Chicagoans Reflect On Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Legacy, Choose His Replacement

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Beijing, Thursday, July 12, 2018. Emanuel, on a mission to salvage business deals threatened by a tariff war, says Chinese officials expressed confidence during his visit to Beijing that they can survive the spiraling dispute with Washington.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Beijing, Thursday, July 12, 2018. Emanuel, on a mission to salvage business deals threatened by a tariff war, says Chinese officials expressed confidence during his visit to Beijing that they can survive the spiraling dispute with Washington. Mark Schiefelbein / AP Photo
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Beijing, Thursday, July 12, 2018. Emanuel, on a mission to salvage business deals threatened by a tariff war, says Chinese officials expressed confidence during his visit to Beijing that they can survive the spiraling dispute with Washington.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Beijing, Thursday, July 12, 2018. Emanuel, on a mission to salvage business deals threatened by a tariff war, says Chinese officials expressed confidence during his visit to Beijing that they can survive the spiraling dispute with Washington. Mark Schiefelbein / AP Photo

Chicagoans Reflect On Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Legacy, Choose His Replacement

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As Chicago voters head to the polls today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is not up for re-election, but his legacy looms large. During his tenure, Mayor Emanuel has emphasized Chicago’s status as a “global city” that businesses from around the world can call home. Critics have argued that this emphasis on global business serves only the Loop, ignoring economically disenfranchised areas of the city. Some have even chosen to dub the mayor, “Mayor 1%.” While in office, Mayor Emanuel has traveled abroad on several business missions, committed to expanding O’Hare Airport’s international routes, taken on some of the commitments of the Paris Agreement on climate change and insisted that Chicago become a sanctuary city. To discuss Mayor Emanuel’s global legacy, we’re joined by Juliana Kerr, director of global cities and immigration at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and co-creator of the Chicago Forum on Global Cities, as well as Kari Lydersen, co-director of the Social Justice News Nexus, a fellowship program at Northwestern University.