JESUS CHUY GARCIA - AIMING FOR ONE CHICAGO
We are less than four weeks away from a historic run-off election between incumbent Rahm Emmanuel and Jesus Chuy Garcia. Chicago has not had a run-off election for the Mayoral race – but that is not why the country is watching.
This race symbolizes a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party and the principle that representative politics belong to every citizen not just the rich and connected. Chicago is one of the most violent cities in the country with 10,000 shootings in the last four years. Chicago is also one of the largest disenfranchised cities leading the nation in school closings with already 50 closed. The inner cities of Chicago are home to some of the largest food deserts in the city where residents do not have adequate access to grocery stores and fresh food.
How can the same Chicago have Michigan Avenue, Lincoln Park, The Magnificent Mile while the Southwest Side and West Side of Chicago are struggling to escape violence, poor education and lack of fresh food? The facts speak for themselves. The electoral process has allowed such a dynamic to exist. It is the duty of elected officials to create structures and processes that reduce recidivism in prisons, provide treatment instead of mass incarcerations and create programs for job growth to uplift areas that are poverty stricken. Chicago rates poorly in all these areas.
What perpetuates this status quo is that not all are willing or able to pay to play. They are not campaign contributors, they are low income constituents. Every year, community members come by the bus loads to Springfield to address ills suffered by their communities. They meet, they speak and they are given verbal acknowledgments and yet nothing changes. Statistically, the communities are no better off despite the hard work of their leaders. On the other hand, an individual who has wealth and more connections will make a simple call to a candidate, get a meeting, will demand results and see action. In many countries, this is called corruption.
This is what makes Chuy Garcia so appealing. He represents a community leader who has engaged in civic duty as a community organizer and an elected official. He speaks to those who wish to use their influence and money to actually better Chicago as a whole while simultaneously understanding those who have felt disenfranchised. This is what makes him so dangerous to the status quo and has Rahm Emmanuel in the midst of a dead heat in the polls leading to the run off.
"25% of these kids are not going anywhere. They are not going to amount to anything and I am not going to throw money at it." It is reported that these are the words stated by Emmanuel in a private meeting with CTU President Karen Lewis while discussing closing of schools in low income neighborhoods. Emmanuel's camp has not denied the meeting or the statement.
The question from the Mayor should rather be "Why are they not amounting to anything?"
The Mayor takes ownership of Chicago's successes and not its failings, and there in it lies an inherent problem on the expectations of civic duty. And if Emmanuel wishes to deny these statements, the statistics of poor graduation rates, arrest records and school closings do not help his case.
An elected official can never roll up his sleeves and fight for what matters if he does not show basic human empathy for the most vulnerable.
Emmanuel also had a confrontational exchange with a constituent regarding the closing of mental health clinics on Chicago's west side. A woman, who had lost a son to gun violence and mental Illness wanted to know why the mental health clinics were closed near her home. To establish common ground she also asked if Emmanuel had ever experienced mental illness in his family.
He listened to her and motioned her to take a seat. He responded by starting with a joke about how uncomfortable the exchange made him feel. He continued for the duration of three minutes to speak without addressing the woman. At which time, the woman interrupts again.
"But when will you answer my question. We are dying here on the streets?"
Her question was in stark contrast to his pleasantries.
Emmanuel continued to respond to the woman by first stating that there were privacy laws in place which limit his ability to answer any questions about private mental illnesses in his family. He follows by speaking about the legislations he has worked on regarding healthcare and insurance companies.
And here lies the inherent disconnect. A constituent has lost her son and she is asking the most powerful elected official what can be done about it. And the Mayor, first responds with a nod to the hosts, a joke to break the ice and a short lecture on privacy laws and legislative initiatives on healthcare. A grieving mother should not need to wait in line until the small talk is completed. Perhaps Emmanuel once had empathy, but as his public exchanges show – he has lost it.
Garcia is attracting money, diversity, passionate voter turnout and he represents to the masses something they could not articulate with past elected officials; integrity. That is not to say that others have not had it, but it is quite remarkable if you can say one embodies it. Garcia is now leveraging his power as a long time problem solver in the communities he has worked in as well as being a fiscally responsible Cook County Commissioner. He has shown repeatedly that he can survive aggressive Chicago politics. Garcia has endorsements of long time Chicago politicians, recently adding Congressman Danny Davis and Emil Jones and many more are to follow. Resources and experts will be plentiful in his circle. Garcia has strong support from all areas of Chicago, from Michigan Avenue to the South Side.
This is more than a fight between two candidates – it is a battle between two cities, the distinguishing factor being that Garcia has the power to make them into one.
The real question the voters have to ask themselves is what is Chicago? Are they going to redefine Chicago; or perpetuate the tale of two cities in the 21st century? There are voters in all areas of Chicago that do not want to be tied to its corrupt and socioeconomic divided identity. This election, if people follow their convictions, we will see a historic and necessary change.
Maaria Mozaffar is an attorney, policy drafter and social entrepreneur. You can contact her through: www.mozaffarlaw.com, www.skinlessproject.com
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