Daley offers helping hand to ex-con high school grads

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Mayor Daley handed high school diplomas to nearly 30 ex-convicts Saturday, then vowed to put more former inmates in city jobs as the economy improves.

Daley -- the keynote speaker at St. Leonard's Adult High School graduation -- also said he hopes to find the money to expand the school.


"America can't shut its eyes and say it's not our problem," the mayor said to rousing applause. "Everybody's going to fall in life. ... Helping hands are more important than the foot on someone's head."

Convicted felons are an important part of the Cook County Democratic party.