Chicago’s Left Blows Its Big Chance

[marmar]

from In These Times:




Chicago’s Left Blows Its Big Chance
Rahm Emanuel appears to have made the best of a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

By Laura S. Washington


.....(snip).....

On February 22, for the first time in generations, Chicago voters have an opportunity to fill an open seat on the 5th floor of City Hall. Just after Labor Day last year, Mayor Richard M. Daley gathered family and close advisers in his office to drop the blockbuster: He would not seek a 6th full term in office, voluntarily ending his 22-year reign.

The local left has been languishing in the political desert for more than two decades. Harold Washington, the only progressive mayor in the city’s history, was elected in 1983 by a coalition of blacks, Latinos and white progressives. When Washington’s died suddenly in 1987, his reform movement fractured and crumbled.

For more than two decades, progressives have been chafing at Daley’s middle-of-the-road, downtown-centric, corporate style reign. His surprise retirement was a rare chance to restore ground-up municipal governing to the nation’s third largest city. Chicago’s minority groups, grassroots community activists and left-leaning unions have long clamored for more attention to festering gaps in education, economic development, affordable housing and public safety.

Now, it looks like the left blew it. The next mayor of Chicago is likely to be a progressive’s worst nightmare: Rahm Emanuel. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/6926/chicagos_left_blows_its_big_chance

[ananda]

1. No, it's Chicago's people.

They should know better.

[Rex]

2. I guess the ruling elite think a thrid times a charm for Rahm.

Overturned another ruling so he could hang with his rich friends, just so he can now fuck up Chicago. Like he does everything else.

[Renew Deal]

4. If the voters don't like him they can vote for someone else.

There's going to be a Democratic primary. I trust Democratic voters to figure it out.

[rucky]

3. Chico is the Machine candidate.

Rahm appears to be an outsider, seeing as he fought Chico's wife's decision in his appeal to get on the ballot.

[Uzybone]

5. who were the other candidates?