Fioretti Undeterred By Snub At Jones College Prep
By aaroncynic in News on Aug 21, 2013 9:11PM
Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd)
The Sun-Times reports Fioretti said he only found out about the ceremony at the school, which is in his ward, at the last minute. Fioretti, who has not seen eye to eye with Emanuel or CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett on the renovations at the school or public education in Chicago, was headed off by aides from the Mayor’s office.
“I found about 45 minutes before it happened,” the Alderman told ABC7. “The mayor just doesn't want to be seen with members of the City Council that express different views.” Tensions have risen between the two men over the remap of the 2nd Ward as well as Fioretti’s criticism of CPS budget cuts. Additionally, both parents in the community and Fioretti wanted the old Jones College Prep building converted into a school open to all area high school students, rather than opting to double Jones’ enrollment.
Mayor Emanuel apparently laughed when asked about the snub, saying:
“He can come if he wants,” the mayor said. “I’m pleased that this building is here. He and I talked about….what was gonna happen at Jones North. He had some visions. We had some [different] visions. And let me say this, given what I know about the alderman: Nobody’s ever gotten in his way…If he wants to talk, he’ll obviously have his opinion.”
Fioretti said another public ribbon cutting will happen on Thursday, which he doesn’t expect Mayor Emanuel to attend as he’s likely to have to face his critics.