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Lightfoot gonna Lightfoot

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As Mayor Lori Lightfoot marked her two-year anniversary in office last month, the Tribune’s Gregory Pratt wrote that “the mayor has at times struggled to translate her political goals into policy wins” and noted that City Clerk Anna Valencia made the same point to Lightfoot in an email.

“I shared my fines and fees platform with you, that my team built and had been working on since November of 2018, which handed you your first win with community groups,” Valencia said in the email, which also complained that Lightfoot hired away her communications director. “I’ve kept community group relationships healthy for you in the Fines and Fees Collaborative, smoothed over ruffled feathers when they felt as if your office was stonewalling them or ignoring them.”

This week, Pratt obtained a copy of Lightfoot’s response to Valencia, wherein she denied poaching staff and criticized the clerk right back.

“And Anna, don’t send me again an unhinged screed, dredging up every petty grievance, real or imagined,” Lightfoot wrote. “If you have an issue, pick up the phone and call me, instead of writing a bunch of accusatory nonsense where you got everything wrong except she accepted a job. Be a professional.”

* Meanwhile…

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday she doesn’t need a front-page headline in the Chicago Sun-Times to tell her kids are being gunned down on the streets of the city.

“It hits me every day. … I reach out to those families. I hear the heartbreak. I spend time with moms and dads who’ve lost toddlers, who’ve lost kids my daughter’s age,” Lightfoot said.

“As a parent, every time I see something like that happen, I grieve deeply. The first thought it, there but for the grace of God go I. We can’t exist in a world where kids aren’t safe in their own community and that they’re not safe from other young people in their own community.”

The Sun-Times reported Tuesday children in Chicago are dying from gun violence at a rate three times higher than last year.

“I don’t need a Sun-Times article to tell me that,” Lightfoot said Tuesday. “I see those numbers every day.”

* Fox 32…

“If you look at our numbers year over year, month over month, we’re actually trending in the right direction,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday.

Mayor Lightfoot made a startling claim after the Sun-Times reported a huge increase in the number of Chicago children wounded or killed by guns.

Street violence dipped a bit on Memorial Day weekend, but 2021 so far is Chicago’s bloodiest year in more than a decade.

The number of kids under age 15 killed by gunfire has tripled this year, according to the Sun-Times study, with a 21% spike in the total of children shot.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 2:34 am

Comments

If Chicago voters wanted a former federal prosecutor as mayor, they should have elected Scott Drury. Two more years of amateur hour at City Hall.

Comment by Andersonville Right Winger Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 5:56 am
Save OW the space. Mayors own

Comment by Owkeepittoyourself Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:09 am
== If Chicago voters wanted a former federal prosecutor as mayor, they should have elected Scott Drury. ==

This is hysterical. The guys biggest case as a lead prosecutor was a mail fraud case. A friend to Rauner, and an all around goof. You are clueless my friend.

Comment by Miso Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:16 am
=== Mayors own===

When they don’t, you’ll be the first to know, LOL

To the post,

Emails, along with social media, are forever.

The gaslighting is pathetically humorous.

Case in point?

=== “And Anna, don’t send me again an unhinged screed, dredging up every petty grievance, real or imagined,” Lightfoot wrote. “If you have an issue, pick up the phone and call me, instead of writing a bunch of accusatory nonsense where you got everything wrong except she accepted a job. Be a professional.”===

I mean… seriously… this gaslighting, it’s so Rauner, it’s so Lightfoot… their stylings of gaslighting and putting on their own foibles upon others to seemingly seem above their own realities too.

The simple-minded foolish will ignore how mayors own, anyone who writes an email with ignorance and a lack of self awareness owns the words too.

Maybe limit the access to the mayor, staff and crew.

Thinking about a former federal prosecutor writing this… knowing it can be leaked or FOIAd at any time. Not too bright.

Still, Lightfoot is above water at last check, so… lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:29 am
When the going gets weird the weird turn pro

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:33 am
Maybe Valencia should consider a run for Mayor instead of a run for SOS.

Comment by Cluster Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:44 am
I’m not sure I can blame Lightfoot on the recent surge in violence. But we have to start laying the blame on somebody..Trump? Rauner? Pritzker?? Madigan? Welch?

Comment by Blue Dog Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:46 am
Wow, Lori is the unhinged one. Anybody daring to challenge her narrative is a target. Can’t wait to see what her next misstep is, and it shouldn’t be long in coming.

Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:51 am
== If Chicago voters wanted a former federal prosecutor as mayor, they should have elected Scott Drury. ==

This is hysterical. The guys biggest case as a lead prosecutor was a mail fraud case. A friend to Rauner, and an all around goof. You are clueless my friend.==

Plus Drury lives in Highwood, not Chicago. Unless he’s moved since he left the House two years ago.

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 7:53 am
= Be a professional =

She should take her own advice.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 8:54 am
Lori gonna Lori. This isn’t new. She’s showed this since day one, when she gave her acceptance speech and turned around to tell the city council to stand up and applaud. She has never been about building coalitions or legislative wins. She has a singular focus of being the smartest person in the room.
They must teach that in federal prosecutor class?
Scott Drury lived by the same rule. Smartest guy in the Capitol and was never wrong. Just ask him.

Comment by Frank talks Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 8:56 am
I do appreciate Lightfoot’s consistency. To disagree with her is to become her enemy.

Also, Unhinged Screed is the name of my new band.

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:01 am
It’s not a crisis, until the leaders and the media decide to focus on it.

Mayor Lightfoot has spent countless hours berating police shootings. And yet they pale in comparison to the citizen-on-citizen crime that is occurring.

How about some experiments, like imposing curfews in certain neighborhoods, heightened patrols, or put a majority of officers on nighttime shift, rather than daytime.

Try something different, as we are losing ground.

Comment by Hi Rise Resident Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:11 am
When everyone’s a potential enemy.

Martwick was correct — Lori’s got some Trump in her approach.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:13 am
Hi Rise Resident,

And yet, if you concentrate the police in any area you risk negative police vs. citizen violence which increases instability to the whole city. Maybe if the police could disengage on all offenses except acts of violence (so no don’t harass the guys selling or using weed or double parking or having parties or …, Basically don’t bother people unless they are directly involved with a shooting or other act of violence.)And make sure the raid you are about to perpetrate has the right address.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:38 am
All this is just proving my theory that when electing a chief executive, it’s best to vote for someone with prior political experience or office. People think that voting for “outsiders” is the way to go, but you really need previous experience to learn about the nature of the job.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:40 am
Now I have to name my fantasy football team Unhinged Screed this year

Comment by K3 Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:46 am
The better approach would’ve been for the mayor to thank the Sun-Times for shining a light on something that “I’ve been focused on like a laser” and launch a civic call to action. But then again, the mayor searches long and far for enemies not allies.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:49 am
@Hi Rise Resident
At the same time, she’s done nothing substantive on police reform, despite her campaign promises, while trying to blame bail reform for problems without evidence. I don’t think being overly concerned about police violence against civilians is the issue here.

Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:54 am
I can imagine previous mayors yelling this at someone. but an email? Lori, you are seriously clueless and as a lawyer you really should know better.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:55 am
Agreed with giving her an A+ for consistency.

Since the beginning, she has preached accountability but only expected it of everyone except herself.

Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:56 am
@ cermak_rd
“Maybe if the police could disengage on all offenses except acts of violence(so no don’t harass the guys selling weed or double parking or having parties…”

CPD responds to 911 calls from concerned citizens. Therefore, your strategy is to ignore those those 911 calls for these minor offenses?

Comment by Jockey Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 9:59 am
=== I’m not sure I can blame Lightfoot on the recent surge in violence. But we have to start laying the blame on somebody..Trump? Rauner? Pritzker?? Madigan? Welch?===

God. Blame God.
God gave humans free will. People kill because they have free will.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:10 am
“How about some experiments, like imposing curfews in certain neighborhoods”

Call your council member and tell them that you would like to have a curfew imposed on YOUR neighborhood, and then let us know how your experiment goes.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:12 am
=== in certain neighborhoods===

Like? Which ones? Be specific.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:24 am
also good for Anna Valencia for putting to paper her contributions since it appears that Lori Lightfoot likes to get things and not give credit. Chicago residents sure have problems with the mayor.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:25 am
For perspective more people under the age of 30 have died from gunshots than Covid since March 2020 in Chicago.

Comment by 1st Ward Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:30 am
Gaslighting and Projection are different things.

Comment by NPD Relationship Survivor Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:32 am
==imposing curfews in certain neighborhoods==

River North?

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:37 am
Crime goes up when resources go down. When there aren’t jobs with living wages, when there aren’t summer programs, when there aren’t opportunities for people to have safe places to go. The research shows that in communities that are more resourced and less policed are the ones we think are successful. We were given the opportunity with the federal dollars to put more money into this but instead we gave CPD millions of dollars.

Comment by Screed Fierce Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:39 am
=== Gaslighting and Projection are different things.===

They are…

=== “And Anna, don’t send me again an unhinged screed, dredging up every petty grievance, real or imagined,” Lightfoot wrote.===

Here is some gaslighting, putting into question if Valencia even has a valid argument… and… projecting ON to Valencia the alleged manner Valencia chose, which is a projection how Lightfoot goes about her own business.

=== “If you have an issue, pick up the phone and call me, instead of writing a bunch of accusatory nonsense where you got everything wrong except she accepted a job. Be a professional.”===

That’s just straight out gaslighting, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:39 am
“Like? Which ones? Be specific.”

My main point is that we need to consider alternatives to what we are doing now, because it’s not working.

Statistics show which streets or areas are most likely to have a shooting this weekend. Added police presence, or even unoccupied police vehicles with their flashing lights on offers some level of a deterrent (as was used in downtown area last summer).

The death of innocent children, and the horror of 50+ people being shot last weekend demands solutions.

At what point should we consider this a crisis?

Comment by Hi Rise Resident Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:43 am
==Lori gonna Lori. This isn’t new. She’s showed this since day one, when she gave her acceptance speech and turned around to tell the city council to stand up and applaud. She has never been about building coalitions or legislative wins. She has a singular focus of being the smartest person in the room.==

100% accurate.

Comment by random Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:50 am
What a massive, massive disappointment Mayor Lightfoot has been.

She embarrasses me. And my city.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 10:52 am
=== My main point is…===

Your first example?

===imposing curfews in certain neighborhoods===

Or…

=== unoccupied police vehicles with their flashing lights on offers some level of a deterrent (as was used in downtown area last summer).===

So you wanna lockdown “certain” areas.

Maybe add fencing, or checkpoints?

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 11:12 am
==But we have to start laying the blame on somebody==

…do we?

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 11:31 am
Hi Rise Resident,

None of those things (double parking, partying, pot selling or using) are things that should be reported to 911. 311 I could believe but not 911.

It seems that the police often just drive around looking for people to bother/violate/whatever words you want to use (in other words they aren’t always working off the 911 and 311 lists). Maybe stop doing that unless it is specifically involving violence.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 11:46 am
Ive seen recent polling that has her underwater. Hate when people take one poll and think that is the end all on it.

Also the poll everyone cites wasnt a likely municipal voter poll. She was propped up by high approvals among 18-34, who will most likely not be voting at high rates especially for someone like Lightfoot and especially if some young sexy candidate gets in and picks up 7 or 8%.

MLL has failed on her three biggest selling points: transparency/openess, police reform, public safety. As of right now she has no affirmative case for re-election.

Comment by Rob Jones Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 12:23 pm
- Rob Jones -

Cite your information. So we all are talking about the same thing instead of you gaslighting the poll you take no stock in.

Thanks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 12:25 pm
If people are smoking, drinking double parking in front of your small business and dissuading potential customers from entering your business, how would a 311 help the situation?

Also, please feel free to use the Chicago 911 dashboard to research types of calls that CPD responses to:

https://informationportal.igchicago.org/911-calls-for-cpd-service/

Comment by @cernak_rd Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 12:29 pm
I am honestly surprised at how disappointed I have been with her since being elected. She’s thin skinned, defensive, and can’t seem to stop picking fights. This is not a good way to run a city. I really do hope there is someone in the next election who can take her on.

Comment by Random Chicago Person Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 12:29 pm
Two things:
1. If a man called a postpartum mother (I believe the email was about two weeks after Anna’s daughter was born), they’d be run out of town, and rightfully so.
2. Did anyone notice that Lightfoot tells Valencia to pick up the phone while the subject line is “Follow up to my phone call”?

Comment by Karen Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 12:56 pm
===My main point is that we need to consider alternatives to what we are doing now, because it’s not working.
===At what point should we consider this a crisis?

Homicides were decreasing through 2019. There’s just something that happened in 2020 that seems kind of relevant–kids, and especially teenage boys/men all of sudden didn’t have a structured day and often those same kids had parents who were unable to work from home.

Return to in person school will help, but the pandemic seems likely to have a rolling impact with those who lost that structure and perhaps more importantly, the relationships they had with role models and supporting people in their lives.

It’s going to take a while and we should look at violence intervention strategies, but this kind of radical interruption to their lives it going to take time to overcome.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 1:24 pm
“It’s going to take a while…”

Tell that to Robert Barr.

Comment by Englewood Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 2:00 pm
===Tell that to Robert Barr.

So you want to what? What’s the option you think is going to work quickly. We tried arresting and incarcerating our way out of violence and it didn’t work. Let’s go out and harass black and brown kids who happen to live in the neighborhood instead of actually looking to do the long, and hard work to actually lower violence instead of adding to it.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 2:31 pm
In the corporate world at this point Lori would have become known as a poison personality. Apparently she’s seen the same way in government.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 3:09 pm
==God gave humans free will. People kill because they have free will.==
And this has been going on since Cain killed Abel. No one’s been able to stop it since.

Comment by All this Wednesday, Jun 9, 21 @ 3:45 pm
Hi Rise Resident, We have two gangs that battle near my house regularly. I see them banging on the corner some nights and we know there may be violence. If I call the police, they do nothing because there has been no crime committed. And trust me, the bangers don’t care if a cop car drives past.

What I wish is that we could call a violence interrupter who has some cred that can come talk these young kids off the ledge. That would be proactive. Throwing more money at the police is foolish and wasteful. People have been trying to do new and different things but the last two mayors just want more police. More police are not the answer and in some cases, they are more of a problem than a help.

Stick to the burbs.

Comment by Bridgeporter Thursday, Jun 10, 21 @ 11:27 am
Bridgeporter: That’s where the roller rink comes in.

Comment by All this Thursday, Jun 10, 21 @ 4:17 pm