Mayor Daley today revised his political outlook for Wal-Mart — three months after proclaiming that the world’s largest retailer did not have the votes to win City Council approval to build it’s second Chicago store and first super-center that sells groceries.Any doubt on who's really running things in Chicago?
“It’s changing because of the economy. I really believe that. I firmly believe that,” the mayor said.
“Construction workers need construction jobs. ... The one in Evergreen Park that opened up — I don’t know how many thousands of people they had for maybe 400 or 500 jobs that showed up. People are suffering very, very hard.”
Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) said last week he intends to “hound” Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) every day until Burke holds a hearing on an amended redevelopment agreement that would pave the way for a Wal-Mart super-center at a former Chatham industrial site at 83rd and Stewart.
Two days later, Brookins literally made good on that post-Olympics threat — by placing a stuffed toy hound dog right in front of Burke’s front-and-center seat in the City Council chambers.
Asked today whether Burke should hold the hearing, Daley said, “That’s up to him. He could have had it six months ago or two months ago.”
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wal-Mart faces easier road in Chicago's City Council, Daley says
The Chicago Sun-Times reports:
