Emanuel sends a message to Rauner, CTU: Don't mess with me

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

After months of playing sullen defense, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his team abruptly switched directions in a major way yesterday, aiming a pair of fastballs right at the Chicago Teachers Union and Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The move technically is designed to reassure the bond market as Chicago Public Schools prepares to issue up to $875 million in new debt as soon as today, money that is needed to keep schools open through June.

But by intentionally and unilaterally whacking tens of thousands of CTU members right in their wallet—and spreading word that Rauner is trying to sabotage the bond deal—Team Emanuel did something more: make it clear that, the Laquan McDonald controversy or not, they're tired of playing patsy.

The move came when CPS chief Forrest Claypool announced $100 million in nonteaching cuts and, more significantly, that the district will act within a month to force teachers to pick up the 7 percent of salary for pensions that CPS now pays in their stead.

The struggles of Barack Obama's Chicago.