Emanuel Talks With Community Press

Thelma Sardin |

At his downtown campaign office on Thursday afternoon, mayoral hopeful Rahm Emanuel sat down with about a dozen journalists from local community newspapers in Chicago. The round table discussion is a part of Emanuels ongoing attempt to ensure community media outlets have access to him. He first began sitting down with the community press after being elected to Congress representing Chicagos 5th district.

During the discussion, Emanuel took questions from the journalists and discussed three key things the next mayor must focus on. Education, safe streets and a stable economy are among the items Emanuel said are essential to Chicago. Youve got to get those things right, he told the reporters.

Actively involved in President Clintons 1994 crime strategy, Emanuel has a plan to put 1,000 more beat cops on the street if he is elected. According to his crime agenda which he presented on Jan. 9, more police on Chicagos streets can develop better relationships between law enforcement and communities. Essentially, police will have a presence in the community and will not only be symbolic of emergency situations.

The Citizen asked Emanuel what his plans were to combat gang violence in schools.

He proposes to end gang violence by implementing a comprehensive after school program for public school students. In this policy, Emanuel hopes to educate to end youth violence. The program will run five days a week for two and a half hours per day.

I dont care if that kid wants to do athletic, artistic, or academic [activities], Emanuel told the Citizen. He continued by saying with adult supervision, children will not be lured into gang activity and will have lower chances of becoming a victim of a gang fatality.

Also on Thursday, Emanuel announced his plans to overhaul the CTAs Red Line if he is elected. Rahms first transit priority will be a complete overhaul of the Red Line: rebuilding deteriorating tracks south to 95thStreet, extending the line south to 130th and renovating and modernizing Red Line stations and track north of Belmont, his campaign said in a statement.

Emanuel admits his campaign is not built on promises. I wont pledge to you something I dont think I can do, he said

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