Security Costs for Daley, Burke Grow

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 31, 2011 1:30PM

The costs for security for former Mayor Richard Daley and 14th Ward Ald. Edward Burke continue to mount, even as Mayor Rahm Emanuel has cut back on both details. The Sun-Times reports today that Daley's detail has accrued $184,000 in salary and overtime since he left office in May, even with the cuts.

The security detail for Burke, who's had a security detail dating back to the days of "Council Wars" and has vehemently defended having it, has cost taxpayers $119,000 since Emanuel took office.

The good news is those numbers could have been higher had Emanuel not cut back on the security details for both Daley and Burke. Emanuel resonated with voters during his campaign when he questioned why Burke carried a security detail and said he would take a wait-and-see approach regarding how long Daley would be provided security.

Emanuel has also cut the security details to City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and himself, although the Mayor's office wouldn't say how much his detail was reduced for safety reasons.