Progressive Caucus says Rahm's cuts have created beggar schools

A Small Talk salute goes out to the members of the City Council's Progressive Caucus who "came out swinging" Thursday against Rahm's “draconian” school budget cuts.

“We are alarmed by the stripping of basic necessities which define a school. The neighborhood schools have been reduced to beggars, lacking such essentials as sanitation supplies, library book funds, field trip money, playground supervision,” the eight-member caucus said in a prepared statement.

The eight-member Caucus includes: Bob Fioretti (2nd); Leslie Hairston (5th); Roderick Sawyer (6th); Toni Foulkes (15th); Ricardo Munoz (22th); Scott Waguespack (32nd); Nick Sposato (36th) and John Arena (45th).

Ald. Sawyer

Ald. Sawyer, whose South Side ward is home to hundreds of teachers, said Emanuel cannot wash his hands of the problem by blaming the pension crisis.

“When we were consolidating schools, the argument was we would have more resources to educate our children. Now, we’re hearing from our principals that they’re having to cut critical services our children need,” Sawyer said Thursday.

“They’re increasing class size. They’re cutting art and other programs we thought we were gonna finally get back. We need to put enough pressure on the [Emanuel] admininstration to stop placing blame and start doing something about it. These are our children. They’re not a line-item on a budget.”  -- Sun-Times

Hopefully, out of this group a viable opposition candidate will emerge to take Rahm on in 2015.