CHICAGO | Politics and Current Events

[urbanpln]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Eric Adams had a similar flap about residency when he was running for mayor in NYC...

I don't even know what a "true Chicagoan" is anymore. Does it even matter in the 21st century? I'm more concerned about what the mayor can do for our city than where they sleep at night.

Yes, the city has a residency requirement for all employees including the mayor and I expect the mayor to abide by the law while they are serving in office. But it's not a natal requirement - you can be born or raised anywhere, in the suburbs (Rahm), a different state (Lightfoot) or even a different country (Garcia). Honestly it seems fitting that a city of transplants and immigrants would be led by a transplant or immigrant. The city government could certainly use an infusion of fresh/outside ideas.

I agree.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

Here's two articles I found that pre-date his political ambitions

Thanks for providing this. I was under the impression that he eventually got fired from CPS because the test scores went back down.

I think my bigger question is whether his move toward “school choice” has actually made the system better 20 years later. Navigating CPS - with the maze of magnet, neighborhood, gifted, and charter schools - is an absolute nightmare. We have the five best high schools in Illinois, but almost no neighborhood high schools are quality.

[Brentsters]

Originally Posted by Kngkyle

Here's two articles I found that pre-date his political ambitions.

Paul Vallas leaves New Orleans schools as a disaster recovery expert
Cindy Chang, The Times-Picayune
PUBLISHED APR 17, 2011 AT 5:10 PM

Charter school leaders have consistently praised Vallas for leaving them to their own devices, an autonomy they believe is a condition for achieving superior academic results. Under Vallas' watch, the proportion of failing schools in New Orleans dropped from 65 percent in 2007-08 to about 35 percent last year.

"He's done a fantastic job in empowering good people who are doing what's right for kids, who truly have the best interests of kids in mind," said Gary Robichaux, executive director of the ReNEW charter school network and a former RSD administrator under Vallas. "Being supportive and progressive-minded about the charter system -- a majority of superintendents fight that."

https://www.nola.com/news/education/paul...acf24b9-8b72-510c-90f0-4d29997e672e.html

Post-script on how that turned out.

Second co-founder leaving scandal-plagued ReNEW Schools on 'solid footing'

The Recovery School District reported that principals Tim Hearin and Alex Perez had simultaneously falsely inflated their special education needs to get more money from the state and shortchanged special education students, whom the principals said "don't count."

The principals also violated state test security policies by directing teachers to examine students' completed state test booklets so they could write curriculum for the next year. That would also have given them the opportunity to change wrong answers.

Robichaux said in May 2015 that Hearin and Perez had gone rogue and cheated on internal tests. They quit at the end of the 2014-15 school year ahead of being fired, he said.

When the Recovery report came out, the network released a statement saying "the moment we discovered the issues ... we took immediate and decisive action."

However, emails obtained by The Lens showed Robichaux and Mackay knew about these problems for months without cracking down. A whistleblower contacted Mackay in January 2015 and Robichaux two months later.

The district's report blamed SciTech's problems on Robichaux's "failed oversight of school-level leadership."

https://www.nola.com/news/education/seco...a1e897e-1509-58dc-9ecf-217ed52bd5ee.html

[Kngkyle]

Not sure it's fair to attribute blame to Vallas for things that happened a decade later under different leadership....

[Brentsters]

Considering the articles were posted in response to a question about the outcomes of Vallas' privatization efforts, I think it's fair to note that the same person celebrating Vallas (who was praised by charters for "leaving them to their own devices") in the article was later ousted for his role in special ed fraud.

[bnk]

There is talk Lori might not make it to the runnoff.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/...n-early-re-election-knockout/ar-AA17FRX4

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is in danger of an early re-election knockout

NBC News ^ | February 19, 2023 | Natasha Korecki


CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot is the first to admit her bid for re-election will be far from smooth.

“There’s nine people on the ballot,” Lightfoot said in an interview with NBC News. “It’s impossible not to have a runoff.”

What’s appearing increasingly possible, however, is that Lightfoot will fail to make it even that far.

In Chicago’s municipal election, if a candidate fails to win a majority, then the top two vote-getters face off against each other in a second round of voting in April.

But with less than two weeks to the Feb. 28 election, the firecracker Democratic first-term mayor — who quickly brandished a national hate-hate relationship with conservatives — faces credible threats from at least three opponents in the nine-person race. Her unfavorables have soared with Chicagoans fed up with 🞵🞵🞵 violence. In recent polling, she's failed to break into the top two.

All that adds up to the stunning prospect that a sitting big-city mayor could be eliminated from re-election contention in the first round of voting.

"It's looking harder and harder for her," one of her competitors, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, said in an interview. "It's a hell of a front to be fighting on, from her vantage point."

[twister244]

Originally Posted by bnk

There is talk Lori might not make it to the runnoff.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/...n-early-re-election-knockout/ar-AA17FRX4

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot is in danger of an early re-election knockout

NBC News ^ | February 19, 2023 | Natasha Korecki


CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot is the first to admit her bid for re-election will be far from smooth.

“There’s nine people on the ballot,” Lightfoot said in an interview with NBC News. “It’s impossible not to have a runoff.”

What’s appearing increasingly possible, however, is that Lightfoot will fail to make it even that far.

In Chicago’s municipal election, if a candidate fails to win a majority, then the top two vote-getters face off against each other in a second round of voting in April.

But with less than two weeks to the Feb. 28 election, the firecracker Democratic first-term mayor — who quickly brandished a national hate-hate relationship with conservatives — faces credible threats from at least three opponents in the nine-person race. Her unfavorables have soared with Chicagoans fed up with 🞵🞵🞵 violence. In recent polling, she's failed to break into the top two.

All that adds up to the stunning prospect that a sitting big-city mayor could be eliminated from re-election contention in the first round of voting.

"It's looking harder and harder for her," one of her competitors, Rep. Jesús "Chuy" Garcia, said in an interview. "It's a hell of a front to be fighting on, from her vantage point."

Which is why you are going to see LL do everything she can to tie Paul Vallas to Ron Desantis this week.....

Don't pay attention to the issues impacting Chicago residents day-to-day (looking at you O'Hare). But instead, let's chat about how Paul Vallas is really Desantis in Sheep's wool.

LL knows she's in danger, and Vallas has the momentum going into this election.

[Handro]

Originally Posted by twister244

Which is why you are going to see LL do everything she can to tie Paul Vallas to Ron Desantis this week.....

Don't pay attention to the issues impacting Chicago residents day-to-day (looking at you O'Hare). But instead, let's chat about how Paul Vallas is really Desantis in Sheep's wool.

LL knows she's in danger, and Vallas has the momentum going into this election.

How many Chicago residents are affected by problems at O'Hare day to day?

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by twister244

Which is why you are going to see LL do everything she can to tie Paul Vallas to Ron Desantis this week.....

Don't pay attention to the issues impacting Chicago residents day-to-day (looking at you O'Hare). But instead, let's chat about how Paul Vallas is really Desantis in Sheep's wool.

LL knows she's in danger, and Vallas has the momentum going into this election.

I've been to O'Hare 4 times this month and haven't encountered one issue. Is breathless reporting by Fox News and NY Post really how we should judge an issue's day-to-day impact on Chicagoans?

The Vallas stuff matters to me because we have no idea how he might govern. Lightfoot isn't great (or good?) but at least we know what to expect. Vallas flat-out stated that conspiracy theorist Shannon Adcock should run for Governor. Then, when he was called out for his affiliation with her organization (Awake), he changed course. He did the same thing after courting the FOP endorsement and now they are "promoting" a DeSantis appearance in the suburbs. I think it is fair to question where he actually stands on issues.

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

I've been to O'Hare 4 times this month and haven't encountered one issue.

If you've been through T2 baggage claim you would definitely have noticed. . .

. . .

[Chisouthside]

ditto, flew in last monday morning into t2, seems they corraled them into t2 as t1 and t3 were empty of homeless people.

[lakeshoredrive]

I'm still torn on who to vote for... This is why I wish we could have ranked choice voting. Hopefully one day soon. Do we think Lightfoot will have a chance to go to the runoff?

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by JuliusDoaner

Chuy is Lightfoot 2.0, do nothing career politician.

You do realize that Lightfoot never held an electable public office before becoming mayor right? Her and Chuy are nothing alike in this regard. I don't think Chuy is a great candidate but I'd take him any day over LL. The guy has at least been in various office, elected, for 35+ years. Literally not even close to an apt comparison here. 2 minutes of Googling would have told you this too.

And Vallas, while he could be "logical", has shot himself in the foot with many potential supporters by supporting or speaking with orgs like Awake. Everytime I think he's logical, I go back to this and other comments he's made and cringe. He'd be an easy win IMO if he didn't align with that org and a few others.

[jtown,man]

I bet parents with kids attending schools requiring a "Safe Route" would love school choice. The CTU, that's another issue.

[jtown,man]

Originally Posted by marothisu

You do realize that Lightfoot never held an electable public office before becoming mayor right? Her and Chuy are nothing alike in this regard. I don't think Chuy is a great candidate but I'd take him any day over LL. The guy has at least been in various office, elected, for 35+ years. Literally not even close to an apt comparison here. 2 minutes of Googling would have told you this too.

And Vallas, while he could be "logical", has shot himself in the foot with many potential supporters by supporting or speaking with orgs like Awake. Everytime I think he's logical, I go back to this and other comments he's made and cringe. He'd be an easy win IMO if he didn't align with that org and a few others.

Basically in Chicago, you can be totally normal and good but if there is even a SCENT that you tolerate conservative organizations or values, you are DONE.


Great. A local politician is being judged based on non-issue national issues.

Why did he have to denounce Florida's governor? How on Earth does that relate to Chicago?

[twister244]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

Basically in Chicago, you can be totally normal and good but if there is even a SCENT that you tolerate conservative organizations or values, you are DONE.


Great. A local politician is being judged based on non-issue national issues.

Why did he have to denounce Florida's governor? How on Earth does that relate to Chicago?

Because it's meant to be a total distraction. LL knows she's screwed, and Chuy probably suspects it's going to be him and Vallas in the runoff, so they are going to attack Vallas with anything to distract away from his policy positions. They guy hasn't proposed anything considered remotely radical, and seems to be pretty middle-of-the road, yet people are trying to paint him as a conservative. Nevermind the fact he's walked in the pride parade before.... But sure - He's a radical conservative.

If there's any reason any conservative leaning folks are donating to him, it's probably because he's for more policing on the streets and doesn't align himself with the radical "Defund the Police" wing of the left.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by jtown,man

I bet parents with kids attending schools requiring a "Safe Route" would love school choice. The CTU, that's another issue.

We already have school choice. It was brought by Vallas and doesn't seem to have improved the school district in the long run. That is the point, not whatever distraction you are trying to bring up.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by twister244

If there's any reason any conservative leaning folks are donating to him, it's probably because he's for more policing on the streets and doesn't align himself with the radical "Defund the Police" wing of the left.

Chuy is for more policing, Lightfoot is for more policing. Seems like something else is driving the affection. Maybe it is his stance on charter schools (i.e. privatizing public education). Maybe they like how his campaign site has zero plan for public transit.

I might end up voting for the guy (I did 4 years ago). But acting like there isn't anything to question in his past performance or current platform is the actual radical stance.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by moorhosj1

Chuy is for more policing, Lightfoot is for more policing. Seems like something else is driving the affection. Maybe it is his stance on charter schools (i.e. privatizing public education). Maybe they like how his campaign site has zero plan for public transit.

I might end up voting for the guy (I did 4 years ago). But acting like there isn't anything to question in his past performance or current platform is the actual radical stance.

We've already discussed LL extensively, and why we collectively dislike her, so not going to beat a dead horse there.

My first beef I had with Chuy was his opposition to the Ashland BRT. Anyone against BRT in the city is a no-go for me. With that said, if I had to pick between LL and Chuy in a runoff, I would clearly go with Chuy.

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by marothisu

And Vallas, while he could be "logical", has shot himself in the foot with many potential supporters by supporting or speaking with orgs like Awake. Everytime I think he's logical, I go back to this and other comments he's made and cringe. He'd be an easy win IMO if he didn't align with that org and a few others.

Vallas literally denounced Awake after that speaking engagement stating, "I will be more vigilant about vetting invitations in the future."

https://patch.com/illinois/naperville/vallas-denounces-awake-illinois-hateful-rhetoric-report

nothing burger. . . moving on. . .

. . .