AMY’S RULE: SUMMER JOBS FOR CITY’S YOUTH
Chicago’s first lady is getting to work.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel may be fighting the scourge of gun violence by choosing a new top cop, but his wife, Amy Rule, has a plan of her own.
Sneed is told Rule, described as a very private, unpretentious person, is making summer jobs for at-risk youth her cause.
“A great police superintendent is one thing, but jobs are a bigger part of the city’s violence solution,” a mayoral source said.
Sneed has learned the city’s first lady is going to focus her time and energy on one program that has proven to reduce youth violence — One Summer Chicago, the city’s summer jobs program for youth.
“As Chicago continues to be challenged by gun violence, the city’s first lady will focus specifically on the jobs issue,” added the mayoral source.
“We can have the best Chicago Police superintendent in the world, but unless jobs and opportunities are provided for young people — who have dangerous time on their hands — we will continue to see the violence,” said the Rev. Michael Pfleger, the activist peace priest who is ecstatic Emanuel chose former Chief of Patrol Eddie Johnson as his new top cop.
“Eddie was once our police commander and he knew how to work with the brothers in the neighborhood,” Pfleger said.
“But what is even more important is the desperate need for opportunities and jobs, so there is no time for bad action to take place.” So, what will Amy do to rule? Sneed is told the first lady has already started dialing through her rolodex — calling up and calling on high-powered friends in private business to get them to sponsor youth in the program.
So Amy took her time. And now it’s time.
Since her husband’s election in 2011, Rule has remained quietly behind the scenes raising the couple’s three children and volunteering with different non-profit organizations throughout the city at least one or two days a week.
Rule, who has a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and is described as the polar opposite of her husband in the temperament department, has maintained a low profile.
“While Amy enjoys her own privacy, she has long been heavily involved in a variety of efforts dealing with Chicago park programming,” the mayoral source said.
“Look. Nancy Reagan had the war on drugs. Maggie Daley had after-school initiatives. Michelle Obama has nutrition. Amy Rule will make summer jobs for at-risk youth her cause,” added the source.
The police blotter . . .
Stick it out? Pout? Or get out? Sneed hears legal eagle Lori Lightfoot, who was appointed by Mayor Emanuel to head the Chicago Police Board, is not happy with the way the mayor handled the abrupt dismissal last weekend of the three top cop candidates selected by the police board.
“She has not been in what you’d describe as a good mood,” said a police source. “She feels their effort was dismissed.”
Stay tuned.
The sheriff’s gambit!
The rook hook! Sneed is told former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov hits town Friday to observe the movements of kings,
queens and pawns at Cook County Jail.
Translation: Karpov joins Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart for Cook County Jail’s second international chess tournament, part of Dart’s strategy to instill patience, diligence and critical thought to over 600 inmates who participate in the program.
Backshot: The first international inmate chess tournament between 10 Cook County inmates and 10 prisoners in Russia was held via Skype in 2013. Although the Russians won, Karpov claimed one of the Cook County inmates was the most impressive player.
Upshot: The event will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the medium security men’s division in Cook County Jail.
Oh oh Oprah!
Well, do tell. Oprah Winfrey was in town to wave goodbye to Harpo Studios, bid farewell to 37 employees . . . and nary more than a whisper on Instagram about her visit?
Fame is fleeting: Not too long ago, the city was awash in Oprah show celebs and vittle views in Oprah’s favorite booth at the popular RL eatery. How times change.
Sneedlings . . .
Chew stew! CNN’s Jake Tapper describes Chicago pizza as thickcrusted bread pie! Just ask U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who was slappin’ Tapper’s casserole tweak via Twitter Thursday. Fun. . . . Today’s birthdays: Debbie Reynolds, 84; Susan Boyle, 55, and Hillary Scott, 30.