If the roll had been called during Wednesday’s first test of her City Council muscle, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she’s confident it would have been “north of 40.”
But a roll call “wasn’t necessary,” Lightfoot said.
Chicago’s newly-elected mayor managed to reshape the City Council in her reformer image — installing new chairmen and new operating rules to prevent aldermanic conflict of interest — by a voice vote.
Only three aldermen could be heard shouting “No”: Anthony Beale (9th), Edward Burke (14th) and Ray Lopez (15th).
“I think it went fine,” a self-satisfied Lightfoot said, in a dramatic understatement.
It actually went more than fine. It was a triumph.
Lightfoot easily survived her first test after deftly handling a minor skirmish with Burke, the deposed Finance chairman charged with attempted extortion, which helped set Lightfoot on a path to the mayor’s office.
Lopez raised the only substantive objection, complaining that only two of the 18 committee chairman are Hispanic and that the “male-to-female ratio” remains 2-to-1.
“It shows that she is gonna be making decisions in very strict silos that are not inclusive of the entire City Council. It’s bad for governing because all of us were elected from wards that she won,” Lopez said.
Lopez noted that during the mayoral campaign, Lightfoot insisted she didn’t want a rubber-stamp City Council.
But Lopez said he was “cut off from the conversation” when he dared oppose her executive order stripping aldermen of their unbridled control over licensing and permitting in their wards.
“Despite the rhetoric, it’s her hope to have the same rubber stamp that every mayor before her has had,” Lopez said.
Lightfoot advised Lopez to “spend more time trying to reach out and be collaborative rather than vent himself in the media.”
“If he wants to reach out in collaboration, he knows my number,” she said.
Lightfoot sloughed off the claim by Lopez that she is not interested in dissenting views and determined to rule with an iron fist.
“It’s easy to say, particularly when you’ve had zero conversation. If Ald. Lopez wants to have a conversation, I’m real easy to find,” the new mayor said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s floor leader had predicted at least 30 votes for her new committee chair lineup and City Council operating rules, but in the end, no roll call was needed. Both passed on voice votes.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd), Lightfoot’s choice to chair a Finance Committee that for decades had been Burke’s primary power base, is not popular with his colleagues.
In fact, Waguespack is viewed as a cross between a chronic naysayer and a holier-than-thou know-it-all.
Had there been a separate vote on his appointment, it could have been embarrassingly close.
But behind-the-scenes rumblings about a parliamentary maneuver aimed at separating Waguespack from the carefully-crafted package went nowhere.
By stripping Beale, a 20-year veteran, of his Transportation Committee chairmanship, Lightfoot sent a message: Those who dare join Beale in opposition to her line-up could face similar punishment.
Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) chats with Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and a staffer before the start of Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall. Waguespack is Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s choice to run the City Council’s Finance Committee, despite complaints from some Council vets that Waguespack “doesn’t play well with others.”
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Waguespack will preside over a Finance Committee with a much lower budget — just a third of the $2.3 million Burke had to spend back when the Finance chairman still rode herd over Chicago’s $100 million-a-year workers’ compensation program.
The program was transferred to the city’s Department of Finance shortly after Burke was charged with attempted extortion.
The new Finance Committee also has been stripped of control over tax increment financing subsidies, like the record $1.6 billion package for Lincoln Yards and “the 78” Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed through shortly before leaving office.
The power over TIF subsidies has gone to the Economic Development Committee, to be chaired by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), Lightfoot’s floor leader.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s floor leader pictured chatting with another alderman during Wednesday’s Chicago City Council meeting, predicted easy passage of Lightfoot’s package of new committee chairs.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
On Wednesday, Waguespack promised to listen more and preach less in his new role.
“I know why people have been upset. I’ve been calling out a lot of the different problems in the city for many years. People take that in the wrong way sometimes,” he said.
“I’ve never made it personal. I always look at each thing … and say, `How can we do better by the taxpayers.’ Sometimes, people take affront to that. But I’m gonna work better with my colleagues and try to be nicer.”
Lightfoot’s broader promise to end aldermanic prerogative over zoning will require a code change and, therefore, a council vote.
That is certain to encounter resistance. It could trigger a floor fight and a roll call. So will her first budget, which is certain to include another painful round of post-election tax increases and budget cuts.
But that’s a fight for another day.
Wednesday was Lightfoot’s day to bask in the glow of an impressive, albeit temporary victory — even over an unpredictable City Council with six democratic socialists that has taken a sharp turn to the left.
The gavel sits ready for Mayor Lori Lightfoot before her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot hugs her wife, Amy Eshleman, before the start of her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) chats with Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and a staffer before the start of the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) shakes hands with Mayor Lori Lightfoot before the start of their first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) chats with Ald. Felix Cardona Jr. (31st) during their first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
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Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) chats with Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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George Blakemore speaks during the public comment portion of the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) chats with Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Ed Burke (14th) spars with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Ed Burke (14th) spars with Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) speaks during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot presides over her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd) chats with another alderman before the start of her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) chats with Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot smiles while receiving a round of applause following adjournment of her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. |Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez (22nd) chats with another alderman during his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) receives a round of applause after the Chicago City Council approved his appointment as president pro tem during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Matt Martin (47th) attends his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
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Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) speaks during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th) chats with Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin shakes hands with Mayor Lori Lightfoot following adjournment of their first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) speaks with reporters before the start of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) attends her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) attends Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th) smiles at Ald. David Moore (17th) during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) chats with Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th) attends her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters after her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
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Ald. Gregory Mitchell (7th) speaks with Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th) before the start of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. |Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) speaks with reporters before the start of his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file
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Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) chats with Alds. Roderick Sawyer (6th) and Gregory Mitchell (7th) before the start of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) chats with a staffer before the start of his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) chats with Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and a staffer before the start of the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th) chats Mayor Lori Lightfoot following adjournment of her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters after her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Felix Cardona Jr. (31st) chats with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) before the start of his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. |Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters after her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo
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Ald. Felix Cardona Jr. (31st) chats with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) before the start of his first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. |Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot chats with Corporation Counsel Mark Flessner (center) and Deputy Corporation Counsel Jeff Levine (left) during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) chats with Ald. Michael D. Rodriguez (22nd) before the start of their first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Susan Sadowski Garza (10th) chats with Ald. Jason Ervin (29th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th) chats with Alds. Felix Cardona Jr. (31st) and George Cardenas (12th) during the Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th) takes a photo during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) listens during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) laughs with Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters after her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) chats with Ald. Harry Osterman (45th) during her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) attends Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. |Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot smiles while receiving a round of applause following adjournment of her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Alds. George Cardenas (12th) and Marty Quinn (13th) attend Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) laughs with Alds. Michelle Harris (8th) and Gregory Mitchell (7th) during Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks with reporters after her first Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.|Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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