RAHMWATCH: 'Steelworkers Park' dedication on May 9 had everything Rahm could want -- except actual steelworkers up font...
Chicago's mayor, fresh from his electoral victory, was dedicating an entity called "Steelworkers Park," while anubbing the most powerful steelworkers in the area -- including the woman who had just been elected alderman of the 10th Ward, defeating a Rahm loyalist in a hotly contested runoff... How many contradictions can one photo hold? When Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel came to Chicago's southeast side to dedicate the new �Steelworkers Park� and the statue dedicated to families of steelworkers, most of the speeches were empty phrases to honor the working class -- and Steelworkers Pard was dedicated, while snubbing the most prominent steelworkers nearby.
An organized group of 25 retired steelworkers, members of SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees), were present including Ed Sadlowski. He worked all his life at South Works and was elected USW Local 65 union President in the early 1970's. No one from SOAR was given permission to speak although they had been part of the planning committee from the beginning.
The newly elected 10th Ward Alderman, Sue Sadlowski Garza was present, but stayed in the back of the crowd. Her non presence was another of the contradictions many observers noted as Rahm Emanuel spoke from the front.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wore his cool guy leather while giving a speech at the dedication of Steelworkers Park on Chicago's southeast side on May 9. One fact about the event was that Rahm was standing with the defeated ex-alderman of the 10th Ward, John Pope (above right) during the event, while Rahm's team had snubbed the newly elected alderman of the ward, Sue Sadloswki Garza. Rahm's snub of Garza was the more dramatic, given the nature of the event, because Garza was daughter of the former president of the United Steelworks, Ed Sadlowski. Excluding actual steelworkers from a "Steelworkers Park" event may be typical Rahm, but it will be long remembered down where steel once was the major industry. Substance photo by David Vance. The mayor also known as "Mayor One Percent" really wanted the audience to believe that he cares about the workers, the unemployed, and life in the neighborhoods. And so he stood at the podium with Alderman John Pope (who was still trying to get a recount after his defeat by Sue Sadlowski Garza for 10th Ward Alderman) and dedicated a statue. But the daughter of the former head of the Steelworkers Union, Sue Sadlowski Garza, was ignored.
The major contradiction was the ex-10th Ward Alderman, John Pope. Pope was given the mic and spoke about all the unity of the groups that made the event possible. But, he did not mention that the real steelworkers from USS South Works, members of SOAR, were not included in the final coalition meetings for over six months. Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary - Treasurer Bob Reiter was given the mic, but he couldn�t pronounce Alice Peurala's name correctly. Alice was the last South Works, USW Local 65 President. She tried to stop the steel mill from closing and was recognized as one of the most powerful women in the unions 25 years ago.
For most of the event, it was a classic show of city officials who say the right things but do not take what they into action. Larry Spevick, Labor Historical Society, called out for every steelworker to hold up their hands; this was the only bit of reality at the statue unveiling.
