratic Chicago is dirty that way.
Oldest trick in the book. Politicians think we are all idiots
ReplyDeleteI can see where some may argue she is "IN" with the Mayor, however, I truly feel that she was not elected to disapprove of every council vote and to "fight" with the Mayor. She was elected to get the most resources possible for our community. That is what a leader does, right?
ReplyDeletenor was the alderman elected to completely "go along" with the mayor either. Some balance needed... This idea to go along with the mayor, for the sake to "get the most resources possible" is flawed for a few reasons. Who really get the most out of the mayor? Alderman who routinely vote based on the specific issue up for vote, and how it directly impacts the voter. In that way, the alderman 1. votes in a way that is in the best interest of the voter (and thus wins over the voter), and 2. More importantly, learns to use LEVERAGE to really get what is needed for the ward. Example: you are an alderman who always goes along with the mayor - he always counts on you and therefore has no reason to give you a few prize projects. BUT, if you are an alderman he cannot count on, and he really needs your vote for a key piece of legislation, he will call you and bargain: what do you want for the vote? A new hockey rink for the 41st? How about some extra dough for a new high school over there? Voting in lock step with the mayor serves no one well, especially the ward, and it makes the alderman look weak, and we all know Rahm does not respect "weak". If every alderman votes to get along with the mayor, why do we need so many alderman?
ReplyDeleteTo the self appointed social responsibility police: The purpose of this blog is not to "investigate" the current alderman. And, if you read through this blog, you will see, I did not support either of the run-off candidates. If you look back further, you will see who I supported in the first election.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Mary refused to be interviewed by the largest newspaper in her ward...the Nadig? This blog should be all over that one. Or is that too hot to handle?
ReplyDelete