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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,896 posts)
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 06:41 PM Nov 2020

RANTS Rahm Emanuel Shouldn't Be Biden's Transportation Secretary -- Or Hold Any Other Public Office

RANTS

Rahm Emanuel Shouldn’t Be Biden’s Transportation Secretary — Or Hold Any Other Public Office

Miles Kampf-Lassin
Today 3:00PM • Filed to: RAHM EMANUEL

On June 14, 2018, Rahm Emanuel, then the mayor of Chicago, joined Elon Musk for an underground press conference in the bowels of the city’s downtown. The location was the site of an abandoned project from the mid-2000s that had been conceived to create a public transit “superstation.” ... Here, the two would announce what would become another high-profile transportation boondoggle.

Musk’s aptly named Boring Company had been selected by the Emanuel administration to use its unproven “technology” to build a high-speed transit link between downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport. At the press conference, Emanuel boasted that the project was a sign of the city’s foresight, saying, “Chicago is always on the cutting edge, Chicago is always looking over the horizon to see what’s next.”

But what came next would turn out to be a whole lot of nothing. This would be the last the city would hear from Emanuel and Musk jointly on the plan, and two years later, Chicago has been left with a huge chasm below the city streets and no Chicago Express Loop, as the project was to be called. ... The aborted scheme provides a window into how Emanuel governed during his time in public office — cozying up to billionaires, turning to private interests to provide public services and ultimately failing to deliver.

Today, Emanuel is reportedly under consideration by the incoming administration of Joe Biden to serve as a cabinet member, heading the U.S. Department of Transportation. The potential appointment has been met with outrage by progressives in the Democratic Party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, as well as residents and elected officials in Chicago. Over 5,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition urging Biden not to select their former mayor. ... The animus is understandable.

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RANTS Rahm Emanuel Shouldn't Be Biden's Transportation Secretary -- Or Hold Any Other Public Office (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2020 OP
Nol. He should not. IMO it'll be a terrible message to send if Biden picks him for anything. 50 Shades Of Blue Nov 2020 #1
I find AOC to be the one who is murielm99 Nov 2020 #7
I remember him as Obama's chief of staff. That's what my comments 50 Shades Of Blue Nov 2020 #8
Uh huh. murielm99 Nov 2020 #9
Whatevs. 50 Shades Of Blue Nov 2020 #11
K & R democrank Nov 2020 #2
I agree. KPN Nov 2020 #3
I'll tell you one thing frazzled Nov 2020 #4
yeah, i'm a fan, too. mopinko Nov 2020 #5
It was the emphasis on public transit and climate-friendly modes of transportation frazzled Nov 2020 #6
yeah. mopinko Nov 2020 #10
Thanks, that's important: 'Emanuel did really well for this city, it was public transportation.' elleng Nov 2020 #13
This kind of stuff is silly. Why? BootinUp Nov 2020 #12
Yes. elleng Nov 2020 #14

50 Shades Of Blue

(9,773 posts)
1. Nol. He should not. IMO it'll be a terrible message to send if Biden picks him for anything.
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 07:13 PM
Nov 2020

He is condescending and divisive, without any mitigating factors to make him a less bitter pill to swallow.

murielm99

(30,656 posts)
7. I find AOC to be the one who is
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:51 PM
Nov 2020

condescending and divisive.

She knows nothing about what he did for transportation in Chicago. She needs to do a better job of serving her own constituents before she yells about Rahm. She is inexperienced, but I am no longer giving her the benefit of the doubt for that.

Can't we have a few days of unity as Democrats?


50 Shades Of Blue

(9,773 posts)
8. I remember him as Obama's chief of staff. That's what my comments
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 01:47 PM
Nov 2020

are based on. As for AOC, she is not underconsideration for any position on Biden's staff AFAIK. I'm glad she isn't because her voice is too important in Congress.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
4. I'll tell you one thing
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 08:45 PM
Nov 2020

Being a Chicagoan, I can attest that if there’s one thing Emanuel did really well for this city, it was public transportation. When we moved here in 2004, we were met with decrepit, dirty trains running on old tracks, such that that noise was ear-splitting and the fear level on the curves of the elevated trains was pretty high. They had been neglected for many decades. Rahm took that 2009 stimulus money and first improved the line that ran to the poorest neighborhood on the South Side, extending the route to accommodate more people in underserved Black communities. Then he put brand new trains on the line that runs from the equally poor West side to the South side. He updated all the stations across the city as well, and initiated electronic information signage and apps.

He also was extremely gung ho on bicycle transportation and put in many miles of state-of-the-arts commuter bike lanes, and started the bike share rentals.

New hybrid and electric buses were purchased and dedicated bus lanes and well designed large shelters were built. Safety was increased.

And the raggedy streets were improved as well.

The guy, for whatever faults you may find, was totally dedicated to public transit and remaking it for cities of the future. You need to give him that.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
5. yeah, i'm a fan, too.
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 09:42 AM
Nov 2020

sometimes you need an asshole to get things done.
you cant run this city if you arent an asshole when you need to be.

daley did all the parks, but rahm improved transit immensely. esp extending the red line south.
an epic undertaking that got done right.
i think he would be a good pick, myself.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
6. It was the emphasis on public transit and climate-friendly modes of transportation
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:18 PM
Nov 2020

that make me think he could really change the course. But there are just so many bugaboos about the guy floating out in the Twittersphere, I don't think he can overcome the noise.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
10. yeah.
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 02:03 PM
Nov 2020

i hope he puts him somewhere.
joe's gonna need someone who can send ppl dead fish and make them wonder how he means it, exactly.

elleng

(130,147 posts)
13. Thanks, that's important: 'Emanuel did really well for this city, it was public transportation.'
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 06:41 PM
Nov 2020

I'd moved from Chicago by the time he was in position, so all I really know is what I've read on 'major media,' so don't feel I have an educated opinion otherwise.

BootinUp

(46,924 posts)
12. This kind of stuff is silly. Why?
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 02:21 PM
Nov 2020

Because Biden knows all about Rahm. If he were to choose him, its because he is viewed as effective at carrying out Biden's policies. And we all lived happily after.The end.

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