SUBSCRIPT: Emanuel teams up with Goldman Sachs for high profile publicity for the predatory investment bank
The event wasn't on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's public calendar on Monday, February 13, 2012, but as sure as Goldman Sachs is the 2012 poster corporation for the international financial plutocracy, Rahm touted Wall Street in a shake-and-bake media package for those who don't want to cover an event themselves. Chicago's mayor, who "earned" $18 million in three years as a "relationship banker" between his time in the Clinton Administration and his stint as a Congressman in Chicago, has kept his ties with the one percent hot, as the following shows. Remember, the February 13 media event was a major one, but reporters were not invited. Chicago's mayor then issued a complete media package the next day, so that everyone would get the story "right."
For any news organization that wants to get its "news" straight from Rahm Emanuel, the above photograph was provided the day after Rahm promoted the Goldman Sachs "10,000 small businesses" program. But reporters were not informed of the above event prior to it. Since Christmas, Emanuel has been scripting more media events like this one and avoiding reporters as much as possible, refusing to answer specific questions about what he's doing and insulting reporters who ask questions that don't follow his scripts. On February 14, the Mayor's Press Office provided the media with the following materials (and photograph).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. February 14, 2012. CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office. 312.744.3334
press@cityofchicago.org
MAYOR EMANUEL VISITS WITH GOLDMAN SACHS 10,000 SMALL BUSINESSES SCHOLARS
Joined by Goldman Sachs Leadership to Learn About Chicago-area Small Businesses Participating in $25 Million Program.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel met Monday afternoon with the 37 Chicago-area small business owners selected to participate in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in Chicago, hosting a roundtable discussion.
"I wanted to bring this program to Chicago because I want our small businesses to have access to the same skill sets and opportunities that the largest companies in the world have," said Mayor Emanuel. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they are a crucial link between our neighborhoods and our downtown area. We are one city, with one vision, and one future. Small businesses are a part of that."
The Mayor was joined by Gary Cohn, President and Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs, as well as Dina Habib Powell, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
The event Monday afternoon came at about the halfway point of the coursework for the businesses, who have been taking classes on a weekly basis as well as individual mentoring sessions.
"10,000 Small Businesses is designed to help businesses expand and ultimately create jobs," said Gary Cohn. “The program is a natural extension of the role we’ve played in Chicago for more than a century, and we’re pleased to work here with partners like the City of Chicago and City Colleges of Chicago.” Chicago joined 10,000 Small Businesses in 2011, joining New York, Long Beach, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Houston. According to preliminary results in other cities, 75 percent of the participants have experienced measurable revenue growth, and over 50 percent have created new jobs.
Goldman Sachs made a $25 million investment in Chicago -- $20 million of which will support lending to small businesses and $5 million of which will support training.
The Chicago group will continue to take classes and pursue studies in the program until their graduation this summer.
"I'm glad we have this program," Mayor Emanuel said. "There is great potential here, and there is diversity here. If people saw this they'd have all the confidence I have in Chicago's future."
