Ald. Bernie Stone accuses unions of strong-arming colleagues over "big box" ordinance
Crossposted on Marathon Pundit. (And there is plenty of DePaul stuff to be found, too.)
Ald. Joe "No Foie Gras For Me" Moore is spearheading the Chicago City Council drive to raise the minimum wage for large "big box" retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target.
Moore, whose 49th Ward is not surprisingly lacking in attractive retail outlets, harrumphs that Wal-Mart and the like "can afford" to pay the higher wages.
Perhaps. But that doesn't make it less likely that these chains will open new stores in Chicago? Stores that aren't built here, won't employ Chicagoans.
Moore's neighbor to the west is 50th Ward Alderman Bernie Stone.
Bernie wants to block Moore's bill. And he had some interesting things to say yesterday to the Chicago Sun-Times:
"The unions have backed aldermen against the wall. They've threatened to fund opponents against them and to solicit opponents to run against" those who dare to oppose the big-box ordinance, Stone said
"I'm not stupid. I know certain aldermen have been threatened. That's the type of campaign the unions have run. I think it's despicable what's been done. They figure they've got us by the short hairs."
Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon, who has led the charge for the big-box ordinance, emphatically denied strong-arming aldermen.
9 comments:
If the ordinance passes, Wal Mart should do the American thing and get around it by building like 2 buildings side by side so that each is under the square footage alotment in the ordinance.
if the ordinance passes, Wal Mart should build in Palos Hills or some suburb but have a job fair for residents of the 49th ward. Or offer gift certificates for foie gras for 49th Ward residents.
Dump Joe Moore.
The unions are doing the same thing with hospitals on the charity care policy.
Go Bernie!
Stone generally hasn't stood up much to Moore; why is this time any different? The 50th ward had a super K mart, but it went out of business, which is ok, because there's an office max and a bank there now.
[Watching Flounder take abuse at ROTC]
Otter: He can't do that do that to our pledges.
Boon: Only we can do that to our pledges.
Bernie Stone sure hates some entry level employee might want a leg up and make enough money to go to McDonalds once a week, but, the City of Chicago Alderman think $100,00.00 is not enough. I bet an employee at Walmart works twice as hard as Bernie ever did at his part time job. Is Bernie Stone another Republican in a Democrats Clothes? Patrick McDonough
So, let's review: Bernie Stone is upset that the unions -- who want higher wages -- have said that they will recruit and support candidates who will support their agenda.
Agree or disagree with the agenda, isn't this the way democracy is supposed to work? Being an elected official is not a hereditary position in this country, recent events notwithstanding.
If a group doesn't like the way an alderman votes, isn't it their right to support his/her opponent in the next election? And then we have a debate on the issue, and the people decide. (Well, at least those who bother to vote.)
Oh, and he said "short hairs." Did he say that during debate?
Ummmm Jockey?
Not to nitpick, but that K Mart is a Home Depot now.
Other anon...
It's not the way democracy is supposed to work.
Wal-Mart is not a burning issue among the residents of Chicago. The unions are strong-arming Chicago's alderman to pursue their dubious national agenda.
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