I just left a City Hall press conference hosted by the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus, in which they released the maps they propose to run on in 2015. The proposed map maintains 19 majority Black Wards, while conceding the historic 2nd Ward to the white community. This is really accounted for by the explosion in population in the South and West Loops, where Alderman Fioretti had to give up approximately 15,000 residents to even get close to the approximately 51,000 minimum number of residents required per ward. Considering the loss of 200,000 Blacks in the last census, the Black Caucus did a great job only losing one ward.
While this isn’t the final map, I do believe it provides a good look at how the city can be fairly divided to maintain African-American representation, while allowing the Latino community to benefit from their increased population. What I also think it demonstrates is the common sense approach to the map that both the Latino and Black Caucuses took, working together instead of fighting each other.
It worked out well. I also think that before the Latino community could make a credible argument to take any wards from Blacks, they would first need to take over the wards in which they are already the majority, but do not hold the seat. Those wards include: 10th-Pope, 13th-Quinn, 14th-Burke, and 33rd-Mell. Fat chance those will be changing anytime soon, so that resolves that. Most of us recognize that while there is a significant Latino population in the city, their voting record does not always indicate that, so even in cases where they do have the majority they are not guaranteed the seat. No need to fight on that issue, so I think we are all good.
The Black Caucus led by Alderman Brookins and represented by Attorney and former Alderman Freddrenna Lyle have done an admirable job representing our community.
“before the Latino community could make a credible argument to take any wards from Blacks, they would first need to take over the wards in which they are already the majority, but do not hold the seat. Those wards include: 10th-Pope, 13th-Quinn, 14th-Burke, and 33rd-Mell. Fat chance those will be changing anytime soon, so that resolves that. ”
Frankly, I do not think that “that resolves that”. you are too quick to dismiss the fact that hispanics want to take black seats when, if they used the numbers they already have, they could have 4 more hispanic wards already. so they need to look at the hombré in the mirror before they start messing with our wards. and this goes with even mentioning the fact that most of their numbers consist of people that are not even here legally.
This ward map is laughable to the point of absurdity.
On the note of Hispanic wards run by white Aldermen– the name of the game is influence. Many City employees owe their positions to either Mell or Burke and will fall all over themselves to complete whatever task needs to be completed in their wards. On the other hand freshmen Alderman are typically disrespected by City employees and have little ability to get things accomplished in their own Wards.