The Daily Background

Update: Chicago Tribune coverage here.

I went to Chicago’s City Council tihs morning to videotape the introduction of a particular piece of legislation for a documentary I’m working on, though we didn’t end up shooting. But I stayed for the entirety of the council meeting, which was interesting to watch.

I had filmed before at a smaller committee hearing, but hadn’t been to a meeting with the full Council meeting before, which is a bigger deal. Anyway, near the end of the day’s proceedings while the Aldermen were debating a proposal related to a recent court case, a figure strode in and sat down surrounded by a few men in suits and the Council’s Sergent of Arms, Tina Butler (a very nice lady who I had chatted with an hour or two earlier). It took me a few minutes to notice, but a short time later I thought to myself, “Huh, that guy across the room from me is the spitting image of Roland Burris.” But I didn’t think much of it at the time.

After getting bored with the proceedings (even Mayor Daley was yawning and putting his knee up on the podium he was seated at), I glanced back at the figure across the room. He really did look like Burris, I thought. And was it that far-fetched that he would be there? After all, I knew he was back in Chicago, and that Blagojevich’s Chicago office was just downstairs in the same building.

I didn’t have to wonder much longer though. The figure across the room indeed Burris, and the next item on the day’s agenda was passing a ceremonial piece of legislation congratulating the Senator-designate on his successful appointment. They had planned to scold the US Senate on not allowing Burris in, but once his fortunes changed, it became a time for back-patting. One after another, Alderman after Alderman stood up and warmly gave their best wishes to Burris. This lasted for at least 20 minutes, as it seemed that every Alderman present knew Burris and wanted to say a few words.

The most entertaining of these brief speeches? Alderman Richard Mell of the 33rd Ward (who happens to be the father of Blagojevich’s wife Patti, though he and Rod have been publicly at each other’s throats for years). Ald Mell stood up and predicted in a joking but serious manner that as soon as Burris got sworn into the US Senate, everyone would pretend that they had been in favor of seating him all along. To this, Burris laughed so hard that he started crying and had to take off his glasses to wipe his eyes.

Later, when Burris left the chamber accompanied by the Sergent of Arms, the press mobbed him down the hall. You might see a soundbite or two of it on the one of the national evening television newscasts tonight, though it’ll undoubtedly get more coverage here locally.

Here’s a really awful picture I snapped with my cell phone, although it’s pretty much impossible to make out much of anything:

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog