Daley Gives Quinn Thumbs Up, WalMart Thumbs Down

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Apr 24, 2009 4:45PM

Mayor Daley put on his judging pants yesterday and spoke out about a few things, though none of it was like Shakespeare. First, he took to the defense of our new governor, Pat Quinn. During a recording of WLS' "Connected to Chicago," set to air Sunday afternoon, Daley said of Quinn:

"Pat Quinn has done a very good job so far. ... He has the passion and the heart. He does. He has a soul...The thing I've been impressed with -- he's gone to every funeral of every young man killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, no matter what part of the state. He doesn't do it for publicity. He's just thanking them. He has the feeling about what he wants to do [about] education or housing or the environment."

And the Governor? Seems he enjoyed Mayor Daley's ego-stroking and responded in kind, according to the Sun-Times, saying of MayDay, "He's the No. 1 mayor worldwide. It'll help with Democrats in the House and Senate whom we must have to confront the issues."

The mayor wasn't dishing out love for everybody, though: he shot down the idea of another WalMart in town. Again. The never-ending battle over the supermegachain store opening a location on the South Side continues, though the Mayor is having none of it. From the AP (via Crain's): "Daley said Thursday that even though the store would generate tax revenue and create jobs for neighborhood residents, there aren't enough votes in the City Council to pass the required redevelopment agreement." So there.