Residency Considered...

...and any changes rejected out of hand. Before being sworn in, even before sitting down with the elected representatives of the Police and Fire Departments. Thank goodness we're ruled by an emperor:

• Chicago’s 92-year-old residency rule for city workers will apparently live on long after Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel takes office.

  After reconsidering the requirement at the request of police and fire unions, Emanuel concluded Tuesday that police officers, firefighters and teachers are neighborhood “anchors” Chicago cannot afford to live without.

  “They are more than police and fire. They are anchors in a neighborhood. They’re the Little League coaches, the hockey coaches, the volunteers at the place of worship. They are anchors — not just in their block, but in their community. That’s an investment I’m not ready to turn my back on,” Emanuel said.

  “I’ve heard what they have to say [about wanting to be free to live outside the city, but] I have to represent the whole city and its interests. ... My perspective is how important the individual members — and the group as a total — play in the city’s neighborhoods and anchoring the ... middle-class.”

Kind words - especially as he lays the groundwork for painting us as the greedy bad guys and gals over the burgeoning pension crises sweeping across the city and state. Remember, we've been contributing over 9% of our salaries and the city has refused to alter their share for decades, leading to the current ill health of the funds. But we're the anchors of society?

Nine thousand cops and two thousand firefighters in a city of 2.8 million - a mere 0.4% - are holding the whole thing together. Someone write that down for the next contract negotiations.