* From the Chicago Tribune’s interview with Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot…
Q: You ran on getting rid of aldermanic privilege (the practice of aldermen having veto power over all permitting and zoning decisions in their wards). That’s probably easier to talk about than the mechanics of actually withdrawing that practice. It’s not like it’s a line in the city code. It’s deeper than that. How do you go about addressing that?
A: I’m going to consult with some of the alderman who have been supportive of the campaign. I’m very clear on it. Some of them have a very different view, but I’m very clear that it’s got to go. I want to do it in a way that doesn’t do further harm, the quintessential throwing the baby out with the bathwater. But it’s got to go. How do you do it? My thoughts are that because it’s not written into law and it’s just a very dominant culture … I’m thinking about an executive order from day one that says in more legalese than this, “This is not a thing. We will no longer honor this.”
Because the way that aldermanic prerogative works is there’s got to be compliance with the executive branch, because otherwise it doesn’t work. So, you’ve got to eliminate that compliance, and you make it a mandate. And then you do training, particularly in the city licensing departments whether it’s zoning, buildings, housing, planning, and you pick the people who run those agencies and the deputies that are pledging allegiance to the new world order and good governance. And then I think you have the inspector general do some spot audits to make sure that there is real compliance.
You obviously have to engage in a dialogue with the City Council. It’s not that alderman no longer are able to have notice and an opportunity to be heard. If aldermen are doing their job right, they should be the people who are closest to the vibe and the beat in their neighborhood and have a very important role to play on a number of different issues, but not a unilateral, unchecked right. That’s gone as soon as I take office, because it prevents us from engaging in citywide initiatives, it prevents us from moving ahead on important issues like affordable housing and it is fundamentally corrosive and there is no way to monitor it in a way you can bring transparency and accountability to it.
If I’ve got to go and kiss the ring of the alderman for everything, for a license to have a block club party or whatever it is and there is a catalog of all the things that are run through the aldermanic offices, that is fundamentally a problem. And it’s the tens of thousands of touches that an alderman has on a regular basis with constituents who think that they have to give some additional thing to get access to basic city services, that is the corrosive effect. And it’s obviously worse when an alderman takes that power and then tries to monetize it for him or herself.
* Sun-Times…
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot on Friday accused Ald. Edward Burke (14th) of attempting to organize the City Council against her and threatened to expose aldermen who dare to conspire with him.
“Any alderman who’s gonna try to align themselves with Ed Burke at this time — we’re gonna make sure that gets very public and exposed . . . I’m going to do everything I can to shine a light on that,” Lighfoot told the Sun-Times.
“They’re gonna have to explain to the public why they’re aligning with him against the voters of this city.” […]
“We’re not gonna resurrect the Vrdolyak 29 in the form of Ed Burke. That’s not going to happen. He can try all he wants. He’s not going to be successful,” Lightfoot said. […]
“He’s been very successful in accumulating power despite the odds and he’s not gonna give up on that easily. But beware.”
* Related…
* Mayor-Elect Lori Lightfoot to Throw Out First Pitch at Sox, Cubs Home Openers
* Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot’s transition team offers window into her priorities: Education and crime-fighting
* Lori Lightfoot on a congratulatory call from President Trump
* Trump, Obama among many who have called Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot
* Lightfoot urged to back off proposal to raise hotel tax: Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, noted the total tax on a Chicago hotel room already stands at 17.5 percent. That’s the highest of any of Chicago’s leading competitors for conventions and tourism. … During Emanuel’s tenure, the number of tourists visiting Chicago grew by 40 percent—from 39 million to 55 million-a-year.
* Taxi, limo, ride-hailing drivers call on Lightfoot to cap rideshare vehicles
- Fast Eddie - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:24 pm:
An executive order will have very little if any affect.
- Steve - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
Lightfoot might be able to get some ethics reform after some people get indicted in the coming months. I wouldn’t count Lightfoot out on this subject.
- Lee Cary - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:38 pm:
One level of corruption to be exposed is the complicity of the reporters news rooms of both big Chicago daily papers in covering up decades of shenanigans.
- The Captain - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:38 pm:
I mostly voted against Preckwinkle, but I’m darn glad that this is the outcome.
- statehoss - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:40 pm:
There was always an element of crooks v. straights in the original Burke Vrdolyak coalition, but the visceral racism of enough constituents gave it cover.
But this time around, Eddie’s has no plausible basis other than corruption. That’s going to be a tough sell with the voters.
- Terry Salad - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
This is a major reason I voted for Lightfoot. Let’s see how many Aldermen want to side with Burke when the Feds come knocking. They will come.
- allknowingmasterofraccoodom - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:00 pm:
I like her already.
- New Slang - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:12 pm:
Why can’t Preckwinkle throw the pitch at the Cubs game? I mean, she was the loser, right???
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:23 pm:
Burke’s hubris is off the charts. The press corps just can’t help but write that Burke “knows where all the bodies are buried” even now. I for one do not think he has got any rabbits to pull out of his hat or other tricks to avoid the trouble he is in.
Mayor Lightfoot needs to look at the ordinances and see how much aldermanic prerogative still has a legal role, because I think it is still an issue in some places. She is right though that the hundreds of zoning changes and board decisions that rely on letters of support from an alderman are a big part of how alderman can use aldermanic prerogative for financial gain.
- Gooner - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:24 pm:
On Aldermanic privilege, I like her approach. The city council does need to hear from the local alderman who should know the ward best. But still, it is interesting that to put up a sign for a business, the alderman’s approval is needed. That’s a problem.
- Fav Human - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:31 pm:
Is Burke REALLY trying to organize something??
OR is this L2’s way of firing a REALLY big shot across the bows of any alderman that might think about not toeing her line?
After all, accusing an alderman of being “one of the new 29″ is not a trivial thing, especially these days.
- TopHatMonocle - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 2:55 pm:
I’m in the minority at this point, but I think we’re in for a long four years with Lightfoot. We’re just a few days from the election and she’s questioning voter’s ability to select qualified people in an elected school board, or maybe its just a petty problem with Rep. Martwick, and now anyone organizing to oppose her is a racist. Looks like we’re in for a smooth ride… not.
- Chris Widger - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
This is what Chicago does. If you come in with new ideas, the General Assembly rams a poison-pill school board bill through and comes after you for saying that maybe there’s a better way to do things than having aldermen act as kings of fifty fiefdoms. We deserve our bad government at every level, at every step.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
Lori, you can’t claim you’re going to let the city council organize itself and then clumsily flail in like a weak Boss Mayor when it looks like they might organize according to the most experienced member’s negotiations.
Is it a good look for the city? Heck no, but Burke is smart enough to know that and give himself cover while also protecting his colleagues. It’s basic legislative coalition building. Just because you try to pretend Burke isn’t there, doesn’t make it so.
- Sonny - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:09 pm:
Going after aldermanic discretion is a great way to start off with an L.
- NorthsideNoMore - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:11 pm:
Burke has a history of working with and delivering for many alderpersons over the years (as well as thier staffers) The mayor elect has not deliverd much of anything for anyone as of yet. Picking a un provoked quarrel before your behind the desk is a risky venture. There are many other Big Picture problems in the city to deal with why make this one?
- Steve - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
- Precinct Captain -
“Just because you try to pretend Burke isn’t there, doesn’t make it so.”
What’s different now is Alderman Burke has lost much of his power. He’s no longer Chairman of the Finance Committee . He no longer slates the judges. He will be indicted before May 3. He should probably have to step down from City Council and decide whether to plead guilty or go to trial and have his phone calls played in court. He’s going to be a relic of the past in the near future.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:32 pm:
I think you just hit F7 for the “where the bodies are buried” line.
Burke has survived by threatening mayors and then compromising with them. It did it to Mayor Emanuel, and Mayor Emanuel capitulated to him even after Burke tried to kick him off the ballot. He is probably trying to do it again, and make Mayor Lightfoot think that it will be easier for her to play ball with Burke than to fight him. I do not think Burke wears any clothes anymore, and Mayor Lightfoot does not strike me as someone who will make nice with Burke.
- Amalia - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:43 pm:
wow. some names on the transition team…..
- Fast Eddie - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 3:47 pm:
@Gooner:
The Exacutive branch can not impose its will on the legislative branch via executive order. It’s absurd.
I for one don’t think it’s a bad idea to separate the city council’s legislative functions from the mayor’s executive role.
And vica versa. And that is the catch.
Lightfoot no longer wants an alderman’s signature as a requirement for a street sign or a sidewalk cafe. That works for me.
But Lightfoot thinks she should be able to dictate committee chairmanships in the city council. That doesn’t work for me.
This seems like a power grab dressed up as reform. An unnecessary power grab for someone who just won by 48 points. Unless she expects that public support to quickly fade.
- Gooner - Friday, Apr 5, 19 @ 4:07 pm:
With regard to those concerned about picking a fight with a once powerful alderman.
She has to pick that fight.
That is what she was elected to do.
If people wanted to stay the course, they would have gone with Toni.