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* I have never, in all my days, seen an email quite like this…
Just got this email via FOIA — more insight about City Hall staffing/turnover/culture under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Read our May story also https://t.co/pCGx8WsSOy https://t.co/4k0vKVuykv pic.twitter.com/kBMBMhFBse
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 12, 2021
* Politico has the excuses…
It offers a glimpse at how Covid-19 ravaged the psyche of the mayor’s office. She and staffers worked 24/7, trying to respond to one crisis after another. That January week in particular was strenuous.
She sent the email Jan. 28, the same day that Chicago Public Schools and its teachers union were in the throes of a battle to get children back in classrooms. In an interview that evening, the mayor told WTTW’s Brandis Friedman that the CTU had just proposed “defunding police and having the CTU dictate housing policy in the city. Neither of those two things are appropriate for bargaining a teachers’ contract.” Lightfoot looked tired and frustrated.
Earlier that week, the mayor was on the phone with the Biden administration pressing for more vaccines. The day before she sent the email, Lightfoot headed a six-hour City Council meeting that focused on a disturbing number of car-jackings in the city. On top of all that, the mayor’s spokesman, Michael Crowley, resigned, a move that by all accounts had been known for two months. Still, it couldn’t have made the week any less stressful.
“A lot was coming down on her that week,” a source close to the mayor’s office told Playbook. “A lot was happening. Her intentions were good,” though there were times during the most stressful days of the pandemic that Lightfoot was “completely awful” as a manager.
Yeah, OK.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Oh, this is rich…
I took a look at Lightfoot’s January calendars this morning and she usually had office time on her schedule.
In fact, she sent this particular email during office time and she had another two hours scheduled later that day, too. https://t.co/Xsn4Jjgc1q pic.twitter.com/tFCMqxQJFI
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 14, 2021
…Adding… I didn’t notice this at the end of the Politico story…
The mayor’s job is tough. It’s not hard to imagine her predecessors — Rahm Emanuel or Richard M. Daley — erupting similarly. Hers was just memorialized in an email.
Um, no.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Response…
Lightfoot on this: "Obviously to write an email like that comes after a lot of conversation and born of frustration. We got beyond that and solved the challenges that were at the heart of that email which was written five-plus months ago so I think we’re in a better place." https://t.co/Xsn4Jjgc1q
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 14, 2021
*** UPDATE 3 *** MLL should probably read this morning’s subscriber edition because this fight is pretty much ovah…
On the elected school board bill in Springfield, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she's quoting Gen. MacArthur, "I have not yet begun to fight!" It was actually Captain John Paul Jones.
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 14, 2021
…Adding… Whew…
Just a random note: The city hired a budget spokesman in May who resigned eight days later 😮 pic.twitter.com/3xjq53Oq3C
— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) June 14, 2021
Eight days?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:00 am
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George III
Comment by Shield Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:10 am
The mayor should resign and focus on her mental, emotional and spiritual health.
Comment by 62468 Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:13 am
Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:13 am
Trump is jealous
Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:15 am
Seems to mention that the creative genius of Ty Fahner is really starting to glow here. Illinois is blessed to have this nitwit at the helm. Wonder how many clients at that fancy lawfirm are concluding they were scammed with LL on their case?
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:19 am
This is how a law partner treats junior associates.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:20 am
Good leaders shine in crisis, bad ones fall apart.
Chicago wasn’t the only town dealing with the pandemic.
Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:20 am
==This is how a law partner treats junior associates.==
Yeah, I agree. And it’s abusive and toxic. But I imagine she’ll be comfortably back at Mayer Brown in a couple of years
Comment by schocked Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:23 am
=== Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori. Bye Bye Lori.===
Narrator: Lightfoot is 10+% above water in polling.
You can be atrociously awful as a Mayor, leader, in governing, but you can poll well. It happens.
No one out there yet seems capable to beat her.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:23 am
Lightfoot is not the only person that has been under tremendous stress/pressure.
The emails are an insight into her true personality and it is that of a spoiled toddler. the trump comparisons are apt.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:25 am
What’s more surprising is the people who are surprised.
Comment by ;) Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:27 am
—Wonder how many clients at that fancy law firm are concluding they were scammed with LL on their case?–
This was from a response to the Pratt’s tweet above:
“16 years ago I interviewed for a job I wanted. The last phase was an pro forma interview with the “big boss” Lori Lightfoot.
I declined the job after spending 30 min with her. She’s not a good person.”
https://twitter.com/SeanO_Chicago/status/1403714794029465610?s=20
Comment by Big Jer Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:27 am
I’ve read emails like this before. Usually the writers were in junior high.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:32 am
Just so everyone is aware. A big law partner treating associates this way these days would be thrown out in a New York minute - no if’s ands or buts
Comment by Sue Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:37 am
There is clearly a move afoot within the hierarchy of her own party to expose Lightfoot. This official FOIA request by Pratt knew exactly what it was looking for when it was sent (because no doubt many shocked staffers had kept copies and shared them widely.) Lori was having more than “a bad day” when she sent the emails referenced here. It’s very troubling behavior from the person leading the nation’s third largest city.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:38 am
=== There is clearly a move afoot within the hierarchy of her own party to expose Lightfoot.===
They’re her office’s emails… LOL
Are you saying it’s good to keep this hidden? That’s an odd take.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:41 am
Remember that other leaked email where she lectured City Clerk Valencia about “being a professional”? I guess this is what the Mayor thinks professionalism looks like.
Comment by charles in charge Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:41 am
So much banned punctuation.
Comment by Asteroid of Caution Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:42 am
so who replaces her next term? under what scenario does she lose? is it possible that she could win again….I have lots of friends who are Lori no matter what….even with this awful behavior?
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:45 am
Her position in the private sector prior to being mayor seemed to suggest she would be able to handle pressure.
Clearly not.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:46 am
Show her emails to everyone you know considering law school and make sure they know this is how law partners behave.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:46 am
“If this doesn’t change immediately”
Well, the voters could change it for her - then she’ll have all the” office time” she wants.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:47 am
Pretty sure this is why you have a chief of staff or equivalent to bust heads of underlings, while the ‘leader’ remains above the fray.
Comment by Brian Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:47 am
So her e-mail tag is MLL. And she’s mayor for two more years? Then she will go back to just LL…
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:49 am
So much to unpack. Did she learn this in the Scott Drury school of how to be a federal prosecutor?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:51 am
A strange thing about this is that it goes along with the fact that for much of last year (and even now) she hasn’t been timely with responses to crisis nor willing to make real decisions.
When the actual riots and looting were going on, she didn’t take any leadership role and that’s why things continued for a couple of weeks.
Schools and CTU? She spoke about it but never seemed to take a real stand.
A leader is out meeting with people and getting things done, but she wants to sit in her office.
That may be great if you work in a job without real deadlines, but being Mayor is not one of those jobs.
I voted for her, but it is becoming clear that she is just not cut out for the job.
Comment by Crash Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:54 am
—I have lots of friends who are Lori no matter what—
Amalia - in talking with your friends do you get a sense of why they are “Lori no matter what”? As OW pointed out MLL is polling well.
Comment by Big Jer Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:56 am
===Pretty sure this is why you have a chief of staff…===
Yes. You have a CoS so you can yell, scream and otherwise act like a three year old in private with them, sparing you from embarrassing yourself in front of a wider audience. The CoS then can filter the message appropriately down the chain.
I’d heard rumors of bad behavior, but this is breathtaking.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:58 am
==This is how a law partner treats junior associates.==
YUP!
Comment by Anon E Moose Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:01 am
This news makes me miss, Rahm.
Comment by Glengarry Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:07 am
“Show her emails to everyone you know considering law school and make sure they know this is how law partners behave.”
There are other career paths available to lawyers, but unfortunately they often don’t pay enough to repay the student loans.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:12 am
Perhaps her “office time” is similar to the former president’s “executive time”
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:13 am
Big Jer, I’m getting from them that they think she is being criticized because of who she is, woman, lgbt. that other mayors would not get the same critique. also they equate any rough talk from her with that of Rahm.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:15 am
A reminder that elected, executive leadership is unlike anything in MLL’s resume. And it still shows.
Comment by Not a Superstar Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:16 am
Why would a former federal prosecutor put this in an e-mail message? Scott Drury wouldn’t make this mistake
Comment by Andersonville Right Winger Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:16 am
== is it possible that she could win again==
It’s not only possible, I’d argue it’s more likely than not. She’s an incumbent. They have a habit of winning.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:20 am
Gotta be honest;
=== A lot was coming down on her that week,” a source close to the mayor’s office told Playbook. “A lot was happening. Her intentions were good,” though there were times during the most stressful days of the pandemic that Lightfoot was “completely awful” as a manager.===
This reads…
“Sometimes Lightfoot isn’t up to the job”
It’s such a bad take, it almost overshadows the behavior
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:21 am
Well Big Jer, it allows them to check all of their woke check boxes and feel good about themselves, black, female, gay, what more could the mob ask for?
Comment by Woofler Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:25 am
===their woke check boxes===
Maybe you should take a nap and start the day over.
It was - 47th Ward - who perfectly made the observation why Lightfoot continues to keep her numbers.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:28 am
As a veteran of a big law firm and government, I can understand the frustration of coming from big law, where support staff and junior staff are devoted to ensuring that every desire of the equity partners are taken care of with dispatch, to government where leaders are looked upon as transients to be tolerated by the career employees until the next leader replaces the current leader.
None of that makes her reactions excusable.
As someone noted above, she needs a good chief of staff, apparently, and she also needs to stop sending emails.
Comment by Facts Matter Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:30 am
The cite…
=== - 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 5:48 pm
…
The mayor is in the unfortunate political position of representing the moderate Democrats and the Republicans but whose base is naturally among the progressives, who have not stopped campaigning against her since she’s been sworn in.
That my friends will get you poll numbers like these.===
When you look at emails and her persona and her miserable way of handling her business… think on what I cited above from - 47th Ward -.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:31 am
Thinking being Mayor Lori’s scheduler has a pretty hard job.
Have a lot of sympathy for Taylor Lewis.
Actually being a scheduler in any political venture is about the absolute worse job one can have. No matter what you do literally most people in the campaign, the candidate, special interest groups and fundraisers are angry with you. If you think these emails are inappropriate (and they are inappropriate) you should know they pale in comparison to what most schedulers in statewide or citywide campaigns have had to put up with.
As to the emails that are coming out, Mayor Lori sure doesn’t hold back and, at times, that can make her a target of criticism.
She is not going to lose the next election because of some inappropriate emails although she could lose an election because she loses the support of her closest staff members who are also generally her biggest supporters.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:41 am
It never ceases to amaze me to see what people will put in an e-mail. That stuff will stay with you forever.
Comment by SAP Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 10:54 am
She doesn’t seem to enjoy this job very much.
Comment by Excitable Boy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:00 am
“She doesn’t seem to enjoy this job very much.”
But on the other hand, she’s also not very good at it.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:04 am
The Mayor doesn’t think staff deserves, or is worthy of, professionalism. That speaks to her character.
Comment by The Most Anonymous Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:07 am
These emails illustrate the lack of professionalism that MLL has. It also illustrates her terrible judgment.
She is someone who worked for decades as a litigator. She should know better than anyone the devastating power that emails can have. Especially emails subject to FOIA.
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:11 am
Anyone who has ever worked in Big Law will recognize this type of behavior. MLL is the Equity Partner and her staff are a bunch of second and third year associates that are like gum on the bottom of her shoe. Not surprising at all.
Comment by Red Ranger Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:12 am
Looks like an unhinged screed to me.
Comment by K3 Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:14 am
Well in MLL’s defense, I heard that she had been binge watching the Simpson’s before writing this.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:15 am
SAP
Excellent observation.
Better to pick up the phone.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:27 am
Very strong Jack Nicholson in The Shining vibes
Comment by SpiDem Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:40 am
Can we ask the Mayor’s office for clarification if each of those repetitions was typed, or if she used cut and paste?
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:42 am
—Maybe you should take a nap and start the day over—
Easy OW, what Woofler said is basically the same reason Amalia said her friends are “Lori no matter what”.
None of us here is an expert on MLL. Not me, not OW, not 47th Ward. We are all just offering our opinions and guesses on a blog and trying to treat each other with dignity and respect.
Comment by Big Jer Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:46 am
===In fact, she sent this particular email during office time and she had another two hours scheduled later that day===
lol- that’s phenomenal follow up.
Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:53 am
- Big Jer -
If you wanna discuss your “woke check boxes” have at it.
===…what more could the mob ask for?===
Prolly why I took exception.
Little less FoxNews and it might be an honest assessment
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 11:53 am
Toni Preckwinkle from the sidelines - “Yeah. It is good you didn’t go with the career politician. That was definitely the right call.” /s
Comment by Montrose Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 12:24 pm
The Memo says it all. There is a complete lack of respect for her leadership caused by her inconsistent management style. No longer wondering why there is a staffing problem. She has time to write silly redundant emails back but no time spare ?
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 1:14 pm
“I’m with you girl and I totally get what your putting down. Remind lowers how low they are with repetition and smart not to do this in a tweet and limit characters … but you needed to use ALL CAPS MORE.” RealDonaldTrumpMaybe
Comment by Lurker Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 1:25 pm
Based on her schedule, LL gave herself four hours of ‘office time’ after performing 140 minutes of actual work.
Comment by Jocko Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 1:28 pm
@ Montrose, seems like at least lately the career politician is the way to go.
Comment by Publius Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 2:04 pm
Using office time to complain about office time, cost effective
Comment by Raid Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 2:12 pm
It looks like her office time was sufficient to conceive of and send obnoxious emails to her staff, so could the shortage have been that bad?
Comment by Father Ted Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 2:28 pm
To update #2 - Given how she has handled Springfield to date, it is no surprise she is convinced she can still stop the elected school board legislation.
Comment by Montrose Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 2:42 pm
Make that update #3
Comment by Montrose Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 2:43 pm
That was a Freudian slip by the mayor in the quote. She was announcing her bid for re election I.e. MacArthur “I shall return “
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 3:00 pm
The difference between being somewhat unhinged to completely is putting the spoken word into writing.
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 3:29 pm
MLL needs anger management therapy.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 4:02 pm
She is unhinged. But she will be re-elected unless a real opponent emerges. So I am begging that serious person to step up when the time is right. And for the rest of you egomaniacs to sit down and be quiet. Because the City of Chicago has very serious problems with a mayor who has no clue what it is to be a mayor.
Comment by Svengali Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 4:51 pm
Eight days? Even Scaramucci lasted longer.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:03 pm
Eight days is seven days longer than I’d stay.
The stink follows you the longer you stay as well
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:08 pm
I know I’ve typed and sent duplicate emails by accident but not duplicate sentences within paragraphs.
Is the mayor having a meltdown? This isn’t good. With all the challenges the city has we need her to be in top functioning state. How can we help?
Comment by All this Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:11 pm
please give her a break. She’s trying to focus, focus, focus…
Comment by flea Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:11 pm
== Well Big Jer, it allows them to check all of their woke check boxes and feel good about themselves, black, female, gay, what more could the mob ask for?==
“The mob.” Who is “the mob?” The 32% who actually bother to vote? You know what they think?
Comment by All this Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:20 pm
I don’t know a single person who is happy with her performance. Not one. Another way to look at it: all the various caucuses in the City Council are done with her. This extends to the various groups in Chicago.
The unions, especially CTU, don’t like her. Business and corporate interests quietly are dissatisfied. Jeff Park / 19th ward types never particularly cared for her. Reformers feel betrayed.
She has time to get it together but it’s slipping away quickly.
Comment by low level Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 5:32 pm
“What? Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is‼ Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no‼”
– Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 6:20 pm
=Narrator: Lightfoot is 10+% above water in polling.=
Yes but notice the age gap: -14% among voters 35+. In other words, the people who disproportionately show up to vote.
Comment by Cross Tab Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 7:26 pm
The real mistake is that the Mayor didn’t just apologize today for this. There is no excuse. Just apologize and try to move on. Scheduler is definitely a difficult position too.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 7:29 pm
LL is cray nothing more nothing less.
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:24 pm
Would it be bad form to actually campaign against her for being crazy?
Comment by Frank talks Monday, Jun 14, 21 @ 9:27 pm
City employees are always told about professionalism and tone when using city email. MLL isn’t following those guidelines.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jun 15, 21 @ 12:10 am
Does she get any credit for knowing how to use the copy/paste function?
Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Jun 15, 21 @ 9:49 am