Does Rahm Emanuel deserve blame for fostering the problems of Chicago??? (neighborhood, title)

[compactspace]

Originally Posted by Avondalist

Chet, I have a good sense of history, including the legacy of machine politics that is prevalent in almost every northern city (and a few old western towns like SF) because the northern Democrat machine system took root before the Progressive Era occurred. Chicago's corruption goes back to the 19th century, not the Daleys. And it's not limited to Democrats, as with Big Bill Thompson. There have been a few reforming mayors, but fewer than in New York (LaGuardia, Giuliani, Bloomberg) so the machine lives on. The machine is the source of Chicago's problems, and Richard J was definitely a problem. Recent mayors have been more antagonistic to the machine, such as Richard M trying to reform schools, if only because things got so bad they had no choice. I consider Rahm pretty good in this regard. People knock Rahm for being friendly to business in one breath, and ask why there's so few jobs and opportunities in Chicago on the other. If you want jobs you have to be friendly to business. Rahm is succeeding in revitalizing downtown Chicago as a jobs center, and discouraging suburban sprawl in the process.

The process of unwinding the Democratic machine in Chicago will take generations, and it involves convincing families who have worked for the city for generations in places like Bridgeport and Mt Greenwood that they will do better in the private sector than in some machine job with the city, and at the same time curtailing the benefits of those machine jobs so that the machine slugs really get the message. The latter is an augean, thankless task for a politician, so I'm not holding my breath.

Very much this. Chicago has a lot of work to do. Not sure what will catalyze the process, but I think it'll happen sooner or later. Maybe the upcoming teacher's strike...

[marothisu]

Rahm didn't do anything to cause these big city problems - those have been existent for years. He however, with this stunt, didn't help any trust issues at all. The city in some aspects was progressing, but these types of things are not going to help it one bit.

[ChicagoMeO]

A lot of citizens dont like Rahm, for many reasons. If the protestors managed to knock him out of office, thats the only good thing that will have come out of the protestors. there is a man in office who is trying to get him recalled.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

A lot of citizens dont like Rahm, for many reasons. If the protestors managed to knock him out of office, thats the only good thing that will have come out of the protestors. there is a man in office who is trying to get him recalled.

You'd have to replace the guy with someone good. My fear is that someone crappy goes into office.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

A lot of citizens dont like Rahm, for many reasons. If the protestors managed to knock him out of office, thats the only good thing that will have come out of the protestors. there is a man in office who is trying to get him recalled.

The powers that be will just put in another person just like him

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Rahm shouldn't even be mayor. He blocked the cop shooting video and paid off the family for their silence, in order to preserve the minority and progressive vote.

And everyone knows he didn't even meet the requirements to run for mayor in the first place (he was living in Washington, and had rented out his house, and the election laws require that one's primary residence is in Chicago).

Rahm is a cheat and a liar, and a ***** for downtown property owners. His arrogance is legendary. Would not be surprised if he's indicted by DOJ for obstruction of justice.

Rahm is the current version of ''the Chicago Way''. He's fostered Chicago's problems by ignoring or paying campaign lip service to them. Now, he's forced to face the reality of having to force Chicagoans to dig into their pockets

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by chet everett

You are beyond out of touch if you think that the power of the Machine is vested in mopes living in crummy neighborhoods --

Chet, everybody gets one vote and if you add together the blacks and a few Hispanics living on government benefits, the vast army of city and state workers and government contractors, and liberals you get a majority. You can call them mopes or you can call them people voting in their own interest (except the liberals) but that is why the Democrats get 75-85% of the vote in every citywide election.

[ChicagoMeO]

Would be nice if each neighborhood could get itself together. There is only so much the police can do. Take that sperm donor who was a gang banger and his little boy was shot execution style from a rival gang member. News says he is not cooperating with police. He prolly fears for his life. Anyhoo, get it together, neighborhoods.. stop with the "snitches get stitches" for one. Take out the gang bangers. That is #1 step in a better life. People ought to be able to enjoy their front porch, walk to the store, etc.. and not be worried about getting shot.

[ChicagoMeO]

Did a lot of people who now hate Rahm - did they vote for him? And if so, was it because they blindly vote Democratic all the time and now looks like it didn't turn out too well, now they see what a bad guy he is.

[NealIRC]

..This thread makes it seem like the Laquan McDonald incident alone is enough to hate Rahm.

Was it actually proven that he saw the video and continued to try to fight against making it public?