Bizarro Week

This has been a bizarro week. I have been snowed on, frozen, and left to wonder how it is that one CTA driver can make it to work on time but those who precede him cannot. Then, I took the opportunity to vote early since I won't be here on election day. This was after attending a Gordon coffee that I arrived at a day early. Thank goodness Jocelyn is a nice person and very understanding when confronted by a silver haired voter whose pertinent brain cells have frozen in place.

Today I voted early. Makes sense since I will be in Texas on Election day. I voted for Daley because, quite frankly, I don't know who is the better opponent.

Regarding the 49th, well let's deal with the Public Question first. I believe in living wages, yes I do. I have at least 2 sisters who would benefit, if they lived here, from an ordinance mandating a living wage. But when that ordinance is narrowly drawn to only impact a select few employers I must draw the line. The need and the benefit of a living wage is not limited to retailers with 90K+ square feet. My sisters work for a large and a small business respectively. Limiting a requirement for a living wage to those businessess with 90K+ square feet does nothing for employees of smaller busiensses with substantial gross receipts. Such an ordinance creates an unnecessary division between workers and fails to provide what it claims is its intent: a living wage. One's ability to draw a living wage should not be predicated on the size of one's employer.

Regarding the aldermanic candidates: Chris Adams never got out of the starting block for me, and JoMo has not impressed me with his tree-killers. The race boiled down to Ginderske vs Gordon and the latter won. It was not an easy victory either. So here's this voter's perspective:

1 - Gordon focuses on leadership issues, Ginderske focuses on his accomplishments - a draw for me
2 - Gordon has made public commitments about future campaigns, zero from Ginderske that I know of. Integrity does matter.
3 - Gordon and Ginderske have records showing that both are concerned about RP and willing to commit time and resources to its improvement. I have raised the issue of peak oil, and Gordon has committed to doing a risk assessment for the city while Ginderske wants to create a disaster recovery plan. I hope that both men will join together and address the issue of the city's vulnerability to events occurring on the international scene. If Iran blocks the Straits of Hormuz then 20% of the world's oil stops moving. An international issue will require a local response. I am ready to help whatever way I can in developing and acting on a recovery plan.
4 - Ginderske is relying, it appears, on email. That won't work for constituents who lack internet access.
5 - Although Tom Westgard criticized Gordon regarding his ability, or lack thereof, in carrying through on his plans, I would argue that Don is not the only person who should have acted on the agenda presented by the community groups he represented.. I lack sufficient knowledge of the internal workings of such groups in RP, but I do have a pretty good feel as to the response of the bureacracy when confronted with change. If there isn't a recognized leader sounding the charge, little work gets done. Was this the case with Gordon?
6 - I think Jim G has a lot to offer RP regardless of who wins, and I hope that his talents continue to be tapped for the benefit of the community.

That's my story and I am sticking to it.