I read a piece of literature that stated: “Richard M. Daley has been mayor of Chicago since 1989.  He has reformed education and public housing, strengthened community policing and overseen construction of billions of dollars of schools, libraries, police stations and infrastructure, as well as the renovation of Soldier Field and the creation of Millennium Park.”

This must have been a marketing piece written by someone who either loves Daley, is getting paid a nice penny or clearly does not live on the South Side.  While I agree that he renovated Soldier Field, created Millennium Park and did well with some infrastructure, I would argue about the rest of the noted “accomplishments.”

First of all, he did not reform education or public housing. If he did, he didn’t do it on the South Side. Efforts were put into community policing ,but the reduction of the force is not helping to fight crimes in high-crime areas. There was lots of money invested in construction projects, but for some reason, the police stations look so much better than the schools on my side of town. And, without actually knowing, I am almost certain that he put so much more money in police stations than in education.

As for public housing, I really don’t know where to begin. I do know that tearing down building and moving people to other communities without proper communication and acclimation on both parties’ parts was not the best ideas King Richard has over come up with.

On a more positive note, he gets much credit for the libraries. I don’t have a problem with facilities; however, some of the staff members need a little polishing.

Image: Brackwall