Every now and then Mayor Emanuel makes a comment about life in Chicago that is so preposterous you have to laugh out loud.
Just to remind you, the arena is part of a larger project—including a Marriott hotel—that the mayor has already said will probably cost upwards of $1 billion in property and hotel tax money before it’s over.
Under the old system, the mayor appointed members to the school board who were recommended by a nominating committee of local school council members. Under our current system, the mayor appoints whomever he wants—after weeding out anyone who might have anything resembling an independent thought.
That would be Chicago Public Schools—the Musical. Which won’t be produced at a city school anytime soon, since Mayor Emanuel has pretty much cut off funding for theater programs.
Look, I said the system gave the mayor virtually unchecked control. I didn’t say he used it wisely.
And just last week the mayor outmaneuvered his foes by getting the City Council to put three other questions on the February ballot. This effectively kept the school board question off, since the law sets a limit of no more than three referenda on any ballot.
