Rahm as transportation secretary is not a bad thing
Chicago could benefit from his presence in D.C.
Apparently, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is still in the running for the Secretary of Transportation post with the incoming Biden Administration. That news has riled a lot of people here in Chicago, but doesn’t seem to matter to those outside of the Windy City. .
There is absolutely no question that during his two terms as mayor Emanuel rubbed a lot of people the wrongly-severely wrong. It was as though he was working overtime to maintain the notion of him as an extreme tough guy.
Additionally, there was no shortage of criticisms leveled against him during his tenure. For many Black Chicagoans, if not most, it is apparently extremely difficult not to hold Emanuel’s callousness and impetuousness to hold it against-closing 50 schools in Black and Latino neighborhoods, disrespecting a highly regarded education leader-Karen Lewis, saddling Chicago with out-of-state police superintendents; and of course withholding the Laquan McDonald video until after he was re-elected.
However, as the consummate politician that he is, Emanuel was able to win over detractors when he felt it was absolutely necessary.
After abruptly announcing he would not seek a third term as mayor, Emanuel maintained a very low profile, save some television talk show appearances and a book he penned called “Nation City.” The book demonstrates the former Congressman’s depth of knowledge of where problems lie in government and how cities, instead of the federal government are fixing them. It also shows why Emanuel, who worked in two presidential administrations-Clinton’s and Obama’s deserves the transportation secretary’s job.
AOC opposes the appointment
Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York has been the most vocal opponent of the a possible Emanuel cabinet appointment. She argues that because of the Laquan McDonald video Emanuel doesn’t embody the police reform measures Biden offered during the presidential campaign. AOC has a tremendous megaphone in D.C. Many of her positions resound across the country. It will be interesting to watch if this one gains traction.
However, at the same time, we must concede the former mayor would bring a wealth of institutional knowledge about the inner workings of the nation’s capital. More importantly, he could serve as the catalyst to bring jobs and much-needed infrastructure improvements to Chicago. Those are the types of things Washington could justify helping Illinois and Chicago with as no one could argue that revitalizing the state and the city’s economy will benefit the nation.
I am positive that for some Emanuel should somehow share in the responsibility of young Laquan McDonald’s murder by then-CPD officer Jason Van Dyke. From my perch, Emanuel didn’t reveal immediately what he knew about the shooting; however, he was in no way complicit regarding what happened that night on South Pulaski Road. As far as Van Dyke being punished, would it have been more severe if the video were released sooner? I think not. We should have all expected that the first cop to ever be convicted of an on-the-job shooting would get a lenient or light sentence.
Emanuel did what he did for personal political reasons-to get re-elected. Holding back the video did nothing to influence the outcome of Van Dyke’s trial. Now, is the time to let Emanuel’s own conscience wrestled with their inner demons; and put him to work in D.C. to help move Chicago to a better place, or at least better looking.