"Transparent" Emanuel Holds Secret Meetings In DC

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 23, 2012 10:40PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has talked a good game about how his administration is ushering in a new level of "transparency," despite actions to the contrary. Now comes a short blog post from Sun-Times Washington correspondent Lynn Sweet where she reported Emanuel "booked meetings with a variety of cabinet officials on Wednesday, though none of this was on his official schedule--not even the trip here."

Sweet was to the point.

"My view: If the mayor travels on official business on the taxpayer tab, the trip should be noted on the public schedule--even if the meetings are closed. Emanuel seems to model a lot of his City Hall operation on the White House--he was chief of staff to President Barack Obama. When Obama travels--his trips are announced."

Indeed, we receive the same daily email from the mayor's press office Sweet does detailing the public schedule for Emanuel. This should have been noted. After some prodding, it was revealed Emanuel met with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and that the May NATO and G8 summits were on the mayor's agenda.

Would that have been so hard to write in a press release?