Mayor Richard M. Daley is now a lame duck, but he showed Wednesday that he intends to continue to roar as loudly as he has for his entire tenure when he feels moved to make a point.
Presiding over his first City Council meeting since announcing his retirement, Daley called for the community to help solve the July slaying of Police Officer Michael R. Bailey, who was a member of the mayor’s security detail.
Less than 24 hours after he revealed that he would not run for re-election next year, Daley reverted to his classic, finger-wagging mode at the podium in front of the council chambers.
“We should be outraged that no one has come forward to solve this case,” Daley said. “You must come forward to solve the Michael Bailey case on the South Side of the City of Chicago.”
Daley said the police are not responsible for the lack of arrests in the case: “It’s about time you stop blaming the police department and look in the mirror.”
The mayor said the public attitude toward police now, after Bailey and two other officers were killed in recent months, is in sharp contrast to the criticism they were receiving after several cases of police misconduct a few years ago.
“Now you need them, now you love them,” Daley said. “Again, they’re human beings. These men and women serve and protect us continually.”
He also blasted lawyers who sue the city over police misconduct.
“They’re really suing you as taxpayers,” he said before offering condolences to Bailey’s family. “They don’t sue me. They sue you.”
Bailey was murdered in a robbery attempt in front of his home in the Park Manor neighborhood. He had just left his shift guarding the mayor’s home in the South Loop and was a few weeks away from retiring.
Daley is scheduled to take questions from reporters at the end of the council meeting.
Before the meeting, Daley attended a City Hall news conference to promote a football game between two historically black colleges at Soldier Field.
The mayor’s remarks at the news conference were focused on the event and he did not add to the brief retirement announcement he made Tuesday or take any questions from reporters. But the event for the Chicago Football Classic turned into a series of homages to Daley, an occurrence that is likely to be repeated as the mayor works until his replacement is elected and inaugurated in May 2011.
Toni Preckwinkle, the Democratic nominee for Cook County board president in the November general election, praised the mayor’s efforts to improve Chicago parks, public schools and public housing.
“I’m grateful to the mayor for his good work for the last 21 years,” Preckwinkle said of Daley, who was first elected in 1989.
As alderman of the 4th Ward, Preckwinkle had often clashed with the mayor, but she sought his support for her run against county board President Todd Stroger. Although the mayor did not make a public endorsement, many of his supporters, including his brother Michael Daley, sided with Preckwinkle.
At the news conference, he urged people to attend the football game on Sept. 18 between Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University.
“The classic truly reflects the African-American community’s commitment to education,” the mayor said.