Chuy Wins Debate By Telling Truth, Laying out Clear Vision for Working Families
CHICAGO (February 5, 2015) -- Following is the statement of United Working Families executive director Kristen Crowell following the ABC 7 Chicago mayoral debate Thursday evening.
“Rahm Emanuel has asked working families in Chicago to give up more and more in the name of balanced budgets. He has promised improved services and stabilized finances. He has achieved neither, though you wouldn’t know that by watching him Thursday night.
“Underlying Rahm’s claim to balancing budgets is a dangerous reality, his use of dangerous ‘scoop and toss’ accounting schemes that have merely pushed the debts onto the backs of future generations, even while regressive taxes and fees and red-light cameras have abounded.
“Rahm continued to deny the grim consequences of his policies. Schools and mental health clinics shuttered. Core services cut. Pensions under attack.
“Rahm has spent millions on television commercials to construct an alternate reality, one that he continues to conjure during these debates. But none of his smoke and mirrors can hide the rubble Rahm has left behind.
“Chuy Garcia would have won the debate over Rahm merely by telling the truth. But why he REALLY won Thursday was laying out a clear vision to protect education, make our streets safer and create real opportunity for Chicago’s working families.”
United Working Families was formed in coalition with the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Action Now and Grassroots Illinois Action in 2014 to recruit, train and support candidates running on a progressive platform, including strengthening public education and advocating for public investment in all Chicago’s neighborhoods and beyond
