Thanks to Congressman Danny Davis.
Thanks for the work you have done over decades, from Chicago’s City Council to the county board, and for nearly 30 years in Washington as the 7th District’s congressman.
And thanks for choosing to retire now.
The nationwide push for decisive generational change among Democrats in power is real and it is right. This country is in for the fight of its life as the work of saving democracy is now immediate and profound.
Traditional politics — of incremental change and the moral arc of history bending toward justice and compromise with rational opponents — is dead. And we do need new leadership at the congressional level, ready to take up this fight with new tools and fresh energy.
We hope there are other elders holding on to Democratic seats in Congress who will take Danny Davis’ path toward a graceful retirement and the chance to be feted before their deaths for the legitimately important work they have done.
For Davis, there has been steady progressive leadership with breakout issues such as the Second Chance Act, which opens up hope and a path for our fellow citizens coming out of prison. Davis has been the decisive leader of this successful effort, though there is, of course, more work to be done.
Davis also gets credit for working to choose his successor with his endorsement of State Rep. La Shawn Ford. There are now a number of candidates entering this race with a range of credentials. It will be a highly contested primary next March. It is inevitable and positive that an open seat for Congress in a safe Democratic district will attract a bevy of contenders.
Davis could have taken the safer route and announced that he would not endorse in the race, touting the advantages of an open primary. Instead, after what we know was a long courtship, he is decisively backing Ford. We have covered Rep. Ford for decades and know he is smart, decent, progressive, community-connected and politically-savvy.
Davis and Ford share some notable history on the West Side and the near west suburbs. Both were schoolteachers and had nonprofit experience before they went into politics. And they share a certain personal style of quiet fire, congeniality and a sense of institutional knowledge.
Interesting days ahead.
That unsustainable deficit
We have no doubt that restaurants in Forest Park are feeling it. Like restaurants everywhere, food prices keep rising, margins are cut and economic uncertainty is real.
That said, also real is the enormous deficit the village of Forest Park is mired in. So while the restaurants inevitably opposed a new tax on dining out during a budget hearing last week, at some point elected officials have to find new revenues. The proposed 1% tax would have raised $500K. The electeds punted. Again.
Not sustainable.
