CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With the Pullman National Monument officially in operation, both Mayor Lori Lightfoot and frequent critic Alderman Anthony Beale talked about cooperating on other South Side improvements. But they may not be singing from the same songbook.
Mayor Lightfoot and Alderman Tony Beale acknowledged each other in remarks during Sunday’s dedication of the Pullman National Monument. And both talked of seeing development in the Pullman and Roseland neighborhoods beyond the historic district.
Later, Mayor Lightfoot was asked if she can work with the man who often criticizes her.
"We cannot let Roseland continue to deteriorate in the way that it is. I am hoping we can actually work together with Alderman Beale, but we have great ambitions for Roseland and we are going to rally the community behind us," Lightfoot said.
WBBM Newsradio then asked Beale how it is going.
"I still have not heard from the mayor. We still have not had a meeting. We still have not had a phone conversation, so I welcome that conversation and I welcome that phone call any day of the week," Ald. Beale said.
Alderman Beale said he’s never been shy about asking for money for his beloved 9th Ward, and he’s determined to bring more improvements to the Roseland community.
He said, among other things, he wants a major hospital system to partner with Roseland Hospital to upgrade its level of care.
"We've got all this industrial work we've brought in with the Ross, Planet Fitness, Amazon, the community center, so we have brought a lot of industry already back into the area, so right now what we need in this community is to take the medical district, and take that and have an infusion of money, so we can start inquiring and bringing in the resources, because we know we have a health desert in the community," Beale said.
Both officials indicated change must happen for Roseland.
Related
