They came to pay homage, some whispering their needs, others giving advice.
And of course, they came to get their keepsake photo.
“I’m feeling real good. I think she’s going to do an outstanding job. She’s already done some things that got me fired up,” said Eric Mayes, 58, of Stony Island Park neighborhood. “I think that if we all work together and help her do what she needs to do, we can actually have one Chicago.”
After Monday’s historic inauguration of Chicago’s first black woman and first openly gay mayor, hundreds of Chicagoans, and folks from suburbs and far away places, converged on City Hall to meet Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
“This is an amazing day. We’re here because we believe she will bring a lot of reform. She fills us with a lot of hope for Chicago,” said Martino Tangkar, 49, of Streeterville, there with wife Kartika.
The line snaked from outside, into and around the first-floor lobby. They were taken a few at a time up in the elevator to again snake down the hall outside the 5th floor mayor’s office, awaiting their turn to be granted entry.
“I think it’s an honor to be able to meet her. I want to look her straight in the face and see what’s really going on,” said Glenda Fulton, 67, of Bronzeville. “I’m looking forward to seeing what changes we can make, and to making sure that the community is involved in them.”
The well-wishers were black, white, Hispanic, Asian. There were married couples, single mothers, groups of girlfriends. There were seniors, youths brought by parents or other adults.
“It probably wouldn’t be my first choice to be here, but my mom wanted to come see Lori, and I took the day off because it’s her birthday, so we’re here,” said William Kolbuk, 32, of Lakeview, in line with parents Chris and Mike Kolbuk of Wheeling.
The open house began at 2 p.m. and was scheduled to end at 4 p.m.
But folks began filling the lobby right after the inauguration at Wintrust Arena ended around noon. Those who hadn’t gotten to witness the pomp and circumstance of the two-hour ceremony got a jumpstart.
“Strong and independent leadership is what the city and region needs. What happens in the city affects us,” said Beth Davis, 70, of Evanston, there with husband Max. “We’re really inspired, enthused, and supportive of Lori, and we think she’s going to be a tremendous mayor. It’s a new day.”
When it was their turn, everyone surrendered coats, purses and phones, lining up again inside a waiting area until they crossed the inner sanctum of Lightfoot’s office.
There, the new mayor stood with wife Amy Eshleman, shaking hands, embracing well-wishers, taking a photo, with the same greeting: “Hello, Sir. Thank you for coming. Hello, Ma’am. Thank you for coming.” The city’s first couple did that for more than 2 1⁄2 hours.
While it was supposed to end at 4 p.m., and police cut off the line at about 3:20 p.m., Lightfoot was adamant that all still waiting would get to meet her, her people said.
So the well-wishers kept coming, up the elevator, to wait outside her office for their brush with history.
“I figured I may never have another chance for a historic moment like this again so I couldn’t miss this,” said Troy Winston, 56, of Humboldt Park. “I’ve never believed any politician until now. Everything she said at the inauguration was on the money. She’s the first female black mayor in Chicago, and openly gay, as am I, so I believe she’s going to fight for equality for everyone.”
