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* Some articles to peruse…
* Here’s the full text of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s prepared inauguration speech
* Lightfoot sworn in: ‘Get ready … reform is here’
* The Latest: Lightfoot vows to stop Chicago’s gun violence
* Lori Lightfoot Inauguration: Chicago’s first openly gay, African American woman officially sworn in as mayor
* Lori Lightfoot sworn in as Chicago’s first black woman and first openly gay mayor: ‘Get ready because reform is here.’
* Live Blog: Lori Lightfoot Sworn in as Chicago’s 56th Mayor
* The Question: Your impressions of Mayor Lightfoot?
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, May 20, 19 @ 12:50 pm
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I wish her well. I think she’ll do a good job. Toni was way too into the Soda Tax for me to vote for her.
Comment by CPA Monday, May 20, 19 @ 12:53 pm
Wait and see. I remember Rham was a “reformer”.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, May 20, 19 @ 12:59 pm
She’s tough and not afraid to take a risk. Remember, she got into the race before Emanuel bowed out.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:00 pm
Love her stated support of marijuana legalization, a graduated income tax, Chicago casino, abortion rights, etc. Now we will see if her actions back up her words.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:03 pm
When you win 75% of the vote (JB won 54%) there is wide latitude for reform.
Her first move kneecaping Aldermanic privilege should have been done long ago but Rahm was too afraid to cross Ed Burke
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:04 pm
Our first reform mayor who didn’t come out of the machine but, remarkably, came out of the U.S Attorney’s Office.
She’s grown tremendously over the years. She’s going to have to keep growing, but I think that she can.
Let’s hope she leaves the City a stronger, more fair, and more honest place than it is now.
Comment by Keyrock Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:08 pm
=Chicago’s first black woman and first openly gay mayor: ‘Get ready because reform is here.’=
It matters that an openly gay black woman can be elected in Chicago, it says that most people have moved forward.
None of that matters in terms of getting things done in Chicago though. What matters is her ability to convince people to do the things that she wants done.
If she does nothing but substantially reduce gun violence she will have moved a mountain.
It is on her now.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:08 pm
Good. The only part of the speech that concerned me was about pensions. If she really wants to rework the debt payments for pension bonds, that is fine. It is obvious that other solutions are unconstitutional, and her relationship with Ty Fahner and other Illinois un-constitutionalists is a little concerning.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:11 pm
I gotta admit, I feel a little of the warm fuzzies after reading her speech. Here’s to cautious optimism…
Comment by Hyde Parker Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:19 pm
More inclusion-oriented than both Emanuel inaugurations.
Creating a new office to deal with something is what you do when you know you can’t do anything. It’s no knock on Lightfoot but Chicago’s gun problem comes from an excessive supply of guns, and that supply isn’t going to go away for the foreseeable future.
Name dropping service support is an olive branch to CTU, as that’s one of their biggest (and justifiable) complaints. Of course CPS needs another billion dollars a year on top of the billion Chicago needs to stabilize its budget, but she’s hitting notes that are known sore spots which is a welcome contrast to Emanuel’s bleep bloop poll tested initiative here.
The fiscal and ethics stuff is word filler, nothing new there. Everyone says they will make Hard Choices. Until the last two years of Emanuel’s tenure that meant “committing not technically accounting fraud and thinning out services in places white people don’t notice” and not raising taxes to a stable level.
Everyone also says Reform Reform, which…I mean that’s fine. There’s not space here to go on about the huge structural changes in government transparency and ethics over the past 30 years. I’ll just say that if you think Burke shaking down a Burger King is even in the top 100 worst things that happen ethics wise in Chicago you need to pay more attention.
I’m biased, I voted for her twice, once while working for an opposing campaign. I think her inaugural credibly signals she is breaking significantly from several poor practices in the previous administration and that her resume shows she will follow through.
Comment by Will Caskey Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:21 pm
Pleased to see she is going after “Aldermanic privilege” - much of Chicago corruption flows out of that “peculiar feature” … http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2197.html
Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:34 pm
Like most newly-elected pols, lots of sizzle.
Hoping for some decent steak.
Comment by Bucky Dempster Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:39 pm
I haven’t been this hopeful for my city since Harold Washington died. Granted I was only in my late teens, but even then I could tell he was a powerful force for all the people of Chicago. (He paved the Depression-era streets of Mt. Greenwood!) Ever since then it’s been one scammer after another.
She seems genuine, smart, strong, and capable.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:46 pm
Daniel Burnham may have said “make no small plans,” but I believe Lori Lightfoot will be the Daniel Burnham of ethics reforms. As somebody that nobody sent, she will be making no small reform plans. And I for one will be eternally grateful.
And as a vertically challenged person myself, finally a Mayor I can look down on. Have you noticed our Mayors are getting shorter and shorter? Richard M. Daley - 5′7″; Rahm Emanuel - 5′6″; Lori Lightfoot - 5′1″. I kid of course.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:48 pm
== More inclusion-oriented than both Emanuel inaugurations. ==
I heard once that Mayor Emanuel’s administration would reject candidates for jobs if their cover letter or resume even included the word “equity.” So, that is a pretty big break from the past.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, May 20, 19 @ 1:51 pm
Her turning around to the 50 alderman and staring them down for 5 seconds directly after introducing Ingegrity as the fourth star and then saying to “get ready…because reform is here.” Her pause and turnaround in that moment is what caught my eye and speaks volumes to her resolve and courage.
Comment by Hamilton Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:01 pm
===Her turning around to the 50 alderman and staring them down===
And then beckoning them to stand and clap. Quite something.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:04 pm
she’s fearless. hoping neighborhoods means all neighborhoods.
Comment by Amalia Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:05 pm
===Have you noticed our Mayors are getting shorter and shorter? Richard M. Daley - 5′7″; Rahm Emanuel - 5′6″; Lori Lightfoot - 5′1″.===
I was thinking the same thing. If the trend continues, I expect Peter Dinklage to be elected Mayor at some point soon.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:08 pm
>>Have you noticed our Mayors are getting shorter and shorter? Richard M. Daley - 5′7″; Rahm Emanuel - 5′6″; Lori Lightfoot - 5′1″ >>
Can’t find a reference for this, but I’m pretty sure Gene Sawyer was taller than Daley, so maybe Chicago Cynic is onto something.
Comment by Eric Zorn Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:16 pm
Great summary from Will Caskey.
At this point, I’d say she’s all hat and no cattle. That could change, but still, at this point, no cattle. Not even a trail map.
Comment by Charlie Brown Monday, May 20, 19 @ 2:19 pm
Anyone is better then Rham.
Comment by Illinois Resident Monday, May 20, 19 @ 3:03 pm
Like most elected officials at their inaugurations, a lot of platitudes and wishful thinking.
I hope she does well, but I am concerned that she is out of her depth.
We’ll see.
Comment by JoanP Monday, May 20, 19 @ 3:04 pm
I hope she walks it like she talks it.
We shall see…
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, May 20, 19 @ 3:16 pm
I saw it live. She definitely has a way about her. Not arrogant. Not a swagger. Not really charisma either.
Almost a manner like an Aunt you trust or a school teacher who may be tough on you at times, but gives you credit when you deserve it. The kind of teacher who gives you a B and you respect it more than any A you ever got, because in the moment; you realized how much you learned.
I have a few differences in a couple areas with her, but she has painted an impressive path to this day.
I think she has the potential to be quite extraordinary.
I hope she is. And predict she will be.
Comment by A guy Monday, May 20, 19 @ 4:07 pm
Her first EO is up… Good tone setting, we will see how things stand in 6 mo or so…
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2019/may/ExecutiveOrderAldermanicPrivelege.html
Comment by twowaystreet Monday, May 20, 19 @ 4:08 pm
She’s smart and has a presence (A guy described it well). And many good ideas. But I worry about her ability to work the council; I’m not sure she’s prepared for how collaborative government has to be at times. But she’s undoubtedly a quick study and I’m sure she’ll do well.
Comment by Leslie K Monday, May 20, 19 @ 4:35 pm
I believe she had the best chance of any of the candidates to lead the city toward solutions to its main problems.
But while she’ll attempt to lead, I’m not sure how many will follow.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, May 20, 19 @ 4:51 pm
Smart, tough, a little humorless, doesn’t yet know- what she doesn’t know. I’m a little worried about who might have her ear, early- but I wish her well. If she’s successful, the State will be also.
Comment by West Sider Monday, May 20, 19 @ 4:52 pm
“Chicago’s first black woman and first openly gay mayor: ‘Get ready because reform is here.”
It will have to happen quickly if Joe Biden has her on his short list for Veep.
Comment by Practical Politics Monday, May 20, 19 @ 5:48 pm
Her profile should fit in perfectly with Chicago’s demographics. She is less abrasive than Rahm too, so that’s a plus.
Comment by justacitizen Monday, May 20, 19 @ 9:19 pm
Harold Washington was a short man, really short. I doubt he was any taller than 5′2″. I looked, I cannot find a spec for this on-line.
Comment by Shall not be infringed Monday, May 20, 19 @ 10:41 pm