Rahm Emanuel Faces New Test With Chicago Pension Crisis
"In the mind. In human memories."
CHICAGO----Jumping from city-hall meetings to public-school classrooms in his black SUV, Rahm Emanuel worked to buff his image as the hard-driving mayor of the nation's third-largest city in the CNN TV series "Chicagoland." But the biggest challenge he faces as his first term ends isn't so camera ready.
"In memory. Very well, then. We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?"
On the eve of his re-election bid, Mr. Emanuel is confronting one of the nation's most underfunded municipal pension systems. Pushing him to act is Chicago's deteriorating credit rating and a growing risk that the retirement funds could run dry. The mayor also has tried to portray himself as an elected official unafraid to tackle tough issues.
"But how can you stop people remembering things?" cried Winston again momentarily forgetting the dial. "It is involuntary. It is outside oneself. How can you control memory? You have not controlled mine!"
So far, Mr. Emanuel, a Democrat, is seeking to raise property taxes by $250 million and shrink retirement benefits for most city workers and retirees. But his administration has months of work ahead as it tries to sell aldermen, state officials, unions and the public on a complex plan that is only starting to take shape.
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