Crain's: Wal-Mart's future after Mayor Daley

This article looks at the role Daley played in allowing for Wal-Mart expansion in our city. Of course we have followed this story as closely as possible since this blog was started. Especially since two new Wal-Mart nearby are expected to be built in both Pullman and West Chatham. The next step is to consider the future. You should read the whole thing, however:

So the question remains: With a wide-open political situation unlike any Chicago has seen in years, will Mr. Daley's successor continue the relationship?

It depends on whether the successor needs to rely on unions to clinch the election, according to Paul O'Connor, director of communications at Metropolis 2020. The reliability of organized labor's support took a hit in 2009, he said, during the race to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by a White House-bound Mr. Emanuel.

“There were a number of aldermen who had long supported labor but did not receive organized labor support in that campaign,” Mr. O'Connor said. “And there are still very significant racial and ethnic voting blocks in Chicago that outnumber organized labor.”

There's another question mark in the form of Mr. Ramirez, the new CFL president.

“Jorge is a smart and balanced man, but we haven't seen him in the office in a major public way yet,” Mr. O'Connor said.

“It's a new day, not just because of the mayor's announcement, but in a lot of ways,” he added. The city is “a clown car of opportunities right now.”

Via Capitol Fax! The post at CapFax discusses a poll which shows that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel leads the pack of potential mayoral aspirants! That in addition to other stories regarding the Mayor's retirement.