By Bill Cameron
(CHICAGO) Under orders from a judge, the City Council today began hearing from the public for 30 minutes at all meetings.
Citizens were allowed to vent from a new microphone behind the railing at the rear of the city council chambers.
First in line was the man who speaks most often before city council committees, George Blakemore, who said “Black People! Let’s force them to do the right thing for our community!”
Then there was the ex-gang member Gator Bradley who now calls himself the Urban Translator, stating “If you don’t vote, you don’t matter!”
Rick Garcia, one of the plaintiffs who successfully sued to establish public comment at city council meetings complained that 30 mins is not enough, “Especially considering the hours you take honoring parishes, Boy Scout troops, heroes, retirees, sports teams, and the elderly and the dead.”
Mayor Emanuel and some of the aldermen were in attendance, but it was unclear if they were paying attention to the speakers.
@ 2017 WLS-AM News
