FIRST BLACK WOMAN SWORN IN AS CHICAGO'S MAYOR
LORI Lightfoot told aldermen and other city powerbrokers assembled at her inauguration as Chicago’s first black woman mayor that she meant what she said on the campaign trail about major reforms in the nation’s third-largest city.
“For years, they’ve said Chicago ain’t ready for reform,” said Ms Lightfoot, speaking minutes after her swearing-in at the Wintrust Arena on Monday local time. “Well, get ready, because reform is here.”
She spoke about curtailing some powers of city council members to lessen temptations for corruption and that structural changes to reduce gun violence would be among her top priorities. Hours later, she signed an executive order limiting aldermanic prerogative, a custom that allows each alderman to direct zoning and period decisions in their ward.
Among her toughest challenges will be overhauling the beleaguered Chicago Police Department. Ms Lightfoot isn’t the first incoming Chicago mayor to have pledged to overhaul a department accused for decades of abuses.
Lightfoot made history in April when she became the first black woman and openly gay person elected to lead Chicago.