By Kiljoong Kim

Nearly five years ago, I wrote my first column for the Beachwood Reporter, about why Chicago has never had an Asian alderman. I made the point that Asian Americans were victims of Chicago racial politics that had to balance existing power of African Americans on one hand and emerging forces of Hispanics on the other. In the process, areas like Chinatown, where there is the greatest concentration of Asian votes, were chopped into four different wards, thereby disabling their chance at political representation in the city.
When Ameya Pawar won the election for 47th Ward last week, he finally became the first Asian American alderman. Even among Asian Americans in Chicago, Pawar was not a heavily groomed candidate like Naisy Dolar was in 2007 when she unsuccessfully challenged Berny Stone in 50th Ward, nor did he win in a ward that has heavy concentration of Asian votes.

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Posted on February 28, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

A roundup of highs and lows. Mostly lows.
Too Soon?
“Rahm Receives Call From U.S. Attorney.”
A) Will you be home tomorrow morning about 6?
B) Please secure all evidence when you take office.
C) Were any fish harmed in the making of your campaign?
*
Crap.

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Posted on February 24, 2011

By Steve Rhodes

For entertainment purposes only. Including gambling.
First posted: 9/9
Last updated: 9/21 9/30 10/4 10/14 10/22 10/24 10/26 10/27 11/3 11/5 11/8 11/14 12/12 12/18 12/26 1/1 1/7 2-9
Last posted: 2/22
*
Candidate: Rahm Emanuel
Status: Considering Almost In In
Odds: 100-1 2-1
Comment: Ask yourself a few questions. Does he really want to go from running the free world to worrying about Streets and San? And the man is still relatively young and ambitious. Where would he go from here – president? He’s everybody’s favorite but it’s hard to envision.
UPDATE 2/9: Amazingly marshals forces to bully himself into office while pretending he’s a reformer and a cool guy (thanks, Ax, you were right, it worked for Obama!) – with the most cold, hard cash. Rose Garden strategy and unresponsiveness to the press, the public and attention to neighborhoods signals the representation of Richard M. Daley’s sixth term. His election will expose once again just how bad Chicago sucks.
UPDATE 2/22: The combination of Rahm’s campaign fortune and his desire to crush all enemies will likely put our new boss over the 50 percent needed to avoid a runoff. Wear a black armband today – or a del Valle button – if you are one of the few who understand just how horrible this is going to be.
*

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Posted on February 22, 2011

By Kiljoong Kim

“More than 2 million Chicago-area baby boomers begin turning 65 this year, unleashing a demographic wave that will last nearly two decades and transform nearly every part of the local economy,” Crain’s reported last week in a special report called “The Graying of Chicago.”
“The number of people 65 or older in the Chicago area will soar 65% to 1.7 million by 2030, estimates William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.
“That’s less than the 78% increase expected nationally, thanks to immigration in Chicago. Still, about 1 in 6 people in the area will be 65 or older in 2030, compared with 1 in 9 today.”
Our own examination has found that the transition has already begun.

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Posted on February 21, 2011

Vote Metal

“Write-in candidate Lyndon A Johnson is really pissed off at the establishment. In the 39th ward of Chicago, 25,000 active voters, 19,000 expected not to vote! If you are that angry, vote for Lyndon A Johnson 39th ward write in candidate!”

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Posted on February 18, 2011

By AP

Literally proposes leaving the needy out in the cold.

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Posted on February 15, 2011

By FuckRahm.com

Straight from the horse’s ass’s mouth.

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Posted on February 11, 2011

By The Onion News Network

First came out when he threw up on himself in the state legislature.

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Posted on February 11, 2011

By The Beachwood Tyranny Affairs Desk

According to a Beachwood panel of political experts.
* Out him as the guy behind Groupon’s Super Bowl ads.
* Unearth racy interpretive dance footage.
* Rahm’s signature discovered on parking meter deal!
* Exclusive! Rahm was on the board of Freddie Mac! Oh, wait . . .
* Name Rahm the new black consensus candidate and hope for white backlash.

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Posted on February 10, 2011

By DJ Freddie Mac and The Blue State Cowboys

You wanna play ball, put a check in the mail.

–
Lyrics:

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Posted on February 3, 2011