 But always I was a private citizen whose activities in government or political party were appointive. |
| If all of us would require the same level of performance from ourselves as we expect from government, this city will forever be the city that works. |
| I am a Democrat. I have been one all of my life. |
| I pledge tonight to be Mayor for all of the people of this city - for one Chicago. |
| If we are to succeed, we must recognize that the community redevelopment is not solely the rehabilitation of housing, or putting a mall in the business strips. |
| As I visited the various neighborhoods in the campaign, I learned fast that it's a mistake to think that all of the wisdom and possible solutions to our problems are available only in this building. |
| The people of Chicago are a proud people - and for good reason. |
| Our universities and museums are respected around the country. |
| In the housing projects, people talked of ways to reduce crime, relieve overcrowding, and they were good ideas that we plan to study, and possibly implement. |
| Tonight - by taking this solemn oath - I am no longer a private citizen but the Mayor of the City of Chicago. |
| Chicago's neighborhoods have always been this city's greatest strength. |
| The credit for much of this rightly belongs to the late Mayor Daley who forged a coalition of business and labor that kept Chicago always moving ahead. |
| If those communities are left to decay, this city will decay. |
| But as important as the job to be done by government in the neighborhoods, the people must also be involved. |
| When there were fears about the future of this nation's older cities... when a few of the cities teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, all eyes were focused on Chicago for contrast. |
| The Chicago Symphony is considered the greatest orchestra in the world. |
| For my part, I plan to work out a fair and adequate redistribution of city services to all city neighborhoods. |
| Be assured that I did not become the Mayor of Chicago to preside over its decline. |
| The nation can no longer afford to continue policies that hasten the flight of persons to the distant suburbs. |
| We saw hundreds of programs to redevelop the central city, the neighborhoods, in the past. |
