Lori LightFoot OUT in Chi town

[iris lilies]

If Lightfoot is out in Chicago, maybe that’s a harbinger of what is to come in St. Louis a.k.a. Little Chicago.


Maybe the next time our useless non-crime fighting prosecutor, Kim Gardner will be voted out. Our mayor is not quite as useless as the prosecutor, and in recent days, she told the prosecutor that the prosecutor should do some soul-searching about resigning. This is after a highly publicized maiming of a tourist downtown.

but I’m not holding my breath for any of the local squad to leave. Speaking of Squad, our own Cori Bush married her bodyguard/security guy so that is nice I guess. I’m not sure if he can continue to be on her payroll or not.

[Tradd]

Absolutely delighted. There’s no a runoff between Paul Vallas, who was head of the Chicago Public Schools, when I moved to Chicago in 1996, and the number two vote getter. Can’t remember his name.

Lori had actually said within the last week or two that if black Chicago residents didn’t vote for her, they were throwing their vote away or something along those lines. She also got in trouble for her campaign emailing CPS teachers and staff looking for support.

[LDAHL]

I can’t remember a single-term mayor since Jane Byrne back in the eighties.

I read this morning that Chicagoans now face a choice between a traditional liberal and someone who wants to create “Portland on the Great Lakes”.

[Teacher Terry]

No one I know wants Portland on the lake!

[Tradd]

I can’t remember a single-term mayor since Jane Byrne back in the eighties.

I read this morning that Chicagoans now face a choice between a traditional liberal
and someone who wants to create “Portland on the Great Lakes”.

Yep, Jane Byrne was the last single term mayor.

[LDAHL]

Yep, Jane Byrne was the last single term mayor.

I recall great anger over the City’s failure to remove snow fast enough and blaming her. People were killing each other over cleared parking spaces.

[Tradd]

I recall great anger over the City’s failure to remove snow fast enough and blaming her. People were killing each other over cleared parking spaces.

The uncleared snow is how SHE got into office. Unsure why she didn’t get re-elected.

[LDAHL]

The uncleared snow is how SHE got into office. Unsure why she didn’t get re-elected.

You’re right. I was thinking of Mike Bilandic, wasn’t I?

[Tradd]

You’re right. I was thinking of Mike Bilandic, wasn’t I?

Correct.

Paul Vallas, who got the most votes, was described on the radio last night as a “bungalow belt conservative.” That’s not really a conservative, but more do than the lakeshore liberals. For those not familiar with Chicago, there are belts of bungalows on the northwest and southwest sides. Very family oriented. More stable than the lake front neighborhoods, which tend to have more transient populations (lots of young professionals, for example).

[catherine]

Here is the text of a comment attached to the NYT article about her today. I'd like to hear Tradd's view from a fellow Chicagoan.

As a long-time Chicagoan, I am somewhere between amused and disturbed about the ignorant comments here by people who've never even been to Chicago.

I voted for Lori Lightfoot in 2019, and against her in 2023. In those two votes, I am with a majority of fellow Chicago voters of all races.

Both liberals and conservatives are claiming victory, because Lightfoot was a moderate, and the primary winners are to her right and left. This perplexes out-of-towners.

Lori, however, proved to be pugnacious, bullying, and uncooperative. Keeping the parks closed during COVID was insane, when health officials were saying that outdoors was healthier than indoors. Her decision to plop a large casino in an area that strongly doesn't want it, and her decision to close Grant Park for 3 weeks in mid-summer for a NASCAR race, have really turned off many people. Then there was her green-lighting the Obama Center in Jackson Park, which nobody in that area wanted, instead of a much better vacant location adjacent to (but not in!) Washington Park. We hope a new mayor can un-do some of these harms.

Race wasn't it. Harold Washington is still regarded as a skilled, compassionate politician who got things done and brought people of all races together. He has a library and a park named for him.

And to those who try to fit Chicago into a political mold so they can bash it from afar, come visit. I think you'll actually like it.