Her retirement is part of a mass exodus that promises to change the face of the Chicago City Council. Hairston is the ninth Chicago alderperson to either resign or announce a decision not to seek reelection. Several others, including indicted Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and Zoning Chair Tom Tunney (44th), are considering political retirement.
Even with a recruitment push by Fire Department brass, the number of Black firefighters and paramedics has fallen to third behind Hispanics and whites of the same rank.
A clause in a collective bargaining agreement from the early 1980s requires the department to strive for as close to 45% minority representation as possible in all ranks.
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