Mayor Rahm Emanuel insisted Friday that he played no role in City Clerk Susana Mendoza’s decision to pull a 15-year-old’s city sticker design because of concern it could contain symbols of the Maniac Latin Disciples street gang.
Mendoza has been taking an editorial beating for pulling the plug on Herbie Pulgar’s winning vehicle sticker design — and snatching away the notoriety earned by a troubled 15-year-old who appeared to be using his artistic talent to turn his life around.
But, the clerk will apparently have to take the heat alone.
Asked Friday whether he pressured Mendoza behind the scenes to nix Pulgar’s design, Emanuel replied, “No. No.”
Pressed on whether he agrees with the clerk’s decision to do so, the mayor did the political dance known as the side-step for the second straight day.
Mendoza Meets the Bus
Even if we disagreed with the Clerk's decision to award the wanna-be gangster the $1,000 savings bond, at least she made the decision and is sticking by it. Voters have short memories, none more so than here. Rahm can't even do that.