Joe Moore: On the Clock

Joe Moore wants to be your Congressman. He is using issues that have nothing to do with Chicago's 49th Ward in Rogers Park to position himself as an Uber Progressive. Moore is neither a true progressive nor a Congressman. But he likes to waste time acting as if he were both. He's fooled some of us in Rogers Park. He has not fooled most of us.

Within the past several days, the "Citizens for Joe Moore" have mailed out hundreds of slick and very expensive full color fliers to residents in the northwestern portion of the 49th. Curiously, the same flier has yet to be seen in the rest of the ward. Until now, presented here on Rogers Park Bench. (Click on the pictures to see larger images of the front and back.)

There are many issues that need attention in Chicago's 49th Ward, and in Chicago in general. An alderman is elected by the voters in his/her ward to (a) work to improve that ward, and (b) to participate with the rest of the City Council in the proper running of the entire city.

Like any public official, Joe Moore is paid by you and by me. Whether or not you voted for him in the past, he is your employee. Your employee is on the clock, and he's not doing the job he was hired to do. It is not in an alderman's job description to spend time on foie gras (goose liver pate) that should otherwise be spent on analyzing and fixing problems in their ward or the city. It is not in an alderman's job description to spend time trying to fight Wal-Mart (the "big box" issue that Daley vetoed successfully). And it is certainly not in an alderman's job description to spend time on the Iraq war - or any other war.

This is not meant as a criticism of Alderman Moore's personal stance on the war. But it is meant as a criticism of Moore for wasting time that should be spent on issues that directly affect the 49th Ward or the City of Chicago. Last time I checked, the conduct of war is the responsibility of the Congress and the Executive branches of government. Local governments of cities, towns and villages are not part of that process.

It will be fun to ask Alderman Moore at tomorrow's candidates forum and debate how he would feel about one of his employees working on personal business while being on the clock and on his payroll. How do you feel about it?

The debate will be at the Good News Community Church, 7649 N. Paulina at 2:30 pm on Sunday, January 28.