PHOTO/ANDY WILLIS
CHICAGO — Chicago is famous for many things—the skyline, deep-dish pizza, and Al Capone. But another thing the city is famous for (that her citizens are ashamed of) is that one of the most corrupt political machines in the country runs City government. That seems odd—if the people don’t like it, why don’t they just vote it out? Easier said than done when big money is involved. The city has changed forever from its industrial past and money is playing a transformative role. Today Chicago’s fate is decided on Wall Street’s speculative market.
Running for alderman, Tim Meegan represents hope to the entire city. He is willing to take on the corrupt political machine in one of its deepest strongholds—the 33rd ward. As a teacher in the public school system and leader of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Meegan is at the forefront of the effort to save the public school system, while investors are busy trying to flip schools and everything else in the public sector into profitable financial instruments having nothing to do with guaranteeing education for the city’s kids. The very last children considered live in the poorest communities.
The 33rd ward is run by an old school machine boss, Dick Mell. In this ward, deals have kept a virtual fiefdom in power for 38 years. When Mell retired as alderman but got his daughter Deb Mell to replace him in the city council, she was welcomed by financial trader turned mayor, Rahm Emanuel. She is a faithful supporter of every move Emanuel makes. Those moves have made millions for some well-connected players, while devastating large areas already engulfed in poverty.
The 1% are remaking Chicago in the era of robotic and computer production. Thriving working class neighborhoods, where millions of people worked and raised families, are rebuilt to fit a plan for the city based on a tiny highly educated workforce. Those who don’t fit into this plan face foreclosures, evictions, layoffs, privatizing and even imprisonment.
Tim Meegan has studied, documented, and been outspoken about the schemes of the rich and powerful. The implications of this aldermanic race in Chicago have national significance. Wall Streeter’s plans for Main Street don’t include millions of people who are no longer needed in production or service jobs, but these people are there and must be “dealt” with if the wealthy are to maintain their control over 80% of the private property. The elite are bound and determined to keep voices for the dispossessed people of Chicago out of office and out of the way of their agenda.
Sounds ominous and it is, but the people of Chicago are responding by fighting and organizing, and in spite of stolen elections and the millions dumped into corrupting democracy, we will build the organization needed to lead our city and the country toward an equitable society, where the existing abundance can be available to everyone.
