Aug 9, 2006 10:19 pm US/Central
Six Aldermen May Back Big Box Veto
Council Members Could Change Vote On Big Box Wage Ordinance
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker also contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
There are strong signs that at least six aldermen may be ready to change their vote on the big box wage ordinance.
CBS 2 News has learned exclusively that six members of the City Council may be willing to support Mayor Daley in a veto.
The ordinance mandates that stores with more than 90,000 square feet must pay workers at least $10 an hour, plus $3 an hour in benefits.
When 35 aldermen voted in favor of the big box ordinance, it was a clear victory for the union and big business admitted defeat.
"We, to a certain extent, let down the corporations in this city," said Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce President Jerry Roeper.
So now they're turning up the heat. The president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce admits some aldermen are being pressured by the business community to change their votes.
"We will go talk to the aldermen and say, 'If you're not with us, obviously you're against us,'" Roeper said. "What that means is that they won't be around the next one or two elections cause we're going to unelect them."
With Lowes the latest retailer to put on hold plans to build new big box stores in Chicago, the mayor responded to reports from City Hall sources that as many as six aldermen have privately agreed to switch positions.
They would now support a Daley veto killing the big box ordinance, even though these aldermen had voted in favor of it last month.
Asked to confirm if he was working behind the scenes to get aldermen to change their votes, Daley said, "We work with everyone. I'm working behind, or in front of the scenes. Don't worry. You know I'm working. You see me at the City Council."
Sources close to the big box battle tell CBS 2 News that a change in vote could come from Ald. John Pope (10th), Ald. Danny Solis (25th), Ald. George Cardenas (12th), Ald. Patrick O'Connor (40th), Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th), and Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd). None responded when we called for comment.
"I'm not really surprised," Ald. Issac Carothers (29th) said.
Carothers was already in the "no" category. He thinks the new converts were influenced by stores like Lowe's that have threatened to scratch plans to build new stores in Chicago and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which threatens to blacklist aldermen who voted in favor of the ordinance.
"They have indicated that they feel that if aldermen are going to be anti-business, then they're not going to be steering business to those wards," Carothers said.
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), who may run for mayor next winter, warned of political consequences.
"That would be unfortunate, to not follow the will of the people, to not follow the will of 35 aldermen who made a decision that it's important to pay people a living wage," Jackson said.
The mayor downplayed the threat of political retaliation.
"The unions threaten them. They are going to run 50 candidates against them. That's ridiculous. It's only one issue," Daley said.
It may be only one issue, but it's a big issue. Jackson suggested it could play an important part in this winter's mayoral campaign.
CBS 2 tried to contact the union to get its response to the possibility of aldermen changing their votes but was unable to reach anyone.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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