Let's hope it is not a Bilandic panic
Hopefully, the mayor's snow removal plan is well thought out and not a knee jerk fear of 1979
The Johnson Administration in an obvious move to be marginally prepared for the upcoming winter snowstorms will implement a pilot snow removal initiative in four Chicago neighborhoods, being described as zones. As common as snow is in Chicago, it still sends mini-panic waves through mayors as they know or recall it was the 1979 storm that propelled the late Mayor Jane Byrne over incumbent Micheal Bilandic who was slow in getting snow removed from city streets.
Last week the mayor announced the administration is implementing a program that will have city sidewalks cleared of snow and ice whenever two or more inches of snow fall in a 24-hour period. Of course, this is in addition to the regular street cleaning. The zones selected for the pilot program include:
West Side Zone would include Belmont Cragin and Mayor Brandon Johnson's Austin neighborhood. The Southwest Side Zone would include Brighton Park and Gage Park. Englewood would dominate the South Side Zone. And sidewalks in Uptown and Lincoln Square would be cleared on the North Side.
As to be expected, Johnson’s decision is already receiving pushback. Alderperson Marty Quinn said the mayor is setting himself up for failure, as the program will expected to be a staple once it begins, and the mayor won’t be able to reel it back for political reasons.
Quinn provides sidewalk snow removal for more nearly 800 citizens in his 13th Ward. He offered that the costs would run into the millions of dollars to operate citywide. Johnson didn’t provide estimated costs for the pilot; he did say the work would be carried out by city workers and private contractors who would have to go through a bidding process.
According to Team Johnson, the plan goes into effect when "two inches or more" of snow and ice accumulate over a 24-hour period for a maximum of seven snow events or a one-year period, "whichever comes first." Not only was there no mention of costs, but there was also no information on whether the plan stops if there are eight snow incidents and a couple of months of winter is left.'
Other essential information lacking in the announcement was:
how soon, if at all, will this program be expanded to other zones
how were the first four zones determined
will the sidewalks be cleared if there are separate storms within 24 hours
what part of the budget is the money for this
program coming from
will migrants be able to bid on the work
how will this impact the current budget
If the mayor doesn’t answer these questions soon, and any others alderpersons have, his perceived positive plan will turn sour quickly
The New “Council Wars”
Unlike the Council Wars of the 1980s where white aldermen formed a voting bloc against Mayor Harold Washington-today’s” “wars” pit council members against one another
A year ago, when the Chicago City Council convene its first session and had 13 new members it was predicted there would be friction between the old guard and the rookies. It was a given the first timers would not get committee chair assignments or be able to successfully push through truly meaningful legislation. What has emerged in the past 13 months is worse than been predicted. We have witnessed racial altercations, accusations of physical abuse, irrelevant votes on foreign matters.
The rancor and dustups among the alderpersons have been a hinderance in Mayor Brandon Johnson fulfilling campaign promises such as a special tax for the homeless and ending the gunshot technology known as ShotSpotter. In the past, a mayor’s floor leader could wrangle up enough votes to get hallmark legislations and initiatives moved through council to the winning side-even if was just by a vote or two.
Today, the floor leader’s spot is vacant and has been for nearly seven months. The mayor is left to his own devices to attempt to muster the votes to get anything passed. Some longtime alderpersons, keenly aware of the mayor’s political naivete, and absolute inexperience as a manager, are taking advantage of the lack of leadership among their peers. The mayor not only is without a floor leader, but lacks leadership on several council committees, because of in-fighting among the legislators.
Latino alderpersons have been at the center of council problems most of the year-most recently Alderperson Byron Sigcho-Lopez was denounced by 15 alderpersons for attending a rally where a U.S. flag was burned. He pleaded ignorance to the incident, although photos show him standing next to the charred remains. The letter-signers wanted Sigcho-Lopez to step down as chair of the council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate. The 25th Ward alderperson refused, and the mayor opted not to remove him from that post.
Another Latino alderperson, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, garnered a string of headlines when was accused of accosting a Black female council member in an attempt to prevent her from voting on an ordinance regarding Chicago maintaining its sanctuary city status. His over-zealousness inevitably forced him to step down as the mayor’s floor leader.
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