COUNCILMAN’S COUNSEL
Sneed hears all the actors from “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P. D.” and “Chicago Med” plan to participate in the Special Olympics 18th Chicago Polar Plunge March 4
@ SNEEDLINGS
Time for a time out! A mild- mannered Ald. Roderick Sawyer ( 6th), whose father was Chicago’s second black mayor — Eugene Sawyer — has some advice for the bombastic former Senate President Emil Jones, who blasted black pols Tuesday supporting Dem gubernatorial hopeful J. B. Pritzker as being “meek” and “safe” blacks.
Sawyer, one of Prizker’s earliest black supporters, tells Sneed: “Look, my father gave me a few simple lessons during his long City Council career and his appointment in 1987 as mayor.
“He taught me to make friends; enemies come on their own.
“Being disagreeable doesn’t always bring everything to the table and get the most benefit for your community.
“And I disagree with Emil’s use of the word ‘ safe’ black. It’s important to be an electable black.”
The diatribe by Jones erupted shortly after receiving Pritzker’s apology for calling him too “crass” to fill Barack Obama’s Senate seat in a secretly recorded conversation with Rod Blagojevich years ago.
“Look, there has not been a better time than right now for the African- American community to make demands on all the Dem gubernatorial candidates,” Sawyer added. “It’s time for actions . . . not promises.”
“But my father also taught me to learn to count. If you are going to bring something to the table, make sure you have the votes to sustain them. And I try to make sure not to be disagreeable with any candidate, not go negative.”
Sawyer said he told Pritzker he “was disappointed with that taped statement made 10 years ago. But I’m not switching horses. J. B. was contrite and remorseful and is mindful of the needs of the black community, and how we need a seat at the table.”
Then Sawyer laughed at the ringtone on Jones’ cellphone: the theme from “The Godfather.”
“It’s really loud, so you always know if Emil is in the room,” he chuckled.
“No surprise.”
Melania musings . . .
First lady Melania Trump, whose deafening silence is netting her headlines for her lack of monkeyshines, is now having every movement scrutinized.
Did she swat her husband’s hand? Is she angry? It’s gone to the point that some newsies are headlining her tactics “Swatgate.”
Ka- ching . . .
Get out the abacus! Airbnb, the home- sharing megalopolis, just coughed up some big cash for the city.
Translation: Sneed is told Airbnb — on behalf of Chicago homeowners who rent rooms to visitors — will announce it remitted $ 6.1 million in tax revenue to the city in 2017.
Benjamin Breit, an Airbnb spokesman, said this remittance includes $ 3.2 million to Chicago via a new 4 percent home- sharing tax — as well as $ 2.9 million in revenue to fund homeless programs in Chicago via the vacation rental surcharge tax.
Backshot: The Chicago City Council passed the Shared Housing Ordinance in June 2016.
“The 4 percent home- sharing tax targets revenue for housing homeless families and a program Mayor Rahm Emanuel launched in April 2017 to connect 100 homeless families in high- crime communities with permanent housing.
“It’s help for really vulnerable people who need it most,” Breit said.
Pssst!
. . . and I’m already feeling the freeze: Sneed hears rumbles all the actors from “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P. D.” and “Chicago Med” plan to participate in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge on March 4 in Chicago. No Lady Gaga this time with actor Taylor Kinney . . . but who knows?
Sneedlings . . .
Congrats to Mary Kate Manion on being selected Queen of the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “It was my third try,” said Manion, who works for Ald. Edward Burke ( 14th). . . . Ditto congrats to Ald. Pat O’Connor ( 40th), who is the parade’s grand marshal. . . . Today’s birthdays: Klay Thompson, 28; Julio Jones, 29; and Joe Maddon, 64.