Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Todd's taking advantage

Chicago Sun Times Editorial - Todd's taking advantage
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
December 24, 2006



When new Cook County Board President Todd Stroger was picked by the city's Democratic bosses to succeed his father on the November ballot, we weren't the only ones who compared the shenanigans to a coronation. Now comes evidence that Stroger really does think he was crowned. How else can you explain his recent actions?

First, he reserved one of the County Building's 12 elevators for his exclusive use. There it sits, roped off so no one else can use it, even if Stroger is not even in the building. It might be understandable if his aides said it was for security reasons. But no, it seems he needs the perk -- although they don't call it that. To them, it's a way to ''modernize county operations'' -- because Stroger is too chatty, and his exchanges with lowly peons are disrupting his hectic schedule.

Stroger also has decreed that his subjects no longer may address him and other officials at board meetings. And he has proclaimed that reporters may not speak to him -- not even to say hi -- if they happen to pass his majesty in the hallways near his throne, er, office. You get the feeling Stroger doesn't want to hear from anyone, or doesn't want anyone to hear from him.

There are a couple of conclusions one can draw from Stroger's aristocratic bent. One is that he doesn't know how bad it looks to the rest of us. The other is that Stroger knows but simply doesn't care, and is thumbing his noble nose at us.