Rahm Tears Up At Domestic Violence Event

Mayor gets emotional while talking about domestic violence victims

This could help soften that fiery image a bit.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, well-known for his feisty temper (dead fish, anyone?), showed a much softer side Wednesday at an event announcing a new domestic violence shelter.

Expanding the amount of domestic shelters was one of the elements of Emanuel's 2013 budget. But it's obviously an issue close to his heart, as he visibly choked up while talking about it, and went off-script to discuss the bravery of three domestic violence survivors he had just spoken with.

"The person they love and is supposed to be loved by, has done the most intolerant thing that can ever be done," Rahm said.

The new shelter is located in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood and includes 10 permanent housing units and an employment training site.

According to a news release, $1.8 million of the project's $4.2 million tab will come from settlement funds in the city's lawsuit against VIP Gentleman’s Club.

The new shelter is scheduled to open in June 2014.

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