Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sat down with journalist Bill Kurtis Monday for a 30-minute interview that broadcast live on more than 40 radio stations. Kurtis read pre-submitted questions to the mayor, who primarily reiterated highlights from his September speech on violence and other common talking points.
WBEZ reporters Lauren Chooljian, Natalie Moore and Becky Vevea analyze the interview:
Chooljian: It felt like Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s “greatest hits.” He spoke about things he’s proud of and touts often: Method factory in Pullman, Whole Foods in Englewood, Mariano’s etc. While that might not be new information for people who follow Chicago politics closely, it could be new for some listeners.
Moore: They mayor ignored one of the major problems in the city -- segregation. As far as fixing violence, Emanuel reiterated his plan for more police officers, mentoring programs and took parents to task. These solutions ignore the structural problems in neighborhoods. He also said he is working with lawmakers in Springfield for stiffer gun sentences.
Vevea: Surprisingly, the mayor didn’t talk about public schools all that much. He did mention a program he launched during his first term called the Chicago STAR Scholarship. This program gives any CPS high school student with a 3.0 GPA average and at least a 17 on the ACT a scholarship to City Colleges of Chicago.
