Rahm: 'You're gonna respect me! You're gonna respect me!' -- For what?

Kinder/Gentler Rahm is supposed to be on a "listening tour". But he ain't listening. He went completely off the rails and screamed  "You're gonna respect me! You're gonna respect me!" at mental health clinic activists. Respect him for what? Shutting down half of the city's clinics? A life-or-death issue for many like Debbie Delgado who lost a son to gun violence.

Today Rahm Emanuel launches a listening tour. Nearly 4 years into his mayoralty.
— Laura Washington (@MediaDervish) February 28, 2015

The pressure's really getting to the Little Emperor who's not used to being challenged directly everywhere he goes. Lots of his former friends are bailing on him and neutrals are beginning to see the writing on the wall and hearing strains of Florence Reese's old labor tune, "Which side are you on?".

Hartman

From Chicago Mag interview with N'DIGO publisher and former Rahm supporter, Hermene Hartman:

Have you been in touch with Rahm lately?

Not since 2010 when we met at my office. I asked him, “What are you going to do for African American business?” He sat across from me and said, “I’m going to write something down and promise you that I will engage on that issue; that African Americans will participate in city contracts.” And he signed his name to the promise. It didn’t happen. African Americans get a miniscule percent of the contracts.

 Rahm is always talking about his work on the CTA Red Line. Those are short term jobs. Those aren’t long-term career-opportunity jobs. They don’t put 10,000 on the rolls. You need steady employment jobs, not just quick jobs.

Which side are you on?...Grez Hinz at Crain's reports that Illinois SEIU leader Tom Balanoff and Toni Preckwinkle, the president of the Cook County Board, may be finally ready to endorse Chuy. They met yesterday, "to talk about public policy and politics".

Preckwinkle as recently as early this week said she had decided to stay out of the contest. But Garcia serves as her County Board floor leader, she and Emanuel have at best a tepid relationship and a source close to her tells me she may change her mind if she is convinced Garcia has a real chance to win.