Momentum apparently isn't something Mayor Rahm Emanuel is willing to lose post-inauguration.
After Emanuel took his oath of office Monday during ceremonies at Pritzker Pavilion, he signed three executive orders relating to ethics. Now, he's eying the budget.
On his first full day in Chicago's top seat, the new mayor will announce plans Tuesday morning to cut $75 million from the city's 2011 fiscal budget. It's not known where the cuts will come from, but Emanuel said during his inaugural address that shrinking government and saving money is a primary goal.
“Our city’s financial situation is difficult and profound,” he said. “We must look at every aspect of city government and ask the basic questions, 'Do we need it? Is it worth it? Can we afford it?'"
It's a big job: Chicago's deficit is said to be nearing $1 billion.
The budget cuts follow Emanuel's new ethics directives that protect city employees from feeling pressure to give gifts to superiors and prevents lobbyists from making political contributions to the mayor.
Another directive, originally issued by former Mayor Richard Daley, prevents appointees who leave the administration to lobby city government for two years after leaving their post.
Emanuel also re-issued three ethics orders originally signed by Daley, including a ban on political contributions from companies that do business with the city and an order reaffirming the duty of employees to report wrongdoing to the Inspector General.
The mayor will make the budget announcement at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Before then, he made a stop at the 95th Street "L" stop to greet commuters.
