Dump Donald Trump's Honorary Street Designation, Aldermen Say

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 5, 2016 6:17PM

Getty Images / Photo: Joe Raedle

Amid a busy Wednesday at City Council, Ald. Brendan Reilly (Ward 42) threw an amazing, populist bomb of an ordinance onto the agenda: remove the Honorary Trump Plaza street sign that designates a downtown stretch of Wabash Ave.

The ordinance, which was introduced by Reilly and has the support of 46 councilmembers, according to the alderman, would strip the honorary title, which currently runs in front of Trump Tower, just north of the Chicago River.

“Chicago’s honorary street signs are meant to recognize Chicagoans who have made us a world-class city. Given Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric against the city, women and minorities, he does not deserve that special distinction,” Reilly told Chicagoist. “During last week’s debates, Trump did Chicago a great disservice by painting a distorted caricature—comparing us to a war-torn country—of our beautiful, welcoming, diverse city.”

At last Monday’s presidential debates, Trump called again for stop-and-frisk to be instated in Chicago while describing the city in broadly violent terms. In the past, he has used Chicago violence to buttress his law-and-order agenda, and in August he exploited the death of Nykea Aldridge for attempted political gain.

"Chicago is a global city, with a hospitality industry moving in a positive trajectory and unprecedented investment in hotel and lodging. We have challenges... but this skewed narrative can only hurt. Donald Trump is not worthy of the honor," Reilly told Chicagoist.

Reilly said he expects the ordinance will pass "rather quickly" and hopes to see the sign removed within the next month or so. He did not have an immediate suggestion for a replacement.