A bit of nitpicking, but primarily glowing endorsements of Richard M Daley for another term as Mayor of Chicago from the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, and Crains.
The Sun-Times points out his major opponent lives in la-la land:
Beyond firing Chicago Police Supt. Terry Hillard, Terry Peterson, head of the Chicago Housing Authority, and Arne Duncan, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Daley challenger the Rev. Paul D. Jakes fails to offer one thoughtful plan that outlines how those agencies could be vastly improved under his leadership. For example, Jakes’ proposal to provide "more social services and job training" for CHA residents ignores the reality that these services are a major component of CHA’s plan for transformation.
Daley has attacked systemic problems in the City and because of his leadership, the City of Chicago is weathering the economic downturn reasonably well. He has reformed public housing, the police (still a ways to go), public education, and is now seeking to reduce homicide. The City of Chicago is as a city should be and most of the credit for that should go to a man who cannot be separated from it, Richard M. Daley. Far more inclusive than his father, and still far from perfect, he has willed a great city to remain so.
What is strange is that even those who endorse him fail to grasp how important some of his initiatives are. Crain’s takes issue with two quality of life initiatives they don’t seem to understand of which they don’t understand the importance. While I happily make fun of the Mayor’s obsession with wrought iron, making the city livable means making it friendly and walkable. His initiative with gardens on rooftops is ahead of its time. Maybe some businesses felt bullied, but it is in their own self-interest in the long run. Concrete collects too much heat and over time, that would make the city unlivable. Forcing businesses to take that into account will benefit everyone in the city in the long run.