Joe Moore (politician)
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Joseph Moore (born 1958 Chicago) is a member of the Chicago City Council, representing the 49th Ward. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was first elected to the City Council in 1991 and re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007.
Joe Moore's ward, also known as East Rogers Park, is at the far north of the city, bordered by Lake Michigan on the east, and by Evanston, Illinois to the north.
Moore graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois with a B.A in 1980 and earned a J.D. in 1984 from DePaul University law school. After graduation he was an attorney for the City from 1984 to 1991.
Moore, a former President of the independent Network 49 political organization that supported Harold Washington and David Orr, first became known for his championing of community policing, and during his tenure as alderman crime in Rogers Park has decreased significantly. Moore was the successful sponsor of a Whistleblower Ordinance that gave taxpayers the right to recover damages on behalf of the city against corrupt city contractors. He was also the principal critic of the City's unsuccessful blue-bag recycling program, and outspoken in favor of a more comprehensive recycling program. In recent years, Moore has become known outside of Rogers Park for raising issues he believes to be of national importance in the Chicago City Hall. Moore was one of the first city council members to announce his opposition to a pre-emptive military invasion of Iraq and to the U.S. Patriot Act. Moore was the chief sponsor of an ordinance banning the sale of foie gras, on the grounds that its production includes animal cruelty; after much publicity, the ordinance passed overwhelmingly but has since been repealed. Moore was honored in February, 2007 by the Humane Society of the United States for his leadership on the issue of cruelty to animals.[1]
Most recently, Moore served as the chief sponsor of the Big Box Ordinance, a law raising the minimum wage to 10 dollars an hour for companies such as Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot. The ordinance was vetoed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and, while still enjoying the support of most of the Council, failed to garner enough votes to override the veto. As a result of Moore's leadership in this battle, he earned the support of labor unions and living-wage activists, but became a target of supporters of Wal-Mart.
Critics suggest that Alderman Moore's priorities include issues that attract national support from activists, unions, and liberal donors, but which have less direct impact on 49th residents and their needs. Critics point to the loss of affordable housing, lack of economic development and jobs, and poor public schools in the 49th ward as issues demanding more attention from Alderman Moore. Moore also is accused of taking symbolic positions on issues which local government has no bearing or voice, while failing to pass ordinances that have the force of law. Critics also contend that community projects initiated under Moore's tenure, such as street improvement projects and a long-anticipated community park, have been slow to develop or left uncompleted altogether.
Supporters contend that Moore is one of the few real progressives in the City Council and that his policies support the kind of worker-friendly environment that the city of Chicago has traditionally been known for. Supporters also point out that Alderman Moore's stewardship of the 49th Ward has acted as a brake to unbridled development, thus mitigating the effects of gentrification. During Moore's tenure, numerous streetscape, retail development, and parks programs have been successfully completed, including a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, a new 2.5 acre park which replaced an adult bookstore and dilapidated housing, the renovation of the old Howard Theater building, and the Sheridan Road and Howard Streetscape beautification projects.
Rapid change in the real estate market has posed a challenge to Moore; a study published in 2006, while not faulting the alderman (and noting that unlike the 40th ward, the 49th Ward has a 10% set-aside program for redevelopment that requires a zoning change) found that the Rogers Park community area lost approximately 17% of its rental housing supply since 2003 to condo conversions. This study noted that the conversion frenzy was largely a result of low interest rates and other market forces. such as the 108% increase, from 1996-2005, of the value of the average Rogers Park home. The study found that white homeowners have been the largest beneficiaries of this change in the Rogers Park market.
In his most recent election, Alderman Moore received more than 3,600 votes (or 49.3%) in the four-way primary and so was forced into a runoff against banking executive Don Gordon, who polled 29%. Moore won the runoff, increasing his vote total to more than 4,000 and garnering approximately 51.6%.
Moore has been active in politics outside of Chicago, including on the national level. His first political work was for independent presidential candidate John Anderson. He was a delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention, pledged to Bill Clinton. He has served on the board of the National League of Cities, chairs the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). DNC Chairman Howard Dean recently appointed Moore to a DNC Committee on Budget and Finance. Moore ran in 2000 for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County but lost in the primary election to eventual winner Dorothy Brown.
[edit] References
- Citizens for Joe Moore Campaign Web Site
- Official Aldermanic Site
- Official Biography
- Article on Big Box Ordinance
- Chicago Board of Elections 2007 results
- Chicago Reader Blogs: Clout City, May 1, 2007, accessed May 9, 2007
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