American Pharaohs
A rather unexpected and stunning turn of events in Chicago city politics – really the only politics that count for anything in the state of Illinois. (Chicago all but runs Springfield and the rest of the state.)
Hizzoner, Mayor Richard M. Daley, “The Son, “(as he is sometimes referred to), as well as “Daley the Second” will not seek re-election at the end of his current term early next year.
He will step down after outlasting his father’s run as Mayor of Chicago by only several months when he does. The important note is that he will have served longer than his father – a stated goal back in the fourth or fifth term when asked how long he would like to go. If Richard M. had run, it would’ve been for a historic seventh term. He was referred to as “Mayor for Life” by most of Chicago’s citizens, some with a sneer, but most in all honesty with a sense of relief. In the City That Works many tax payers slept much easier knowing that a Daley was manning the Fifth Floor, term after term. There really hadn’t been much true opposition to Daley’s re-election campaigns in quite some time. No one in their right mind wanted to tangle with the family name.
That has some to do with the good things that Richard M. did for the city since he took over the reigns back in 1989. But, when you get down to it, the family name stems more from the legacy of his father – Richard J. Daley, a.k.a. “Daley The First,” or “Boss Daley” and possibly the sudden death of Richard J. while still in office. Richard J. was Richard J. Daley, an American Pharaoh who shaped late twentieth century Chicago in his image by sheer force of will and the unrivaled power of the Democratic Machine. Many believe Richard J. literally put JFK in office, his power within the Democratic National Party was so strong at the time and the legend so entrenched of Richard J. delivering Democratic victories by means both above-board and nefarious.
Father and Son shared many similarities and took the same tack for shaping Chicago with their vision – construction. Never-ending public works, incentives for developers, gentrification – especially with Richard M., the Son, that would run wild through the Windy City’s neighborhoods. Their rule over the city lasted forty-two years out of the past fifty-five. That’s nearly a half-century between father and son leading one of the largest and most powerful cities in all of America. That’s an epic familial legacy. In those shared similarities were both good and bad qualities, traits, and ambitions. Neither man liked to lose a political battle and were willing to hit below the belt to get their way. Both had a clear-cut vision for what the city needed to evolve and grow, both succeeded in implementing these plans and transforming the city into a Chicago on the rise. The Father did so twice – once in the post-World War II boom period of the 50s and again through the Urban Collapse of rust-belt cities in the 70s (Detroit, St. Louis, Cleveland.) Then the Son at the turn of the century, bringing Chicago to the international stage, promoting Arts, the Restaurant Industry, Tourism, and public works (Millennium Park.)
There’s the darker side. Was their graft, cronyism, and other hallmarks of the Machine – even in the Son’s tenure when he claimed the Machine was dead and gone? Most certainly. Chicagoans have seen it everyday of their lives. They expect that behavior. It’s a part of the City and how things are done. Is some of that behind Daley stepping down now, even though many believed he would at least seek another term? We’ll see. That’s possible. Always possible in Illinois politics. The Feds sniffed around Daley a few times, but the Feds never serve an indictment unless it is a lock and so nothing was brought against the current Hizzoner, just like his father. There are other, personal reasons (anything nefarious is pure speculation.) His wife’s long and difficult battle against breast cancer, the failure to get the Olympics to come to Chicago, and, of course, the spectre of his father’s sudden death in office and a desire to write a different ending for himself.
I would guess Bar Owners throughout the city are rejoicing right now. Daley the second was tough on them and different points in his career. He hated the old school, neighborhood network of street corner taverns and waged war on those establishments often. He froze liquor licenses in the city a long ways back, so that you couldn’t open a new bar. If it didn’t serve food and was a proven restaurant, or was a tavern/bar/club with an existing liquor license, then there was no amount of money you could pour into city hall to make them approve your establishment.
All in all, the news today makes me turn my attention back to THE SCRIPT and stokes my desire to see it come to life some day. It baffles me that, seemingly, everyone’s afraid of making that show right now. Will things change with this sudden shift? I doubt it, but one can dream – can’t they?
It will be interesting to see who steps up to the plate. Many say Rahm Emmanuel will resign from his Chief of Staff post and announce shortly after mid-term elections. He’s openly coveted the job. Either way, Chicago will see its first truly competitive, wide-open Mayoral campaign in over two decades early next year. Now, that will be a race to watch.
