47 Comments - chicagoj - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 7:42 am: 8- I appreciate his efforts to ensure that sacrifice is shared. He’s got a tough job and I think he’s doing a fine job. - Damfunny - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 7:47 am: Rahm gets a ‘9′ from me. He’s cleaning up the financial mess left by Richie Daley. His best (and only?) hope is to get a gigantic casino downtown, one that pumps $500 million annually into the city coffers. If he can right the good ship Chicago, he will be Mayor for life. I’d give him a ‘10′, but he caved regarding the ridiculous bodyguards for Daley, Burke, and the treasurer. (Rahm, you’re in charge now, never let a crisis go to waste!) - spartanmeg - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:04 am: He’s cleaning up the mess, not ignoring the problems, not playing favorites with ridiculous alderman, and brought the Prez to Uptown!! - Ravenswood Right Winger - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:15 am: I gave him a 6. Good things: so far, not raising taxes. Using Inspector General to weed out bums like Megan McDonald, cutting back on credit card use. Bad things: not totally eliminating Eddie Burke’s ridiculous bodyguard; appointing McCarthy as Police Superintendent, going off on Mary Ann Ahearn for pointing out the obvious. - Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:15 am: I give him a seven, but only because he has yet to make his real impact in the city owing to his short time in office. He sure looks like the right man in this job since he is willing to take on the old special interests (replacing them with new ones, yet to be seen). - Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:47 am: He’s getting to grips on a lot of things, but the partial cave on the bodyguards suggests to me he’s picking his battles with the old establishment a little too carefullly. An eight for me. It’s a bit of a probationary score because on top of pensions and everything else he faces huge turf wars ranging from infrastructure to employee pensions that he has barely mentioned. The Red Line alone, with the ill-concieved 130th street extension and the borderline unsafe condition of the north side line, is a rats nest of bureaucratic and ward politics. Converting Metra Electric to CTA frequency and fares would replace the 130th extension with a far better and cheaper solution and release a downpayment for the north side — but look at the bureaucratic hurdles he’d have to cross to do it. In the end, for that reason, Rahm’s success or failure will be how he navigates these bureaucratic barriers, ward versus ward, union versus taxpayer, Metra versus CTA, city versus state. - Angry Chicagoan - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:51 am: Should read “on top of everything else he faces huge turf wars ranging from infrastructure to employee pensions”. I’m still writing as though it’s early in the morning! - Robert - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:56 am: 9 - he’s acted quickly on most everything…he’s doing a great job recruiting businesses to Chicago, and he has stood up to the unions. But he hasn’t tackled TIFs yet. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:04 am: Fixing some things, but underneath it’s same as it ever was. - Wilson Pickett - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:08 am: I would probably give him a 7 or an 8 for the time being. I am probably somewhere between a conservative and moderate Republican voter who sometimes votes for a Democrat candidate when I see that he can be his own man and non-partisan when making decisions for the people. Rahm seems to be doing okay (based on what ex-mayor Daley left him with). I guess the thing that I am watching the closest is whether Rahm has the guts and courage to stand up to his powerful state Democrat Party powers. He could have done that with one fell swoop by pulling the bodyguards /security details away from Judge Burke and Mayor Daley. All he had to do was to limit those two privileged Prima Donas to each having a detail of just one officer for their security. In Daley’s case, the free security detail runs out after 2 years time. That would have sent a powerful message to the Chicago and Illinois voters that Rahm was “his own man” and nobody could pull his strings. Maybe that part of Rahm’s personality and character is still “a work in progress”. - Levois - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:09 am: I think it’s too early to rate him it’s not even three months into his term. He’s had some early successes as far as labor talks and reducing the number of city council committees. As well as having a serious talk about the city’s budget. - downstate hack - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:10 am: A 7, a little early in his administration for a grade, but he seems to be handling issues and administration fairly well at this point. He seems to genuinely feel obligated to address most concerns and even some long standing, but unfair practices of Chicago politics. Seems to be making some progress on significant budget issues. - sal-says - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:16 am: So far, he sounds like he means business is changing and is saying a lot of right things. Still seems cozy with his buddies; maybe that’s just politics. - zatoichi - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:23 am: 6. He’s early in the game. No major controversy, no major success. His problem load is part of the job. Give the guy some time. He is not going to solve long standing problems in several weeks. Seems like a good start. - lakeview - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 9:25 am: So far, so good. We’ll see what happens between now and the first day of school. And is it just me, or does he look like he aged 15 years in two months? The mess Daley left must be even worse than we think. - PB - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:04 am: No “major screw ups” so far!! - Thoughts... - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:07 am: I gave an 8, but really, it’s an incomplete until he gets through a budget cycle. Then we’ll really have something to rate. - dupage dan - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:09 am: I gave him a 5. Not because of anything he has dond/not done. Just too early to tell, really. It takes a bit of time to develop the machine, if that’s what he chooses to do. He seems focused on the problems facing Chicago. This is important way beyond the city limits since Chicago is the economic engine of Illinois (and beyond). So far he is tackling the serious problems with simple clarity. We can all hope he maintains that progress. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:19 am: I’ll give him a “5″, seem to be stuck on that number. He wants to get things done, but is still complaining the unions won’t let him do what’s necessary, while keeping perks for administrators and other power players. He says he won’t increase taxes, then his new CEO of schools says they’ll max out property taxes to cover costs. He has the best of intentions, but is still too old school politics to push what’s needed. - Wumpus - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:24 am: Too soon to be fair, but who cares about being fair! 6, has gotten tough with unions/public employees, but has also asked them to do more at the same time as trying to cut pay. McCarthy and the school guy, Forrest Claypool as parks director? his personel decisions have been weak. Just because his name is Forrest does not mean he should be in charge of the parks. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:28 am: He gets an 8 from me so far. I like some of his picks and have noticed a new atmosphere already at City Hall, with top new staff willing to meet with constituents and who seem truly interested in hearing outside ideas. That was rarely the case under the previous administration. Just having some new people who aren’t Daley sychophants, arrogant insiders or do-nothing hacks is refreshing. We’ll see how long it lasts, but it’s a good honeymoon so far. - Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:31 am: 5. I think Claypool will turn out to be a huge mistake, but it’s too early to tell. - Irishpirate - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:35 am: Claypool is running the CTA. He USED to be at the Park District under Daley. - Stones - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:42 am: So far I’ll give him an “8″. He seems to be setting the correct tone so far. - Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:47 am: Hey, 47th, We’ve been pretty close to each other on these ratings questions. That should scare the both of us! - Fed up - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:12 am: I’ll say a 6 he has brought in new businesses and jobs which is vital. I want to see him tackle the TIF mess, he caved in and let’s Burke and Daley keep taxpayer funded bodyguards, his police chief seems a goof from videos of speeches I’ve seen. Waiting on the longer school day and school year he promised. Public safety needs to be a priority. It is to early to say a realistic grade but I would like to see more progress on vital city issues. - Gallery Sitter - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:16 am: 5- Too soon for anything but average. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:23 am: Lol Cinci. - CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:31 am: 10 He seems to have the big stuff under control Media mostly focused on show biz so he will be fine. He has been in the minority communities a lot. Made a great impression i Austin with Ald. Deborah Graham. Corporate Reformers might want more but do they vote in Chi? - Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:34 am: 47th, State Fair? - Lady GaGa - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:35 am: 5 He sold himself as the “can do” Guy. Tall order for a guy who stannd 5 feet 6 inches. I think he may be a little in over his head/ - Skeeter - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:46 am: 7. It is early. He seems to be moving in the right direction. He hasn’t really cleaned house but he’s got time. I like what I see so far. - jacketpotato - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 12:01 pm: I would give him a 6. A lot of talk so far, but no action on the big ticket items (Teacher’s and Public Safety Unions). The only problem with his “smart” open-minded team, is that they are wedded to change without reason. The CTA “hiring” 50 “new” cops is a joke that cuts service by half while costing twice as much. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 12:12 pm: An 8, keeping in mind that he is as effective at using his power to get what he wants as any politician in the state. Not a 10 because the opaque nature of his policymaking kills debate and prevents real feedback that might create better policy. For example, giving Waste Management guaranteed profits on its share of the city’s recycling contract last month was a huge corporate giveaway and far less efficient than the deal Mike Bloomberg got in New York City. He’s developed a far more sophisticated operation in Springfield than Daley had, and I sense his relationship with Madigan over the next few years will be more consequential than Madigan’s relationship with Quinn in terms of shaping policy. - JBilla - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 12:39 pm: I give his press releases a ten. The Budget ideas submission is nice too. But I recall Obama had a site to submit ideas when he first came to office. Nothing came of that. I think he should listen to Preckwinkle a bit on some policing strategy issues. Lets see if any of this is real. I don’t yet have a CTA-Metra Card. I do like the new bike paths. I would like to see a focus on Chicago based venture capital in the clean tech space. A big “we’ll see…” so far. - Left Leaner - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 12:55 pm: Bringing in jobs, jobs and more jobs. - walkinfool - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 2:42 pm: My gut says 3. He has such confidence and self-certainty that I think he is way underestimating the monster he has taken on. - Esquire - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 2:50 pm: I would have rated him a bit better, if he had not sat on his hands and let all of the Daley losers run wild at the City Colleges. This gang is going to make the city junior colleges operate like Chicago State Lite. Five of seven college presidents were sacked for some questionable hires of cronies. - CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 4:15 pm: Oh sage Capt Fax how can you explain PQ 89 responses Madigan 50 something Rahm a measley 38…we know putting Claypool in a position of authority made him seem like a hick, but come on 38…..can’t the city workforce defeeat the firewalls and blast in a few “votes” - Responsa - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 4:30 pm: 8. It’s way early, but so far, so good. Rahm seems to be deeply engaged in many areas of governance and appears to be learning fast. Rahm looks as if he is enjoying the challenges and problem solving. He gives off an aura of competence which I think has given both regular citizens and the business community a sense of confidence in the future of the city that’s been sorely lacking for awhile. I’m sure he has “favorites” but they seem less obvious than the former mayor’s favorites and the governor’s favorites. - railrat - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 4:54 pm: Dont live in Chicago so probably not fully understanding score evaluations but from afar I gave him an 8 he seems to be patient enough and savvy enough to get things done and spank those that aren’t “on board” just ask the idiot that refered to him as a Judas !!!! LOL #150 - Black Ivy - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 5:03 pm: He’s standing up to public sector unions…’nuff said! - Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 8:11 pm: I’m tryin’ to be nice but big, unwelcome property tax increase, arguable flap on McCarthy background check, a lot of firings already…too much “Chip On Shoulder” disease so far…. - mokenavince - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:22 pm: I give him the whole 9 yards.Positive, direct no B.S. if he does a good job I look for him in 16 to run for President and be elected the 1st Jewish President. He has the tools.This guys is smart and to be reckoned with. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:30 pm: 5. Too early to give any real assessment. I saw a sign on the el tonight that 47% of Chicago kids don’t graduate high school. It’s not a new fact, but it makes me ill every time I think of it. If he gets that down to 37% in his term, I’ll give him a ten. I’ll even serve as a volunteer go-upside-their-heads “friend” to the potential dropouts. - wishbone - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 10:42 pm: An 8.He is trying to address issues Richie ignored for years. - SLICK NICK - Tuesday, Aug 9, 11 @ 11:03 pm: I gave him an 8. I think so far he is trying to do a good job without putting too much blame on Daley. I think he will do very well for Chicago. He has to. If he screws up, then there is no chance he will ever become the first Jewish president… Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.