There's a resurgence of an old gang North of Howard.
The 49th Ward Service Office took to the streets for the first time that I've lived here. It's known as a moving Satellite Service Office set up outside train stations on certain mornings. The original email blast stated they would be there "to meet with you, take requests for city services and assist you with any other matters of concern to you."
I always cross the street at Ashland and walk to the Howard el on the south side of Howard. This morning I walked on the north side of Howard to the stop light at Paulina. There was a new gang loitering outside the el with coffee and possibly other food. I didn't pay much attention to the table since The Man in the Suit was there. He was grabbing hands - some that were reluctant to shake his.
I was behind a six foot neighbor but Joe saw me coming. He very courteously and very professionally smiled at me from a slightly sunburned face. He pretended to happily greet me and smiled that extra big smile. I attempted a smile in return which should have been appropriately sufficient. Then he called over his shoulder to 'get her a banana'. Wanting to make sure I heard correctly above the din of trains and street noise, I said 'pardon me'? He chuckled ever so innocently and said 'oh, I just said to get you a banana'. Joe and his Ed McMahon (Dave Fagus) snickered like two naughty little boys. But Fagus was to Joe's right and if I recall correctly, Joe called over his left shoulder. Who's smiling face should appear from the doorway of Pete's Cafe? None other than 'Ward 49 Human Relations' staffer, Wayne Frazier.
Such professionalism to a constituent, just one of half the ward who did NOT vote for him.
'Speaking of bananas' I said as I reached into my carry-all, 'what are you doing about this?
The expected denial came fluttering out with a sarcastic insinuation that it could have been one of my 'friends' NOH. Certainly, I have friends NOH. His inference that some don't like me are certain ones who 'assisted' him in the dirtiest campaign of his career! Let's just say these assistants couldn't afford the postage to send hundreds of these little things or obtain the mailing lists without a little help!
The Man In The Suit once again lowered himself to his bully antics and in a public place. I'm 5' 2" and his tomfoolery made him look much smaller than me. Joe feels obligated to chastize one blogger for his meeting antics, (or lack of social graces) yet fails to note that frequently his demeanor is on much the same level that he mocks in another!
Isn't the alderman supposed to support all constituents? If this will be his attitude for the next four years then apparently he hasn't learned much at all. So much for the 'matters that concern you'.
On a side note: A neighbor who campaigned for Gordon had a 'front yard fire' about 9:00PM last night. Charcoal briquets were set afire with an apparent large dose of accelerant causing flames to spiral upward. Neighbors doused the fire with water before it spread to a nearby tree. No perps were seen much less apprehended. Too bad the alderman wasn't there to stomp it out with his fine Italian shoes.
Let's hope he's nearby if the perps try it again right?
Links
12 comments:
I wish I had been there to see that go down. The fact that you had that pink postcard in your purse is awesome.
Why can't they just apologize anyway? I mean take the high road. That would show some real character.
Trust me, I have pink postcards everywhere! Nearly 600 have been 'returned to sender'. Wonder if any of those unknowns voted at the old address?
Oh Joe kind of apologized in an email but had to mention that he understood how it felt since he'd been the object of ridicule and etc. on blogs. Fact remains, I wasn't an aldermanic candidate, so that more or less diluted the apology part.
Nice to know our elected officials are so mature and altruistic that they can rise above election squabbles to be public servants for their *entire* constituency.
Since half of the ward did NOT vote for Moore, he's going to have a lot of snubbing to do ...
It really takes a lot of chutzpah equate an elected official's being "ridiculed on the blogs" to a private, unaffluent citizen's being harrassed and intimidated repeatedly by anonymous but clearly well-financed people.
Nobody has burned anything on Joe's front lawn,nor conducted a campaign of harrassment and intimidation against him, or his girlfriend, or any of his associates, no one has sent out scurrilous postcards in his name, and no one has set the dogs at city hall on him to see how many code violations they can find on his decrepitating shack over on Fargo.
Joe better hope that being "ridiculed by bloggers" is the worst damn thing that ever happens to him.
That's nothing compared to being "ridiculed", among other degradations, by your fellow inmates at a federal lockup. Maybe Joe will get to experience THAT, and then he can talk about how mistreated he's been.
Good Lord,
At least you got a smile and a handshake out of him. More than I've been able to do!!! You are 5' 2" of tough girl. Flog him like a dead horse!!!
One other thing. I clearly recall Joe saying at the first debate at the Good News Church, something akin to the following. "I see alot of opposing campaign buttons in the audience. That's O.K., I'll serve you too."
So what happened Joe?
> Since half of the ward did NOT vote for Moore, he's going to have a lot of snubbing to do ...
AND, since he and his sidekicks don't know everyone on that side they might want to consider just doing their jobs, right?
Heaven forbid if one of those lying, libelous bloggers picks up on those tidbits of favoritism.
> It really takes a lot of chutzpah equate an elected official's being "ridiculed on the blogs"
NC, Joe takes everything very personally and for an alderman, and a lawyer, that's poor form. Playing that race card with his 'human relations' directors longtime guidance is deplorable. If a person class, his plans and is worthy of the post, then why the gang banger games? Basic insecurity.
Look at the headlines about Stroger baby, the Democratic party plans to send us all into tailspins and they're snickering and chuckling about it? Then when they gain some composure and breath, tell us 'they care'. Like hell they do.
Margot - I didn't shake his hand, had no intention of doing so. I was taught to rise above the crap others lay out. So I decided a simple smile was polite enough - he couldn't handle it. He had to show off with his pals.
My mother would cross the street to avoid a jackass, I won't.
Setting a fire on someone's front lawn is sick and scary, and of course it's a felony.
The fact that no injuries resulted is only a lucky break. This fire could have turned catostrophic with incredible ease and taken out the whole neighborhood. The dry, windy weather we've been having steeply elevates the risk of an uncontrollable and rapidly spreading blaze, as witness the blaze on the south side that jumped across the street to an operating factory, and then to places a half-mile away, and scariest of all, dry brush.
The more I thought about it today, the angrier I got.
If apprehended, the perp should be looking at lots of free meals at the House of Many Doors.
Given that Joe has a long-term association with a convicted arsonist, who contributed money up through this past January for a total of more than $9000, he cannot blame anyone for being suspicious. You're judged by the company you keep, especially if it contributes big $$ to get you re-elected. Yes, I WILL continue to beat this particular horse.
Luckily, the homeowner had watered the lawn earlier in the evening which no doubt prevented a grass fire.
Ultimately, the person in power (and one who does associate with some undesirable people) must be accountable. Is mischief or insult being spread to every single person who had a Gordon sign, button, yellow hat? It would NOT surprise me. When I first moved here, as a newbie, I was told the man was very vindictive as were some of his slumlord pals.
And, let's not mention the evil intentions of some of his little judges and pollwatchers! Did everyone know that O.N.E. 'sponsored' pollwatching and then joined him for his fizzled victory party? Joe came into Pct. 1 and invited them.
Another not-for-profit politickin and probably paid too! I'm sure that one 'pollwatcher' in Gale School was well paid!
So everyone can gather at the river tonight and 'help' that poor misunderstood, liberal, caring man. If or when they come to their senses they'll hire an accountant to do some auditing. Joe's been oh so tolerant and gracious to that person too.
Toni,this is the sort of thing that makes people wonder if they really ought to buy a place in this ward.
Believe me, such a consideration made me back off Uptown, or at least give the idea a lot of long thought.
But where do you go? I have lived in three major cities, and I never was in one where fighting the local politicos didn't net you this type of harrassment. It is very commonplace, and it ranges from petty to unbelievably violent. Even rich people have been financially ruined. Murders have happened. Believe me, it can get much worse than this. I won't bore you with examples from St. Louis.
We MUST reclaim the democratic right to protest without fear of crimanal reprisals, because there isn't a single ward in this city, or a single suburb, where you are safe from this type of thing.
Joe "kind of" apologized in an email and compared it to being ridiculed on blogs?
REALLY?
He belongs in a textbook.
Joe also came into the precinct where I was poll watching (at St. Margaret Mary) and invited them to his victory party. There were actually 2 precincts in SMM. He hit them both. Don Gordon visited but stayed out of the areas he was not supposed to be. He played by the rules.
Post a Comment