Mayor plays race card at veto rally

Mayor plays race card at veto rSeptember 12, 2006

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

Mayor Daley played the race card today at a revival-style rally to marshal support for his historic veto of an ordinance requiring “big box” retailers to pay their employees at least $13-an-hour in wages and benefits by 2010.

“Not one person objected to any type of store in the suburban area. No one said, `Mayor, you’re wrong.’ No one said aldermen are wrong. No one said community or church leaders [are wrong]. Only on the West Side. Only on the South Side,” Daley told cheering supporters at 119th and Marshfield, the vacant site of a Target store placed on hold after the City Council’s 35-to-14 vote in favor of the minimum wage ordinance.

“It was alright for the North and Southwest Side to get the big boxes before this. No one said anything. All the sudden, when we talk about economic development in the black community, there’s something wrong there…..It’s alright for people to say development belongs in the suburban area. You have to go to get a job there. You have to drive to shop there. That’s alright. This is what we’re talking about.”

One day after vetoing the big box ordinance and finding the crossover votes he needs to sustain it, Daley got a hero’s welcome from business, religious and community leaders crowded under a tent in the middle of a muddy, 32-acre site, he said would “stand empty” if the minimum wage is allowed to stand.

“I’m gonna put lipstick on him and then [the mayor’s wife] Maggie is gonna want to know where it come from and then, I’m gonna be in a mess,” said a euphoric Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), whose ward includes the 119th and Marshfield site.

The mayor’s appearance was equal parts religious revival and campaign rally. But, it was marred by angry protestors threatening political retribution against Daley and the three big-box supporters who have agreed to join him.

At one point, supporters and opponents stood toe-to-toe shouting each other down outside the tent as the rally continued inside.

“I know that you may be concerning yourself with hearing the activity across the street. But, no this one thing: Satan never sleeps,” Austin said.

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), whose impoverished West Side ward is the site of Chicago’s first and only Wal-Mart, took the threats in stride.

“They threatened Jesus. They beat him. They stoned him. But, he stood up. They knocked him down. He got back up again. And we’re gonna continue to get up for what’s right,” Mitts said.

The protestors were bussed in by ACORN and led by the group’s statewide coordinator, Rev. Robin Hood.

“You will see people in different communities all around the city coming together to change aldermen and to vote a mayor out” of office, Hood said.

“We can tell from the groundswell the last couple of years that people are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They’ve been tired ever since the minority money went to friends of City Hall. They’ve been tired ever since all this scandal. Now, the mayor wants to veto a living wage…which is really not a living wage. We’re talking about a measly $10.”

The Rev. Joseph Kyles, pastor of Heirs of Promise Church and chairman of the 37th Ward Pastors Alliance, had a few choice words for Hood while standing at Daley’s side.