During election season Chicago aldermen tend to be quicker to anger, especially when an issue has the potential to play big in their wards. During the February 7 City Council meeting various aldermen expressed outrage over, among other things, poorly run dog kennels, parking-meter rates in neighborhood shopping districts, and lax regulation of massage parlors. Then there was a resolution urging the city to do more to honor its founder, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a black Haitian-American.
Natarus sits in the back row of the council chambers, and as Hairston spoke he turned around to snap at someone in the audience who was videotaping the meeting.
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“Order in the council!” shouted Hairston, apparently thinking he was trying to talk over her. “I am trying to speak, and my colleague is standing with his back to me!” She glared at Natarus. “The disrespect you showed me just now is the same disrespect you’ve shown for this project.”
“Point of personal privilege!” Natarus shouted.
“The sergeant at arms will deal with this,” said the council’s president pro tempore, Danny Solis, banging the gavel.
Then Natarus asked for the floor. “I’m not here to insult anybody,” he said quietly. “Maybe on DuSable’s birthday we should have a holiday at City Hall. Maybe we should have a celebration.”
“I will support ABS–anybody but Stone,” said Aftab, an IT specialist.