Mayor, Mayor, in City Hall, who's the most progressive caucus of them all?
The caucus ruckus began Tuesday when nine aldermen broke from the pack to declare themselves the Progressive Reform Coalition, reports DNAinfo Chicago.
Just one day later, a second group of aldermen named for the liberal Illinois U.S. Senator and former Chicago City Councilman formed the ten member-strong Paul Douglas Alliance, reports Progress Illinois.
Only Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) belongs to both "progressive" caucuses, which differ largely when it comes to one key point: Members of the Paul Douglas Alliance have been more closely allied with Rahm Emanuel, while the Progressive Reform Coalition comprises aldermen who have defied the mayor in past votes.
(See the full listing of both caucuses' memberships at the Sun-Times.)
According to NBC Chicago, the 10 members representing the mostly lakefront wards of the Paul Douglas Alliance have already been nicknamed the Not-So-Progressive Caucus because of their willingness to toe the line with Emanuel.
Ald. Joe Moore (49th) told the Sun-Times his group is simply taking a “different approach” than the Progressive Caucus, saying they are aimed "more at solving problems than opposing Emanuel."
In a statement, Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) said his caucus can serve constituents "disturbed by the increasing reliance on privatization to create revenue" by examining city privatization deals and acting more autonomously from the mayor.
Three members of the Progressive Reform Coalition on Wednesday already joined Fioretti in his call to "question the sagacity of" -- i.e., to consider significantly changing or ditching altogether -- the city's struggling Taste of Chicago festival, DNAinfo reports.
The Paul Douglass Alliance, meanwhile, said they were geared toward problem solving, particularly where budget issues and public confidence are concerned. The group proposed Wednesday to give Inspector General Joe Ferguson the power to investigate aldermen and axe the City Council’s handpicked inspector general Faisal Khan; the private contractor cost taxpayers more than a quarter million dollars in 2012.
Moore insisted two coalitions don't equal conflict, according to DNAinfo: "There's no disunity at all."