Connected to Chicago - 05-31-14

Connected to Chicago with Bill Cameron

Connected to Chicago - 05-31-14 -- This week's newsmaker is president of the Chicago Teachers Union; Karen Lewis. -- Issues discussed include: The upcoming elections and what the union is doing in preparation.
What ever happened to teaching civics in the CPS. It's there, kind of, but not in the way it was when Lewis was a student.

The nature of public schools seems to be highly political, but beyond the constitution test, kids really do not learn about the election process.

Lewis explains goal achievement using backwards mapping... It's something the CTU is using to plan for the 2019 elections and master plan of the CPS.

We are not working for the re-election of Rahm Emanuel. The front leader for his replacement is Toni Preckwinkle. Bob Fioretti is on the list of possible candidates. What makes Toni Preckwinkle the superior candidate to replace Rahm.

Lewis claims that she is not a politician and rules herself out of the running to replace Rahm. The CTU could push their agenda if they had a friend on the 5th floor of City Hall.

Speculating on what might push Preckwinkle, Bill asks for Karen's perspective, which remains positive for Preckwinkle should she toss her name into the race.

Can 'Harold Fever' referring to the Harold Washington campaign of 1983, be found again in the black community going into the upcoming mayoral race?

The Neo-liberal movement of Rahm has caused die-hard liberals to reconsider his place in the mayor's office. Lewis claims that many residents feel neglected by the mayor who seems to 'lack a plan and a vision for the entire city'.

Closing traditional schools and promoting charter schools is something that Lewis claims hasn't worked to improve the neighborhoods and lifestyle.

'He needs to move on to something he is comfortable with.' says Karen Lewis

When asked if Rahm's combative nature actually hurts him.... Lewis says they have not spoken since he 'cussed me out' back in 2011. Lewis concludes, 'It would be so much fun to work towards fixing the problems, but that isn't on the agenda.'

In the Round Table, host Bill Cameron along with Greg Hinz of Crain's Chicago Business, Lynn Sweet of the Sun-Times, and Ray Long of the Tribune discuss the resignation of Eric Shinseki, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Down in Springfield, the action is hot and fast as work progresses on passing a budget as well as changes in the management structure of the Lincoln Library. The White House released a statement about changes in the policy towards deporting undocumented immigrants. Has President Obama weakened in his second term, and is Pat Quinn going to be able to extend the temporary tax rate in the state.

Finally, Nick Gale focuses on this weekend's "Stand Down" event which helps connect homeless veterans to services including government benefits for healthcare, housing, clothing and food. Many groups and organizations are participating and they expect to help some 700 - 800 veteran's in some way. This is a semi-annual event put on by the Chicago Veterans Economic Development Council.