- Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times Media
- Incoming 35th Ward alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa has vowed not to become a mayoral rubber stamp.
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa says it’s clear why he and more than a dozen other newcomers have been elected to the Chicago City Council, and why Mayor Rahm Emanuel had to fight so hard for his own reelection.
But as he well knows, these aren’t exactly promises till death do us part.
In 2007, SEIU and other labor groups vowed to stir things up. After they poured millions of dollars into ward races, 11 new aldermen were elected. Several of the aldermen eventually formed the progressive caucus, which emerged as the leading opponent of Emanuel’s agenda. Others created the more conciliatory Paul Douglas Alliance and became consistent supporters of the mayor’s.
“My message to the progressive caucus has been that ‘I don’t intend to join your ranks, but you’ll be surprised by the number of times I side with you,’” says Brian Hopkins, who won the runoff for alderman of the Second Ward.
Ramirez-Rosa says he was elected to ensure that resources are going into the city’s neighborhoods, and he won’t back any other agenda, no matter what it’s called.
