Mary Mitchell’s column regarding Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s battles though her term as mayor was insightful. Lightfoot faced challenges that her predecessors did not have to confront. Some of her accomplishments went unnoticed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and crime, which dominated the attention of Chicagoans. Known as an excellent attorney and very hard worker, the mayor was an achiever.
Yet, in the end, Lightfoot was simply not a good politician. As we all know, in Chicago, this is integral. On many occasions, she was incapable of or unwilling to compromise.
Unfairly, politics is often a popularity contest, and politics is often about making concessions, building alliances and, quite simply, getting along with others. As is well known, more than once Lightfoot was referred to as a “bully” and was at times combative. She had public clashes with the media, unions, multiple politicians, police and current and former employees of the city. All of them influential voting bases.
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Lightfoot is certainly bright, tenacious, confident and tough. Quite unfairly, such characteristics are at times resented when possessed by a female politician. Still, Lightfoot’s own disposition may have cost her a second term.
As Theodore Roosevelt said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”
Terry Takash, Western Springs
Double standards
Lori Lightfoot ruled exactly as Richard M. Daley did. However, power-hungry, “my way or the highway” petty political shenanigans go down better with Chicago voters when they are done by a straight white man than by a gay block woman.
At least she didn’t destroy any airports or sell off something important for pennies on the dollar.
Don Anderson, Oak Park
Homelessness, lack of security up in the air
Being a frequent traveler in and out of O’Hare Airport, I’ve seen first-hand the homeless problem there and the definite increase in the homeless over the years. Most blend in, but there are some who beg or create scenes, scaring some travelers. And yet, I see no police presence.
The scary part is that if the homeless can nonchalantly walk into the airport and make themselves at home, what’s to prevent a terrorist with a bomb or someone with a gun doing the same? I’ve seen how easy it is to enter unsecured areas of the airport
Private sources tell me that many security personnel are upstairs watching women coming and going into the airport. So instead of controlling the homeless and keeping their eyes open for possible security threats, they’re “fishing.” In addition to the homelessness, the lack of security professionals paying attention must be addressed.
Barbara Piltaver, Schiller Park
