Why Doesn't Chicago have Mayor Term Limits? (Washington: cities, registered)

[maxwellimus]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Daley has done a good job with the balancing act between white, black, and Latino interests in the city. People fear change because they don't want a mayor that will tilt things too far in one direction or the other. Whites in Chicago fear that a black mayor will rebuild the housing projects and force affordable housing into every neighborhood, along with higher taxes and fees. Latinos fear a white mayor will cause further gentrification or their neighborhoods. Blacks fear a Latino mayor will replace black civil servants with Latino ones, and don't want to give up the jobs they have. Daley has formed alliances with each group, and is seen as a good status quo option that won't rock the delicate boat.

Chicago will never get a Michael Bloomberg-type mayor until we have mass gentrification of the city. Will this happen in the next fifty years? It's hard to say.

Whatever you wrote there is total speculation based on racial assumptions. totally ridiculous and unnecessary.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by j33

Well, you know, if this whole presidential thing doesn't work out for Obama, I bet he'd give Daley a run for his money, term limits or no term limits

Mayor of Chicago is a far harder job than POTUS.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Mayor of Chicago is a far harder job than POTUS.

Obama would be 55 or 56 after 2 terms as POTUS, he'll be young enough for a few terms as mayor.

[Attrill]

It looks like Chicago is actually the trend setter on no term limits!

[mensogi]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

Does anyone know why Chicago, out of all the big cities in the US, is the only city without Mayor Term Limits?

And also, how would you start voicing opinions on the subject? Have people done so before? Has there ever been a ballot vote on this?

I was wondering exactly the same thing reading about Bloomberg's attempt to extend his in NYC. This
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...prod=permalink
NYT article from 93, has an interesting summary of how term limits came to be in NYC.

If the term limits were decoupled from the incumbent by starting the clock upon enactment of law then it wouldn't just be a referendum on Daley.

Still, I don't know if anybody has the actual answers to questions raised in the original post.

BTW, I stumbled on this thread by googling chicago mayor term limits. I'm just an interested long time resident of Wicker Park / Bucktown.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

Whatever you wrote there is total speculation based on racial assumptions. totally ridiculous and unnecessary.

If you don't think race plays into Chicago politics in a big way, you are very naive.

[maxwellimus]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

If you don't think race plays into Chicago politics in a big way, you are very naive.

I think race does, but you provided a very general classification of how a certain racial group will act as a whole. Pinning certain racial groups against each other which simply aren't true. Can you speak for every white guy out there? No, so don't try to speak for every minority group here. I'm asian and I can't even generalize how other asians vote.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by maxwellimus

I think race does, but you provided a very general classification of how a certain racial group will act as a whole. Pinning certain racial groups against each other which simply aren't true. Can you speak for every white guy out there? No, so don't try to speak for every minority group here. I'm asian and I can't even generalize how other asians vote.

I was pointing out how many think in this city, not trying to generalize attitudes for every white, black, or Latino person out there. I'm white, but don't vote based on the factors I described. But there are many that do. And many of them are involved in politics.

There are hidden racial agendas out there that play out in local elections. I'm not making this up, but they are only examples of certain issues that often divide along racial lines in local elections.

[maxwellimus]

Originally Posted by mensogi

I was wondering exactly the same thing reading about Bloomberg's attempt to extend his in NYC. This
Ronald Lauder, Leader Of Term-Limit Band - New York Times
NYT article from 93, has an interesting summary of how term limits came to be in NYC.

If the term limits were decoupled from the incumbent by starting the clock upon enactment of law then it wouldn't just be a referendum on Daley.

Still, I don't know if anybody has the actual answers to questions raised in the original post.

BTW, I stumbled on this thread by googling chicago mayor term limits. I'm just an interested long time resident of Wicker Park / Bucktown.

Hey Mensogi,

Yeah, after reading about Bloomberg wanting to extend his term, it really prompted me to question the Chicago way more so than before. I'm not saying Daley is doing a good job or not, I don't know much enough about him to make a judgment. But personally I'm in favor of term limits. And i'm glad people are partaking in this conversation.

[maxwellimus]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I was pointing out how many think in this city, not trying to generalize attitudes for every white, black, or Latino person out there. I'm white, but don't vote based on the factors I described. But there are many that do. And many of them are involved in politics.

There are hidden racial agendas out there that play out in local elections. I'm not making this up, but they are only examples of certain issues that often divide along racial lines in local elections.

I would lay speculation to rest. People will vote the way they want to, perhaps in regards to what you say, or perhaps for the right way of just wanting a better leader to improve Chicago. And I personally believe people will vote for the latter reason, disregarding the race of a person.