Chicago mayor Lightfoot begins dismantling corrupt system Day 1

[lunasun]

https://www.theroot.com/lori-lightfoot-begins-dismantling-chicago-s-corrupt-ald-1835044813

t’s a new dawn, a new day, and Lori Lightfoot did not come here to play. On day one of her new position as the first black woman to lead Chicago as mayor, Lightfoot is bringing a swift end to Chicago’s tradition of “aldermanic privilege” that granted council members sweeping veto power over zoning and licensing permits.

With Lightfoot’s executive order, city departments must now report to Lightfoot within the next 60 days to describe its decision-making process, including when it has accepted aldermanic prerogative “as a matter of custom or practice.” These reports must also state what the departments are doing to be in compliance with Lightfoot’s order moving forward. Lightfoot has directed city departments to stop deferring to aldermanic privilege “in their decision-making practice unless expressly required by the Municipal Code of Chicago.”

The mayor stressed that aldermen will still have a voice in departmental decision-making, but not veto power.

Aldermanic privilege has long been controversial. Recently, federal authorities charged Alderman Edward Burke, Chicago’s longest-serving council member ever, with attempted extortion for allegedly threatening to halt the approval of remodeling plans for a local Burger King unless his law firm was hired for tax work. These types of illegal kickbacks have run rampant in aldermanic dealings. Burke denied wrongdoing and still won reelection as alderman shortly after.