* Tribune…
Billionaire hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin, who has given tens of millions to former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and supported Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is donating $1 million to Bill Daley’s mayoral campaign.
In a statement about the contribution, Griffin called Daley “a proven leader who understands the critical importance of working for all Chicagoans regardless of politics, race or background.”
“He will bring together a diversity of views across the city on our most pressing challenges of creating jobs, reducing violent crime, and improving our schools so we all can be proud to live and work in this world-class city that we call our home,” Griffin said. […]
“His investments in Chicago, in its cultural institutions, in its healthcare organizations, and in improvements that benefit all residents are a model of giving back to the community,” Daley said in a statement. “While we may not agree on every political issue, Ken’s commitment to Chicago is unquestionable and unwavering.”
* Susana Mendoza…
As co-chair of Bruce Rauner’s transition team, Bill Daley wrote the blueprint for the failed governor’s four years of crisis and destruction. It’s no surprise he’s earned the endorsement of Rauner’s biggest funder and enabler too. Chicago’s families can’t afford four years of a mayor who stood by silently while his friend Bruce Rauner launched attack after attack on our workers, cut critical social services, and assaulted women’s reproductive healthcare rights. I wasn’t afraid to take on Bruce Rauner on behalf of Illinoisans, and I’m not afraid to take on Bill Daley on behalf of Chicagoans. The last thing Chicago needs is Bruce Rauner’s mayor.
* Meanwhile…
Hardworking Chicago window washers are once again in the spotlight after NBC Chicago and Telemundo Chicago ran in-depth stories last night on the dangerous work they do every single day. Now, in the closing weeks of the mayoral election, SEIU Local 1 is running an ad on Spanish-language television detailing how mayoral candidate Susana Mendoza sold out our city’s brave window washers, their families and their communities when they went on strike in July of 2018.
“When we were on strike for a better future, Susana Mendoza sold us out,” said SEIU Local 1 window washer Francisco Guzman. “Voters need to know that Mendoza sides with her business owner donors over hardworking Chicago families and our communities.”
Instead of standing with our city’s brave window washers, who put their lives on the line every day to support their families, Mendoza sided with her buddy and major campaign donor Neal Zucker, CEO of window washing company Corporate Cleaning Services and employer of window washers. Zucker is a major Mendoza campaign donor who has contributed more than $30,000 to her political fund since 2014, including $10,000 immediately following the strike and $3,000 on Christmas Eve. CBS Chicago rated the claims in the ad, which ran for weeks on digital platforms, to be true.
The ad represents a significant five-figure buy on Univision Chicago and Telemundo Chicago and will run from Thursday until the runoff election on February 26. In the closing weeks of the mayor’s race, Local 1 window washers are letting voters know that Susana Mendoza cannot be trusted to stand with Chicago’s working families.
The ad is here.
…Adding… The Tribune endorsed Daley today.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:43 am:
Here I thought Willie Wilson was the Republican/Rauner candidate…
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:46 am:
OW - there are enough candidates in the field for everybody to have at least 2. Ed Burke has 4.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:51 am:
===As co-chair of Bruce Rauner’s transition team, Bill Daley===
If Daley makes it to the runoff, I’d expect to see more of this…
- Anon - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:52 am:
Should Mendoza be called “Ed Burke’s Mayor” then?
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:55 am:
I’m surprised no one brought out the Bruce Rauner’s mayor attacked until now. It’s probably very damaging in the City of Chicago.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:57 am:
It’s down to Vallas or Daley for me. Not much time left to decide.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:00 am:
===there are enough candidates in the field for everybody to have at least 2. Ed Burke has 4.===
lol, yeah.
I’m just finding humor with Daley/Rauner/GOP/Wilson/Griffin and this idea that running as a Raunerite Republican is helpful.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:02 am:
The visuals on that anti-Medoza ad are strong IMHO. Tried using the translate feature on YouTube and what I can tell the content is strong too.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:23 am:
–Should Mendoza be called “Ed Burke’s Mayor” then?–
Have you been asleep? That’s been going on since the federales raids.
Daley publicly supported Rauner over Quinn (after Daley chickened out on challenging Quinn), so it’s more than fair.
The Daleys always had the support of the GOP money guys. As did Emanuel.
Overt Republicans might not get elected mayor in Chicago, but GOP bankrollers usuaully have a swell seat at the table and great influence with those who do.
Politics is often more complex and nuanced than the jibber-jabber you get on talk radio and from some lazy ideological columnists.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:24 am:
Four years of crisis and destruction?
Illinois has been in a budget crisis for decades. You should know that better than anyone Comptroller.
What was the last year the state budget was balanced?
- Northsider - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:28 am:
Anon @ 8:57 (and everyone else who’s still undecided): this candidate match quiz from WBEZ might help.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:31 am:
Daley is the Republican Mayor in the race.
Mendoza is the Rahm Mayor in the race.
Chico is the Daley scion in the race.
Preckwinkle is the black candidate in the race who has the best shot of being the first black woman to become mayor.
Amara is there to syphon votes from Lightfoot.
Fioretti is there to siphon votes from Vallas.
Chicago might be doomed.
- Prairie - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:32 am:
People are over Rauner. He lost, we chose JB, people are moving on.
Susana’s attacks are the death rattle of a poorly run campaign highlighting a candidate that would be in way over her head as mayor.
- don the legend - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:32 am:
==What was the last year the state budget was balanced?==
LP, last year, according to Rauner. You were his biggest shill if I remember correctly.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:32 am:
LP, still carrying that heavy load of Raunerism around in that wheelbarrow, eh? While doing so, looking back and yelping how Bruce wasn’t the problem. True, he wasn’t THE problem, but he only compounded the staggering problems that existed before his arrival on the scene.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:32 am:
===What was the last year the state budget was balanced?===
Bruce Rauner signed the last budget.
Why aren’t you mad at Bruce Rauner.
It’s tiring, day after day “Lucky Pierre” spewing and spamming things that are ridiculously proven to his point false.
Charlie Wheeler has embarrassingly shown everyone where the budgets have been, and where they do fall short.
I had hoped “Lucky Pierre” would add to discussions, maybe be a “Thomas Shaw” exposing the bad, but… it’s the same rote responses, with the former administration now long gone.
Be better.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:37 am:
–Four years of crisis and destruction?–
I think she’ referring to that $10 billion plus that of unpaid bills that Rauner willfully piled on in just 2.5 years.
That was historic, and just part of Rauner’s legacy of planned crisis and destruction.
Why do you diss Rauner by pretending that he didn’t do what he said he was going to do?
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:39 am:
===people are moving on===
Don’t be so sure of that.
- A guy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:45 am:
All these comments thus far and Toni P’s name hasn’t come up at all. Interesting. If you’re name ain’t coming up, good or bad, that says something.
- Responsa - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:54 am:
When there are as many candidates running from one party as are doing so in this Chicago mayoral election there are realistically just not enough experienced top notch local advisers, creatives and campaign spokespeople to cover the waterfront for all of them. (Especially when so many of the candidates after announcement unexpectedly have found themselves with dead weights from other news and past alliances or choices they need to overcome or explain.) Almost everything about this election feels like a disaster. Chicago and the region deserve better.
- Roman - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 9:57 am:
Does the SEIU piece tell us Preckwinkle believes she has her spot in the runoff secured? Looks like they’re trying to peel Latino votes from Mendoza to keep her behind Chico and out of the next round.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 10:13 am:
–Interesting. If you’re name ain’t coming up, good or bad, that says something.–
Interestingly, your post does not say anything.
All public polls have had in her in first, professor.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 10:14 am:
I thought Daley was Rahm’s mayor? They seem to attract the same donors.
Looking more and more like Daley vs Preckwinkle/Mendoza.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 10:17 am:
Daleys.
Parking meters.
‘Nuff said.
- Graybeard - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 10:33 am:
- “If you’re (sic) name ain’t coming up, good or bad, that says something” -
I am sure that Toni is pleased to not be mentioned in a story about a $1,000,000 donation from Bruce Rauner’s top financial backer.
In a race this wide open, the only thing that matters is making the runoff. Preckwinkle will be there, and there’s nothing to be gained from her attacking anyone until the runoff. Mendoza’s constant attacks on Daley make it clear that she knows who she’s battling for second place.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:03 am:
–Looking more and more like Daley vs Preckwinkle/Mendoza.–
Meh, no one’s setting the woods on fire.
Within the margin of error of the public polling, there are five candidates within striking distance of a Top 2 spot: Preckwinkle, Daley, Chico, Wilson, Mendoza.
Historically, it’s a very low turnout election, to make it even more difficult to handicap.
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:03 am:
Chicago Teachers Pension Fund was 100% funded in 1995. It had been funded by a dedicated income stream from Chicago real estate taxes. The amount was only the normal cost, since there was no CTPF pension debt in ‘95.
Paul Vallas and Gery Chico were then appointed by Rich Daley to run CPS, as CEO of schools and Board of Ed President, respectively.
A change in law passed by Pate Phillip and Lee Daniels, signed by Gov. Edgar, allowed CPS to shift that dedicated income stream from the pension and into operating costs.
Chico and Vallas went on a building spree. CPS saw additions, annexes and new schools spring up. North Side Prep (where Chico’s daughter attended HS, and in his north side neighborhood) was built during these years.
By the time Chico and Vallas departed CPS, the Chicago Teachers Pension fund was 50% funded. They took 14 years of pension holidays.
Both of these gentlemen are now touting their financial and school management prowess as ask Chicago to elect them the next Mayor.
Rich Daley (and those advising him) during these years also bears responsibility for the financial condition of the city and the pensions.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:06 am:
Did we all forget GovJunk named Vallas to run Chicago State —- a disaster BTW. So we got a pair of GovJunkers
- WSJ Paywall - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:07 am:
Rich is right - Rauner is still relevant as an issue. But Mendoza should have been going after Daley from the beginning. Not sure how well it sticks this late.
- Chicago_Downstater - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:07 am:
The last poll that wasn’t conducted by/for a specific campaign had the number of undecideds at 26%. It wouldn’t be a foolish bet to pick Preckwinkle to advance to the runoff, but it’s hard to agree that anyone is a lock for the runoff at this point. The only thing we can say with any certainty is that there will be a runoff vote.
Polls & other nifty things: https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_Chicago,_Illinois_(2019)#Polls
- Chicago_Downstater - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:09 am:
My apologies. I copied the link incorrectly in my above post. Here’s the correct link: https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_Chicago,_Illinois_(2019)
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:09 am:
==I am sure that Toni is pleased to not be mentioned in a story about a $1,000,000 donation from Bruce Rauner’s top financial backer.==
She’s got her own $1,000,000 donation to worry about.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:19 am:
Trib just endorsed Daley.
- Graybeard - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:19 am:
- She’s got her own $1,000,000 donation to worry about. -
Maybe, but she did not accept a $1,000,000 donation from Bruce Rauner’s biggest financial backer.
- A guy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:39 am:
==Interestingly, your post does not say anything.==
Actually Sling, it said that Toni’s name wasn’t coming up here…on CF, in a post about the mayoral contest…where other names were coming up.
I realize she’s polling with more recognition. The Soda Pop Tax is still a lingering nit, and it’s not like anyone has run away with this. There’s a clump of 5 for 2 spots. I don’t know how anyone could accurately handicap this race with all the factors and factions combined. There are people in this race who won’t win but will drag votes from someone else. Toni is one of those who might lose votes to other “also-rans” wouldn’t you agree?
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 11:40 am:
=Chicago Teachers Pension Fund was 100% funded in 1995. =
Exactly.
Not only was Vallas (the financial genius) a disaster for the pension fund, but for the schools, also. Ending social promotion, for example, was a disaster.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:04 pm:
–Trib just endorsed Daley.–
LOL, of course they did.
The tronc edit board’s ability to live with cognitive dissonance and lack of self-awareness is truly remarkable.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:07 pm:
–Actually Sling, it said that Toni’s name wasn’t coming up here…on CF, in a post about the mayoral contest…where other names were coming up–
Yeah, I got that. It says nothing.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:14 pm:
==Maybe, but she did not accept a $1,000,000 donation from Bruce Rauner’s biggest financial backer.==
Nope, she accepted it from the outfit that backed the loser in the previous election.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
===Chicago Teachers Pension Fund was 100% funded in 1995.==
And if CPS didn’t re-route pension payments to pay for raises and operating expenses for their CTPF employees, it would be a lot closer to 100% today.
- anon2 - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
The Trib is consistent. They endorsed Griffin’s candidate for governor last year, and now they endorse Griff’s candidate for mayor.
- Steve - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
You can’t blame Mendoza for attacking Daley with this. Especially since Bruce Rauner is about as popular as Donald Trump in Chicago. However , Mendoza is playing a dangerous game here. Her ties to Burke are very , very deep. So deep, she’s probably on some of those Ed Burke phone calls. Remember Burke will be indicted by May 3, 2019.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:56 pm:
===Remember Burke will be indicted by May 3, 2019.==
What day is the runoff election scheduled?
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 12:59 pm:
=And if CPS didn’t re-route pension payments to pay for raises and operating expenses for their CTPF employees, it would be a lot closer to 100% today.=
Links, please.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
another reason I definitely wont be voting for Mendoza. Her use of hyperbole is off the charts. Not that I feel bad for Daley and im not sure who to vote for but those statements are silly.
Also, Id have thought everything Bill’s brother did for her she’d remember and pull back a bit. Guess not
- Steve - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:08 pm:
The runoff will be on April 2
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:09 pm:
===The runoff will be on April 2===
So…
…
It’s the same as it is now.
- Steve - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:13 pm:
If the indictments are before April 2, the Mayoral race could be greatly effected depending on who and what is in the court file. This investigation isn’t just about Ed Burke.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:19 pm:
==Links, please.==
Other Sue - No time to do your research for you, but focus your search on the 1990’s and you’ll find many statements to this fact.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:20 pm:
===No time to do your research for you, but focus your search on the 1990’s and you’ll find many statements to this fact.===
You have time to *type* that but can’t find a link?
Hmm.
- ChiSon - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 1:50 pm:
Even when Republicans lose, they win. Hot dang I’m excited for (R) Daley to be elected. We already had Rahm, now we get Daley. Too bad, so sad for those progressives.
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 2:54 pm:
To the requests for links connecting Paul Vallas, Gery Chico, their funding for programming and the beginning of 14 years of pension holidays for the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund, which took that fund from 100% funded in 1995 to 50% funded today, please see this 2013 Chicago Magazine article. Other links are embedded in the article.
‘How Did Chicago’s Public Schools Get in Such a Huge Financial Hole? A main driver of the projected billion dollar deficit is a huge spike in pension payments, a problem that’s been building for almost two decades.’
https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/June-2013/Chicago-Public-Schools-Pension-Bomb/
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 2:56 pm:
=focus your search on the 1990’s=
Yeah, that’s real helpful.
You don’t have to do my research for me. I’ve been closely following this story for years and I have no idea what you’re talking about.
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:09 pm:
The huge spike in pension payments is a result of those pension holidays.
And the pension funds were being used to fund operational costs, as Illinois had a simmering school funding problem. CPS was trying to keep the doors open.
New school funding in place now, but still not enough revenue statewide to fund all our expenses. Not just k-12 schools, but higher ed, infrastructure, human services, medicare all need more funding.
- Decatur Dave - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
@Ashland Adam
==By the time Chico and Vallas departed CPS, the Chicago Teachers Pension fund was 50% funded. They took 14 years of pension holidays.==
Were these 14 years snuck by under everyones’ noses or could it be the case that the CTU agreed to this as part of guaranteed raises and step increases?
The truth is the latter.
You are partaking in revisionist history.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:16 pm:
This has tremendous potential to backfire on Daley. Rauner is still a fresh wound for many in this state. If he didn’t want to support Quinn and wanted to serve as Rauner’s transition cochair then he needs to own it.
And Low Level this is a Mayoral campaign in case you missed the memo. Susana doesn’t owe Rich Daley diddly squat for a city job of a few years, but there we go again with equating anything Mendoza has achieved to a man. Goes to show how the frontrunners and their supporters continue to run scared of her.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:20 pm:
@Shytown
You are kidding yourself if you think Susana Mendoza wouldn’t have walked across hot coals for that $1m check. Her team would have praised it as “proof the business community supports her candidacy.”
She has had far more malleable morals for far less money as the Trib and ST continue to point out.
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
No revisionist history. These changes were implemented, not negotiated. Gov. Edgar, Lee Daniels and Pate Phillip weren’t concerned with the teachers viewpoint. Yes, the teachers took step increases and raises. But this wasn’t either/or.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 3:30 pm:
–You are kidding yourself if you think Susana Mendoza wouldn’t have walked across hot coals for that $1m check. Her team would have praised it as “proof the business community supports her candidacy.”–
Wow, a swami, one who can see actions occurring in alternative universes.
What do you have for the next Powerball drawing?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 4:29 pm:
I think Daley may pull this out in the first round. The other seem to be imploding.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 6:20 pm:
==By the time Chico and Vallas departed CPS, the Chicago Teachers Pension fund was 50% funded. They took 14 years of pension holidays.==
So that explains why the troncs endorsed a Daley for mayor — their renowned fiscal stewardship?
Don’t kid yourself — Chico and Vallas were the help. Daley called the shots on all the money.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 6:34 pm:
–When there are as many candidates running from one party as are doing so in this Chicago mayoral election…–
What party is that? When are the party primaries?
- Ashland Adam - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 6:42 pm:
To Wordlslinger -
Couldn’t agree more. It was Daley who called the shots. But that doesn’t excuse Vallas and Chico.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 6:46 pm:
==They took 14 years of pension holidays.==
How do you think Daley achieved union peace? It wasn’t free.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 6:52 pm:
–How do you think Daley achieved union peace? It wasn’t free.–
Poor little fella, so powerless, all those bullies pushing him around all the time. Like Rauner, he wasn’t in charge, and he didn’t really want the gig, the seven times he ran for it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 7:36 pm:
Obviously Daley wanted union peace. That’s why Chicago now owes billions to the unions.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:30 pm:
Shytown: “Susana doesn’t owe Rich Daley diddly squat for a city job of a few years”.
If you can tell me what she actually did during that time, I might agree. Most I talk to from DPD say not much. But since there is a mayoral election on, and you know so much, maybe you can elaborate.
- Break give me - Wednesday, Feb 13, 19 @ 8:39 pm:
Mendoza did it all by herself and got no HDO - Daley support, right? This has nothing to do with her gender.
Its recongnition she benefited quite a lot from the family. Same criticisms are being leveled towards Chico and Vallas…