Mayor Richard Daley defends Desiree RogersMayor Richard Daley today defended White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, who's leaving the job after being criticized for an incident where two uninvited guests crashed a state dinner in November.
It wasn't Rogers' job to keep President Barack Obama safe, Daley said.
"There's only one group responsible for the security of the White House and the president. There's only one person, that's the Secret Service," the mayor said.
"Let's stop blaming her for anybody walking in there, because no one can stop anyone with the exception of the Secret Service," he said.
While the Secret Service accepted much of the blame after a Virginia couple made their way into a Nov. 24 dinner for the prime minister of India, Rogers was criticized because her staff failed to keep a checklist of guests entering the White House.
Daley called Rogers, a Chicagoan who has worked as the Illinois Lottery director and People's Gas, "a great friend of mine." (Yeah, I bet!--RP)
The mayor's remarks came at as he joined U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and others to dedicate a new community health center in the South Austin neighborhood.
Responding to Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman's announcement this week that the system will face a deficit of up to $1 billion next year, Daley also called on the school system's employees to be prepared to make sacrifices like those forced on the private sector and workers in other areas of government.
Though Daley cited his own acceptance of 24 unpaid furlough days this year as an example of that sacrifice, he insisted he was not suggesting unionized Chicago teachers make similar concessions.
"I'm not talking about that. I'm just talking about in general. We have negotiations in regards to the teachers," he said. "But I'll tell you one thing. All over America this is happening, every community in America. This is not the exception."
An increase in the state income tax to cope with the yawning state budget deficit is only acceptable if it is coupled with a reduction in real estate taxes, the primary funding source for schools, the mayor said. "You can't one way increase the income tax and then not help real estate taxes," he said.
Daley also said it makes sense to end blanket free rides for seniors on the CTA, a proposal Gov. Pat Quinn said this week has little chance of making it out of the General Assembly.
"Seniors who are struggling, yes, need help. But those who are not struggling, they have to be part of the solution, and that's part of the cost," Daley said.
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Erm...I am a speaker of English and several other languages.
I do not speak Daley.
