CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — In their final meeting before a new City Council is sworn in, Chicago alderpersons praised each other and two, very notable outgoing officials: Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Ald. Ed Burke (14th).
Ald. David Moore (17th) said Lightfoot will be remembered for making good on the promise to invest on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
“Because anybody after you has to do it now,” Moore said. “They have to focus on the South and West Sides of Chicago. They have to make sure they’re doing a Marshall plan — whatever they call it.”
Even Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), who often clashed with the mayor, said he’s proud of the things they did together.
“You faced many challenges these past four years; there’s no denying that,” he said. “And while you and I disagreed on how to respond to those challenges, you always did what you thought was right.”
Burke, who’s had some 55 years on the council, is stepping aside amid federal bribery and racketeering charges. But in the final meeting of the council’s term, he received much praise from his colleagues.
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), who will now become the council’s longest serving member, recalled that Black businesses and contractors would seek out Burke instead of African American aldermen.
“I used to be like, ‘Why y’all go to Ed Burke and y’all don’t come and ask us for nothing,’” he said. “Ed Burke used to take care of a lot of the Black businessmen that a lot of people did not know about.”
Ald. Nick Sposato (38th) recalled his first days as an alderman in 2011.
“You were a legend, Ed, and I came here and one thing I was really nervous about was meeting Ed Burke rather than everybody else, but you were the truest of gentlemen that I’ve ever met in my life,” Sposato said.
Burke, who’s answered few questions since his indictment, did say how he feels leaving City Hall.
“It’s bittersweet, but as the scripture says, ‘There’s a time for everything,’” he said.
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