TBT NEWS UPDATE

POLITICS AS USUAL

Special Correspondent: COAL

COAL commends State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford and State Rep. Mary E. Flowers for introducing legislation (HB4356) that would create a process for the Recall of the Mayor of Chicago. It was politically courageous. We believed that it required legislation that we're also surprised to have found that does not exist (but then again this is the City of Chicago within the State of Illinois).

And yes, we do have an existing process for removing officials - that process is called an election. However, there are also times, as history has shown us, when an official's performance can be so problematic and/or said official is a central part of activities that are so egregious, so untrustworthy, that said official loses the trust and confidence of the people, then a recall process is in order. Recall legislation should be in place for any and all executive offices.

Mary E. Flowers Call it a legislative emergency response and preparedness plan for non-performing elected executives. Call it a process that represents an emergency board meeting for the business (the City of Chicago) by the voting stockholders (its residents registered to vote) to oust the sitting Chairman (the Mayor of Chicago) by a vote of no confidence (a Recall petition and possible Recall Election). This is where 'run government like a business' should really be applied. So whether you have confidence in the Mayor or not, whether you believe that he covered up the murder of LaQuan McDonald to get re-elected or not, whether you believe that he has demonstrated extremely poor leadership or not, whether you believe that he should be re-called or not....everyone should support a process that gives the citizens of Chicago that legal and lawful capability: The ability to 'pull this lever in the event of an emergency.' Our democracy and this city deserves no less. COAL asks that you support this legislation by contacting your respective State Representative and State Senator, asking each to support this Recall Bill, HB4356. (Clarence Wood, Chairman and Craig Wimberly, President & Chair Public Policy, are board members of Coalition of African American Leaders / COAL)

TBTNEWS ALERT ComEd Working to Restore Outage A nasty winter weather pattern packing frozen rain and wind gusts of 50 miles per hour that swept through the Midwest left over 60,000 ComEd customers without power as of 5 p.m. Monday. ComEd workers have restored power to over 40,000 of those customers who have been impacted by the storm, leaving more than 25,000 customers remain without power. ComEd expects to restore the majority of the remaining affected customers by Tuesday evening. Pockets of outages in the hardest hit areas in Lee, LaSalle, and Livingston Counties may not be restored until Wednesday. ComEd crews, who are working 16 hour shifts, are facing particularly hazardous weather and icy driving conditions that make it hard to move safely. In addition, ComEd is reaching out to utility workers in neighboring states to help with the restoration. “Crews are battling the elements and treacherous road conditions as foul weather continues to blanket the Chicagoland area,” said Terence R. Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer for ComEd. “Our crews have been working around the clock making sure that they are restoring customers’ power quickly and safely.” ComEd urges customers to contact the utility immediately if they experience a power outage by testing OUT to 26633 (COMED). Customers can also call 1-800-334-7661, or report it at ComEd.com. Additionally, ComEd has introduced a mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones that gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts.