Mayor Rahm Emanuel Has a Reported $9 Million to Spend on His Re-Election Bid
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Vol. XXVI Number 1 FALL 2014 The race for City Hall Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a reported $9 million to spend on his re-election bid. Is it enough to win, especially among black Chicagoans catalyst-chicago.org anxious about schools and jobs? A Publication of the Community Renewal Society From the Editor A campaign for good schools and jobs By Lorraine Forte ments on Cottage Grove are being revi- White households with an income Editor-in-Chief talized, small businesses have popped of $100,000 a year now outnumber up—a coffee shop here, a clothing store black households by a 6-to-1 ratio. ive months from now, Chicago there—and pothole-riddled streets have Responding to these and other num- voters will go to the polls to been repaved. But perceptions die hard. bers, the mayor’s office points to success choose whether to send Mayor Consider the citywide statistics be- stories such as Chicago Neighborhoods Rahm Emanuel back to City low, compiled with the help of The Chi- Now, projected to target $2.9 billion al- FHall for another term. It’s no secret cago Reporter from city, Chicago Public together to projects in seven communi- that Emanuel is not popular right now Schools and federal data: ties that include predominantly black among Chicagoans. But whether or not Bronzeville, Pullman and Englewood. Chicago has the highest black unem- another candidate can ride the wave of Whatever the statistics, one thing is ployment rate among the nation’s five discontent into the mayor’s office is still largest cities—25 percent, compared clear: There is plenty yet to be done to a big question mark. His highest-profile to 19 percent in Philadelphia, 18 per- ensure that all Chicagoans have an equi- challengers are Cook County Commis- cent in Los Angeles, 15 percent in table share of economic and educational sioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and 2nd Houston and 14 percent in New York opportunity. Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti, who face an up- City—based on 2013 figures. hill battle to gather enough signatures to Public sector jobs, traditionally a THE MAYOR’S POPULARITY in the black get on the ballot, not to mention money route to middle-class success for community took a major hit with last to run a serious campaign. But given the African-Americans, have been van- year’s closings of 50 schools. Then there’s mayor’s approval rating of 35 percent in ishing in recent years. But city work- the rest of Emanuel’s education policies: one recent Chicago Tribune poll, don’t ers from black ZIP codes account for Charters and other privately run schools write off his challengers yet. 40 percent of the 5,000 city jobs lost have mostly opened in black neighbor- Emanuel has cited the country’s lag- since 2009 (two years before Emanu- hoods, often in the face of local opposi- ging economy as a major factor in his el took office). tion; black teachers have been hardest dismal poll numbers. And nowhere is Those layoffs don’t include the 1,691 hit by layoffs; and the achievement gap the economic outlook as bleak as in Chi- school system employees from black remains widest for black students. cago’s black neighborhoods, where he ZIP codes who lost their jobs since In this joint issue of Catalyst In Depth faces his toughest sell for a second term. 2011. and The Chicago Reporter, Deputy Editor Black Chicago turned out in droves for Sarah Karp examines the potential effect Emanuel, giving him nearly six out of ev- on the mayor’s policies on his re-election ery 10 votes cast in predominantly black MAKING A CHOICE bid. Associate Editor Melissa Sanchez ex- wards. That support is now turned on its Many parents opt to send their children plains how the Chicago Teachers Union head: Nearly six in 10 black Chicagoans, to schools they believe offer better and its progressive allies are seeking to according to the Tribune poll, disap- learning—that happen to be charter make inroads in City Hall. Sanchez also prove of Emanuel’s job performance. schools or other schools that are run talked with former mayoral candidate by private operators. But there has It’s not hard to see why the mayor Miguel del Valle about the upcoming been a backlash against their expansion has lost African-American support. I see under Mayor Emanuel, by critics election and the state of Latino political the signs in my own Woodlawn neigh- who say privatization undermines power in the city. And the Reporter’s Ade borhood, where a community mental neighborhood schools and drains them Emmanuel explores the reasons behind health clinic shut down, the jobless hang of money and good students. the city’s high black unemployment rate out at 63rd and Cottage Grove, virtu- at chicagoreporter.com. ally every street has abandoned homes PRIVATE OPERATORS 2010 2014 marked with a red “X” and awaiting de- In black communities 18% 31% STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS about “Educa- molition, and two schools were among Latino 13% 23% tion: Then, Now, Next. Celebrating 25 dozens shuttered last year. Yes, there are Mixed (white/Latino) 13% 16% years of Catalyst Chicago.” We’ll have a other hopeful signs. A school that took White 3% 7% range of activities, from forums around in displaced children is now a specialty town to an online almanac featuring Source: Catalyst Chicago analysis of Chicago Public STEM (science, technology, engineering Schools data. education highlights. We look forward to and math) school, the Grove Parc apart- your participation in the celebration. 2 Catalyst In Depth Fall 2014 Table of Contents The mission of Catalyst Chicago is to improve the education of all children through authoritative journalism and leadership of a constructive dialogue among students, parents, educators, community leaders and policy makers. Publisher & Founder Presentation Editor Linda Lenz Christine Wachter Editor-In-Chief Copy Editor Lorraine Forte Charles Whitaker Deputy Editor Intern Sarah Karp Hannah Lin Community Editor Photographers Victoria Jones William Camargo Grace Donnelly Associate Editor Jonathan Gibby Melissa Sanchez Emily Jan EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Carmen Rodriguez, chair Alan Mather, vice chair Cate Cahan Syrennia McArthur-Hanshaw Anthony Cappetta Bronwyn McDaniel Gabriel Cortez Anne Prendergast Brenda Eiland Williford Tara Shelton Rod Estvan Anand Sukumaran Jana Fleming Susan Volbrecht Madelyn James Greg White Michael Lach Teresa White Ignacio Lopez Ilana Zafran Efrain Martinez Mayor Rahm Emanuel has reached out to black clergy to try and win support among African- Catalyst Chicago is an editorially independent news Americans. In September, he was with Rev. Christopher Harris of Bright Star Church for the launch of service of Community Renewal Society. Catalyst In the Bronzeville Dream Center, a program to combat violence and provide counseling and support to Depth is published four times a year. The opinions victims. [Photo by William Camargo] expressed in Catalyst are not necessarily those of CRS. 111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 820 Chicago, Illinois 60604 catalyst-chicago.org (312) 427-4830, Fax: (312) 427-6130 [email protected] The race for City Hall OUR SUPPORTERS: Catalyst is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, The Chicago Community Trust, Ford Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry obs and schools promise to be top issues DATA GUIDE Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in next year’s city elections. The mayor’s Robert R. McCormick Foundation, McDougal Family PAGE 11 Foundation, Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Jeducation agenda faces its toughest test in Polk Bros. Foundation, Spencer Foundation and by the African-American communities that gave him A map shows which memberships and contributions from individuals. Chicago communities strong support in 2011. COVER STORY: PAGE 4 MEMBERSHIP have lost the most educators since 2010. Catalyst In Depth is a benefit of membership. Join From the classroom to City Council? online at catalyst-chicago.org/support-catalyst or call 14 How attrition among (312) 427-4830. More than a half-dozen educators are running for aldermanic seats in February’s city elections. black teachers and SERVICES administrators ADVERTISING To place an ad in print or online, contact Linda Lenz at (312) 673-3848 or Asking the hard questions compares with that 20 of white and Latino [email protected]. Chicago’s next leader must tackle economic inequality and educators EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS Free. Weekly news alerts ensure opportunity for all, says Miguel del Valle. The former and issue updates. Chicago city clerk talks about why voters need a vigorous Do children who ON THE WEB Back issues, a timeline history of debate before the mayoral election and what’s at stake. choose to attend school reform, citywide education statistics and more. schools outside of their neighborhoods LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Include the writer’s full name, title and contact actually end up at information for verification. Letters should be limited Join the conversation better ones? to 200 words and may be edited for space and clarity. On our website: On Twitter: On Facebook: Send them to the attention of the Editor. catalyst-chicago.org @CatalystChicago CatalystChicago COVER PHOTO BY © 2014 Community Renewal Society. GRACE DONNELLY catalyst-chicago.org 3 The Race for City Hall hen Rahm Emanuel ran for mayor four years ago, African-American voters pulled him across the finish line without a run-off. He won about six out of every 10 votes cast in predominantly black wards—largely on the say-so of his former boss, President Barack WObama. But as the February mayoral election nears, Emanuel’s approval ratings among the voters who carried him to City Hall have tumbled, according to a Chicago Tribune poll.