Chicagoans Line Up To Meet The New Mayor

CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM) -– Not long after his inauguration Monday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his wife and three children spent the afternoon hosting an open house on the fifth floor of City Hall.

The new mayor entered to the cheers of those waiting to shake his hand. He was joined by his wife, children and his parents.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780 Political Editor Craig Dellimore Reports

Downstairs, the line of well-wishers snaked through the City Hall lobby, out the door and onto the sidewalk.

Esther Hamilton brought her 8-month-old son, Charlie.

"This is history," she told CBS 2's Jim Williams. "I want to make sure this little guy is part of history. We came and saw Daley, so we're coming to see Rahm."

There was homemade art and even an old photo of a teen-aged Rahm Emanuel.

Before the actual handshaking began, Mayor Emanuel, surrounded by children who participated in his inauguration, signed executive orders imposing ethics rules.

"I can't think of anything better than to be the mayor of this city," he said.

It was an efficient afternoon. No time for long conversations, even with visitors like the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

From the time she got in line and shook the mayor's hand, Jocelyn Pinsler was there about an hour. She was a little disappointed at the abruptness of her meeting.

"It was just too fast," she said.

The mayor's office says about 1,500 people were at the meet-and-greet. At Emanuel's desk was a note from his predecessor, former Mayor Richard Daley, wishing the new mayor well.

Emanuel is using the desk that once belonged to Mayor Anton Cermak.

In a similar fashion, last week, exiting Daley hosted an open house to say farewell to average Chicagoans.