Jane Byrne wants to be mayor again? Can we really stand another four-year roller coaster ride, or have we forgotten so soon? The mistress of reverse decision-making, the queen of swinging door policies and dubious appointments in high places would prefer we forget a few hilarities which time does not heal quickly.
Have we forgotten Jane`s highly paid secretary, whose family members wound up in high-paying city jobs? Can we forget the two girlfriends of daughter Kathy who helped in the campaign being placed in $17,000 jobs? Can we forget a fir chief who sprayed the ”Spiderman” climbing the Sears Tower, thus endangering his life? Can we forget a Police Department that was exposed by Pam Zekman as ”killing crime”–and a police chief who has been accused of misuse of funds? Ad what about the chief of public health–a very fine doctor, personal friend of Jane, who had no experience in public health? Do you remember the bad decision of closing up local child health stations and the $90,000 spent in public relations to enhance the department`s image? Have we forgotten the published large bonuses handed out to those close to the mayor upon her departure?
That this emotional bender of four years was replaced by a low-class circus act that has made Chicago the laughing stock in American political circles leaves us taxpayers with a serious challenge this time around. There must be someone out there who is capable of holding the city together.
