While it was no "Thrilla in Manila," we'll call it "The Hubbub at the City Club:"
- Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy and the head of the police union got into a verbal shootout Monday over whether there’s a shortage of officers.
McCarthy spoke to the City Club of Chicago before taking questions from the audience and got a tough one from [the] president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
[He] asked how McCarthy could expect to fight crime proactively when there is a shortage of 2,300 officers. Then he asked: “Can you admit the Chicago Police Department has a manpower problem?”
“The answer is no, I can’t do that because I don’t believe it,” McCarthy responded. “Sorry, [dude]. I didn’t want to have these conversations in public.”
And the body shot:
- McCarthy said he is not looking to expand the department’s payroll any time soon.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think it’s a fair thing to do to the taxpayers at this point,” he said to rousing applause. Then he fired a shot at [...] the FOP president: “[Dude], why aren’t you clapping?”
Someone is rallying support for a contentious contract negotiation, and for whatever reason, the FOP president is attacking the political appointee, a guy who can't remove half-assed commanders from their spots, a guy with as many self-control issues as a tweaking meth addict.
The focus should be on the guy pulling McCarthy's strings, not McCarthy. He got in a good shot and it's going to leave a mark. Rahm is controlling the debate already and that's not a good thing.
The focus should be on the guy pulling McCarthy's strings, not McCarthy. He got in a good shot and it's going to leave a mark. Rahm is controlling the debate already and that's not a good thing.