As the new City Council was sworn in this week, aldermen said they were organizing themselves into five different, loosely defined blocs.
The Don’t Forget About Labor Caucus: Its members received donations from at least one of Chicago’s leading public-employee unions: SEIU, the Chicago Teachers Union, and AFSCME. Though smaller in size and influence than the Becky Carroll bunch, this group is supposed to make sure that the council occasionally listens to people other than the hedge fund operators, investment bankers, and other big-money donors who financed Chicago Forward and the mayor’s reelection. ▶ Members: Proco Joe Moreno (First), Pat Dowell (Third), Will Burns (Fourth), Leslie Hairston (Fifth), Roderick Sawyer (Sixth), Sue Sadlowski Garza (Tenth), Patrick Daley Thompson (11th), Toni Foulkes (16th), David Moore (17th), Willie Cochran (20th), Howard Brookins Jr. (21st), Rick Munoz (22nd), Danny Solis (25th), Jason Ervin (28th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), Nicholas Sposato (38th), Anthony Napolitano (41st)*, John Arena (45th)
The Wonk Caucus: This is the brainy collection of both mayoral supporters and critics who have one thing in common: they actually read the tedious redevelopment agreements, privatization deals, and other complicated shell games involving taxpayer money that the mayor demands they pass. In contrast, the vast majority of aldermen rely on talking points and summary sheets from the mayor’s office, if they read anything at all. As former alderman Richard Mell put it before casting his vote for the disastrous parking meter deal: “It’s like getting your insurance policy. It’s small print, OK?” ▶ Members: Pat Dowell (Third), Will Burns (Fourth), Leslie Hairston (Fifth), Scott Waguespack (32nd), John Arena (45th), Ameya Pawar (47th)
