As I’ve watched Alderman Danny Solis escape one precarious predicament after another over the last 30 or so years, I’ve reached the obvious conclusion—the man’s got more lives than a cat.
As I wait for the next chapter in his saga, I figure it’s a good time to sort through a few of the many lives of Danny Solis.
Zoning chair: In 2009, Daley made Solis chairman of the zoning committee, a prized council position because it brings developers before you looking for zoning changes. Even more campaign donations poured into his coffers. The Democratic Party assigned its top election lawyers to defend him against ballot challenges. But all this clout and power had a price. As he sided with developers over community groups, Solis lost support in Pilsen. In 2007 and 2011, he lost the Hispanic vote to Cuahutemoc Morfin, his challenger. But he won reelection thanks to big support from Chinatown and Little Italy—so much for Hispanic empowerment.
Solis: I want to get a good massage, with a nice ending. Do you know any good places? [Caldero says he does.]
On Tuesday, Mayor Rahm released another statement regarding Solis—and gone were the gratitude, praise, and talk of friendship. Instead, Rahm got right to the point: “Alderman Solis has communicated with my office his intent to resign as chairman. I commend him for making the right decision.”
