Mayor Rahm Emanuel to hold two 'Town Hall Meetings' week of August 29, 2011
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will hold two "Town Hall Meetings" during the last week of August 2011, according to a August 25 announcement. According to the announcement, the meetings will be held on August 29 and August 31 and will include several mayoral aides available to answer community questions. The focus of each meeting will be on the development of the 2012 Chicago budget, which the mayor says he will bring before the City Council in October. The meetings will be held on and at:
Monday, August 29 at Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd Street. Doors Open at 6 p.m.
Followed by Chicago Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Jean-Claude Brizard (right rear), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel spent part of August 25, 2011, at U.S. Cellular Field for a "Faith Based Breakfast" to promote his public schools policies, including the mayoral demand that Chicago teachers work more hours for less money. Brizard is the only major city official who is not listed to be included in the August 29 and August 31 "Town Hall Meetings" announced on August 26 by the mayor. Brizard's CPS budget has been allowed to remain murky and mendacious despite Emanuel's claims that his regime is more "transparent" than past administrations. Substance photo by George N. Schmidt.Wednesday, August 31 at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard. Doors Open at 6 p.m.
The announcement follows as distributed:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. August 25, 2011
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL WILL LEAD CONVERSATION ABOUT CHICAGO’S FUTURE IN TWO OPEN TOWN HALLS NEXT WEEK
2012 Budget Ideas Will Be Discussed; More than 41,000 Votes about Ideas
Have Been Cast on www.ChicagoBudget.org
Mayor Emanuel reminded Chicagoans today that he will lead two public town hall discussions on the budget next week as an essential part of the process of developing the 2012 City budget proposal.
“My administration is committed to fostering a free and open discussion about our financial situation with the goal of working together to address our fiscal challenges for 2012 and beyond,” said Mayor Emanuel. “My door is open for any and all ideas that will save money, and I want to talk with people across Chicago to hear their thoughts and engage in a real discussion about the choices we must make.”
The town hall discussions will be held:
Monday, August 29 at Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd Street. Doors Open at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, August 31 at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard. Doors Open at 6 p.m.
The open town hall discussions will be interactive and focused on the issue of developing a balanced budget for 2012. The Mayor’s Office is encouraging attendees to arrive promptly at 6 pm. Mayor Emanuel will take questions about the budget from the assembled audience and address some other ideas proposed by Chicagoans. In addition, residents will be able to speak with representatives from several city agencies before and after the budget town halls to get more information on city services, As an additional resource, there will be a Tech Station with laptops and free wireless internet available.
Residents across Chicago can contribute ideas on how to address the City’s fiscal challenges as well as get information on the town hall locations and times by calling 312.744.6670, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. They can also log on to the City’s interactive budget website, www.ChicagoBudget.org, to submit ideas, get information and join the conversation.
The Mayor’s Office recently launched www.ChicagoBudget.org to help Chicagoans to engage in the budget process by submitting ideas and discussing options to get the city’s fiscal house in order. To date, more than 2,100 Chicagoans have posted more than 6,500 ideas for discussion. Contributors have cast more than 41,000 votes on those proposals.
Users have contributed a wide range of ideas, from adopting cost-saving technology to reducing reliance on paper, reducing the amount of overtime paid by the city and having city vehicles run on alternative fuels.
The Mayor’s staff and officials throughout City government have been examining these ideas carefully, providing feedback and considering what can be implemented. At the beginning of the month, Mayor Emanuel called some of the most active online contributors to thank them for sharing their ideas and hear more about their solutions for stabilizing Chicago’s finances.
Additionally, Budget Director Alex Holt, Deputy Mayor Mark Angelson, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, CTA President Forrest Claypool, Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair, Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein, Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Tom Byrne, Chief Sustainability Officer Karen Weigert, Chief Technology Officer John Tolva, Water Commissioner Thomas Powers, Housing Commissioner Andrew Mooney, Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Michelle T. Boone and Policy Director Mike Simmons have all joined the discussion, posting responses to contributors’ ideas on the www.ChicagoBudget.org forums. Mayor Emanuel will deliver his budget proposal to the City Council in October.
