Rahm talks in the South Loop

and I think the Chicago Reader was responsible

10/31/2011 2:49 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

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Rahm is the figure to the left of the blue panel (photo by Bonnie McGrath)

Mayor Rahm was in trouble in last Thursday's Chicago Reader. According to the weekly, he spends his time meeting with the money men--guys who deal with money, manage money and pass out money. Much to the detriment of community groups, religious leaders and the common men and women who live, and have a stake in the City of Chicago. Unlike his predecessor who also met with money men--but also had plenty of time to meet with community groups, religious leaders and the common folk like me.


That all changed today. Rahm came and spoke to the Near South Planning Board, at their annual luncheon at the Chicago Hilton. No one was more surprised than me. The invitation had said he was "invited," implying that there were no guarantees that he would be the keynote speaker.

But came he did. He sat at one of the front tables, not eating steak and potatoes and chocolate cake like everyone else--but drinking iced tea. (After all, he has a figure to maintain.) When he was introduced there was a standing ovation. He told the crowd that the only people who generally clap like that are his kids. Then without a usual, "glad to be here, what a wonderful organization you are," kind of thing that every other politician has as his/her mantra, he launched mid-sentence into talking about the longer school day. Many people wonder why if the schools are so bad the kids should be spending more time there, but the pundits figure he thinks the schools are going to improve--once he breaks the union, lengthens the day and tells them to "IMPROVE!"

Lindbloom Math and Science Academy in Englewood (my father and my aunt's alma maters, by the way) improved, Rahm told us, after he talked to the principal, who said it was going to improve. Rahm also said that when parents come to pick up their kids' report cards from now on, they will also be given the school's report card. What exactly they are supposed to do to change the bad school report cards or maintain the good ones, he didn't say.

He did make reference to NSPB's 65th anniversary. "Amy and I should be so lucky," he said.

Then he launched into some other accomplishements of late--attracting shows to McCormick Place (after successully settling the differences between the convention center and the union demands); his plan to build boathouses along the Chicago River (including one at Ping Tom Park) for kayaking, sculling and picniking; and broadening "cultural experiences" for us city residents. He also lauded Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd) and Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd) for their work. Dowell, who was complimented for her work on the foreclosure problem, said she "likes this mayor."

He did say "thank-you" at the end of his speech. And, as Alicia Berg of Columbia College said afterwards when she read the new list of NSPB board members, "he was a hard act to follow."



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