Mayor Rahm Emanuel talks about plans to upgrade the CTA Blue Line to O’Hare. (Credit: CBS)
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CHICAGO (CBS) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he thinks aldermen will stay “laser-focused” on reaching agreement on a remap plan to keep taxpayers from financing an expensive court fight.
As WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports, Mayor Emanuel says he is optimistic aldermen will agree – and the remap issue won’t have to be decided in court.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports
“I think the taxpayers will be surprised if they’re asked to spend $30 million on things that were just a few inches off from agreement, so my view is I think the aldermen know that, and as I always believed, that will keep them laser-focused on getting things resolved,” Emanuel said.
Having been involved in drawing some political lines before, Emanuel says, he knows how the process goes right before an agreement.
Presently, all sides in the remap battle say they hope to resolve their differences. But black and Latino aldermen are backing competing plans and heading for a floor fight.
City Council Latino Caucus leader Ald. Danny Solis (25th) says the caucus does not want a remap or court fight. They feel their proposal for new ward boundaries is fair.
But the City Council Black Caucus is backing a proposal that has the blessing of Council stalwarts such as Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) who is heading up the remap effort, and Ald. Patrick O’Connor (40th), who is close to Mayor Emanuel.
