Burt Natarus: "I'm a friend of workers. No, really!!"
Alderman Burt Natarus finds himself in quite a pickle. Tomorrow, Natarus will vote against the Big Box Ordinance and against giving roughly 10,000 working families in Chicago a raise. He'll also vote to give himself a pay raise, the second in four years. The last was 15%, to $98K a year. This one will be 12%, to $111K.
Desperate for any kind of political cover, Natarus is trying to drum up grassroots support to provide himself political cover. An e-mail sent out by Natarus' office today said:
Dear Neighbor:
Tomorrow, July 26th, the City Council will vote on a “Big Box” Ordinance that would establish a super-minimum wage just for large retail stores located in the City of Chicago. I will vote no on the ordinance and I need your support for my vote........Throughout my long career, I have been a strong supporter of unions and the right of workers to organize. I believe that I have been instrumental in creating more union jobs in this ward than have been created in any other ward in Chicago. I am proud of my support for worker’s rights, but this is an exceptional situation. On this singular issue, I cannot support the union position.
Just to recap: in the last year, Natarus has opposed a smoking ban that was backed by the city's restaurant workers, made discriminatory comments about female traffic control officers, and lambasted the employees of the United States Postal Service.
With a friend like Burt Natarus, working Chicagoans don't need enemies.
8 comments:
Burt is no doubt a nut and a goof but this is not a bad vote.
I am not pro-Walmart but common sense dictates that if you are going to shop in Niles or Evantson or Evergreen park you might as well shop in Chicago.
People need the jobs even if they are not perfect.
Don't bite off your nose to spite your face.
YDD, let's not forget, Natarus asked Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin if she was a "P*ssy"...now that's one charming gentleman! NOW wasn't too fond of that.
If memory serves me right, Natarus asked her this question as she was pressing him to explain his empassioned attack on the federally-appointed city government hiring monitor.
In fact, Natarus went one step further - defending the waste even more Chicago taxdollars to pay for a law firm to fight against the federal anti-corruption initiative.
The man has earned a bloated pension, now would he please do all of us Chicago newspaper readers (and bloggers) a super-big favor and go enjoy it?!?! Ugh.
Natarus may stink, but you should be honest and admit you're posting on behalf of his opponent, your buddy, Brendan Riley.
Just like Riley should be honest and tell everyone he worked for the Republicans in the Newt Gingrich Congress.
Yes, this is a race with two bad choices.
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, anyone?
There is a big difference b/t Brendan's work history as a young professional, (espcially in a ward with a lot of Republicans) and Burt's voting record and antics which have increasingly become out of step with his constituents. Time for a change.
I know Reilly and he never worked for the GOP in Newt Gingrich's Congress. During that time, he worked briefly for a Democrat in the U.S. Senate.
What should come as great comfort to Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike is that Paul Vallas trusted him to serve as his spokesman when he ran for governor. A lot of people miss Paul Vallas.
Sounds like a certain alderman is feeling the heat.
omg, a blog might be used to influence an election????
who would have thunk it?
whether or not ydd's motivation was to help brendan, natarus' actions are being talked about. in early research for the upcoming elections, i came across someone who told people he lived in a different ward, because he was tired of being embarrassed by his alderman. the municipal elections will definitely be referenda on the alderman -- not their opponents. unless you have a job on the line, it's hard to see why anyone would vote for "sideshow burt."
it used to be that people were proud of their neighborhoods!
I think Burt is losing it--time for a new Alderman? Can you say blowhard? I was at the meeting when he proceeded to embarass himself with this post office remarks. I am a Caucasian and joined in the jeering with African Americans in the peanut gallery...
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