Of the 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Counci, 12 of them challenged and defeated an incumbent in either the 2003 or 2007 election. Of those dozen, eight are co-sponsors of the TIF transparency ordinance that is receiving its first hearing on Monday. This includes the two primary authors -- Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) and Manny Flores (1st Ward). Also supporting the measure are "independent caucus" leaders Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward), Joe Moore (49th Ward), and Ricardo Munoz (22nd Ward). The best part is that the list of 20 co-sponsors includes aldermen like Gene Schulter (47th Ward), Ike Carothers (29th Ward), and Berny Stone (50th Ward). These folks haven't leant their weight to too many reform efforts in the past, but now they're being pulled on board by the new blood.
To be clear, this is just the small step in the right direction. But credit where credit is due.
UPDATE: Flores informs us of some more good news: Ald. Marge Laurino (39th Ward) has signed on as a primary sponsor with him and Waguespack. This is important because she chairs the Committee on Economic Capital and Technology Development, which will be hearing the ordinance Monday morning.
Comments
Sandra Verthein (not verified) on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 12:20
Josh, this headline made my day. Thank you so much for pointing out that elections do matter -- in case anyone hasn't figured that out yet! That is at the core of why my group, Northside DFA, exists -- to work for change via the electoral process. You can lobby for things until you are blue in the face, but at some point the only way to get it done is at the ballot box.
I am looking forward to the 2011 Chicago municipal elections and a chance to get some more new faces in the City Council, and I think that if anyone votes against this ordinance it will be something that challengers can use to their advantage.
Josh Kalven on Sat, 03/14/2009 - 15:33
Thanks for posting the names of the co-sponsors over at PSB, Sandra.
It was great to see a TIF post there.
The more outlets calling readers attention to this issue, the better.
On that note, here's a link to Joravsky's latest:
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2009/03/13/manny-and-scott-take-...
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