Yesterday, the Reader's Mick Dumke wondered which Chicago aldermen would stand up to Mayor Daley and vote against his 2009 budget. Ultimately, only one did so during the full city council meeting today, Ald. Billy Ocasio (26th Ward). In his floor statement, Ocasio not only gave an impassioned criticism of the budget, he also leveled the kind of broad criticism of the Daley administration -- saying it "believes everything and everyone is expendable" -- that rarely falls from the lips of Chicago aldermen these days (at least in public). Courtesy of WTTW's Chicago Tonight, here's the video:
More like this please.
OCASIO: Yes, these are hard times. But I think that in this budget we haven't been that responsible. You know, most of the layoffs affect the people who do the work, the people who do the work and get paid the least. And it doesn't affect the ones who are behind the desk or those that are well-off. I've been here 15 years -- 15 budgets. But I feel this budget takes many issues for granted. It takes many communities for granted. And it takes me and my community for granted.
In my community we are tired of receiving the false promises, being told it's an "ongoing process." An ongoing process for how long? You know, we find millions of dollars in private and public funds when it comes to places like Millenium Park, the 2016 Olympics, or Buckingham Fountain. But when it comes to finding public or private dollars -- for example, $75,000 for a women's homeless shelter -- the city says it's an "ongoing process." We all know what that means -- that means no.
So for the reasons mentioned -- the wrong people being laid off; my community being taken for granted; all the false promises; and the fact that this administration believes that everything and everyone is expendable -- I vote no.
Theresa Paucar (not verified) on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 09:33
Good Job Alderman! he does understand the people, the economy situation and fight for it. Thank you for speaking for us. Good Bless You!