Rahm Emanuel Was Sort-Of Comforting This Morning As Election News Sunk In

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Nov 9, 2016 7:41PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel tried to offer the City Council some comforting words this morning during a council meeting, as the outcome of Tuesday night's shocking 2016 presidential election sunk in.

"A lot of people in the city of Chicago woke up despondent, went to sleep that way, wondering whether this country still has them, their future and their children’s future at heart,” Emanuel said. He offered up some consolation: the victories of Democrats Tammy Duckworth, Kim Foxx and Susana Mendoza in their respective state and local races.

"I saw the first Hispanic woman elected statewide in Illinois on her own who is the daughter of an immigrant," he said, referring to Mendoza. "And I saw in her mother’s eyes the pride and the reward for all of the sacrifice and struggle that she made in coming to America — not just a place, but a set of ideas and a set of values and that was rewarded."

“Although this election obviously did not turn out [the way we wanted], I believe that this Republican Congress, Republican Senate and the president have an obligation to work with a city and with cities across the United States," Emanuel said. But, "This America has a future too. The values of who we are still hold true and they still are a shiny, bright beacon in moments for all of us, in moments of darkness.”

After the council meeting, Emanuel spoke to reporters about how this election's results might affect immigrants—particularly the children of immigrants granted asylum in the United States under the Dream Act.

At a news conference after Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Emanuel was asked about the deep-seated anxieties of the children of immigrants known as “Dreamers” for the Dream Act that granted them asylum.

“To those families, you are welcomed here in the city of Chicago, he said, according to the Sun-Times. "Your dreams for your children count. Your struggles to give your children a chance at the American dream are heard in this city."

In the same news conference, Emanuel also told reporters that he is "not worried" about Trump trying to harm Chicago in his position as president.

"I'm not worried about Donald Trump trying to somehow penalize Chicago," Emanuel said, according to the Tribune. But at the same time, "I'm not sure President-elect Trump will listen to me, but I would say that you're president for all of America, and that includes your third-largest city in the country."

Ald. Gilbert Villegas, (36th), told the Tribune that he's concerned about Trump seeking revenge.

"From what I heard from [Trump's] discussions, he's someone that if you're not with him, he's against you and he's going to seek revenge," he said. "And I think Illinois is going to pay the price for that."