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Jane Byrne

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* Sad news…

Former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne has died, a source tells Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed.

Chicago’s first and only female mayor had been in hospice for about a week.

* Neil Steinberg has a balanced, but wonderfully written obit on the Sun-Times site…

Jane Byrne was not mighty, like her mentor, Richard J. Daley.

She was not beloved, like her successor, Harold Washington.

Nor was she long-serving, like her bitter rival, Richard M. Daley.

But she was mayor, Chicago’s first and only female mayor — making Chicago the largest city in the United States to elect a female chief executive — serving a single, tempestuous term, ushering the city into the 1980s, leaving her own colorful legacy during a time of political change, social upheaval and financial crisis.

Go read the whole thing.

* And the tributes are coming in. Mayor Emanuel…

“With the passing of Mayor Jane Byrne, the City of Chicago has lost a great trailblazer.

Mayor Byrne was a Chicago icon who lived a remarkable life of service to our city. From signing the first ordinance to get handguns off of our streets, to bringing more transparency to the City’s budget, to creating the Taste of Chicago, Mayor Byrne leaves a large and lasting legacy. And as the first woman to serve as Mayor, she will always have a special place in our history.

I was deeply honored that she attended my inauguration, and, in turn, it was my privilege to sign our City’s ordinance officially dedicating the plaza surrounding our iconic Water Tower in her honor.

The thoughts and prayers of the people of Chicago are with her daughter Kathy and her many friends at this difficult time.”

Governor-elect Bruce Rauner…

“I’m saddened to learn of the death of Mayor Byrne. She was a pioneer and will be missed by all. The City of Chicago owes her a huge debt of gratitude. My thoughts and prayers are with her daughter, Kathy, and her family.”

* Gov. Pat Quinn…

“Jane Byrne leaves a legacy of tireless service to Chicago that will never be forgotten.

“Her work on behalf of the city’s children and underserved communities has meant thousands of Chicago citizens are better off today because of Jane’s heartfelt dedication.

“The city’s first and only female mayor, Jane Byrne was a barrier breaker and a role model for countless women who had stared too long through the glass ceiling.

“She brought transparency to the city budget process, was Chicago’s first mayor to march in the Gay Pride Parade and was the nation’s first big-city mayor to successfully enact a ban on handguns.

“Renaming the Circle Interchange in honor of the former mayor has rightfully placed Jane Byrne among the city’s iconic leaders.

“Jane Byrne was a fearless trailblazer who has made our state a better place. She will be missed. Our thoughts are with her daughter Kathy, grandson William and their entire family today.”

* Secretary of State Jesse White…

The City of Chicago lost a dedicated public servant today in Mayor Jane Byrne. As Chicago’s first and only female mayor, Jane Byrne was a trailblazer. Her love for the city of Chicago was immeasurable.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Jane Byrne will be missed.

* Sen. Dick Durbin…

“When Jane Byrne moved into Cabrini Green, she proved Chicago’s first woman mayor was unafraid to tackle the city’s toughest problems head on. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”

* Commissioner John Daley…

Mayor Jane Byrne was a courageous advocate for the City of Chicago. She was a trailblazer for women in public service, and her legacy will have a lasting impact on our great city.

On behalf of my family, I extend our deepest condolences to Jane’s daughter Kathy, her grandson William, and the entire Byrne family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:34 am

Comments

Condolences to Mayor Byrne’s family and friends. She was certainly a transformational figure in Chicago politics.

Comment by Stones Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:38 am
I really enjoyed reading her autobiography. RIP.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:43 am
That term was one wild ride.

For those who still like to talk about the “Chicago Machine,” she was one of those who helped do it in, wounding it by beating Bilandic until Harold finished it off by beating her.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:48 am
She was mayor during very difficult years that saw many other mayors, governors and even a president, go down to political defeat.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:49 am
Man, Steinberg is a terrific writer. RIP, Jane.

Comment by R.S. Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:54 am
I still remember her taking up residence in Cabrini for a week. I’m sure the gangs and drug dealers loved her for that one. The streets seems to get plowed better too. Not sure why though… I’ll miss her.

Comment by PublicServant Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:54 am
Mayor Byrne was a pioneer, a leader and a class act. I had the privilege of meeting her at a social event and she could not have been sweeter.
I have much respect for her. I didn’t know she wrote a book, I will definitely put that on my list-of-must reads. Godspeed, Mayor Byrne.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 11:59 am
The Mayor was a great friend, mentor and my gateway into Illinois politics and my work with Mike Madigan. While there will many recollections, the top of my list will include the challenge of the financial collapse of the Chicago Public Schools, facing the firefighters strike and efforts to refocus the city as a destination for cultural or social events.
Our prayers go out to Kathy and her family to be comforted in this loss and be given the strength to move forward.

Comment by Steve Brown Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:02 pm
She was before my time and never met the woman, but if for nothing else I thank her for allowing “The Blues Brothers” to happen. Not just for what a great movie that was on its own, but for her saying yes to that movie paving the way for the Chicago film and TV industry to develop since then and allowing the whole world to see more of the city we all (or most of us on this blog anyway) love very much.

R.I.P. Jane.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:06 pm
Steve, the lady knew how to throw a party. She really did spark the rise of the city for leisure travel, not just business travel.

The leisure travel market barely existed in the 70s and now it’s huge. The restaurant scene alone is a monster.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:13 pm
===In 1983 she amassed a $9 million campaign war chest but was challenged in the Democratic primary by the Cook County state’s attorney, Richard M. Daley, and Rep. Harold Washington, whose candidacy was in part provoked by Byrne herself, by her firing of two black members of the CHA board.===

$9 million in 1983 was an unbelieveable amount of money in a campaign fund. That’s almost like Rahm raising $50 million today.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:16 pm
Thought it was really disgusting that Jane Byrne was the first female mayor of Chicago and only got an expressway interchange named after her while Maggie Daley got a primo lakefront park. Nice message to send our young girls that it’s more important to marry a powerful man than to have a powerful position yourself.

Comment by anon Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:17 pm
Oh, and Chicago Fest on the as-yet-unrenovated Navy Pier. I think it was 1981 and I was at the twin-bill concert of Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, who followed Pablo Cruise onto the main stage. Shel Silverstein wrote the lyrics for Dr. Hook, including the classic…

“Now it’s all designed to blow our minds
But our minds won’t really be blown
Like the blow that’ll gitcha when you get your picture,
On the cover of the Rollin’ Stone”

Thanks for Chicago Fest Mayor Byrne. We had a blast.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:23 pm
Byrne’s fascinating personality drove her to victory, and ultimately contributed to her defeat four years later, but she left her mark on Chicago politics.

My condolences to her family.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:24 pm
HGF, no one could believe what she allowed Belushi and Ackroyd to pull for that flick. Jaw-dropping, and really did put the city on the filmmaking map.

Gave a kid in at Loyola Academy named Christopher Nolan some ideas on the potential of Chicago car chases.

Of course, George Dunne had a lot to do with
BB, too. Which explains why his kid was the keyboard player, lol.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:25 pm
Boss Daley made it really hard for Hollywood producers to film in Chicago. Rumor was that the television series “M Squad” with Lee Marvin did not sit too well with “Hizzonor” as the program sometimes addressed police corruption in Chicago which was uncomfortably too close to the truth until the Summerdale scandal forced a shake up of the department. Jane Byrne deserves much of the credit for inviting Hollywood crews back to Chicago.

One aside: My dad attended high school mixers with Jane Byrne. His comment was that all of the boys were after her prettier cousin.

Comment by Upon Further Review Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:33 pm
Sloppy stuff from Neil and the Sun-Times. The Dem streak started in 1931, not 1927.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:38 pm
Steinberg was correct: last party endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee to lose an election was in 1927. The incumbent mayor, William E. Dever, lost to William Hale Thompson, Jr., in 1927. That loss was in the general election. Byrne beat the endorsed Mayor Bilandic in the primary.

Comment by Upon Further Review Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:44 pm
My favorite memory of Jane Byrne was when she moved into Cabrini Greene in a “got to do something!” response to a spike in violence. Rare then and kind of unthinkable today.

Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 12:54 pm
Geez, I can still remember Bilandic on the news listing all these streets he said had been cleared, then the cameras cutting to live shots showing that they were still buried in snow.

And the CTA blowing off stops on the West Side? Can you imagine the anger of waiting outside in that mess only to have the train roll through your stop?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 1:09 pm
Precinct Captain: “Sloppy stuff from Neil and the Sun-Times. The Dem streak started in 1931, not 1927.”

Neil Steinberg: “It was the first time since 1927 that the candidate slated by the Democratic machine didn’t win the mayor’s office.”

While the Democratic machine did not win until 1931, the last time it lost was 1927.

Verdict: Steinberg’s statement is (perhaps misleading but) factually correct.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 1:12 pm
Jane Byrne was colorful, scrappy, and put a great big crack in the glass ceiling. I will always remember her feud with Walter Jacobson, when she moved into Cabrini Green, and the first Taste of Chicago. You made the world a more interesting place to live.

Godspeed, Mayor Jane Byrne.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 1:16 pm
UFR and MrJM, you are correct. I misread Steinberg’s sentence.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 1:44 pm
She was terrific, a trailblazer, and it was shocking when she won…even more shocking that she could handle the Aldermen.
One of the best votes I ever cast.

Comment by Belle Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 2:08 pm
RIP, Mayor Byrne, RIP! The first and only female mayor of Chicago was controversial, but respected nonetheless.

Comment by Black Ivy Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 2:21 pm
I wish Mayor Emanuel did a brief tribute to her on his Chicago’s mayor instagram account. the park district tributed her though.

Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 3:43 pm
For me,

I go to Navy Pier, that’s Jane Byrne.

I think of her every time I go. A legacy that many try to claim, but it’s hers and it’s her success.

My condolences to her family a friends.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 14, 14 @ 4:01 pm