When an alderman leaves the Chicago City Council, or this life, the other aldermen traditionally pop up like giant Weebils to hail their departing colleague. Strangely, the council skipped fond farewell speeches last week for Alderman Jesse Evans, who was attending his final meeting.
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A rap sheet hasn’t stopped the speeches before. In the past year, the council has lovingly eulogized former alderman Thomas Keane, convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy, and former Illinois state treasurer Jerry Cosentino, convicted of bank fraud for a multimillion-dollar check-kiting scheme. But their crimes were more distant. Apparently convictions, like wine, must age a while before they’re acceptable.
Alderman Thomas Allen passed by Evans’s seat and stopped to shake hands. Alderman Ed Smith sought Evans out for a little conference and shared a good laugh with him later. Alderman Ricardo Mu–oz is admittedly stuck with a seat assignment right next to Evans, but didn’t appear pained to share amiable chats with him. Aldermen Arenda Troutman, Percy Giles, and Michael Zalewski also bantered with Evans.
Alderman Edward Burke continued that custom last week when he praised Mayor Daley’s newly appointed fire commissioner, Edward P. Altman, a 32-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department. Burke said he was proud of Altman’s history with the department.
