For a guy promising to run the most transparent administration in Chicago history, Mayor Emanuel isn’t afraid to steal a trick or two from the masters of the old machine, starting with the great Mayor Daley.
Though now that I think about it, Mayor Emanuel’s smart enough to have figured this one out on his own.
In most instances, it’s clear which committee should handle the proposal—zoning matters go to the zoning committee, for instance.
What’s doubly interesting is that the charter school proposal is a nonbinding resolution—meaning that even if it passed, it couldn’t stop Mayor Emanuel from converting every school in town into a charter. But the sponsoring aldermen hoped it would prompt a discussion about whether it’s right to open new charters while dozens of traditional public schools are slated to close.
Not so, Solis insists. “I did it on my own,” he says, “because it’s a larger committee—it will get more discussion.”
Secondly, all the aldermen get the chance to discuss and vote on legislation when it comes to the full council.
